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I had a manual pump and got sick of it really quick!! It's not easy at all.... I had a Medela Pump & Style double pump. You can get one for about $200 something if you look around the net. I think mine was $275 at the time, but my insurance paid for it b/c my dd wasn't latching. you could also try e bay. You could find a new one or get used. You have to boil and sterilize all the components anyway, so it wouldn't matter much if it was used. Hope this helps :)

Unfortunately, it doesn't. I don't happen to have a spare $200 lying around; also, one thing I have to consider when looking at pumps is whether they are 110 or 220 voltage, or dual - I live in Germany, which uses 220, but I will be returning to the U.S., which uses 110.

sorry

So no one else has any advice as to what kind of bottles, etc, I'm going to need? Not one single person? Wow...such a helpful website!

Yes, I use the Isis brest pump and I absolutely Love it! I also have the Evenflo electric pump and still rather use the Avent Isis manual pump. You'll just need that kit (if you decide to get it) and some extra bottles. The nipples that come with the Isis your baby may not like. (Mine dd didn't) So I use the Playtex Vent Air bottles (regular kind, not the one shapped like a nipple) Oh, and another thing. They say you shouldn't start to feed your baby with the bottle until about 3 weeks after being born so the baby will get used to natural breasfeeding. Hope this helps some.

Thanks so much! yes, that does help a lot. How necessary is a bottle sterilizer? Is my dishwasher really not good enough?

I use the avent isis and I have no problem using it. I would give it a try. They don't cost a whole lot and you probably won't use it very much. I will be using mine when I go back to work. Good luck and enjoy your little blessing.

Dishwasher is perfectly fine.

Okay; got the Avent Isis kit ordered, as well as the Playtex Ventaire bottles; next question is...nipple treatment? My nipples are already dry and sore...any suggestions on what I can get for that?

hi there! i also have the avent isis and it took me about a week to get used to it. that week was kinda frustrating. but now it works great! i usually pump once a day (mornings, after a nursing "break" - my little one only empties one b___st first nursing in the morning, i then pump the other one) so all i need is really just the pump and some storage bags (freezable) from gerber, i get them at walgreens. i freeze the pumped milk, its like my stash of gold! :) the milk is good for about 3 months if frozen and can be quickly thawed by putting the bag into hot water, once thawed, the milk will have the optimal temperature to feed baby right away. so, the whole thing takes about 20 - 30 min: pumping, writing date and time on the bag, pouring milk in the bag, and finally freezing. also, i only need the two bottles which came with the pump - no need for additional bottles. one more thing about the pump: theres a small part, round with a star shape on top, which you stick into the hole in the pump before attaching the bottle. this part tends to "hang" a little. it needs to be tightly in th hole, otherwise there will be no sucktion when you pump. so, if you are having troubles with sucktion, check if that part is in right. wow, so much to say! hope this helps... take care.

oh my - so much babbling and still i forgot something: nipple treatment. i use the calendula baby oil from weleda. this stuff is great! i also use it for my baby's occasional craddle cap, diaper rash prevention (my baby hadn't had one single tiny rash ever) takes it right off. there is also something - i forgot the name - with purified lanolin, but since me, my husband and hence also our little one are strict vegans, we don't use lanolin (comes from sheep).

Jamie, you are lucky you got such good advise after your horrible att_tude.

Thanks for your opinion, "..." - but I don't see how I've had a horrible att_tude?