Breastfeeding on a Budget
Monday October 8, 2007
With so many expenses looming over a new mother's head, feeding her baby should not be one of them. Breastfeeding is the obvious choice (aside from the fact that it's the healthiest) because it's free! A mother who chooses to breastfeed will save at least $1500 in the baby's first year! Here are some other tips:
- Rent a breast pump before purchasing one. This allows you to try it out before making the leap to purchase one, and the cost is minimal in comparison.
- Search for free breastfeeding help. See if your local hospital has a breastfeeding hotline. Also, La Leche League, a mother-to-mother breastfeeding support organization, provides support and information for no charge.
- Avoid spending a lot of money on nursing clothes. It is not necessary to purchase clothes specifically tailored to breastfeeding, with the exception of some bras. In fact, most women are so happy to wear their prepregnancy clothes again and find them to be more than sufficient when nursing their babies.
Comments
I didn’t know moms could rent pumps like the Pump in Style
Excellent comment. The pumps that are typically rented are hospital-grade pumps, like the Medela Lactina and Classic. PIS is not able to be rented because it’s a personal pump. However, the above mentioned pumps are simply stepsisters to the PIS and you would get a general feel for it from using those.
I tried several pumps, including fancy electric ones and a hospital one, but none of them worked for me except the Avent Isis. It is a hand pump, but it really works, and doesn’t hurt your nipples like some of them do.
I’d also like to add that I save time while breastfeeding and time is money. This is true if you just look at the fact I don’t have to prepare or clean up after feeding, but also extends to other time savers like a baby who doesn’t go to the doctor very often because she’s healthy.
I totally agree with the tip about not having to buy nursing clothes. I have found that my regular clothes work just fine! I even wear regular bras because they are more comfortable than nursing bras I’ve tried.