Do I need to buy an electric breast pump?

An electric breast pump doesn't need to be on your list of "must-haves" before birth. If your baby is feeding directly at the breast, breastfeeding is going well, and there is no need to separate mother and baby, you can go a long time or even your entire breastfeeding journey without needing one.

You don't necessarily have to buy a pump "just in case". If you want to express milk occasionally later on, for example to have some flexibility or to prepare for returning to work, you can choose the option that best suits your needs at that time.

There are, however, situations where expressing milk can be important in the very first days:

• When mother and baby are separated
• If your baby cannot feed effectively
• If you need to stimulate and protect your milk supply

When frequent expressing is needed to establish or maintain supply, it may be preferable to use a double electric breast pump, ideally hospital-grade or with similar features, instead of a pump designed only for occasional use.

Don't forget that knowing how to express milk by hand is a tool you will always have with you; it doesn't require electricity, equipment or preparation, and can be very useful at different stages of your breastfeeding journey.