I need advice on breast pumps and formula.

I am 35 weeks and 3 days today, so i have less than 5 weeks until my daughter comes into the world. (if she doesnt decide to make an early arrival. lol) I am planning on solely breastfeeding for the first six weeks.... heres the problem:

I am still enrolled in college (for health insurance) and i start classes next tuesday (the 31st). I am going to need to pump at home while im nursing her before school, and then between classes at my car, and am unsure what pump would be best.... any suggestions?
(also planning on using the Playtex Drop-ins bottles. so it would be awesome if the pump worked with bags. [less dishes to clean, easy to store, step-mom loved them with my younger brother and sister])

Other question... I am going to need to supplement at least 2 small bottles of formula a week after the first six weeks. (i need to find a few hours of work) Any suggestions on what formula to use [closest to breast-milk], or how/when to do this?

Thanks!

Re: I need advice on breast pumps and formula.

Pumps you'll pump directly into the bottles that come with the pump and then you can store it in the bag. You can't store the milk in the drop ins unfortunately. I used the Medela In style pump for DS and used Playtex Drop ins for bottles to feed when he got bottles. I stored the milk in Lansinoh bags, I found those to be the best.

As far as formula, it doesn't matter what anyone says, there is no way to know what formula will work best until your baby is here. And they all say they're just like breastmilk so there's no easy to figure that one out either. They may be gassy, have reflux, a milk sensitivity or allergy. You won't know these things for a little while. If you'd like to start using whatever the hospital supplies you with, then do that and go from there. If I remember correctly they use Similac Advance...but, ALOT of babies have problems on that formula...not that it's bad, it's fine, but alot of little tummies don't end up handling it well. If yours does then there you go, if not, you'll try some until you find one that works. In the beginning I'd just try to pump and store as much breastmilk as you can so maybe you don't even have to worry about formula.

Message edited 8/25/2010 3:12:49 PM.

Re: I need advice on breast pumps and formula.

I loved my Ameda purely yours pump. Runs on batteries, car adapter, or outlet plug. It is small, and fits in most of my purses. I pump into the bottles and transfer to the Laniosh freezer bags. HTH! FM me if you have any questions.