Pumping vs. Formula: A Cost Analysis

If you're considering buying a pump for your return to work, you may experience a bit of sticker shock the first time you go shopping. In our home, the conversations went something like this: 'Two hundred and fifty dollars?!? How can we possibly afford this with all of the other things we still need to buy for the baby? Is it really worth it to spend so much money?'

I knew I wanted to continue breastfeeding, but I thought I could go cheap and get away with a less expensive manual pump. It was a great pump, but the amount of time I was spending trying to fill up a bottle and the stress I was experiencing resulted in a trip to the baby superstore the very next weekend for a bigger and better dual electric.

You may have read it before, but I'll say it again - the cost of even the nicest consumer-grade breast pumps is far, far less than you'll spend on baby formula. You'll read this on many pro-breastfeeding websites, but I'm going to break it down for you so you can really compare the difference, and I'll put in all of my assumptions so you understand where this is all coming from.

Amount of formula, by month.
Let's say you choose to formula feed from the time you return to work until baby's first birthday (a standard time for switching to cow's milk). How much formula will you need to buy? Based on the feeding guidelines I found on Enfamil's website, an average baby's intake will look something like this:

Age in Months              Oz. Per Bottle             Daily          Weekly        Monthly

2mo	4.0	24	168	722
3mo	4.5	27	189	813
4mo	5.0	30	210	903
5mo	5.5	33	231	993
6mo	6.0	36	252	1,084
7mo	6.0	36	273	1,084
8mo	6-8	36	273	1,084
9mo	6-8	36	273	1,084
10mo	6-8	36	273	1,084
11mo	6-8	36	273	1,084
Total:				9,933

So that gives us a rough estimate of 10,000 ounces for the first year of life.  Now lets look at the cost of several formula options.  To be fair, I'll compare an inexpensive, generic-brand powder (Makers Mark, SamsClub.com), a name brand powder (Enfamil Premium, WalMart.com), a ready-to-feed liquid (Similac, WalMart.com), and a hypo-allergenic version (Similac Alimentum, Walgreens.com) for babies with cow's milk protein intolerance.  All babies react differently to formula, so it's impossible to say in advance whether you could use the bargain brand or might need the expensive stuff.  The next table lists the amount of prepared formula a can of each brand will make, the cost per can or bottle, how many containers you would need to buy in a year, and the total price. 

Cost of feeding infant formulas for 10 months:

Brand	Ounces/Can	Cost/Can	Total Cans	Final Cost
Generic, Powder	255	$18	44	$713
Brand-name, Powder	170	$24	66	$1,411
Ready-to-Serve, Liquid	192	$35	59	$1,823
Hypoallergenic, Powder	114	$30	98	$2,632

*prices found online on 7/3/2010

Keep in mind that this only covers the cost for 10 months - starting with an estimated return to work after 8 weeks of maternity leave, up through baby's first birthday.  Additionally, if you were to breastfeed while home with baby but skip pumping at work in favor of formula feeding, your costs would be reduced.

Now lets consider the costs associated with buying a high quality double electric pump and some useful accessories.
Cost of pumping equipment

Equipment	Price
Double electric pump	$250
Hands free pumping bra	$25
Extra freezer pack	$5
Milk storage bags, 120ct	$18
Total Cost	$298

Quite a difference, wouldn't you say?  Outfitting yourself with a top of the line pump and some helpful accessories saves you at least $415, but could end up saving you thousands of dollars.  Of course, none of this considers the fact that breastfed babies are sick significantly less often - leading to fewer missed days of work and fewer medical bills.  Consider, too, whether you plan to have more than one child.  Most women find that a quality pump will last quite a long time - long enough to be used through the infancy of two children.  I'm on my third child and only my second pump - and I only bought a new one for baby #2 because I was looking for some of the (then) extra features on a newer pump.

So, what will you do with an extra $400 - $2000?  Bills, baby gear, clothes, evenings out, the college fund?  Or do you want to spend it on over-processed, nutritionally inferior, artificial baby formula?

I thought so.

Hands Free Pumping

If you haven't figured it out already, being a working mom means perfecting the art of multi-tasking.  If you're working full time, you may find yourself spending up to an hour a day strapped to your pump - a huge amount of time when you've got things to do (like some work, perhaps?). Thankfully, when it comes to pumping, there is a solution:

Choose to go hands free.

There are a number of options for hands free pumping, but what it ultimately comes down to is the ability to use your hands for typing, holding a book, writing notes, making phone calls, or in my case, driving my car.  Yes, really - it's less distracting than using a cell phone in the car, I promise.

There are several options for pumping hands free - I've listed a few, but I'd love to hear about what has worked for you!

Pumping bras and bands:  These can be worn in lieu of or over top your normal nursing bra.  They hold the horns securely against the breast while supporting the collection bottle.  Several brands are listed below with links to Amazon.com.  Search around for the best deals if you're planning to buy. 

• Easy Expression Hands Free Bustier Nursing Bra
• Simple Wishes Hands Free Pumping Bustier Bra  
• La Leche League Hands Free Pumping and Nursing Softcup Bra
• Hands-Free Pumping Support for Nursing Mothers

The Elastic Band Method: If you want to save money, it is possible to use 4 elastic bands to hook your pumping horns directly to your nursing bra.  Here is a great set of visuals that illustrate how to make this work.  I've tried this and it works in a pinch, but doesn't offer the security and stability that a quality pumping bra will provide.

Tips and Recommendations:  I pump hands free twice a day and love it.  It takes an extra minute to get set up, but the pay off is worth it.  Currently I use the Simple Wishes Bustier (size XS-M) and would recommend it.  It's endlessly adjustable and has seen me from  my post-partum 44 inch, DDD cup size all the way down to my my current 36 inch, C/D cup and still has plenty of room to adjust smaller.  I suggest you buy just one pumping bra and wear it over top of your regular nursing bra just when you're pumping (you can unhook and pull the flaps of your regular nursing bra down and out of the way).  That way it doesn't need to be washed as frequently, and you can just fold it up and store it in your pumping bag between uses.


A final warning - it is easy to lose focus on the the fact that you are actually pumping.  I once was careless enough that one of my collections bottles was tilted at enough of an angle that allowed for a large amount of milk to get backed up and sucked up into the tubing of my pump.  A HUGE mess ensued, with milk spraying out of the pump face plate - yuck!  I ended up needing to buy brand new tubing - a costly mistake for a momentary lapse in attention.  So, pay attention to your posture and be sure to check that you haven't filled up your bottle to the brim!

Getting Into a Routine

One of the hardest parts about starting back to work is getting yourself into a new workable routine.  During my maternity leave with my second child, I nearly had panic attacks when I tried to figure out how I'd get a 2 year old, a baby and myself out the door in time (hubby left for work very early back then), but now I manage it with 3 kids in under an hour!

When it comes to pumping, storing milk, washing up and preparing the next day, I recommend figuring out a routine that works for you before your first day, work out any kinks, and then stick with it.  That way you'll be ready to go in the morning and less likely to find yourself at puming time missing something critical - like your bottle caps, or those darn little membranes that seem to disappear when you're not looking!

Here's what my schedule looks like - I've left out all of the herding of small children, schlepping of heavy bags, etc., that's also a part of my daily routine...

Arriving home after work:

1. Immediately place my pump and other bags on the end of the kitchen counter in a row, so I don't forget one the next day.
2. Remove milk from the pump's cooler bag and place in the fridge.
3. Place pump freezer pack  and cold pack from baby's diaper bag into the freezer.
4. Take apart and dump all of the baby's bottle parts into a tub of soapy water in the sink to soak.
5. Play with the kids and nurse the baby.

Time - 3 minutes

After kiddie bedtime:

1. Measure out milk into clean bottles for the next day.  Label with a sharpie and masking tape (per daycare regulations).  I have enough bottles for 2 days, but this isn't a necessity.
2. Wash all bottles and pump parts in hot, soapy water and allow to air dry overnight.

Time - 15 minutes

In the morning:

1. Pack up baby's bottles and a freezer pack into her diaper bag.
2. Assemble pump parts and place into pump bag.
3. Grab freezer pack from the freezer and put it into the pump bag.
4. Do a quick double check to make sure nothing was left behind on the counter!
5. Out the door to daycare drop off!
   Time - 2-3 minutes
   
    

Getting Started - Preparing to Return to Work

Whether you're still pregnant or nearing the end of your maternity leave, the thought of returning to work can fill even the most dedicated career woman with feelings of dread and anxiety. How will the baby adjust to daycare? Will my boss and coworkers still value me? Will I ever fit into my professional wardrobe? It can all be so overwhelming!


If you're worried about whether you will be able to continue breastfeeding your baby after your leave ends, the answer is Yes! Absolutely! The list below gives you a step by step guide you can follow to maximize your chances for success. As this site develops, look for articles devoted to each of these topics and much more!


Checklist: Preparing for Pumping

1. Learn as much as possible about breastfeeding your baby. See here and here for my top 2 favorite sources for research-based information.
2. Know the law. Certain federal and state laws protect the rights of breastfeeding mothers in the workplace.
3. Choose a pump. Consider your needs, budget, and product reviews.
4. Figure out where and when you will pump. Discuss your plans with your supervisor and/or human resources department.
5. Buy your accessories. Do you want to pump hands-free? Need an alternate power supply?
6. Set up your milk storage system - how will your milk bank work?
7. Practice setting up and using your pump.
8. Sterilize your collection bottles, horns, valves and baby bottles a few weeks before your due date.
9. Establish a solid breastfeeding relationship before you return to work! Whether you and baby are a match made in nursing heaven or need a bit of help from a good lactation consultant, this is the most important thing you can do to ensure you'll make your breastfeeding goals.
10. Review the guidelines for freezing, storing and thawing human milk. It's not nearly as fragile as you may think!
11. Start building your milk stockpile. Take advantage of that early over-supply to learn how to pump and begin building your frozen milk stash for a rainy day. However, be careful not to pump yourself into over-supply!
12. Introduce baby to the bottle. Most experts recommend waiting until breastfeeding is well established, and at least 2-3 weeks, to introduce baby to expressed milk.
13. Learn about the typical feeding patterns of exclusively breastfed babies receiving expressed milk by bottle. The average baby only needs about an ounce per hour while she's away from mom.
14. Review your feeding plan with your baby's care provider. Make sure they understand that your milk needs to be treated differently than formula and that it's not a biohazard!
15. Develop routines for the cleaning and prep of bottles and your pump.
16. Take a deep breath and head back out into the real world!