Obviously with preemies you may need to pump right from the start. Hospitals have super duper pumps you can use and even basic ones - I donated milk to my SBCU and they provide you with basic pumping equipment so you wont struggle to get your mits on one should you need to. As someone said they are pretty easy to lay your hands on these days - even supermarkets have them in.


as far as a break or a day out with friends, you might find you're ready to do that sooner or later than you think. I had a Christmas lunch arranged which I wanted to go to still when my last baby was born. I knew it would be 6/8 weeks after her birth so about 5 weeks in I got going with pumping in preparation for it and was able to express enough to leave with her. Although I have to say I left early because I really wanted to get back to her and feed her, much more than I wanted the break!

Depending on where you live, you'll find different attitudes and opinions on pumping etc. At the hospital my first baby was born at they are very quick to suggest formula and quick to give up on BFing, where as the Birth Centre I gave birth to my second baby in (which is in the same building ) were much more patient and supportive.

I think the thing is to keep an open mind and remember that support and even these items of equipment are out there should you find you need them

What you have to remember is that even if you "skip" feeds and give OH a bottle of EBM your breasts will still make milk and you do need to express or feed before too long else you can start to affect your milk supply. So if you went out for a FULL day you would, at some point, have to find somewhere to express, otherwise you would end up with very sore, very leaky breasts as well as running a higher risk of blocked ducts, mastitis, supply issues.
A baby at a couple of months old will still be feeding very regularly and you need to try, if you can, to keep up with expressing at similar intervals as to when baby would be feeding. It is possible to go out with friends etc, just takes a touch more planning if you intend to go without baby....many times it can be easier to take baby with you and breast feed, less hassle!
RE the nipple confusion, it seems it can affect some babies but not others. There are many very good bottles out there you can try, though as has been suggested it is often wise to exclusively BF for 4-6 weeks before introducing a bottle but its not gospel, you can, if you feel you need too introduce a bottle feed sooner. You just do have to be aware if baby is struggling and be prepared to switch back to exclusive BF for slightly longer or try different teats. You also have to be aware that it takes time to regulate your milk supply, BF is HARD and expressing early ontop of meeting regular feed demands is difficult and frustrating when you find you arent "getting" any milk...it requires time, patience and determination, especially if you start expressing before the 6 week mark. Its perfectly possible to do and Im not trying to put you off just make you aware that it is a big commitment as you dont want to be suprised when it doesnt work perfectly straight away.
With regards a pump, as you seem to want to express fairly regularly Id reccomend an electric over a manual pump. Once I got used to expressing I mostly expressed by hand but I could never really get a manual to work as well as by hand or the electric. Its definitely easier once you get into a routine of when you BF and when you express, I was expressing regularly as I was donating milk at the time. You do have to be rather committed as expressing takes time....good to plan expressing around a tea break and your favourite TV programme!

I agree with anothersquish - dont be alarmed if you find when you start to pump you get very little. Your pump is a poor mimic for your baby's suck so he/she will be getting much more.

When I went out for my lunch date I came home and I couldnt wait to pump - I was full to burst! So yeah if you went out for a day you'd need to pump at some point.

As AS said nipple confusion is a problem for some and not for others. I was fortunate that my LO would eat from a shoe if she needed to - nothing phased her but that's not always the case.