breast pumps...any suggestions?

Kirsten - posted on 08/18/2009

Quoting Brie:

I can't express a thing with an electric pump - i find the manual one heaps faster as i can get better suction! i have tried 2 different brands of electric, and each time ended up going back to my trusty Tommy Tippee manual pump. Yes it's a pain but at least it works for me!
Look for one that is comfortable to use, and fits your boob :)

ok it was the same for my with both of my babys the tommy tippee worked the best i even tried the hospital one and it did work for me if any of your friends have them u should see if your boob fits before going and buying one im glad i did or else i would have ended up with one that didnt fit. also my milk ran well so doing it manual worked better

Christine - posted on 08/18/2009

I used the Medela "pump in Style" and highly reccommend it! I pumped for a looong time and this one worked really well. It was pricey -but I got mine at my baby shower.

Tiffany - posted on 08/17/2009

Ameda purely yours...I ordered it online and LOVE IT! I have two boys 23 months apart both of whom nursed until at least one...the youngest is still going. I pumped three times a day for 6 months and used the same pump with both kids. I needed some replacement parts, but they were relatively inexpensive and easy to find. It was comfortable and works like a million bucks. It was pricey up front...about $250 bucks, but I more than got my money's worth out of it!

Elizabeth - posted on 08/17/2009

I had a manual pump from Avent for my first two and it worked but took a long time, with my third I got a MEDELA Pump in style and it was wonderful fast easy. I think it depends on what you are going to be using it for. Manual pump was fine for a couple of days a week or night out, or when the baby wasn't eating enough. But with my 3rd he would not breastfeed at all so I pumped and then fed him from bottles could never have gotten it done with out a good high quality electric pump. So think about how often you will be using it before you pick one. Good Luck

Libby - posted on 08/17/2009

I had a Medela with my first two. It was an electric double breast pump. In fact, with my 2nd he was in the NICU for the first 6 weeks and I only pumped during that time. It was fine. I no longer have it and am pregnant and I called a friend and asked her what does she suggest, she is a nurse on the maternity floor....she suggested Medela because it is hospital certified (I think that's the terminology she used). So, I'm getting another Medela this time around. But only getting a single pump as I'm a stay at home mom now and shouldn't need a double one for the convenience.

Shannon - posted on 08/17/2009

Medela is awesome and they have great customer service!

Nadine - posted on 08/17/2009

Medela is the best one out there!!! I have heard horror stories about other brands and I personally used the Medela breast pump and had no problems whatsoever. Good luck!

Diane - posted on 08/17/2009

as strange as it may seem to some i have breast fed 2 girls n never used a pump, i used to go in the bath with a bottle and when my milk flowed held it there and it was full in no time, the hot water makes your milk flow! lol

Cindie - posted on 08/17/2009

Rent one form the hospital. they are relativly cheap and OHHH SOO WORTH IT!!! I bought 3 different pumps from the store and honestly thought I was just drying up and was 'unable' to breast feed anymore. I ended up renting one from the hospital. They came with all brand new attachments the only thing that is reused is the actual machine. So now worries about getting something that someone else has 'used' on their bodies. These pumps work so good and they are much more comfortable then the store bought ones. Breast feeding is so important and I would have had to stop if I would have kept using the store bought pumps. THANK GOD FOR THE ONES FROM THE HOSPITAL!!! Look into it...it is SOOO worth it. Let me now how it goes! Good luck!!

Christy - posted on 08/16/2009

I'm not sure if it's available for you but we rented a Medela "high power" pump from the hospital where we had our daughter. I bought my own tubing and my own breast shields and basically the motor was the only "used" part. It was AWESOME and it didn't hurt after I bought a larger shield. We spent $150 on the deposit for the rental and then $55 every month there after. It was absolutely worth it. Good Luck to you and Gob Bless your new family.

Dana - posted on 08/16/2009

Congratulations Rachel!
I highly recommend the Medela Pump in Style Advanced. It's well worth the money! Check with the hospital where you're delivering - a lot of times, they'll offer coupons for medela breast pumps.
Best of luck with whatever pump you choose!

Kim - posted on 08/16/2009

Medela Double breast pump, used it for all 3 kids for a year each. Works great!

Tiara - posted on 08/16/2009

Quoting April:

I also used the Medela pump in style. No complaints here.Check with your insurance company or health care provider. My pump was over $300 in the store but I paid just over $200 through my insurance (Kaiser). Worth looking into.

I just posted on using the Medela pump and then looked through and saw many loving this pump. It is a good pump but I also want everyone to know that you can also rent them too. If you get a hold of your Lactition Consaltant, mine was located in the hospital I delievered in. I don't remember the monthly cost but it is worth every penny. I have breast fed all 4 of my children for about 15month each. 

Tiara - posted on 08/16/2009

I alway used a Medela pump. You can rent them or buy them but they are very costly to buy. I have tried hand pumps and electric ones but didn't have any luck intill my son was placed in the PICU and was on a Ventolator for a time. I use the hospital grade Medela and it come me and my milk going. I loved it. You can find info on rental place on their website.

Emma - posted on 08/16/2009

hi.. i only tried one and got nowhere with it.. so id like to not recomend one.. lol.. the tommee tippee closer to nature hand pump.. i just could not use it at all and seemed to get nowhere with it. but then again i have heared of people that loved it.. apparently the evenflo is quite popular xx

Rachael - posted on 08/16/2009

again...thanks for all your advice!! I found a good medella breast pump at target and I am going to go check it out later today ..hopefully.

Stephanie - posted on 08/16/2009

I have had much success with Madela. I also kept a picture of my baby in my bag to look at and her cooing and crying on a voicemail I played over and over to help get me in "Mommy Mode" to help with "let down" and production.

Desirae - posted on 08/15/2009

I have to say that I have had an Embrace, a medela, a battery operated on that fits in your bra, I have tried the advent and my favorite is still the cheapest.. the Lansinoh

Krista - posted on 08/15/2009

Honestly, I hated the electric pumps. They weren't nearly as fast and efficient as my Avent hand pump. It took me upwards of 15 minutes with the electric, but only about 5 or so minutes with my Avent pump...for both breasts!

Erin - posted on 08/15/2009

The thing that I thought was helpful when expressing w/my electric pump was that the pump had different settings for the power of suction... so you start low & build up, I never, in 12 mos, has any big issues w/sore nipples, unless I forgot to drop the suction before starting again :) oops! The problem I had w/the manual was that my hand got soo tired and like I said before I EXCLUSIVELY pumped so to have done this manually would have killed my hand! I started the first 2 wks manual while I waited for my electric to get shipped and I was quite relieved when it came in and my hand was thankful!

Elizabeth - posted on 08/15/2009

MEDELA electric breast pump. If your thinking of expressing alot of the time it is so easy and quick. I tried a manual pump for just one day and literally felt I could end up sitting there all day with not alot to show for it. They Also supply plastic freezable bags for your milk.

Stina - posted on 08/15/2009

Medela.

In the hospital, when I needed to pump for my son, they brought a Medela in for me. I like thier electric pumps and to use the pump manually works well too. I tried am evenflow manual pump but it didn't work at all.

Donna - posted on 08/15/2009

I prefer a manual pump, but most are very similar. What you have to rememmber when expressing is to massge with skin to skin first to stimulate feeding hormones, as if you were to hand express, or feed on one side and express of the other.

Jessica - posted on 08/15/2009

I have to agree with those that recommend the Tommy Tippee - everyone is different and you may have to try both manual and electric to see what is most comfortable for you. I tried several electric pumps but they all hurt like H..... I found the manual one more comfortable ,easier and faster. Which ever you go with - Best of Luck.

Holly - posted on 08/15/2009

sounds like a good one !! breast fed but never had to pump was at home mom!!

Malissa - posted on 08/15/2009

spend the money on a good electric pump, it is well worth it, i went thru like 3 of the hand pumps, if your doing serious pumping more than 3-4 times a day the freebie the hospital gives you wont last...

Rachael - posted on 08/15/2009

WOW...you moms are amazing!!! Thank you so much for all the great advice and personal stories. Medela seems to win hands down on recommendations. :) I will definetly be looking for a medela and will check out all the other pumps mentioned. Cant express how much I appreciate all the great advice!!!!!

Kelly - posted on 08/15/2009

Definately the Medela! It's convienant and quick, especially when you go back to work and have little time to pump!

Carrie - posted on 08/15/2009

I am not familiar with the one you are talking about but I have heard that the medella pumps are the best. This is what i bought when i was breast feeding. You can also talk to the hospital and they have people that are trained in breastfeeding that can help you make this descion. Hope you find something that make you happy ! Good luck.

Cazz - posted on 08/15/2009

if u want a hand pump avents is fantastic i used this with both my younger sons as the others were all to hard and made my nipples very painful after using but avents was not like that and you can get a decent amount of milk in a short amount of time.

Savita - posted on 08/15/2009

Hi I used Avent's Manual Pump. It was great once I tried using a Pigeon's electric pump but it turned out disasterous as I had problems after using that pump. So I would recommend Avent's Manual pump any day.

Valerie - posted on 08/15/2009

I bought the Medela Pump when I had my first child almost 5 years ago and now I have a 6 month old and it still works. It was over $300 dollars but it is well worth every penny I paid for it. I started with a hand held pump and would only get an oz at a time but the Medela I get anywhere from 3 to 6 oz everytime I pump.

Erin - posted on 08/15/2009

I also have a medela in style back pack dbl electric pump. I exclusively pumped & bottle fed for my son's first year of life. It was $300 but that was cheaper online then in the store, plus the price of formula is god awful, and we'll be using it for #2 so well worth the money!

Lydia - posted on 08/15/2009

Spend the extra and get a good electric pump. I made themistake of sendingmy fiance out to get the pump and ended up with and Avent manual pump. It workedwell enough but by the time I had pumped a bottle it was time to feed wash and pump again - NOT FUN!!! Next time it'll be an electric - damn the cost :)

Brie - posted on 08/15/2009

I can't express a thing with an electric pump - i find the manual one heaps faster as i can get better suction! i have tried 2 different brands of electric, and each time ended up going back to my trusty Tommy Tippee manual pump. Yes it's a pain but at least it works for me!
Look for one that is comfortable to use, and fits your boob :)

Katrina - posted on 08/15/2009

I had a baby in hospital for ages and after all the stress nothing was working. So I invested in a tommy tippee Back To Nature. It worked wonders - even better for me than the shwanky electric pumps.

Hanna - posted on 08/15/2009

I have to agree with moms who say Medela pump in style -- it's more expensive but well worth the money if you're planning to go back to work or if for whatever reason you're unable to nurse him/her.

Medela pump in style and Ameda purely yours is the next best thing after a hospital-grade pump and what is recommended by lactation consultants and hospital staff for mothers who are planning to go back to work or who have a child who is unable to latch on. they are the two companies that make hospital-grade breast pumps.

When choosing a pump, you have to take several factors into account:

1. how long and how often are you planning to use it? if you're planning to breastfeed exclusively and just want a pump to get a little extra milk out (to regulate milk supply or to just be able to get out of the house for a few hrs or get a few hrs of sleep while someone else is taking care of your baby), then a smaller, cheaper model is more than enough for you, you can even get a single-breasted one.

2. what is your lifestyle -- where will you be using it? if it's at home, then it doesn't matter how bulky it is or how 'strong' (how fast can it get the milk out) it is. if you are planning to travel, then definitely take the portability factor into account.

3. Ease to clean and put together. While most breast pumps say that they're dishwasher safe, i personally have a problem with washing anything that comes in contact with baby milk in a dishwasher, especially if it's plastic. it's harsh chemicals and some of them get absorbed and just as some of the glassware/flatware isn't dishwasher safe because it alters the color & texture, in my opinion, breast pump accessories are not the best thing to stick into dishwasher.


Personal experience, I grew up in a breast-fed household, where all of my siblings were "natural birth" with no drugs and 'breast fed' so it was kind of a no-brainer for me that i'll go for all natural birth and will breastfeed my son until he's at least 10-11 months old. i did all the mental preparation, did prenatal yoga, meditations to prepare myself for motherhood, did full lamaze class plus breastfeeding classes so going into it, i felt knowledgeable & prepared. That is until week 40 when everything that i had planned pretty much went out of the window.

I never went into labor and they couldn't even induce me because my cervix was posterior so it was too high risk for me to try to labor as the baby could have got stuck. My son was born 9lb 4 oz and had an appetite of a crocodile pretty much the moment he came out and all those stories about how baby doesn't need that much food the first few days were not about my baby -- he ate a full bottle of enfamil within 2 hours of delivery and then another one about 2 hours later. my milk wasn't coming in (or rather it was, but very slowly, so first 3 days i could get out maybe an ounce at a time) while my son was HUNGRY and because it wasn't flowing fast enough for him, he refused to latch on. when i'm saying refused, i had 4 nurses, 2 hospital lactation consultants (one consultant one assistant), my mom (who breastfed 3 of us + another child at the same time she was breasfeeding me) --- and he just wouldn't do. after being discharged from the hospital, i got a referral from a pediatrician to the top lactation consultant in Miami area (I believe her words were: that lady can get anyone to latch on, if she can't do it, it can't be done), she spent 4 days 4.5-hour sessions with me and my son and she couldn't get him to latch on either and we've tried all positions, before feeding after feeding, while he was asleep or right before he woke up -- he just wouldn't do it. the verdict was -- he's just too big & too hungry so it doesn't flow fast enough for him.

Long story short, originally, i was looking at a simple model because my friend and my mom told me that i won't really need it, but then i saw Medela pump-in-style on sale and ended up buying it for $160 instead of regular price. I felt really guilty about spending so much money and thought oh maybe i should return it and get a cheaper model (i haven't opened the box). then i came home from the hospital and i realized what a wise investment i made. It comes in a bag so you can carry it anywhere with both an electrical connection cord and a battery-operated unit so you can take it anywhere and it looks discreet and you don't need to take it out of the bag -- the motor is built-in (so no 'loading & unloading" in public places). i also bought a car charger attachment, so when we would go to the beach or take trips, i just brought it with me and pumped every 3 hours without worrying that i need to go back home to pump. I went back to work temporarily, i was working in a restaurant, so i didn't have time to pump during shift, but i pumped in the car right before i went in and as soon as i got out. we have since moved to North Carolina and we drove up here (16 hours with the baby), i pumped during the trip without worrying that we have to stop or find an outlet or a rest stop so that i can take the pump out of the bag) and it was all inside the bag so it didn't get messy or dirty or was visible from cars passing by (i just covered up with a receiving blanket).

that's my personal story, sorry for such a long response. Congratulations to you and your baby and good luck!

Lisa - posted on 08/15/2009

I have the Avent Electric pump and like it. The one piece of advice I was given when I went to get a pump was get electric using a manual one gets a very tired hand and becomes more effort than its worth so you won't want to do it.

Does your hospital/birth centre hire them out? if they do you could try what they have for ease of use before making a decision.

good luck

Stacy - posted on 08/15/2009

Quoting Lisa:

MEDELA!!! Pump in style advanced! It is pricey but is AWESOME!!! I think most would recommend Medela. It's what they have in the hospitals. SO worth the money. I have two children now, been using it for a LONG time, with no problems and very easy to operate!

I agree with Lisa! This is the best breast pump ever. Worth the investment. I also found it at Target but it cost more there than thru the hospital.

Robin - posted on 08/15/2009

avent electric. its the shit.

whatever you choose go electric. manual pumping sucks arse.

Maria - posted on 08/15/2009

Almost all breast pumps are pretty much the same, the only big difference that you should be aware of is this. Depending on how much you plan on pumping and how offten, you will find your normal pumps and your hospital grade ones. If you are planning on pumping everyday, a lot..the hospital grade ones will help keep your milk flow up.

hope this can help at all,

Maria

April - posted on 08/15/2009

I also used the Medela pump in style. No complaints here.Check with your insurance company or health care provider. My pump was over $300 in the store but I paid just over $200 through my insurance (Kaiser). Worth looking into.

Regina - posted on 08/15/2009

i havn't heard great things about the playtex. medela is BPA free now i think. i used the pump in sytle for the 18 months i pumped for avery. i would contact a lactation consultant or breastfeeding educator to get more details on what may fit you best. ;-)

Nikki - posted on 08/14/2009

i tried the platex brand and found it didn't have enough suction to do the job. i agree the medala was worth the extra money and it took less than half the time i only got 10 minutes at work to pump so the double pump with the power adapter was my choice and it worked wonders good luck!!!

Brea-Anna - posted on 08/14/2009

I am currently using the Evenflo dual battery operated or plug in breast pump. I LOVE IT!! I have been using it for 5 1/2 months. I pump twice a day with it at work so my 7 month old will have fresh milk everyday while with the sitter. It is fast, and easy to clean. I didn't like the bottles it came with, but the Medela pump and save bottles fit it perfectly.

Christine - posted on 08/14/2009

Hi Rachael, Congrats on the baby and making the decision to breast feed! My two boys are healthier for it and we saved thousands on formula. Medela Pump in Style has worked very well for me. I have had issues with being slightly larger in the cha cha's region and for a store bought pump, it has held up with my second child and third one to come. My first pump 13 years ago was a Playtex model and it was terrible. But you can check the reviews on Target's website on Playtex. I did spend nearly $300 on the pump, but it works so well and know I will not have any issues with this one again. Was pricey,but I went lower my first time and it was a waste of funds. BPA free is good to go. You can't return the pump to the store but if you purchase the playtex and it doesnt pump well for you, the company will refund your money. The first 72 hours after birth are the most critical in getting the milk supply going, so dont be shy to talk to the lacation specailists. My second had to be trained how to suck with his mouth and tongue working with each other. My first had no issues. Wondering about #3, but am not shy about asking for help.

Good luck!!!!

Also your insurance might pay for some of the pump cost, check it out. Playtexbaby.com also has coupons to help with the bottles aand cost.

Lisa - posted on 08/14/2009

MEDELA!!! Pump in style advanced! It is pricey but is AWESOME!!! I think most would recommend Medela. It's what they have in the hospitals. SO worth the money. I have two children now, been using it for a LONG time, with no problems and very easy to operate!

Kimberly - posted on 08/14/2009

I used the pump by evenflo and it worked wonders. It was an awesome pump. My son is tongue tied and could only latch on to the nipple that I had pierced because it enlarged the nipple and has two large holes on each side so there is better milk flow for him so he was able to latch onto that nipple but with the smaller one he had trouble so I had to feed on the one side and pump the other to keep the supply equal on both sides until he got the latch right on the other side and it worked great. My supply is even on both sides and this pump is the reason.

Lauren - posted on 08/14/2009

I am not familiar with the one you are looking at but I have been looking into finding a good pump as well. I have learned that there are open systems and closed systems. You definitely want a closed systems. An open system allows milk to get to the motor - which means the pump can not be shared between mothers. A closed system does not allow this and can be shared between mothers as long as each has her own kit! I think the problem with my first pump was that it was an open system. Milk would back up in the tubing. Eventually the motor would barely work because of the milk in the motor!



Hope this helps!