Pumpers (for breastmillk)

C

clowe77

Registered User
Hi Ladies - I was at Mothercare yesterday and was surprised by the array of pumpers available... There were electric ones and manual ones! Any thoughts on which is better (as in more practical and easier to use)? The electric ones were easily twice the price of the manual ones; however, if it is really a better investment, I'd be willing to try them out. Since they're pretty pricey, I thought I'd ask around first for anyone with experience/thoughts on this...

:thanks
 
i liked the medela electric. i wish i had it with my first. i had two cheap brands of pumps with my first and they were TERRIBLE!

i definitely think that a good pump is worth it, especially if you are set on having your baby fed breast milk.
 
If you are going to be working and relying on pumping several times a day you definitely want electric. If you are going to be home with your child and only pumping for the periodic bottle when you are away, you might be fine with a manual. I found the electric to be easier than the manual, but the manual worked fine too. Some folks without great milk production find the manual is not enough.

So, it depends on your projected use.
 
when i had my daughter, i rented the medela symphony which is an electric dual pump like they use in the hospitals. this saved so much time.
i was very intent on breast feeding and with the use of this was able to breast feed til my little one for 8 months.
they rent out the machine itself and you buy all the parts so hygiene is not an issue.
for us, this worked out better than buying.
 
I pump exclusively so definitely needed double/electric - I have the medela pump in style (it's actually in a backpack so great for taking out and about).
 
Same as Arismom, I rent the Medela Symphony double pump, it's efficient and silent. I also have a small manual one for week-ends or holidays, just in case.
 
I am with LeahH. I used the Medla Pump in Style for my first and am still using it for my second. It came together with a very basic medela manual pump which I used once while on holiday but it was pretty hard work. The backpack is good if you are returning to work.
 
Thanks so much, ladies - this is all so helpful (and consistent!!). I plan to take off work for at least 6 months to stay at home with our first baby, but thereafter I may be pumping more furiously so I do agree the electric (medela) one sounds to be a good investment.

We're planning to follow the Gina Ford method with newborns (because a few friends here with babies have been singing her praises) which says that one feeding per night (even while exclusively breastfeeding) should be on the bottle. According to her theory, I think, this makes it easier later in life for baby to transition/adjust to a bottle and it also gives Dad a chance to bond with the baby through the bottle (not to mention gives Mom at least one break per night). We're going to try to follow her book (The Contented Little Baby Book, I think it's called) and see how it goes...

Thanks again gals for all your advice!
 
please remember though, you baby has NOT read her book. it is JUST a guide. you will make yoursefl crazy if you try to follow it to the letter!

good luck and enjoy your baby!
 
Thanks, Rani! Glad to know there are other positive testimonials on Gina Ford. As first time parents, we do need some kind of a guideline to follow as least as a general framework and it helps that friends have really gotten a lot out of her books...

Thanks again for those articles.
 
This might be surprising as it's contrary to all the responses thus far but I have both the Medela double pump electric as well as the Avent isis out and about manual breastpump and hands down I'd recommend the Avent. The kit is around the $600 mark and has been brilliant so far. I work from home, but it has been a godsend whenever I needed to be out for a meeting. The medela electric felt unnatural and was very awkward whenever I tried to pump with baby on breast. It was also a nuisance to set up early in the morning to relieve engorged breasts and would put me off pumping a lot of the time. I found that I pumped faster and a lot more comfortably with the Avent because I could control the suckling rhythm as well as the massage let down cushion actually works and I'm not one to fall for such gimmicks. The entire kit is well stocked out and it's super convenient if you use Avent bottles as it pumps right into them. I've even used it in the cinema very discreetly under a long overcoat when away from the little one on a date with the husband. The insulated carry case and ice packs works very well to keep the milk fresh. Plus, it's really easy to clean.

Here's a link http://www.avent.com/uk/en/travel_products_isis_out_and_about_set.php

Hope that helps!
 
Thanks, Nashua852! What you've said makes a lot of sense and I have to admit the whole "electric" pump idea kinda scared me a bit, which is why I thought to ask around... I guess it's all very personal and individual so I just might have to try both types out before deciding what suits me best.
 
Hi Clowe,

I have used both Medela double electric and Avent Isis and have managed to breastfeed my first baby without any formula to 20 months (I went to work 3 weeks after baby was born). I initially found Medela electric much better and easier to use since I had tons of milk and it would take me ages to do it with manual and my hand would get sore from pressing. I also found that for the full day of work I would have to pump 3 times with manual, or only 2 times with electric (by quantity of needed milk).
Later on when baby started to eat solid foods, I found I do not need so much milk, and actually electric also started to feel somewhat uncomfortable, so I switched at some point to manual.
If you are looking for a manual one, Avent Isis is a good. I had two more manual pumps as (unneeded) presents and found them to be terrible.
 
Thank you Nyonya... sounds like maybe I should wait til after baby is here to see how much I am able to pump to begin with! Would be depressing for me if I went a bought a really flashy electric one only to find my breasts are not "working" the way I want them to. Hmmmm... all these comments have been so useful. Thanks a lot everyone!
 
know you have lots of replies already, here's my take. Used the Avent manual and Medela symphony (rented) for my 1st baby practically from birth till 9 months or so. Have to admit that electric, being a duo pump is much quicker and less tiring on the hands. However the Avent pump with the silicon padding on the funnel bit, actually is more efficient in clearing the breast. Hence, when you start to pump less, will be less likely to get blocked duct using the Avent.

Now with baby no. 2 (4.5 months now), I actually bought the Avent Duo electric pump, found it has the advantage of a dual pump and the good design of the Avent manual. I figured that if I plan to carry on as long for no. 2, then buying it works out to be same, if not cheaper, than renting.

Finally, for the amount of milk you have, although differing in people, if you do not have enough, can always supplement with formula. Seems it's better for baby to have some breastmilk (as much as the mother can make) than none at all. Good Luck!
 
Oh, forgot to mention I also used the Medela single electric for my 1st one before renting the Symphony, and I find the Avent electric to be better.
 
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