Picking a Pump

Thats so exciting you are going to breastfeed this time around! I would reccomend the Medela pump. It'S A electric double breasted pump and has been my life savor over the last six months. It's so easy to use and pumps milk very quickly. one more quick thing when you get sore from the baby sucking you should try a product called Lansinoh it helped so much. Dont give up it's so WORTH IT...

I have used a few different kinds, but I like Medela best. I would suggest you not skimp if you are planning on working and pumping for a long time. The money will be well worth it and it will help make a difficult thing a little easier if you have a powerful electric pump.

I agree with almost everyone! The Medela brand is the best. I used the double pump for my first two babies, then with my third the motor went out(only because milk backed up into it) I then only bought the single pump and I LOVED both of them. I work in a hospital so I got to use the hospital one while at work and they are very similar. If you can rent a hospital grade one, I would do that, but Medela is the next best thing.

Hi J.,
I had twins last year and I also had to have a c-section. I used a Medela pump in the Hospital and continued to for the first eight months. I know how hard it is to get started, I kept at it and I was able to both breast feed and bottle feed each day. I supplemented with formula for the breast milk I couldn't produce. But my doctor assured me that even just nursing once or twice a day can help with the babies immunities and lesson their chance of getting sick. Good luck
B.

Everything I have heard/read makes me think Medela is the best brand (may have spelled it wrong). I used it when I went back to work and did it for a year with pretty good results. You can pump right into bottles, but I still ended up putting it in the Gerber bags so you can freeze it. Good luck.

Invest in a good quality Medela pump. With my first child I worked 40 hours a week and breastfed exclusively. I borrowed my SIL Medela Pump In Style (it even has a little fridge compartment) for 6 months, then I bought my own Medela Pump In Style Advanced. I have to say, the Original Pump In Style worked better for me because I could adjust the suction and speed separately, the Advanced version you have to adjust it together. Also, they hold up EXTREMELY well. I have used my pump for 2 children, breastfeeding for over a year with both and plan on using it for my third child. Well, worth the expense. Plus, you can find new unused factory sealed ones for cheaper on Ebay, that is what I did. Well worth the savings in having to buy formula as well! :) Good luck!

hi J.!
I didn't read all the responses you have gotten so far...but for my first 2 kids I used the Avent pump. It was recommended to me and I loved it. It's supposedly closer to 'natural' (like how the baby's mouth is on you. I had absolutely no problems with it, and it was FAST (for a manual.)I totally loved it, and plan to use it again with my next baby one day!!
I hope you can 'unstressfully' find what works for you personally- I know there are so many choices...

Hi J.! I have a 3 1/2 month old son, and I had only intended on breastfeeding until going back to work, which I did about a month ago. When I had my twins 10 years ago, breastfeeding didn't work out for a variety of reasons so I was determined to breastfeed this baby at least through my maternity leave. I, too, had a c-section with this one (not the twins) and breastfeeding at the beginning was really tough!

But he was doing so well and thriving so I stuck with it and ended up deciding I would try pumping at work. I have a Medela Pump in Style Backpack. I pump either into Medela storage bottles or Medela bags that you can pump directly into and store as well. It definitely takes commitment and extra work, but it's so worth it! I am going to try to make it until 6 months, but I am taking it one month at a time. My husband is a stay at home dad, so he gives our son breastmilk by bottle during the day and I nurse him nights, mornings and weekends. Recently, everyone in our home, including me, got REALLY bad colds, but my son didn't get sick at all! One of the many benefits of breastfeeding are the antibodies the baby gets from the mom. So, good luck- you can definitely do it! But I will say, do whatever works for you, and don't beat yourself up if you can't make it work. Let me know if you have any other questions.

I used the Playtex pump and I loved it. You can adjust the speed and suction and do both sides at the same time. It came with a really nice carrying bag and replacement parts. It wasn't outrageously expensive, but it wasn't super cheap either. But I really liked it.

With my 2nd child (7 weeks early) I wanted to nurse and so we rented a pump from the hospital and I used the one at the NICU. They were the Medela ones and I liked them.

A good friend of mine is nursing her 3rd and working full-time. She bought the Dr. Brown's dual pump and really likes it. It has a different kind of action so it was kind of hard to get used to it at first, but she likes it better than any of the other kinds she used. She said it uses more of a massage action. To me it seems like it would be much more comfortable in the long run!

Congrats on your new baby!

Hi J.,
I have been pumping for six months now. I have too quick of a let down for my son (which caused many problems) but really wanted to give him the advantages of breatmilk. So I have been pumping since he was a month old. I own the Medela Pump In Style Breast Pump. It was expensive ~$250 but worth EVERY penny! I bought mine through the hospital (Community Memorial) and it was a little bit cheaper than in the stores. I have friends who have used other brands and they don't even compare. Mine is used at least six times a day and is still working perfectly! It's fairly easy to clean and travel with. It also hasn't been to rough on my nipples. I believe that you can pump right into bottles, but I don't.

J. T -
The lactation consultant I worked with says Medela is the ONLY brand to buy. I was hesitant because they do cost quite a bit (at least for the double one) - but let me tell you, it is well worth the cost! They use only Medela products at the hospital I was at and I used their Hospital-Grade one while I was there. The consultant recommended that I buy the Medela Swing. It's just a single breast pump, but because I was producing so much milk she thought that alternating breasts every few hours to pump would be fine for me. I actually ended up going with the double one though and I'm so glad that I did. The one I purchased (in Sept 2007) is the "Pump in Style Advanced Metro Bag". I like that I can remove everything from the bag and use the bag in the future for another purpose. Some of the pumps are built right into the bag. If I wanted, I can take the pump out of this one as it's not built into the bag and put it in another bag. The only thing that I purchased that didn't come with the pump is a car adapter. I have used it several times in the car now and it works great! I freeze a lot of my milk to send with my daughter to daycare, so the transferring of milk isn't a huge deal. I really don't think it takes that much time. Many bottles would fit the part and you could pump right into the bottle if you wanted. If you ever want to talk feel free to email me at ____@____.com

Good Luck!
~A.
Mommy to Avery Jace (our angel son, stillborn at 34 weeks 2 days on September 5, 2006 -6lbs 8oz 18 inches long- reason for death unknown)
And to Teagan Janell (our living daughter, born August 27, 2007 - her due date was her big brother's 1st birthday, but we induced at 38 1/2 weeks; she has brought us so much joy)

I used the medela pump in style, too. Because of latch issues and a difficult recovery from c-sec I pumped exclusively for the first 3 months, at which point ds suddenly got the hang of latching. It is a wonderful pump and well worth the money, considering how much formula costs. Easy to use, easy to clean, I highly recommend this pump!

Not to sound like a broken record, but I used the Medela too. Mine looked like a black leather briefcase, and had a nice area where you could store the pumped milk in sort of a cooler with an ice pack. The Medela we rented from the hospital worked better (a stronger pump I guess) but it LOOKED like a breast pump. Good luck.

Medela is one of the best and is closest to hospital-grade, meaning good suction and similar to baby's suction. They are expensive, but worth it if you will be pumping often. They also have good resale value!

I successfully nursed both my sons until 2 1/2 years old while working a very demanding full-time job at the airlines, and I owe all of it to the pump I bought called Medella's "Just my style". It was a double electric pump and did what I needed done on each 15 minute break with ease. It takes a big commitment but was so worth it! My nursing "career" ended 5 years ago so Medella may have a new and improved version of it, but go to the Lactation Station and they will let you "try" them all out!

I've used a couple of different ones, from Advent hand held to top of the line. I would seriously recommend spending the money on Medula. It's awesome. I don't have a big let down and with the pump it was worse. Medula has a let down setting that works wonders. It's an investment, but worth it. Pricing will vary on options like do you want it in a backpack so you can carry it into work, or do you need it to plug into your car or will batteries work. This is the brand that is used in a number of hospitals for premie babies moms. You can check out e-bay for a pump and then always order new attachments. You don't want to share the attachements. Really - of all the things to spend money on, if you are going to seriously pump spend the money on something fast, effecient, and painless.
http://www.bestbuybaby.com/medbreas.html

Hi J., congratulations on #2. I am actually pregnant with #4&5. It is my 2nd set of twins. Yes, life is about to get insane. But in regards to a pump. With the last set of twins, they were in the NICU for 3 weeks and since they were not home to nurse, I had to pump and take the milk to the hospital. I had purchased a pump from medela with my first pregnancy, it worked well. Then with the twins I rented a hospital pump. I do not remember how much the monthly fee was but it was TOTALLY worth it. I NEVER used my medela pump. The hospital pump was so fast and worked wonders. I could get about 8-12 ounces on about 10 minutes. I hope this helps. Good luck!!!
----S.

When I had my first two, I was working part-time. I researched pumps like crazy and finally decided it must be worth spending the big bucks for a nice pump. I got the Medela Pump In Style and loved it. I have also seen reviews of people not liking.

I recommend getting the best pump that you can afford. In the long run it will pay for itself with the money you won't need to spend on formula.

The one I used was double (a little tricky at first!) pump and it also had the ability to pump short and fast when your first turned it on. This was to mimic a hungry baby when they first start sucking to get your milk moving and get it to let down. It also had an area to store milk with little freezer pack. I worked 10 hour shifts and needed the milk to stay cold until I could get home. Very helpful and fast since it was double.

My pump is over 4 years old and works like a champ. I am sure they have more advanced ones out there now!

Good Luck!

Hi J.,
I have an eight month old little boy. I am still nursing and I use a pump when I work. I love the Ameda Purely Yours. It works fast and has alot of options. You can use an electric outlet for power, a battery, or a car lighter outlet. It works quickly and has easy cleanup. It is also pretty small so you can put in any size bag.
I actually talked with the lactation Consultant at the hospital, and she recommended this pump to me, before I began using it. Here is a link with what it looks like.
www.amedaonline.com.
I hope this helps.

I really like the advent system, but didn't ever need to pump consistently. When I had trouble with #1 and 2, I went to a few different lacation specialists, both in and out of the hospital, and the general consensus was that if you need to pump, put in the etra money and rent one from the hospital. Hand pumping and even some electric pumps will actually deplete your supply because it doesn't mimic baby well enough. Ours charges $25 a month and includes unlimited apts with lacation specialists through the hospital. It was worth every penny. But again, I didn't need it long-term. My #3 and 4 were so good from the start and went easily until 12 months, and I am a SAHM, so my situation was different. Good luck! I think it's worth the trouble. But, I also think that if it doesn't work for the whole family, it's not worth having a sibling or me, or hubby resent baby. No guilt if it doesn't work! Good luck!!

I know a lot of people went with the Medela here, but I went for the Avent Isis IQ double pump and I love it - the one thing that sold me on this pump is that it is a sealed system in which no milk enters the tubing or pump - much easier and more sanitary to clean. I work full time and pump twice a day and this pump has allowed me to maintain my supply, and I've even used it to help up my supply when my son went into growth spurts. Go to www.breastpumps.org for reviews and info on all the pumps and the best prices I found. Good luck!

I absolutely LOVE the Medela pumps. They're a little more pricey, but you won't regret the investment. They truly are quality pumps & they come with two transfer type bottles, lids, tubing bottle stands & cup attachments. You can adjust the speed & suction & most come in a carry case that looks alot like a carry on bag. The only downfall is that you have to find a room where you can plug it in. Most companies do work with nursing mothers though. I wish you luck!

P.S. The Lansinoh Breastmilk storage bags are the best!

I used the Ameda Purely Yours for 13 months with my son and I was satisfied with it. I haven't tried any other pump, but it worked for me. I did originally want a pump that you could use directly with the bottles and almost bought the newer playtex pump. For cost reasons and the fact the the ameda pump has been around longer, I went with that one. It worked out well for me because at work I would pump into the ameda bottles and I would transfer the milk into freezer bags when I got home so I could portion out 4 ounces at a time for less waste, especially when he was little. I plan on using the pump for #2 due in march. I also liked the feature on the pump where it is a closed system which means milk can never get into the tubing which I guess can happen with the Medela pumps and then it is hard to deal with. I didn't have to worry about washing the tubing after each pump which would have been a hassle. Good luck.

Check with your Dr and see if he will write you a prescription for an electric pump. Insurance companies (some of them) will cover the cost of one now depending on what the Dr writes on the script. You can even see if your office knows if your insurance is one that covers. My Blue Cross Blue Shield covered a brand new Medela Backpack pump ($320 at BRU) and we paid nothing for it. I loved it by the way, and I used it to pump directly into freezable bags, which saves washing bottles. I liked that a lot better this time.
Good Luck!
C.

MEDELA PUMP IN STYLE is the only way to go! call Columbia Birthing Center. They will not only hook you up with the best price for the pump, and all of the "attachments" (they make no profit from the sale), they will answer any and all of your nursing questions even if you are not giving birth there! I think it was around $180 for everything? I got an extra set of all the attachments "just in case". on-line it would have been over $100 for the extra set, but at the birthing center it was $20! I am currently in month 7 of breastfeeding twins while working full-time, and I have never questioned my decision. tip: when you pump for the first time, have someone who has used the pump show you how. you could bring it to the hospital if you don't know someone personally. it can be a little overwhelming at first, but after a few times, it will be as easy as pie! good luck, C.

I HIGHLY suggest getting a Medela (Pump in Style- I think it is) pump. They are more expensive but worth it!!!!!!! You can rent a hospital grade one from your hospital even :)
I bought one because I was determined to nurse for at least a year.
They say not to buy it used (given that it's a bodily fluid) but I have seen them on craigslist for sale- you wouldn't get the warranty though....
Also- I found mine at the Hospital in Oconomowoc for the cheapest- target was the most expensive- just call around!
Also if you rent call around to hospitals and see who is the cheapest :)

Good Luck with #2

I used a medela pump in style electric/ when I was pumping at work. I thought it was fast and I was able to store milk easily. Give breastfeeding some time and get help from the lactation consultants if you need it. They helped me a lot since I had some latching on issues with my son.

I have used two pumps. The First years...awful compared to Medela. Also, I think most insurance companies will pay for a medela pump, something to keep in mind. I defently recomend Medela.
Hope you have wonderful success with breastfeeding!

I used Medela Pump Advnaced. We splurged and got the better one. I loved it! It pumps in 10 minutes or less on both sides at the same time. You can attach the bottle right to the pumps and it comes with a storage bag with ice pack.

I use a Medela pump and it works awesome! I pump twice a day at work which provides enough for my 7 month old. I tried and Avent pump with my first and it did nothing for me and I had a good supply of milk. I found my Medela pump on Craigslist.com for $40 and used my own bottles and tubes. Good luck!
p.s. Oatmeal helps my milk supply.

My son was a preemie so I pumped around the clock for 7 months. IF you want the best pump and most effecient for your time I would recommend the Ameda purely yours. It was my best friend for many sittings. It also pumps into bottles. Its very small and it comes with a bag to travel and it plugs in or can use a battery or car adapter. Highly recommended if you are going to use it often its worth the money

Congrats on the new baby!

I have to speak up for the Avent Double Isis IQ; I used it for eight months while working, three or more times a day. I liked the massage let-down cushions, which basically cushion your nipple some from the intense suction (which is totally controllable). On the days that I forgot to pack the cushions, the pump still worked, but oh, I'd be sore afterwards. As far as I know, the Medela does not have any sort of cushioning. And while sharing the "pumping room" with another new mother at work, I noticed that my Avent was much quieter than her Medela Pump in Style.

I ended up buying a second set of massage cushions, etc., so that I didn't need to wash everything each night. As a full-time working mom, just that little thing (having a second set) made my life a lot easier.

Also--once you get into a pumping routine, you may find that having a little radio and space heater can help relax you. (As a teacher, I had to sneak away to pump in a corner of the freezing cold girls' team locker room--not exactly conducive to relaxation...!)

Good luck with your pump!

Medela is the worlds best pump they are great

My son (my second child) was 8 weeks early and I was stuck on breastfeeding. I nursed my daughter for a year, so I knew that I wanted to do it again. It was VERY difficult to nurse a preemie! I did go to the hospital and talk to the lactation consultants. The hospitals do have programs in which you can rent really good pumps (that's what I used). I think it's well worth it, if you don't mind not owning it at the end. Otherwise a lactation consultant is probably a good person to ask for the correct pump to fit your needs. After all of that, I did eventually nurse my son for a full 14 months, so it was worth it! He went from a 3 pound baby to a 32 pound 2 year old, so something worked :).

I recommend the Medela Pump in Style. It is what I used both times I pumped and I used it for over 8 months each time. It is a bit expensive, but worth every penny. In fact, I resold mine both times for not much less than I paid for. But it is very quiet, gentle, and you can double pump once you get the hang of it. And right into the bottles :) Good luck!

I am currently nursing my 8 month old son. I have a daughter who is 9 that I tried to nurse, but like in your situation, she was in the hospital and it only lasted a month. My 6 year old was formula fed. I had no idea what pump to get either. I went with the Medela Pump N Style. I love it. I am a student and was working as well. Now only a student. This pump works for me. My insurance actully paid for it, so you may wannna check into that. I would suggest a double pump, so you can pump both sides at once. Good Luck

I've had two boys, both b/f and I have had two different pumps. With my first son (back in '01) I had an Avent hand pump...it was nice at first and good for occasional pumping. But after awhile the plastic got super soft and it didn't do a good job of sealing on the pump itself to get proper suction. I would only recommend that pump if you want to do pumping every so often.

With my second son ('05) I bought the travel version of the Medela pump . . .it could be battery operated or plugged into the wall. I loved that pump and used it often...way more than I should have and ultimately ended up burning it up! Had I known how much I liked that pump, I would have definitely spent the extra money to buy the more expensive 'heavier duty' pump. The other thing I liked about the Medela pumps is that you can go online and order different breast shields to fit you, instead of having just one standard size - I'm not sure if other pumps do that or not. You can pump directly into a bottle with Medela and you can also use some of the Playtex bottles with it as well...they come with an adapter for it.

Hope this helps...good luck with the rest of your journey! Also I'm a breastfeeding mentor, so if you have any questions, just give me a holler! ;)

A.

I used the Medela Pump in Style and was completely satisfied with it. You can pump right into the bottles (or into bags- but I never tried that). I saw some people talked about getting milk in the tubing- I used my pump for a year and never had that happen so I'm not sure how that happens. I breastfed the first year and went back to work at 9 weeks. So I pumped a lot- and always had more than enough milk for my baby. Medela is expensive- but in my opinion- worth every penny.

Hi J.,

I breastfed/pumped all three of my children (now 4,2,and 1). I used the Ameda purly yours pump wich lasted me through all three children (I ordered new sterile tubing for each) and also a medela hand pump. I actually found the hand pump easier because it was an easy take along and expressed at my rate. Forewarning, I bought the Avent handpump system previous to my last child and it was very cheaply made, with little to no suction, and the bottle popped off of the pump frequently. Hope this helps.

God Bless
A.

J., With my two children, I went back to work full time after 8 weeks. I breastfed my first for 8 months and my second for 18 months. I used the Medela Pump n' Style. Backpack version. It worked great. You can double pump and it is efficient without being prohibitively expensive. You can put the milk straight into the bottles. After 26 months of use, the 6 year old pump is still working and I plan to use it again to express milk for my next, due in March. I will not hesitate to recommend it to you. Good luck with whatever you decide.

The Medela pumps are the gold standard for breast pumps. My son was born premature and I had to pump for the first few months until he came home. After he came home, we never were able to be very successful breastfeeding, but I wanted him to get breastmilk, so I continued to pump for almost a year. Hospitals use the commercial grade Medela pumps too and that says a lot for the durability and reputation of the pumps. They are more expensive than some of the other brands, but you can find deals online. You can also rent them if you don't want to purchase your own and if you only plan on using it for a few months. The Medela Pump in Style is the one I used at home and it's great because you can pump from both sides at once. They also have bottles that attach to the shields so you can store the milk right in the bottles. Good luck!

Hi J., Congratulations on the coming new baby! I used a Medela Electric Pump, but cant remember which model exactly that it was. It was a double pumper and it worked really fast and well. Do you have WIC (women, infants & Children) in your area? Because if you meet certain criteria they will lend you an electric pump and give you advice on storing, best foods to eat etc. Also you can rent one from your hospital which i did and it was pretty reasonably priced. I pumped for 6 months with my last child and it worked really well, i took my pump to work with me, which your boss is required by law to allow you to take the time to do it, i did mine on breaks. It is a commitment, but so worthwhile if hell on the old boobs lol!!! But it is such a good feeling to be able to offer your baby such a good start in life, and the benefits it gives far outweighs the inconvenience. You are doing a wonderful thing.
Good luck and God Bless you and your family!
Shane

I used a Whittlestoen to induce lactation for my adopted son ( I had breastfed my 5 bio kids, but had not nursed for 8 years prior to his adoption) This was very successful for me.

Best wishes,
E. in Wi

If you can afford it, try renting one from Airway Oxygen or other medical supply place. The milk goes directly in the bottle and they are industrial-strength, like the kind you use in a hospital. I don't know how much they cost because my insurance paid for mine, but I do know you can rent them by the month.

I was only able to nurse my 1st born for 2 months due to a really bad sinus infection (and the types of medicine that I had to take). Then- I used a $30- $40 pump I purchased from Target....... I HATED that pump, it hurt and made me sore, it was very uncomfortable. With my 2nd I was able to nurse for 13 months.... and loved the pump I purchased. It was a Medela Advanced Pump In Style. This pump even has a let down feature to simulate as if you were nursing. Needless to say It was quite a bit more spendy. The price can range from $250 -$325 depending on where you buy it. But From my personal experience it was, has been and is worth every single penny we paid. This pump comes with a ice pack and storage container for your milk ( if pumping at work or on the road) It also had 4 bottles that fit into the storage container ( and the ice pack is made of a hard plastic that is formed to give each bottle it's own slot in the storage container.).Now I am using my pump with our 3rd child. And I still love it! You can even purchase a car plug in so that if you are traveling ( which we do a lot ) you can pump in the car. Talk about convenient! Anyway I really hope that this has helped some. If you have any questions about the pump please don't hesitate to e-mail me, I'd be happy to answer any questions I could help you with. Also this pump has new freezer bags that have a double zip feature (they are nice ) and you can pump both breast at the same time , which is nice if you have to pump at work. you have the choice to pump directly into the bottle or into the freezer bag.

I had read the other response and thought I'd let you know that I never had problems with milk going into my tubing. The hospital told me that if that ever happened you just pour rubbing alcohol in each tube and let them dry out. The alcohol sterilizes the tube.

I had the same issues. I think the most important part for me was getting an electric dual pump. When I was at work it would only take 10 minutes and I was done. I used the medela double electric pump. It attaches to most regular bottles so you don't have to transfer but it won't fit the wide mouth bottles. It is easy and quick. I was able to nurse my second and third children for a year using this same pump! Good luck!

The Pump in Style by Medella is the best! I used it for an entire year while working & never had any problems. I fast & my milk supply always stayed up. It comes with freezer pack & cooler so you can keep milk in there if you don't have access to a fridge at work. It's really great. It is quite pricey, though, but some insurances cover it, especially if you Dr. writes a prescription for it. Let me know if you have any questions!

I have been using the Avent Isis double electric pump for a few weeks now for my second child and like it a lot. For my first I used the Medela pump-n-style and had lots of trouble with the motor. I'd definitely recommend this for a working mom like myself.