Can I have any opinions on the best Breast Pumps?

Question

So today we are going to go shopping for a breast pump.

I have been told Medela is the best, there are a few different ones to choose from them.

I am going to be a stay at home mom, ( at least for as long as I can take it).

I don't want to JUST breast feed, but I do want my baby girl to have only breast milk... ( hey daddy wants to feed the baby too.)

Would a SINGLE electronic pump be a good choice?

They are so expensive, is there really a need for the double pumps?

I was thinking of getting the Medela Swing single electronic pump. It's $150 usa.

And the Pump in Style is 329 and 279. That's just way to much to pay for since I'm not working.

Any Ideas, I am a first time mommy.

Thank you

Answer 1

The best pump is the Medela Symphony, which you have to rent from the hospital or from a specialize baby/nursing store (do a google search to see where you can rent them in your area).   I didn't want to spend the money on the expensive pump either when i was pregnant, so i bought the single electronic Medela. I never used it because I had to pump exclusively so I needed something more efficient (i still have it, never used, if you want it).  I ended up renting the Symphony from the hospital. If you plan to pump a lot, you should get this or the In Style. It is sooooo worth the money, i PROMISE YOU!!! the one place you should spend money on is a good pump (that is IF you plan to pump a lot).  Skip getting lots of clothes or fancy baby furniture -- buy a good pump instead.  

Also, i don't know your interest in nursing, but if you CAN nurse, then I would stick with it. Pumping is soo tiring!!  especially with all those bottles to wash....  

It's sweet your hubbie wants to participate in the feedings, so did mine (and, so did my MIL, grrr...), but, it's not a great reason to choose pumping.  Pumping is a last-resort choice, not anything anyone would really choose to do UNLESS they can't nurse or they're going back to work.  you'll see.... you'll come to just dread it....and, if you feed your baby from a bottle too soon (before 6 weeks) then she will start to reject your breast altogether and demand to be fed by bottle. If you get in that situation then you'll always have to pump....and you don't want to go down that road.... been there, done that, it sucks! ended up switching to formula when my baby was 3 1/2 months after pumping exclusively because i just couldn't take it anymore...

Answer 2

I would get the Medela, because in my experience, it is living up to its good reputation.  My baby had to have surgery at 3 days old and I was the same way: I wanted her to still have just breastmilk, so I brought the pump to the hospital and it has been a dream over the past week.

The one thing I might change is to not get the expensive double pump version.  So far, I have never found myself able to pump both at once anyway (I usually use the "free" hand to massage my breast, hold the baby or flip through a book/magazine), so that feature is going to go unused and I could have saved some money.

Good luck and kudos to you for breastfeeding.

Answer 3

I used the Avent Isis manual pump.  Perfect for the odd times I wanted to express - mainly once a day in the first few weeks.  Its hard on the hands initially, but I soon got used to it, and often I can pump a couple of times, and the milk will just flow into the bottle.  I don't use it much now my son is 5 months, just breastfeed cause its so much more convenient!  

Another important thing I found is the shape of the breast attachment, I think the Avent is good for small-medium sized b*****s, and the tommy tippee for large b*****s.  Manual pumps are also cheaper.

Answer 4

I pump exclusively since I returned to work.  I use the Lansinoh double pump. . .about 150.00 at Walmart and it work great.  I began pumping right after my son was born because he was in the NIC unit for about a week.  I continued to pump a couple of minutes after each feeding to collect extra to freeze.  Now, I pump for about 20 minutes at a time 4 times a day and get enough milk to feed him breast milk only (he is 5 months) with an extra bottle or two to spare.  I like it because it is less expensive, you can order replacement parts on-line and it can either be plugged in or run on batteries if my husband and I go out.  The one thing it does not have is a bag, but I bought a bag on clearance from Target for a couple of bucks.

Answer 5

a double pump is good but a single pump is nice too.  Have you talked to the hospital?  Sometimes they will let you rent one instead of having to buy one.  Thats what I did.  I used medela and it was nice, I pumped for 20 minutes using the double pump and it made 2 bottles for my newborn

Answer 6

I work full time so I use the Pump in Style and I love it!! If you're going to be a SAHM than the Swing should work just fine for you.

Answer 7

i think breast pumps are a waste of money because you have to pump for so long to get anything out even the electric ones are useless. the best thing is to just sit looking at your baby and massage it out into a sterilised container