Breast Pumps « Back to Group Discussions

[firespiritmelody]

I'm needing to get a new breast pump for this baby because my old faithful is dying. I had an Ameda Purley Yours that I loved and it worked great with DD2&3. None of my local stores sell them so I'd have to order a new one online. I do have an Avent manual pump that I like too so I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the Avent electric pumps.

I don't care for the Medela pumps since I've heard far too many horror stories about moldy milk in the pumps since it's not a closed system.

Any thoughts?

[1babysmom]

I have only ever pumped for donation (of course we've used some pumped milk occasionally, but it's a rare thing) so I don't have a lot of experience with everyday pumping.  I, too, like my Avent manual.  I could get a nice amount from each breast with it and actually feel like it did a thorough job.  I had a Gerber manual in the early days and didn't like it much...  But I was given a Medela PIS and that thing was amazing (at first I was getting 10oz PER side...never got less than about 8oz/side if I was pumping at optimal times).  I'm not sure about the mold thing...I was able to take it all apart (except for the motor, obviously, but no milk even comes close to there??) and sterilize it and could buy all new parts for it too. 

This time I'm going to get the Medela Swing, though, so I can jump pump on one side as needed (don't think I'll be doing much for donation this time).  But I'm also going to get the splitter as well and try it out as a double electric.

[firespiritmelody]

Originally Posted by 1babysmom 

 I'm not sure about the mold thing...I was able to take it all apart (except for the motor, obviously, but no milk even comes close to there??) and sterilize it and could buy all new parts for it too. 

That's actually exactly the problem. Microscopic amounts of milk can get into the motor and get moldy. It's not a "closed" system (or at least it didn't used to be - maybe someone has new information??) As I understand it, only the hospital rental pumps have a closed system that is completely able to be sanitized.

[1babysmom]

Hmmm...I'd actually never heard of that and can't imagine how that milk makes it all the way in there. (you can clean pretty much into the "guts" of it...not saying it can't happen though!)  Though my pump came from a close family member who hadn't used it much at all, and I didn't use it all that frequently either. (I can see how using it multiple times a day every day could present a whole different ballgame though)  It wasn't a concern for the mama's I donated too (I only donate locally), I always disclosed every detail (which pump and the fact that mine came slightly used) and all three of them said they were using the PIS as well.