Breast pumps and other mysteries « Back to Group Discussions

[typebug]

So, I'm not planning to do a huge amount of pumping, really just enough so that I can have the occasional break and so that when I do have my first night out with DH with family looking after the little sprog it isn't a total shocker. I generally feel like maybe the electric pump is overkill so I have been reading reviews on the manual Medela Harmony Breast Pump. I'm a total NOOB at this and have no idea if this pump is appropriate or easy for a first timer to master. Anyone have advice?

[etsdtm99]

I've only ever owned a manual pump (an advent isis)  it worked fine for me as a first timer for relieving engorgement and for the occasional night out - i very very rarely ended up actually leaving but i used the pump most nights because i just wanted to know i could..   looking back, i don't know what i was thinking, with #2 and #3 - i learned to hand express and if i knew i was going to go out for some reason i'd hand express a few times a day for a few days until i had a full bottle and then i'd leave it for baby and he/she would refuse it and wait for me (most of the time) ;)   with #3 i didn't bother most of the time because i was only leaving her for a couple hours, i'd nurse her before i left and she would be fine until i got back.. (then suddenly she would freak out and want to eat, babies know when mom isn't there)
 

anyway, a manual pump should be fine for what you're describing ..

[odinsmama]

Agreed, a manual should be enough for an occasional time away from baby.
I know one mom who even uses her manual to supplement milk for another baby whose mama doesn't make enough, so it's effective enough for extra pumping too, just more work than an electric.

Just don't get a Gerber (or other brands that also make formula). I used a manual Gerber with ds1, very occasionally, and it sucked.
There's a theory that the formula making companies, who also make breast pumps, make their pumps not very effective so mom doesn't pump much volume and thinks she's not making enough and starts supplementing with formula. Dunno. But a Medela will be good.

[kellybeth]

...i'm officially torn between the manual advent and the manual medela.

i really like advent glass bottles and the nipples, so i'm leaning more towards that brand. 

so many decisions!

[waywornwanderer]

I just bought the manual Lanisoh breast pump yesterday. I'm a FTM and have zero experience with breast feeding or pumping- I just really wanted to have a pump on hand just in case I have a supply issue that could be assuaged by pumping. The Lanisoh was really well reviewed on Amazon, but so was the Medela. Lanisoh makes some really interesting BPA-free bottles, too- slow flow and wide neck, kind of shaped spherically. I haven't bought them (yet) but maybe if I decide to supplement with a bottle here or there I will. I'm a nanny, and have always preferred glass bottles (I like Dr. Brown's natural flow glass ones, despite their cumbersome parts) so the Avent is appealing in that regard, it just wasn't as well reviewed and for the same price I opted for the slightly better reviewed product. Either way, I get reimbursed by insurance. 

[Chloe'sMama]

I have a hand me down 'pump in style' and have had it since DD1 was born.  I pumped a bit for her and for DD2, but never really gave any of it to the girls (I don't think dd2 ever took a bottle).  I really had a hard time with clogged ducts and got mastitis a few times with each girl.  It was super nice to have something help work through that.  

[typebug]

Great info! Thanks everyone. I'm feeling more confident about going down there and getting that Medela one. I was thinking of using some small glass jars for milk storage. What are people's preferred sterilizing methods?