Need some help..

[ellymay]

what are the best kind of breast pump? With dd I used and electric Even Flow and it SUCKED I couldn't even get 1/2 an ounce out and I KNOW I
had a ton of milk bc I would leak more than that. I would like to have an
electric and manual one. Any help would be appreciated.

[~*max*~]

I love my Medella Pump In Style. It is an electric double pump. It works incredibly well. I could drain both breasts simultaneously in about 15 minutes. It is expensive, but well worth it (around $200 when I bought it 6 years ago). I have used it w/my past three babes and will with this one also.

[nitareality]

For a manual pump, I love my Avent Isis. Very easy and very quick. I had no problems with it at all.

[merrick]

It really depends on what you'll be using it for. If you're going to be working full time, you really need a hospital grade double electric pump, like a Medela Pump in Style or the Ameda Purely Yours. I have heard of people using the Avent Isis with great results, but it will take longer unless you have two of them and your hands might get tired. If you're going to be at home most of the time, I'd go with the Isis. I was able to get out just as much with it as with my PIS, it just took some more time. Definitely stay away from the Gerber, Evenflo, etc. brands. Stick with Medela, Ameda, or Avent and you should be fine.

[babydoll]

I had the medela pump in style. It worked great. I would go with an electric for sure. They are expensive, but they work.

I got mine at

www.affordablebreastpumps.com

I am not sure if that link still works but I got with for like $185 shipped with the extra adapter.

Good luck!

Shop around for bargains! THere are deals to be had!

Babydoll

[tomtemama]

I third the Avent Isis for a hand held.

As far as an electric pump I agree with Merrick Stick with Medela, Ameda, or Avent and you should be fine.

[ellymay]

I am only using it for when I get so engorged to get some relief and incase I need
someone to babysit.

[merrick]

Then I would go for the Isis. Much less expensive and should work great. I think they retail for around $60, but you could probably find it for cheaper. i let my sis borrow mine after she had her baby, but she can't find it now and says it's broken anyway. :irked: hopefully she still has my PIS, otherwise she's buying me a new one!

[ellymay]

Ok thanks for all the responses. Isis is Avent right? Is Avent electris good to? I would
like to have one of each just incase I happen to need to express alot.

[merrick]

Yes, the Isis is Avent. It is really easy to use too, once you get the hang of putting it together! I haven't heard or read anything about the Avent Electrics, but since it's a good brand they'll probably be ok to use. Honestly though, the Isis is so effective you probably won't need an electric.

[babydoll]

I have heard good things about their hand pump. Would be ok for what you need it for.

[ellymay]

Yes it should be. I will definatly get one. The baby is where all of our income tax
money is going to so I will have the money this time.

[maybebaby]

My fave is the Medela manual pump; obviously if you need to pump a lot the bigger pumps are best. I used a Medela hospital grade double pump when I worked for a while when Maddie was a baby.

But just for a few bottles here or there and engorgement, I truly think a hand pump is all you really need.

Now I gotta go get another one :p (got rid of mine because we thought we were done lol)

[ChattyCat]

The avent Isis is great for a manual. I've heard good things about the medela harmony too, but I don't have personal experience with that one. I also have a medela double ease. It's one step down from the pump-in-style. Since I don't work, I didn't think I really needed a PIS. The double ease retails for around $200, but I got mine for $100, because the store decided they weren't going to carry that model anymore. So, whatever you decide, shop around. You may find a really good deal!

[dshields]

I was interested in the PIS...yesterday dh called from work to say that a woman that we know that he works with offered me her PIS. At first I was thrilled, then I was concerned about hygenic issues. What do you guys think? I could replace all of the externals. It was such a nice offer-I was sort of surprised that she was offering it as she just had her babe about a year and a half ago and it was their first. She must have decided against bfing future babes, prefered another pump, or know that they won't have more. I'll accept it out of kindness-can I use it?

[ellymay]

The pump I used with dd was a used one and my mom and I just sterolized it really good.

[ChattyCat]

Medela PIS is not approved for multiple users. If they ever had any milk travel down the tube accidentally, there is no way to sterilize the pump. The hospital rental pumps have a way to to prevent this, so they can be properly sterilized.

I'm not against used pumps, but I would only get one from someone that I completely trusted, and I knew had no communicable diseases.

[Sydnee]

I looooove my Medela Pump In Style, it's the greatest thing I have ever gotten!!! :lol

[purpleheather79]

Avent Isis is a great manual pump IMO! I love mine.

[pique]

Not in your group, but chiming in to suggest that you try using... your fingers! I worked full time from when DS was 2.5 months and had no problems at all filling 1 or even 2 bottles within 15 minutes by hand pumping.

[babydoll]

I am not sure if pique meant hand expressing or using a hand pump. Regardless. MOST women find it difficult to fill a bottle at a time. Most women have to pump at least 2 times to get an 8 oz. bottle extra if they are exclusively nursing. However if you have a ton of extra milk or adding an extra pumping session a day it may be possible. However, it is not typical. I love my Medela Pump 'N Style. I am a SAHM and probably did not need something quite so fancy, but it works well. If you are a SAHM and only need a pump for engorgement or the occasional time away from your baby a hand good hand pump should work fine for you.

[radicalmama]

Honestly...

I hate pumps. Hate them. I used hand expression (go to lalecheleague.org for instructions or call a leader) and had much more comfortable results.

I'll admit, I only needed to express just to take the edge off of engorgement, and for a couple of outings...

But if you are at home with you babe most of the time, and are going out briefly...
try nursing right before you leave and right when you return...

your babe might not need any milk in between, and might get away with just leaving a few ounces for the sitter.

Also, we used a dropper instead of a bottle (to avoid nipple confusion) and it worked great.

[ellymay]

Well let's just say when I had ds I had so much milk that I would take a bowl in the
bath tub and hold it under my breast and just put pressure on them and I measured
when I got out how much milk I got and it was almost 8oz!! That was in a 15 min time span of putting pressure on them and they still were not soft enough for him to latch on good. Now I couldn't express milk manually bc it was too painful so that was the
only relief I could get and I couldn't spend all day in the bath tub so that is why I
want a pump just to ease major engorgement I will most likley not even use what I pump just get enough out where latching on is comfortable and for me and easy for
the baby.