pump questions.....

[judybean]

To the mamas that have pumped, what is your favorite pump and why?

I think I'm just going to have to figure out how the heck to afford one and we're going to have to get a pump. I don't think my supply is the greatest (working to correct that, much is my fault), plus I'd like the conviniences of having one for many reasons.

I did borrow an electric pump from a friend and found it to be completely useless. I couldn't get anything from it. But, it wasn't one that had a programmed 'sucking' pattern of sorts -- just constant suction with a valve to put your finger over to control the air flow (gosh, hope that makes sense).

Anyway... cost is sort of an issue, but more important to me is quality. I want something I can use for years since the plan is to have more children in the future. I'm thinking electric might be the way I'd lean right now, but that's mostly because of the time factor. I just don't get a lot of time to myself with two not-too-much-older girls to look after along with Lucy.

But, I'm totally clueless on this issue and would love to hear any input you mamas could give a fellow Dec. mom.

(and yes, I know I could post this in the bfing forum and probably get more responses, but... I'm totally chicken about that right now... lame, I know, but since things aren't working well right now I feel like quite a 'cheater' for supplementing any formula at all.... just an fyi as to why it's here at least)

Thanks, mamas. You've all been *so much help* throughout pregnancy, labor and now on to bfing. We're still struggling here, but I think Lucy's latch is getting *much* better. Still not quite ideal I think, but we're totally moving in the right direction.. at least the cracked and bleeding nipples are *knockonwood* a thing of the past!! Soreness still exists at times, but gosh.. seeing blood just totally ... 'sucked' (yeah, lame, but I laughed).

[Panthira]

I have an Ameda Purely Yours (double) breast pump I got when my 2 yr old was born. I think it works great. You can adjust how much you want it to 'suck' and it's easy to clean.
It still works fine, though I probably won't really start pumping until my baby is 6 weeks or so (he's only 2 weeks old now).

[IncaMama]

i have a medela pump in style. you should check ebay or craigslist...and just get all new accessories (tubing, bottles, filters, etc) if you go that route. or you can rent a hosp grade pump from a local hosp or LLL

[xmasbaby7]

nak

i have thge pump in style and the manual harmony by mudela. The hand pump was useless in the begininng but now that my milk supply got better, the manual turns out to be my preference to start a supplemental supply of EBM.

it is easy, not as noisy and much more mobile.

[Jeanne_L]

nak

i have the avent isis hand pump. i don;t have anything to compare it to since it's the only one i've used, but i think it's really quite easy to use ( and i pump on one side while bf on the other which may help with the time factor)

[allnaturalmama]

I have an Ameda Purely Yours (double) breast pump

I have that one, too, and love it. My mom (a bf'ing educator) bought it for me because a LC she really respected told her it was the best one on the market. The design keeps the tubing clean, and you can adjust both the strength of the vacuum and the speed of the sucking rhythm. I'm currently using it with baby #3 and it's keepin' on tickin' just as if it were brand new.

Here's (http://www.happymothers.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=AMPY70) a link to the first hit I got when I googled it for ya, just to give you an idea of what it looks like. You can also add accessories like a tote or backpack if you're planning to take it with you, but I always pump at home.

BTW, I didn't think I liked pumping with my first babe, but a LC pointed out that I just needed a larger flange ($10) to fit my enormous nipples and line up properly with my letdown zone. That made all the difference for me, and pumping suddenly became totally comfortable and so easy!

ETA: judybean, I had latching issues and bloody hamburger nipples, too, that we are just now beginning to see improvement in, with the help of a great LC and a chiropractor who is helping Will to loosen his jaw. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that this pump was very comfortable for me to use, even when my nipples were completely torn up.

[kofduke]

I also have the ameda purely yours. I used it to pump at work from 6-14 months with DS#1. I've started pumping for DS #2 (I have school 2 nights/week) and it is working great.

[MistyB]

cheapest option Medela PIS new off of ebay...advanced or original. pretty much the same just with the original you have to make it pump shallow and fast at first and then switch after 2 minutes to to deeper longer "strokes". The advanced does it for you and it pumps the milk a tiny bit faster but not enough to make a major difference.

I have used every medela GOOD pump..original, advanced, lactina and hospital.

But if I were to buy a pump today...I would buy the new avent isis double electric pump. i loved their hand pump but it took twice as long with a single pump and I don't like hand pumps. the electric double would be awesome though.

[amygoforth]

I used the Avent hand pump with my first and I loved it. It was inexpensive, easy to use, and very portable. I bf'd for 20 months, workling full-time, because of that pump. And I was planning on using it again this time...

... until I rented a hosp. grade elec double pump for a week just to compare. Holy moly, it was awesome. I ordered the Medela Pump in Style Advanced after using the Medela rental for just a few days. It's very easy to use and cuts the pumping time in half. I even got one of those hands-free pumping bras. I'm good to go!

[Emmy142]

I have both the Avent Isis and the Pump in Style, they both work very well. I had the Isis with Alex until I had supply issues after I went back to work, so we bought the PIS hoping it would help, it did but only slightly. Now I use the PIS simply because it faster do both breast at once versus manually pumping each one.

[judybean]

Thank you all so much for your responses thus far. Obviously it's simply a matter of personal preference, though two electric ones do seem to be the frontrunners, which is what I suspected anyway from the bit of looking around I've done.

I wish I could just try them all out before shelling out the money for one because it *is* quite an investment and all. I seem to be leaning towards the Ameda Purely Yours right now... mostly because of the suction and speed adjustments that most people seem to like. I think after my not-so-great experience with El Vacuum Pump (which, btw, seems to work great for my friend... lucky girl!), I want something with the features I see on the PY. And, yes, I can seem to find it cheaper. This year I'm really trying to lower the ol' cc debt and hate putting more on it. Is the PY in any stores? Though... that might not be the quickest way for me to get one. I live in podunk WY. The nearest BRU or Target is three hours away.

I appreciate the responses though! Keep them coming if you have more to add!

[kofduke]

I bought mine directly from a lactation consultant -- perhaps your local hospital would have some?

[MistyB]

you can get the PY new on ebay. shipping is reasonable too.