Berkeley Parents Network: Breast Pumps

I have read (I think on BPN) that many breastpump motors fail. I've got one - an Ameda Purely Yours electric breast pump - that worked great and then one day wouldn't work. I bet it's a pretty simple thing to fix. Does anyone know of someone who would do this kind of thing? (I don't need it anymore) Or is there someplace I could donate all of the parts? I've got a big bag with insulated pockets for the milk, all of the tubes and the breast cups, etc. I don't want to just throw all of this stuff away if I can avoid it. Thanks in advance. Elena

Hi, I don't have the answer to your post, but it did catch my eye because I was given a second-hand Medela. At the time, my lactation nurse explained that certain parts such as the tubes must be discarded and replaced when the pump changes owners. I would contact a newborn wellness center with lactation nurses and see if they have suggestions on what can be repaired and what should be discarded. Good luck! Montclair Mommy

I don't know about donating the pump, but I do know that as recently as one year ago Ameda/Hollister had amazing customer service. They quickly replaced my pump for free when it started sounding funky, after just a brief and pleasant conversation with a representative. I found the contact name/number online somewhere - if I run across it again, I'll post it. happy Ameda camper

Best Electric Breast Pump?

November 2003

I am a new mom with a 7 week old baby who is looking for an electric breast pump. I am currently at home with my baby but will start working part-time in January. I have heard about the best-seller Medela's InStyle from friends but not about much else. I saw the Whisper Wear Hands-Free Double Pump on the BBRUS web site and have also heard about a pump by Avent and Whittlestone. I would really appreciate some feedback from those of you who have tried, heard or used these products before I spend big bucks! Thanks!

I had heard from someone in business that Medela fame is based on a lot of publcity hype. She told me that the motor isn't really that strong, that even though you see people re-selling them there has been enough wear after use with one baby that it isn't working at capacity. I ended up buying the Ameda Purely Yours and love it.

One thing about the Ameda is that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed and cleared the claim that the Ameda's system creates a barrier that protects collected breast milk from potential contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria that may be present in the pump and or kit tubing AND pump and kit tubing from potential contaminants, such as virus and bacteria, that may be present in collected milk. Which means it's really the only one out there that is really safe for use by more than one person.

I found the pump easy to use and comfortable, as you can regulate suction and frequency of suction separately. So I felt I was able to pump efficiently. As for double pumping, I found it awkward and just did one side at a time. But that's probably because I was always trying to balance a book and read at the same time, and because my breasts got so huge (G cup). I belive with the Medela system you can buy their bras too and strap the pump flanges on some how. I was told of a friend of a friend that did that while driving...

I was very happy with my Pump in Style. I purchased it used from the Parent's Network Marketplace for $100. You can buy new tubes and other parts from www.bosombuddies.com (look under ''spare parts'').

It was very efficient and reasonably portable. Also it seems to have a better resale value than the others, if that sort of thing matters to you.

The Medela Pump-in-Style is sort of the ''standard'' for working moms' double electric pumps. The Ameda Purely Yours is largely comparable, but usually costs a bit less. The Whittlestone and Whisper Wear are newer models, and I know a few moms who like them very much, but they simply haven't been around long enough to have built up the reputation of the PIS. Any of these are good choices if you want or need a double electric pump; I've never heard anything *bad* about any of them (except that they're expensive!).

Working part time, you may be able to get by with the Avent Isis. It is a manual pump, not electric, but much more comfortable and easier to use than ''older'' models of manual pump (like the Medela), and allows pumping only one side at a time so using it takes longer. But it's a whole lot cheaper, smaller and easier to carry, and can be used more discreetly in places where you don't have much privacy because it's nearly silent and is small enough to stick entirely under your shirt. Many moms I know who've used both say they get just as much milk, or more, even, with it than with a PIS. I used the Avent while working full time, for 7 months, with great success. However, I did not go back to work until my son was 6 months old (after all the major growth spurts were over and he had started solid foods) and the time required was not a big issue for me. With a younger baby, a double electric may be a better choice because it's faster and it can do a better job of keeping up your milk supply.

An in-between solution is the Medela Mini-Electric, which is powered (with a battery, or using an AC adapter) but single- side. However, most people I know who've used it say it's very noisy and not that efficient, so it's probably worth springing for the PIS or equivalent instead if you want a powered pump. Holly

I'm pumping with my Medela Pump-in-Style right now. I think it's great, totally worth the money. If pumping is a large part of your BF'ing, a fully automatic double electric pump really is important, and not a place to be penny wise and pound foolish. I don't know anything about the Whittlestone. I've heard really good things about the Whisperwear, but it is prone to breakdowns. It's a relatively new product, and still a little ''buggy.'' I've also heard they have good customer service to repair or replace, but if you got the WW, you'd also want to get a backup pump.

Which brings us to Avent. Avent does not make an electric pump, but the Isis, a manual pump, is really nice. I have it as my backup; I leave the PIS at my office and use the Isis for evenings/weekends. I get as much pumping with the Isis as I do double-pumping with the PIS, in about the same time. The Isis is also very comfortable. The reason I don't use it as my full time pump is because I have to pay attention while pumping with the Isis, whereas I've mastered hands-free with the PIS and can, as I said, type while pumping. That's important for me since I pump at work. Hope that helps! pumping mama

I checked out both and prefer the Ameda Purely Yours. The pump is detatchable from the carrying bag making the pump and the parts much easier to clean. The Purely Yours also has great control as in frequency and strength of suction. It is also less expensive than the Pump in Style. I found them very similar, but the detatchabililty of the pump and the price sold me.

While I haven't tried the Pump in Style I have tried the Purely Yours and that was fine until I got the Whisper Wear breast pump. There isn't a lot of info out there about it but it is the new ''hands-free'' pump and it is so much better and easier that the Purely Yours. Go to www.whisperwear.com to look into it more but I would highly recommend that one. You just slip the two pump parts into any supportive bra, hook up the tube and collection bag and go about your business while it pumps. It also feels much more like real nursing than the Purely Yours did which ment a faster let down for me. Really convinient- especially if you are going to be using it so much. Good Luck, fellow cow

I used the Ameda Purely Yours when I went back to full-time work & pumped for about a year. It can run off mains or batteries, has a very discrete bag, is quiet, does single or double pumping & never gave me any problems. They have great customer service - the first pump I got was faulty & they dropshipped me a new one overnight, no questions or quibbles. It also has the tubing which milk cannot backup into. I rented a Medea (not sure which one) & really disliked it. It felt as though I was carrying around a toolbox & was very noisy. It also didn't pump any more effectively than the Ameda. The only downside to the Ameda is that you need to get an adapter if you want to pump into wideneck bottles such as Avent - but that was easy enough to find on the web.

With regard to the Avent pump - it is only a manual pump & just does one side at a time. Great for hand exercise, but I could never get any milk with it, even at my fullest. Moo!

Sorry...haven't used both pumps, but wanted to put in a good word for the Amerda Purely Yours. I pumped twice a day for 10 months with mine, and it worked great. Good suction, easy set-up, and I never had an issue with any milk getting in the tubing. The little valve things are kind of delicate, so I got an extra set as a back-up. I used bags and Avent bottles (with an adapter). The battery function came in very handy the couple times I had business travel and hd to pump on the go. Elizabeth

If there is anyway you can afford it, rent the hospital grade pump, especially if you will be pumping 2-3x a day. None of them drain the milk ducts as well as the baby, (but hospital grade comes closest) and insuffeciant drainage can lead to plugged ducts. (which can lead to mastitis -OUCh!).

I believe they rent for 25$ a month, but I am not sure. Also a great reference for you would be a yahoo group called pump moms. It is all dedicated to moms who have to pump. Just do an online search for pumpmoms and I'm sure you'll find it. Good for you for doing this for your baby.

Breast Milk Bags

March 2003

What breast milk bags do you use to freeze your breast milk? I've been using the Medela bags, because somebody somewhere told me they're best, but they are really expensive (about 40c each), and I'm just not convinced that they are so much better than a couple of heavy duty ziplock freezer bags (I could even seal down the top of the ziplock bag w/ a twistie, if it seemed so much better). Plus I'm annoyed by the ''scientific study'' graphic that they put on the back of the package ''proving'' that Medela bags are better (it's just a graphic w/ ''Brand A, B & C'' versus Medela, and cites no study, no numbers, proves nothing.) Does anybody have any real information one way or another? I don't care so much about the so-called convenience of the bags either. If I have to, I'll keep using these pricey little bags, but I would rather not spend so much money if I don't have to. It adds up if you're pumping a couple times a day. Janet

I'm a former pumper, but I tried the Medela bags, the Lansinoh Mother's Milk bags, and the Gerber Seal 'n' Go bags. I vastly preferred the Gerber ones, both for ease of use (ziploc seals *rock*!) and for cost. The only thing I didn't like was that the plastic is so flexible that they were a little hard to write on. I got them at Walmart, I believe. -Jennie

I think of myself as somewhat of a pro pumper. :) Forget bags and get a set of freezable bottles. You can buy them at Target or on-line at some eco-friendly baby sites. They screw right onto your pump, you put on the lid, freeze and then put the nipple on when you are ready to feed. If you must use bags, Medela bags are ok but the best ones I found were Mother's Milk bags. They have the twisty built in, they reduce spill, never split. DO NOT use Avent bags. They are total crap--not double sealed and do not hold up when frozen. It is expensive to use bags and it is not good for the environment b/c they are not reusable, but I think Ziplocks probably are not as clean--they definitely are not sterilized-- and I worry that you would spill if you have to transfer the milk. Elizabeth

I EP'd (exclusively pumped) for my baby, and tried several brands. I liked the Gerbers the best. They have a ziplock, they don't leak and you can freeze them lying down which makes them quite compact. Given that you are concerned about the cost, I would always fill the bags to the maximun. If you don't pump enough at a time, just combine several pumps into a bottle and then transfer it to the bag. After you defreeze it you can always divide it up into two or more bottles if needed. anon

I started with the Medela and thought they were a real pain with the twist ties! Plus they were too expensive. I ended up using the Gerber zip lock breast milk bags and found them to be easy and great--never had any problems. I don't remember the price but I'm pretty sure they were cheaper than Medela and easy to find at Target (maybe Longs and Safeway too?). Tracy

I didn't use the plastic bags at all, since I didn't want to add to the landfill. I just pumped into bottles and froze those. It worked fine, and since I wasn't ever that much ahead, didn't take up too much room in the freezer. An added bonus: The daycare provider didn't have to decant the milk from a bag to a bottle.

I completely agree with you that the Medela bags don't seem worth the price. I tried several different brands and my favorite was the Gerber Seal and Go brand. They basically function like small bottle-sized ziplocks. I pumped milk into a bottle and then poured the milk into the bags, sealed them with the ziploc, dated them (there is a space provided) and froze them. No twist ties to deal with and the ziploc made for pretty easy pouring into a bottle after defrosting. Only problem is they are HARD to find! I resorted to ordering them from drugstore.com and ordered enoughed breast milk bags, diaper genie refills and nursing pads to qualify for free shipping. Good luck! Been there

We used the Gerber breast milk bags which were quite a bit cheaper and worked well. I found them at Target, but I am sure they are available in many other places too. Pumping Mom

I bought Gerber plastic breast milk bags at Target--maybe $3 for a box of 100? I pumped and bagged for 10 months, but I didn't even go throught the whole box! The more expensive part of bagging for me was buying several packages of Avent reusable bag clips--I didn't trust the twist ties and was worried they'd poke holes in the bags. I didn't double bag (had a mishap the first time and lost milk), but single bags didn't seem to affect the ''freshness.'' In addition to the bags, I stored my milk in 4oz plastic bottles and froze them, too. Once I started work, (when the baby was 4.5 months) I wasn't really able to stockpile that much extra milk, so using bottles was easier anyway. Jenne

Hi, I love the Gerber BM Seal-n-Go bags - you can get them at most grocery stores (rockridge safeway), target, rite-aid etc. They are so much cheaper than the medela's at around $5 for 25 bags. They are much more convenient because they have zip lock tops, and have pleated bottoms so they support themselves as you pour in the milk. I pump w/ the bottles and pour into the bags. You couldn't convince me the medela bags were better...i love these bags! and you can get them at your local store. If you're worried about freezer safe, they are just as thick as the medelas -but i also place them in a big ziplock freezer bag for extra protection. good luck! :0 Stacy

I use Gerber Seal 'n Go Breast Milk Bags. They have a ziploc closure and are pretty thick. I used them for my first child and am currently using them for my second. You can get a box of 25 at Target for $5.99 (approx $0.24/bag). Maya

I started using the less pricey, but still not cheap Avent bags with the little white clip to hold the bag shut on top. After about 100 bags, I switched to the Target brand and saw no difference. I would freeze them standing in a cup in the freezer and keep all the frozen ones in a ziploc bag to take to daycare. Worked just fine and a whole lot cheaper! denise

I have no idea if there is any hard data available on which type of bag is ''better'', but if there is, I bet you could find out from the moms on the pumpmoms.org mailing list! Check out their website. I used Avent bags, since I used the Avent pump and it was convenient. I never used enough of them to be all that concerned about the cost. Do you really need to freeze so much milk? Generally you can store it in the fridge (in the same bottles from which it'll be fed to your baby) for up to a week. I know a lot of moms who swear by the Gerber ziplock storage bags. Apparently they're easy to use (no twisties), can be stored flat and do *not* leak. And I believe they cost less than the Medela. Also, I don't know where you're buying the bags, but you may be able to find the Medela ones cheaper. Try kidsurplus.com -- offers a good selection of pumping stuff (as well as kids' clothes, toys, and miscellaneous other baby gear) at really good prices. I've ordered various things from them several times and been very happy. Holly

I used the Playtex disposible bottle bags on advice from a friend. They are much cheaper. However, they are also much thinner. If you use these you should double bag them before freezing. And be careful to have the bags supported while attached to the pump. I would actually pump into little bottles and then pour the milk into a bag for storage. Then slip that bag into another one for freezing.

Also, if you are pumping everyday because you work, you do not need to freeze. (If you are pumping now to build up an extra store of milk, then of course, you need to freeze.)

Once I got into a routine pumping at work, I stopped freezing my breast milk since I was not producing more than my child could drink (and the milk stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days). I just purchased some extra plastic bottles which attached to my pump and did not freeze the milk. I would leave bottles of unfrozen milk with my child's caregiver every day. cecilia

I wouldn't use regular ziplock bags instead of a breastmilk bag. I don't think the seams in the bag would be as strong which could lead to loss of milk. Plus I don't know if ziplock bags are sterile. When I was pumping for my first son I used the Medela bags. I bought a box of 100, and still had many left for the second baby three years later. (I only used bags for extra milk going into the freezer, at some point in the pumping process that ended up being nonexistent so use of the bags declined.)

With my second son I started stockpiling milk while on maternity leave so I needed a lot of bags. The need came upon me rather unexpectedly, so I just bought some other brand bags at the grocery store since they didn't carry the Medela ones. I ended up trying both the Gerber and the Lansinoh bags. Since I never personally decanted milk out of either of these brands of bags I can't attest to easy of use on that end, but I can say that I preferred the Medela bags for pumping into.

I didn't do a price comparison so I can't say if they would be a better deal. If you are looking for a good deal on Medela products though I HIGHLY recommend shopping from a website in Canada (I think it is babyloveproducts.com... but I could be wrong). The Canadian dollar exchange rate is favorable to the US so you end up getting almost 1/3-1/2 off (depending on the current rates). It may take a little longer for your item to arrive than from a US company, but you might find the savings worth it. Rose

After a lot of experimenting with different types of bags, I settled on ZipLock pint-sized freezer bags. They hold 3 to 10 oz. easily and are quite sturdy. I suppose you could double bag, but I don't find it necessary. -working mom of two breastfed babies

I didn't use bags for freezing at all--just pump directly into a bottle, then pour the contents of the bottle into a clean ice cube tray and cover with plastic or slip the whole tray into a big zip lock bag. When the milk is frozen, empty the cubes into a zip lock bag and label the bag. Each cube is approximately 1 oz. (When my child started eating solids, I also used this ice cube tray method for freezing and storing pureed foods.) June W.

I used to keep the milk in the bottles I pumped into at work, then when at home, poured it into ice cube trays, covered them with saran wrap and then put them into a ziploc. When they were frozen, I just emptied them into a regular sandwich bag inside a freezer ziploc. Or I'd keep the milk in the bottle that I pumped into (I bought several extra cheapo bottles) in the fridge until eaten. Didn't seem to be a problem and I didn't end up using any bags after the first week. Also a big timesaver for me was not washing bottles at work, just rinsing out any extras and then tossing them into a big pot of boiling water at home. good luck! Katya

I stopped using bags in favor of The Lansinoh Milk Mate. Not only can you pump directly into the bottles and warm milk directly in the bottles, it also saves a ton of space in the freezer. I think the kit comes with 10 bottles with air tight / leak proof caps. Mine was $28. Here's the link to the Lanisnoh site: http://www.lansinoh.com/T-Milk%20Mate.htm A happy pumper

General Info and Resources

April 2000

While pumping (and even for several months afterward) I belonged to an e-mail list (similar to this, but higher volume) that was dedicated to pumping moms and their concerns. If anyone is interested in joining you can do this through their web site: www.pumpingmoms.org I HIGHLY recommend it. There are over 200 women who belong to that list. They share support and information on all aspects of pumping. There are also several lactation consultants who belong to the list who can offer expert advice, and also use the group to learn more about how pumping and breast feeding work together since this is a relatively new phenomenon. (This is the first generation of moms who have had really good pumps available to them... I know lots of moms were able to pump/express milk in the past, but it wasn't as manageable for most women then.)

From: Letitia

Others have said it here before, and I'll say it again for emphasis: Go for the very best breast pump you can find, and most especially, get the kind that pumps both breasts at once. You won't believe how much more *comfortable* and *effective* a good pump can be -- the difference can be astounding. Don't sell yourself short!

From: Roxane (10/98)

If you have Kaiser, I believe you can purchase a mini-pump for about $50 from their pharmacy (no prescription needed). I did this for my second one, and since I only used it periodically (not everyday, several days) it was more than adequate.

Renting a Breast Pump

You don't have to buy a pump; you can rent one from lots of sources, including "Rockridge Kids" on College. I paid about $1/day a few years back; the costs may have gone up, but you can rent an excellent pump for quite a while and still save from what you might have paid for a lesser quality pump. Letitia

If you are unsure of how comfortable these pumps are or how long you want to pump at work, you may want to consider renting one for a month or buying an inexpensive one to try out.

Regarding breast pumps, I got a small battery-operated breast pump handed down to me from a friend--I tried using it once and was horrified! It was loud and terribly inefficient. I knew right away this was not for me, so I rented a great Medela pump, their best model. Cost about $25.00 a month. I used it until my baby was a little over a year old, and found it extremely easy and fast to use. One of those double-breasted models, brought it to work with me every day. Although hooking yourself up to one of those machines makes you feel ridiculous, it only took about 10 minutes to get at least 6 ounces of milk (in the beginning months, if I remember correctly, I pumped twice a day). I refrigerated the milk during the day and then put it in the freezer when I got home. Brought it to daycare the next day to keep my baby well supplied. At the time I decided to rent it, I didn't plan on breast-feeding that long--I was only committed to six months of breast-feeding at the start. But it was so easy that I continued pumping until my daughter was about a year old (she's almost two, now, and I'm still nursing her, though only twice a day--I never would have imagined going so long when I started out!). I would recommend renting a high-quality machine to start out with, and if you think you want to continue for a while, consider buying one--especially if you plan to have another child, or know someone you could give it to (or sell it to) when you're done. Good luck!

Sally

This was a while back (my younger son is now 8), but when I returned to work after his birth, I renting a heavy-duty "hospital" breast pump to use at the office. I found it was the most efficient and least tiring way to achieve the yield I needed to keep David fed. I also used one of those hand-held suction pumps at home when I wanted to express more milk after the baby finished nursing. Since a co-worker had a baby and returned to work at almost the same time, we decided to split the rental of the heavy-duty pump, which we trundled up and down the hallway between our offices on its own little luggage wheelie. Our colleagues thought we were really weird, but it didn't phase us, and they eventually got used to seeing bottles of milk in the office refrigerator. Of course, in those days, we had offices with walls and doors. Good luck!

Tamra

[submitted anonymously]

I rented a heavy-duty double-breast Medela pump when I went back to work after 6 weeks of maternity leave. I haven't seen anything listed for sale in consumer catalogs that seems as good, although Medela does sell their heavy-duty pumps to consumers. The biggest electric pump I saw in "The Right Start" catalog required that you do something manually to aid in the suction.

In general, I found that the rented expensive models worked better and faster (I rented a Medela). Since it took me at least 20 minutes to pump (twice a day while at work), it was also important to get a model that could work both sides at once. Aside from that, you never know if a breast pump will work *for you* until you try it. One that works for someone else may have suction too strong or too weak for you. I suggest looking up lactation consultants in the phone book (or maybe someone can recommend one) and making an appointment to try out their pumps. Ask about rental rates when you call for the appointment. If one of the inexpensive models works for you, you may be better off buying it, depending on how long you are going to use it.

Good luck. You are doing a good thing for the two of you, well worth the hassle. --Andrea

As a matter of comparison, the rental pumps cost in the neighborhood of $1 to $3 per day to rent (depending on the length of rental), so even at full price, a Pump in Style would pay for itself in 6 months or less. I have personally never rented, so I can't speak from experience, but my understanding is that the rental pumps are strong, have many settings, and work very well for some people. They would be good for someone who doesn't have the capital to pay for the Pump in Style, or only needs a pump for a week, say. They other advantage is that you can switch from the larger model to the smaller model without having to buy another one. And of course, if it dies, you take it back and get another one.

Pumps can be rented in many places. Cotton and Co on College does rentals, as do many lactation consultants. I happen to have a phone number here as well: Health Horizons (Mr. Wong) 415-387-4901. This is NOT a recommendation, just the place that someone I know got hers. You can buy pumps many places as well; someone mentioned Rockridge Kids to me, and I've seen them advertised in many baby supply catalogs.

And, of course, you can get more information from La Leche League. The Oakland/East Bay group meets on third Thursdays, at 7 pm at the Zion Church on Park Ave (near the Park offramp from 13). They have meetings, publications, catalogs, and much more information than I personally have.

From: Maura (6/98)

Ameda Egnell is the preferred breast pump system by most lactation consultants and mothers who've tried it. However some like Medela. But by and large, Ameda Egnell is a better product.

if you're renting equipment, the best prices I have found were in the Medicine Shoppe?? in Pleasanton--considerably lower than the rep in Moraga.You won't hear as much about Ameda Egnell (swiss Company)because they don't advertise much and they have few reps. Consequently a lacation consultant or childbirth instructor often fails to mention them as they believe it's too hard to locate a rep. Not true. I had no problem. If you can't locate an 800 # for them, you can email me and I'll find it. (6/98)

Ameda Purely Yours

April 2000

peilin
In our UCB parents web site, the breast pump recommendation were mostly written a while ago. I think I have something to share with new mothers out there, since quite often I see people looking for a used Medela pump. I too, was thinking that the highly-recommended pump-in-style may well worth its price but it is indeed a bit too much to spend out of our very limited pocket. Then a lactation consultant at Kaiser brought my attention to the new "purely yours" made by Ameda. What attracted me was its price: I ordered one through the web for only $150, and now they are offing a spring sale for $130! (check this web site out: www.ecrknox.com/betz/ --and there are many others selling pumps over the web..)(I chose to use get the storage bag, ice packs, and extra bottles from the local store).

Since I didn't get a chance to use the pump-in-style I can't say which one is better. But apparently purely yours works very well with me. You can change the frequency of the suction cycle to maximize milk production. It does both single and double pump, and the strength of suction can be changed within a wide range. It also allows you to use 6 (or 8?) AA-size batteries which make it easier to find a place to pump. It is also small enough to fit in a "normal looking" tote when I did need to travel, allowing me to carry everything (not just the pump and accessories) in a bag where ever I went.

BTW, my pump came in with a little problem. When I called Ameda, they rushed in a new one immediately while letting me return the original one on their expense. Hope this message would help new mothers make a more informative decision in investing a breast pump. And hopefully later on more information on how purely yours works with mothers can be put in our web site.

Suzanne 4/00
I just want to second the recommendation for the Purely Yours Breast Pump by Ameda. A well-known local lactation consultant recommended it to me when I was looking, and I have been very satisfied with it. Used it 3-days a week plus some for 9 months once I went back to work, and it's still working well. The cost is a great advantage over Pump-in-Style. Someone told me Medela dictates that the Pump-in-Style cannot be sold for under $250 so vendors have to comply. With Purely Yours, a friend bought it for me at Kaiser for $150.

Avent Isis

From: Hannah (10/98)

I've never tried the $250 breast pump, but I have the manual Avent Isis pump which is only $50, and it's wonderful! I bought the Medela mini-electric one ($85), and it hurt terribly, and then it broke, so we got the Avent back-to- work kit (it comes with an insulated bag, ice packs, 4 bottles, and 4 breast pads), which has saved me! I work 7 hours at a time on the weekends while my husband watches our 4-month-old. I pump during my break and get 6 ounces in 20 minutes, which is amazing for me. The Avent pump has these silicone "petals" that massage your areola and help you get much more milk, and it doesn't hurt at all. I also feel more in control since I decide how fast and how hard to pump. Of course, you do have to pump it yourself, but it's pretty easy, and I can eat about 1/2 sandwich in between squeezes, and then finish eating after I'm done. Oh, also, the Avent nipples are wider, so the baby is less likely to have nipple confusion or refuse the bottle. Good luck! Make sure to pump if you're engorged (I didn't know I was, and my baby refused to nurse). Enjoy your newborn!

Other Brands

Well, seeing as I now own four, I think I'm somewhat qualified to answer this!

I started out with just a manual cylinder pump (retail $15 to $20). If you get a manual, the cylinder type are much better than the bicyle horn type. I was able to successfully pump at work once per day with the manual, but it took at least 1/2 hour to do both breasts, and it was very tiring. And eventually I wore both of the gaskets out (you can buy more, but you have to order them). Manuals are best for occasional pumping.

I also have a small electric by Gerber. This one didn't work for me, because it doesn't have adjustable suction. It works for some folks, though. If you're interested, I would be willing to sell it for what I paid ($6--but it's worth around $40, I think). This is fairly portable, if that's an issue for you.

this page was last updated: May 11, 2008

The opinions and statements expressed on this website are those of parents who subscribe to the Berkeley Parents Network.
Please see Disclaimer & Usage for information about using content on this website. Copyright © 1996-2013 Berkeley Parents Network