Best pump

[enceinte2012]

A week into bfing and midwife has suggested expressing milk so than hubby can help with a night feed (so that I can get some sleep). Just wondering what kind of pump I should get for this? It will probably be occasional use at the moment but once I've established supply etc might use it a bit more so that I can have the occasional night out. Any recommendations of a pump I should buy and whether to go manual or electric? Don't want to spend money on something not up to the job!

 

[shambaby]

I had just snuck over from 3rd tri for advice on pumps, so am going to hitch a ride on your thread, if you don't mind?

I actually exclusively expressed for my son for 7 months, as he couldn't latch, turned out he has a lip tie, but I was leant a pump by Breaststart (local b/f support group) but I want to be prepared and get my own pump this time.

My first piece of advice would be, whatever you do, don't get the Tommee Tippee closer to nature electric pump - I bought one of those whilst pregnant first time, and when I first used it I assumed the pain was because of the nipple damage my son's poor latch had caused. However, after using the borrowed pump regularly every day for over 6 months, when they asked me to return it I tried to use my pump, but could only bear to do so for a few days, just to gradually slow my supply rather than stop altogether! It was excruciating, even on the lowest setting. Plus it was really noisy and sounded like a cow moo-ing! Most undignified!

The borrowed pump was a Medela Symphony - a hospital grade double electric pump - but they cost upwards of £1000, so a little out of my range! You can hire them, but I'd rather have one of my own, as the plan is to breastfeed this time, and use the pump once feeding is established to allow for occasional bottles of EBM. I am currently leaning towards a Medela swing, which is a single electric and is around £120. Still a bit pricey for occasional use, but I would like the reassurance that if things didn't work out again this time, it would be suitable for more regular use. Would prefer a double pump, but they arejust a bit too much.

Hope my input is of some use to you, and that you don't mind me jumping on your thread, didn't want to create another asking essentially the same question! Would be interested to hear from anyone who has used the Swing, or who has any other recommendations x

 

[shambaby]

Ooh, just wanted to add - a week might be a little soon to start replacing a night feed with a bottle, as your supply won't be properly established yet, and may suffer if you drop a feed so soon. Your hormone levels are highest at night, so it's the best time to stimulate your supply, and you may have problems continuing to breastfeed if you feed less at night already.

 

[enceinte2012]

Hi thanks so much for that, I will check out the Medela. Ideally I wasn't going to express at all for 6 weeks but the baby has been having really bad nights (last night up 12 - 5)!!. MW has suggested expressing for 5 mins after each feed to build up enough so my DH can do the 10pm feed every second night to allow me a 4 or 5 hour stretch of sleep. I think she's thinking this will avoid me 'giving up' through exhaustion and is a better alternative than a formula bottle. However, I will still be up to do the 1.30 feed and the 5am feed so hopefully will not muck up supply too much. I'm not sure it's all trial and error at this point!

 

[shambaby]

Ah, ok, doesn't sound like so bad of a plan, then. What might work well is expressing from one side while baby feeds from the other side - it saves time, and is likely to be more efficientas your hormone levels will be higher that way and you may get more for less effort.

If you do look at the medela check out the nct website - they had it on sale for £95. Just don't buy the last one - I haven't got nine yet!!!

 

[LDC]

Hi there,

I brought the medela swing pump and it is brilliant...! I definitely recommend it. It's not painful to use, isn't loud and is so easy to use and clean.

I read that the tommy tippee ones break really easily too, a lot of people were saying that they had brought them and after a couple of uses the pump stopped working and they were repeatedly buying new ones - this put me off.

Check out ebay for pumps as they are quite expensive. I brought mine second hand for £47 inc p+p and it came with lots of extras including new nipple shield, cream, bags to freeze milk and ice pads to cool the breast. It was in great condition and it had a new suction device on too that hadn't been used. A lot of people well ones they've only used once or twice.

Xxx

 

[shambaby]

Thanks, think I will be ordering mine from nct later. Couldn't bear to use my Tommee Tippee enough to break it! It was in the asda baby and toddler event and I just bought it without doing any research. Hayden couldn't use the bottles either, so it was pretty useless!

 

[kissesandhugs]

I have the lansinoh affinity & medela pump in style. I love both! I bought the lansinoh through a friend when LO was in NICU for 3 days after birth, unexpected so I had to do something quick & it worked great! My supply never dropped as I didn't have baby with me all day & night to feed directly. I just pumped every 2-3 hours. I just got the medela through my insurance and I love it just as much. They're both great pumps. I think the medela is a big faster at getting milk out though, and it's quieter, and easier to clean lol. more expensive though. I also wouldn't suggest pumping at such an early age but I don't blame you-I remember the sleepless nights!!! I would also recommend a double electric if you can swing it! Good luck

 

[dollyemi]

100% recommend the medela swing, I got mine from nct too and it's so easy to use and clean. You should be able to get it for about £95, no need to pay the £129rrp.
It comes with one Medela calma bottle, may be an idea to buy an extra bottle. I would try to avoid expressing for the first 4-6 weeks but have personally expressed a couple of times when my breasts have become engorged. For milk storage, someone recommended the mothercare milk storage bags if you are storing/freezing breast milk.

 

[MissCurly]

I have the medela electric mini and swing. Have used both with my first, and didnt get pain, and i used them about once a day. But after much research if you will be using more often i think its definitely worth looking into a double. And for the life of me i cannot remember exactly but i think there is a double one by lansinoh which you can get for about £100- but i will need to check!

I think i was super lucky, as i managed to get the swing in a carboot sale for under £15 and then i bought new parts online, so i dont think the pump cost me more than about £25.

 

[shambaby]

Nct have sold out got a few weeks left, so will wait a while to see if it comes back in stock. Honestly I think I'm stuck on the medela because I had such a positive experience using their pump before and the Tommee tippee has made me worry about using a different make.

 

[LadyGriz11]

I pump almost exclusively (7-8 times a day) and I love my Lansinoh Affinity Pro. It's a double pump, not too loud, adjustable suction and speed and it's pretty fast.