Choosing a Pump?

[BellaRosa8302]

Hi ladies!

First, for background info, I'm about to be a second time mom. I breastfed my DD for 32 months (exclusively for the first 6 months, then started solids sporadically after that), never formula fed, and expressed at work to send breastmilk bottles to daycare with DD until she was 14 months old.

So, with DD, I had an insurance grade Medela pump - the old style, which didn't have the 2 phase expression. It mostly served me well, but I found myself having to dip into my freezer stash often in the last few months in order to provide bottles for daycare. At the time, I was unable to choose my pump - I got what I got, and that was that.

Now, I am able to choose my pump (yay!) My choices are Ameda, Medela (with the 2 phase expression), Ardo Calypso, Hygeia, Spectra S1 or S2 or 9.

I've heard Medela is better than Ameda, but I don't know much about the Ardo Clypso, Hygeia, or Spectra models.

I will admit, not all are 100% free. Some of the models are 100% covered by insurance, while some of the models have an additional fee tacked on.

Anyway, does anyone have any advice on what to choose & why?

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[jtink28]

https://www.babygearlab.com/Breast-Pump-Reviews

https://bottlesandblazers.com/medela-pump-in-style-advanced-vs-spectra-s2-breast-pumps

I always look at reviews, lol! These reviews tend to lean toward saying Spectra is better by a slight margin.

I was thinking about getting the Spectra S1 or S2, but my insurance only covered a Medela or Ameda. I am getting the Medela PIS with 2-phase expression. Like you, I got the old Medela last time without the 2 phase and didn't love it. It was okay, but nothing great. I got the free PIS this time (pump in style) because I won't be working this time and feel that I'll only need it occasionally, hopefully. I know that a pro to getting the Medela would be ease of purchasing parts - you can buy Medela parts ANYWHERE. Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby, Target, etc. But, if you're working full-time, and need the best pump, it's worth it to pay for parts for whichever pump you like best.

We are on a budget, and I'm staying at home, so I am going with the 100% free Medela PIS with 2-phase expression. I'm hoping it will work well for me. It was a hard choice for me, because it's an important decision! A good pump can make a huge difference in helping keep your supply up. Let me know which one you go with!

Crazy how we are at the point in the pregnancies where we're picking out pumps, right???

 

[BellaRosa8302]

Yes!!!!! It IS crazy!!!! I can't believe I have less than 6 weeks left!!! (I'm not ready!!! LOL)

Anyway, that's the exact dilemma I'm having! I contacted my lactation consultant, and she said no to the other brands, but in her opinion, she'd go with Medela - she says only because she doesn't know Spectra very well & wouldn't be able to give me an opinion on that particular pump.

I could get the Spectra S2 or the Medela PISA basic kit free through insurance... I could also pay extra and upgrade to the different Medela bags/accessories styles like you would get at the store, or pay extra and upgrade to the Spectra S1.

I looked up tons of reviews on both pumps last night. Both have 5 star reviews on Amazon. Medela reviews don't mention Spectra, but Spectra reviews often compare the Spectra to the Medela. All of the reviews except for 2 (that I read) say they like Spectra better, but I'll admit most of these reviews don't sound like they've been using the pump for a while - more of a "just got it last week" type review, so I'm wondering about longevity. Sounds like Spectra is more comfortable and gets a little more output... but their bottles are awful, barely thread onto the pump, customer service seems to not be that great if there are any issues, and finding parts (like you said) is way more difficult than with Medela. Spectra is also way less expensive to buy out of pocket. I'm tempted to go with Spectra for the more output & comfort... but I'm tempted to go with Medela because I already know how to use it, I already have spare parts (I needed bigger flanges last time around), and I know their customer service is great if I have any issues.

Still feeling stuck!!! I will check out the review links you posted later on tonight. Thank you!!!!

PS - How have you been?? I feel like we haven't chatted in a while!

 

[BellaRosa8302]

BUMP! Any other views on Spectra VS Medela??

 

[FutureBabyG]

Hi ladies, I thought I would give you my opinion. I came home from the hospital with the Medela Pisa (2 stage) I was nursing and bottle feeding my son. I would nurse then pump so my husband would be able to feed him at night while I pumped. After about a month my supply was decreasing so I was having to work extra hard to pump. About that time I read many mothers on her had got the spectra. I started looking into the pump and found it can be used to increase supply and often nicu mom's use it to keep their supply. I waited a while but then bought it because I feared my supply was getting too low. Got the pump and low and behold after a couple days my supply increased and I was able to continue storing for daycare. I still have my Medela and am using it in the car so I don't have to unpack it but I will be ordering my car adaptor soon for when I go back to work. I would recommend the spectra over the Medela any day.

 

[jtink28]

Bella, funny you bumped this because I've been thinking about the Medela pump. I didn't get great supply with it last time, so I canceled my order this time for the PIS. I'm hoping to get a Spectra s2 or Spectra 9 this time around, lol! Just to try something different and see if it helps my supply this time around!

 

[BellaRosa8302]

Ughhhhhhh such a hard decision!!!!!

I was leaning toward the Medela, mostly just because it's familiar, more expensive (but FREE), customer service is better, and spare parts are easier to get... but I know exactly what you mean about supply, jtink! I had a Medela last time around, without 2 phase expression. It worked REALLY well in the beginning, but petered out toward the end of my pumping journey... But, I was hoping maybe it was because it didn't have the 2 phase expression??

But, futurebabyG, since you have the 2 phase & it's STILL not working well for you, that really makes me think twice!!!

 

[FutureBabyG]

Bella- I am a first time mom. I took 12 weeks of maternity leave because I am a nurse and I wanted to make sure I got to know my baby and build up my milk supply. I tried everything I could find online. I pumped then feed, feed then pumped, pumped between feedings, pumped and feed every 2 hours (even through the night), massaged while feeding and pumping, drank 4 pitchers of water, ate oatmeal cookies, hand expression, took naps, got out of the house, heat packs, and I probably am forgetting a couple things. By the time I have in and ordered my shop spectra pump I was getting less than an ounce out of each breast per hour. With my spectra I get at least 1oz/hr out of each breast. I know my supply is probably less than most people but this is the best I have been able to do.

Oh and I used my Medela pump in the car as mentioned above and will no longer do that because after I was done pumping I still felt full and uncomfortable. I had to pump everything I could then feed my son to empty. My whole reason to pump in the car is to keep my supply up and make it so I can bottle feed him in public. I have no problem nursing in public but I hate the hassle of nursing covers and they get way to hot (only makes for a crabby baby).

What is a normal or good amount to pump?

 

[BellaRosa8302]

Bella- I am a first time mom. I took 12 weeks of maternity leave because I am a nurse and I wanted to make sure I got to know my baby and build up my milk supply. I tried everything I could find online. I pumped then feed, feed then pumped, pumped between feedings, pumped and feed every 2 hours (even through the night), massaged while feeding and pumping, drank 4 pitchers of water, ate oatmeal cookies, hand expression, took naps, got out of the house, heat packs, and I probably am forgetting a couple things. By the time I have in and ordered my shop spectra pump I was getting less than an ounce out of each breast per hour. With my spectra I get at least 1oz/hr out of each breast. I know my supply is probably less than most people but this is the best I have been able to do.

Oh and I used my Medela pump in the car as mentioned above and will no longer do that because after I was done pumping I still felt full and uncomfortable. I had to pump everything I could then feed my son to empty. My whole reason to pump in the car is to keep my supply up and make it so I can bottle feed him in public. I have no problem nursing in public but I hate the hassle of nursing covers and they get way to hot (only makes for a crabby baby).

What is a normal or good amount to pump?

If you look on kellymom.com (excellent breastfeeding resource) .5 oz per breast can be normal. Some women don't respond to pumps at all. Maybe try doing the double shirt method of covering up instead of a nursing cover? I used a cover in the beginning with my DD, but quickly learned that sweaty baby, sweaty momma, milk going everywhere, etc. led to a bad latch, and sore nipples, and I stopped using a cover. But, the double shirt trick worked very well for me, and most people had no idea I was nursing when I did it. If you do that, you don't have to worry about pumping bottles for when you're out & about.

AFM, when I had my DD, I had a lot of trouble at the very beginning, and was advised (under guidance of a lactation consultant) to pump and bottle feed as we worked on my latch. At that time, I could pump 5-6 oz per breast in the morning, and I'd say 3-4 oz at any other time of day. But again, that was in the very beginning. When my supply regulated and I was back to work, I was getting 2 oz per breast for my morning pump, and 1 oz per breast for my afternoon pump. After doing that for a while, my pumping supply (at work) continued to dwindle... I think a good chunk of why stemmed from not always being guaranteed a place to pump, privacy, etc. - it was very stressful. But at one point, I was getting 1 oz per breast in the morning, and .5 per breast in the afternoon. Thank goodness I had built up a huge freezer stash in the beginning and had milk to send with my DD to daycare. I also started getting up an hour before my DD woke in the mornings to pump then, which helped give her enough for daycare (And I realize that supplementing - even with my own milk - was probably hurting my supply even more, but at the time, I felt like I didn't have a choice). Making it through those last few months of pumping were VERY stressful.

This is why I'm contemplating Medela vs Spectra... I had relatively good luck with Medela (I mean, those 10 oz pumps I was doing in the beginning had to be good, right??) but pumping was always uncomfortable for me (as was breastfeeding) and I have heard Spectra is more comfortable and gets more output... I feel like everything is telling me to go with Spectra, but I'm still reluctant to try something new for some reason...

 

[jtink28]

Bella, just thought I'd update you. I had decent luck with my PIS before as well - pumping a ton before my supply really regulated. It just seemed that with the Medela, my supply went consistently downhill. It could be related to the pump, or just be my supply issues, who knows.

I just found out today that I'm 100% covered for the Spectra S2, so I'm going with that one. I figured I'd try something new, and the reviews look good. I like that the Spectra is also a closed system. It also says it has a 2-phase button like the PIS, so we'll see how that works. Mine won't ship until March 8th (30 days before my due date). I've read reviews saying that the Spectra S2 is a hospital grade pump for moms with some supply issues, so that would fit me. I'm not terribly worried about extra parts because I won't be working and using it as much as before, but I know you can buy parts online.

Let me know what you picked! I love that insurance provides free pumps!

 

[jtink28]

a recent review

https://www.mamamilesfiles.com/#!Sp...SA-A-THROWDOWN/c1a1n/562b981f0cf2dee0be972d3b

 

[BellaRosa8302]

Thanks, jtink.

Still undecided here. Before you know it, I'll have the baby and no pump

I will be working, so I def need a pump that works well. I'm also afraid of messing up - if one doesn't work for me & I have to buy the other... it's $170 for the Medela starter set on Amazon. The Spectra S2 is $137 on Amazon. Not a HUGE difference, but... <sigh> I just don't know. I'm not the best at making decisions, as you can clearly see.

Now I'm trying to search parts for the Spectra, so I can see how easy/difficult it would be to replace them...

 

[FutureBabyG]

There is a letdown button. When you turn it on there is a button with waves on it. It basically vibrates your nipple with low suction then when you have letdown you push it again. Then whenever you want letdown again you do it again. You can set the letdown phase for how many sucks per minute and the vacuum for the letdown and then also do your settings for the actual pumping phase and it will remember them for the next time you pump. Yes it qualifies as hospital grade because no breast milk can get into the tubing and pump and it has a broader range for settings (number of cycles per minute and suction).

I ordered extra flanges and valves for the spectra and they can be used with the Medela also. The Medela parts can be used with the spectra you just have to have the little adaptor and it came with my spare parts.

Yesterday was my first day back at work. I can honestly say I am 100% thrilled with my spectra. It has a battery so I was able to pump in my car without a car adaptor. Then at work, I was able to grab a couple bottles my pump and I hoped up the bottles attached them hit the power button and I was in business. I didn't have to waste time looking for an outlet or anything. I was able to pump where ever I wanted. It only took me 15 minutes to pump out 7-8 oz per pumping every 3-4 hours.

 

[BellaRosa8302]

FutureBabyG, you must have the Spectra S1?

jtink, thanks for sharing that review! See, I went on amazon & read all of the 1 star reviews for both Spectra & Medela PISA... seems like the biggest complaint on Spectra is it apparently craps out after 1-3 months for some people, and customer service is not very accommodating - some people having to wait a week for a new pump. Medela complaints are more along the lines of the open system developing mold. Honestly, scares me about the Spectra. All the good reviews seem to be from people who JUST got it & love it. I'd love to see some people who have been using it for a year & it still actually works.... Still teeter tottering... because I really want the comfort and more output of the Spectra, but I'm really afraid it won't be reliable

 

[jtink28]

bella, i would be the same if i were you! i'm not working, so i think the pump is not AS big of a deal for me as it is for you. i will simply be pumping to build up a freezer stash and so jackson can feed the new baby a bottle occasionally.

the problem that i had with the PIS is that after EVERY pump session, my nipple hurt so badly, even on the lowest setting. my supply just kept going down on the PIS, so i'm hoping that a combo of the new Spectra S2 and staying at home will help keep my supply up this time.

have you chosen yet? i am choosing tomorrow, and it will be shipped in a few days.

 

[BellaRosa8302]

Got the Spectra! Just arrived 2 days ago. FX it's everything I've ever dreamed of & more thanks for listening to & giving input on my debate