Pumping concerns / what pump to get

[GrowingMum]

I will be going back to work about 8 weeks after LO is born and so will have to pump at work. I've been looking into breast pumps but I am overwhelmed and not sure what to get.

With DD, I had a manual pump which worked great for me, but I wasn't using it every day. I liked that it was easy to put in the bottle sterilizer along with the bottles, that it was easily portable with no worry over charging/changing batteries, and most of all that it was quiet. I like to keep things as simple as possible and it worked great for us.

I would probably go with a manual again and see how it goes except that I just found out I can get a free pump through my insurance company and the affordable care act. That along with the fact that I will have to be pumping 2-3 times per day makes me think that an electric pump may be better for me this time around, but I still have concerns.

First, I will have to pump in the restroom at work (as there is no other suitable place in our small office) and the restrooms are really close to the work area. I'm very concerned about the noise of the pump being an embarrassment for me as I work for three very conservative older men. Of course they will know that I pump at work, but I would rather not have them be reminded what I'm doing by the noise multiple times a day.

Second, I want to keep the pumping/cleaning/sterilizing process as simple as possible but don't know what pump to choose. It seems like every pump out there has plenty of negative reviews. The Medela Pump in Style seems to be the most popular, but then it apparently has the issue of milk backing up into somewhere it shouldn't be and being impossible to clean -- ew. Plus, every single electric pump I've looked at has the "con" of being noisy.

I'm leaning toward buying a manual pump with my own money and seeing how it goes. I'll always have the option to get an electric later if the manual pumping doesn't work out for me. But, I'd also like to just get an electric before baby is born to save the hassle and shipping time later if that is what I am going to end up with ultimately.

I'm open to any opinions and advice that might help me decide what to get.

Thanks!

 

[MommyJogger]

I would say that an electric pump is an absolute essential for pumping as often as you're going to be pumping, especially given how soon you'll be going back to work. You'll still really be establishing your supply and the nipple stimulation provided by the (double!) electric over the manual may be important for your long-term pumping success. Some women can get by with a manual with such frequent pumping requirements, but they would be in the minority. Your plan may be to get a pump later, but by that time, you may be in immediate need of it and some insurances will only cover an electric pump if it's purchased within the first 3 or so months after the birth.
With an electric, all of the parts that come into contact with milk will either fit in a sterilizer or you can buy microwaveable sterilizer bags that they can go in.
Milk backing up into the pump and not being cleanable doesn't make sense to me. I have the Medela in-style. It's basically two shield/bottle combos attached to a plastic face plate via two long plastic tubes. All of these are detachable and cleanable. Underneath the plastic face plate is a thick plastic membrane that gets pumped back and forth to create suction and release. This is cleanable once the faceplate is removed. There is nowhere apparent to me that milk could even get into the machinery.
I would like to say that if you are in the US, they are absolutely required to provide you with a non-toilet, private area to pump in.

 

[rory83coyotes]

Most people don't read the instructions on the pisa and you are supposed to clean the part monthly where the milk could back up. You would notice it in the tubes before it could reach the motor. I would order it now as some companies are having a hard time keeping them in stock. What are your other choices? I really liked my pisa. It held up through two babies

 

[rory83coyotes]

Oh and ease don't pump in the bathroom. It's dirty. Your car would be a better choice. And any pump with a motor is going to make some noise

 

[hopingforit]

Have you called your insurance company to find durable medical providers (usually the only place you can get the pump)? There aren't many options for pumps and I know of the ones I called (like 20), PISA wasn't an option. They did have a medela advanced which is similar, hygeia, first years, and ameda purely yours. If you haven't called yet, I definitely would. As for pumping at work, I don't work but there is no shame in pumping for your baby. I'm sure at least one of those men had children and midst likely they were breastfed for some amount of time so they will understand. It is a natural part of life so I don't see the issue that they could have.

 

[GrowingMum]

I would say that an electric pump is an absolute essential for pumping as often as you're going to be pumping, especially given how soon you'll be going back to work. You'll still really be establishing your supply and the nipple stimulation provided by the (double!) electric over the manual may be important for your long-term pumping success. Some women can get by with a manual with such frequent pumping requirements, but they would be in the minority. Your plan may be to get a pump later, but by that time, you may be in immediate need of it and some insurances will only cover an electric pump if it's purchased within the first 3 or so months after the birth.
With an electric, all of the parts that come into contact with milk will either fit in a sterilizer or you can buy microwaveable sterilizer bags that they can go in.
Milk backing up into the pump and not being cleanable doesn't make sense to me. I have the Medela in-style. It's basically two shield/bottle combos attached to a plastic face plate via two long plastic tubes. All of these are detachable and cleanable. Underneath the plastic face plate is a thick plastic membrane that gets pumped back and forth to create suction and release. This is cleanable once the faceplate is removed. There is nowhere apparent to me that milk could even get into the machinery.
I would like to say that if you are in the US, they are absolutely required to provide you with a non-toilet, private area to pump in.

Thanks. I will definitely consider the Medela. You have eased my fears about the milk backing up into the pump. I am in the us, but my company is way less than 50 people so they do not have to provide a non-restroom place for me to pump. There simply isn't a better place for me to pump in the building because it is so small. Maybe I could go down to the basement, but it is dirty and dusty down there. I think the restroom would be better. There are only three women in the office who use it on a daily basis.

 

[GrowingMum]

Most people don't read the instructions on the pisa and you are supposed to clean the part monthly where the milk could back up. You would notice it in the tubes before it could reach the motor. I would order it now as some companies are having a hard time keeping them in stock. What are your other choices? I really liked my pisa. It held up through two babies

I haven't seen the pisa so don't know if it is available to me but I will look for it.

 

[GrowingMum]

Oh and ease don't pump in the bathroom. It's dirty. Your car would be a better choice. And any pump with a motor is going to make some noise

I wish that I had another option, but I really think the restroom is my best option. I can't go to my car because the parking lot is not in a private enough place and I would feel very exposed.

One thing I would really like to do but don't know if I will be able to make it work, is to not pump at all but instead go to my baby's daycare to bf 2-3 times a day instead of pumping. That would be ideal and avoid all of my concerns! But I can't count on being able to do that.

 

[GrowingMum]

Have you called your insurance company to find durable medical providers (usually the only place you can get the pump)? There aren't many options for pumps and I know of the ones I called (like 20), PISA wasn't an option. They did have a medela advanced which is similar, hygeia, first years, and ameda purely yours. If you haven't called yet, I definitely would. As for pumping at work, I don't work but there is no shame in pumping for your baby. I'm sure at least one of those men had children and midst likely they were breastfed for some amount of time so they will understand. It is a natural part of life so I don't see the issue that they could have.

Yes, I have called my insurance company and they allow me to purchase any pump I want that is not hospital grade as long as I buy from a place that has a storefront (not amazon for example, but babiesrus.com is okay)

I imagine that I will get over the embarrassment of the noise and people overhearing, but I still worry about it. I have absolutely no problem nursing in public, but somehow using a pump seems less natural and I'm not as comfortable with the idea of it.