What kind of pump?

[wishn2Bmom]

With my first we had several problems, both me and her I think, that led to all of us being miserable and switching to FF after getting past the 3 mo. hurtle. DD #2 is due shortly and I am preparing myself to have to exclusively pump if I want her to have breast milk. Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but since round one didn't work so well, I would like to be prepared.

Anyway, if I have to pump from the get go, what pump do I need? I currently have a medela swing single electric, but that won't cut it if I'm doing EBM full time. Do I need to rent a hospital grade one to establish supply in the first two weeks? Would the hospital grade one be handy to have for efficiency sake? Is the medela pump in style sufficient even while trying to establish supply? I'm clearly confused and need advise

 

[Steph82]

I can't advise on establishing supply, but I know that Medela gives you appropriate uses for each of their pumps. I have the Medela freestyle and started using at 4 weeks. Now I pump 4 times while at work everyday and it's doing a pretty good job.
Maybe see if there is a lactation group in your area and ask? My hospital offered free lactation groups every week.

Good luck

 

[AmyB1978]

My daughter was in the NICU so i had to pump to establish supply and I highly recommend renting a hospital grade pump... And a good one. My insurance paid for my current pump, ameda purely yours, which is hospital grade, and it gets the job done but I am fairly certain it would not have even enough to establish my supply. I had a Medela symphony that I rented in those first weeks and I can't praise it high enough.

 

[jewelstar]

I have a Dr. Brown's Simplisse and I love it! It's in the same price range as the Medela ones. It has a good motor and the cups are really soft. It almost feels like a baby is nursing! I pump twice at work ( for an 8 hour day) and usually end up with 16 ounces.

 

[misspriss]

My daughter was in the NICU so i had to pump to establish supply and I highly recommend renting a hospital grade pump... And a good one. My insurance paid for my current pump, ameda purely yours, which is hospital grade, and it gets the job done but I am fairly certain it would not have even enough to establish my supply. I had a Medela symphony that I rented in those first weeks and I can't praise it high enough.

I second this. I used a Medela Symphony to establish supply and LOVED it.

My current "hospital grade" pump from my insurance would not have been enough to establish supply. I am thinking of renting a Symphony again now that I have gone back to work....

 

[wishn2Bmom]

Thanks. I have a lot to weigh. My insurance covers up to $200 for a rental or purchase but only through select companies. I looked into those suppliers and all of them sell, only some of them will rent, and none of them offer hospital grade. I would like to stick with medela since I already have one and many of their parts appear interchangeable. The only medela they offered was the pump in style. I found a local place that can rent me a Latina or symphony, but I would have to pay it myself cause insurance doesn't work with them. Nothing is easy!

 

[HopefulPony]

I use a Medela pump in style to exclusively pump and its great - I used it to establish my supply and I started late, I've only had it 7 weeks and George is 13 weeks old.

 

[AmyB1978]

If you can afford it, I would say get the pump in style through the insurance and then pay to rent the symphony for a month or two while your supply gets established.