BPA And Breast Pump Preference

Whatever you do, do not buy a Whittlestone pump! They are very complicated, and do not work if the silicone soft shield is positioned incorrectly. I'm a smart person and I could never get mine to work properly. It was complete junk compared to the Medela pump I bought next.

Hi S.,

I'm a mother of 4 children, youngest being 13 months. I've always used the medela pump. For the last 2 babies I've used the "Pump in Style" double pump by Medela. I've never had any nipple or breast discomfort. I have very large breast too. :)

With the double pump I can finish a pumping session in about 10 minutes. As a single pump it might take up to 5 minutes longer. I love my pump and highly recommend it!

Hope this helps!

30 MINUTES IS WAY TOO LONG! The Medela pump will clear you out in bout 10 minutes. And you won't be sore. Now if you are using a hospital grade pump, you may be a little sore at first but even that lessens with time. There is no nipple protection on the Medela, but it should not cause you a great deal of pain-- I never had any and I have gone through 2 pumps now.

hello, I exclusively pumped with my two children and LOVED the Medela backpack pump in style. Check out ebay for a retailer that sells them sealed new in the box - A LOT cheaper than the stores. Good luck!

i have used both and HATED the medela pump-in-style. the avent was much better in terms of comfort, let-down, etc. i was left bruised by the medela!

also the avent is a CLOSED system, which is super important, since with the open system of the medela, breast milk can get into the tubing and even the motor (where you can't clean) and mold and bacteria can grow there leading to illness.
http://www.breastpumpsdirect.com/Articles.asp?ID=147

i totally understand your concern about the BPA in bottles, i have an avent pump and am planning on using it for the next baby (due in july) but i will just pump into the avent bottles then immediately transfer the milk to non-BPA containing bottles for storage. i figure the milk will have minimal contact with the avent bottle.

also, i have heard through the web-grapevine that avent is planning on making non-BPA bottles within the next 6 to 8 months. they already have safe sippy cups and bottles on the market (Avent Naturally). it only makes sense they are a big company and i think it would be hard for them to remain successful with the new anti-BPA evidence coming out.

I used a Medela pump, and loved it. I used it daily for a year, and it wasn't until the very end (thankfully), that it finally wore out. I definitely felt that I got my moneys worth. As for the BPA question, I'm not sure. It wasn't something I was aware of 2 years ago, and didn't know to ask. You can probably contact Medela directly or check out their website to see what information they can give you!

Good luck, and congratulations on the October baby!
Jen

You are worrying needlessly S.. If you experience any discomfort from the Medela, it will go away so fast you won't remember. While each person's body is different, we also have within us the ability to adjust to these changes. They wouldn't make a machine that caused women to be constantly sore. Are you looking for a specific model? A. B

Hi i have not tried any avent products but i do have a medela pump and i really like it the one i have does not the cushions but i still really liked it> ive used it since day one and my daughter is now and i havent had ne type of problems! i think it is fast it usually only takes me 10 to 15 minutes to pump even when im full!!! and the pump i have is a bag one it has room to put 4 pumpd bottles and it came with ice packs for if u are traveling....i hope this helps u!!!!! take care n good luck!!!!!!

Hi S.,
I personally used the Medella Pump in Style, the entire time I was nursing my son which was until he was 10 months old. I work four, ten hour days do I used my pump a lot. I never got sore and it pumps really fast. I was done pumping and cleaning up in 15 minutes, and that was when I was producing 6 ounces per breast. I think it is all in what you get used to. The Medella pump is not a scary as it seems and that is the pump the hospitals recommend and now I understand why. Good luck and remember, this is a good thing to have to worry about.

We rented a Medela pump from the hospital where we had our son, and I loved it. I had no nipple soreness since they have different size cups that will fit your nipple. The Medela machines also have speed variations to you can have it pump faster or slower depending on preference, and you also have the ability to choose the intensity of how hard the machine is pumping. You could always try it out before buying one. We rented ours from the Columbia Center at St. Mary's Ozaukee Hospital. You could try giving them a call, maybe also speak to one of their lactation consultants about any other questions you have regarding different pumps. They were incredibly helpful for me.

I used a Madela and thought it was great. Never used an Avent. I didn't have trouble with sore nipples at all when or after using it. Good luck.

I used Medela but this was almost 7 years ago and I had no problem pumping at all it was fast and efficient. I did have soreness but that might be because I didn't turn down the machine at the end like the previous poster said she did.

I also had bought Avent bottle for my daughter and hated them. I thought they were so spendy and cool they must be good but my daughter had the hardest time trying to suck from them, she was also a preemie but still so I didn't use them til she was older like after a year old. Back then I didn't know a thing about all the BPA stuff. I'm glad everyone is talking about it now though because I'm prego with #2 and will definately be looking at my options as well.

I bought the Medela travel back pack in 2004 so the hospital at the time didn't carry the fancy let down setting on the pump. You just have to put it on 4 or 5 and once your let down happens decrease it to 1 or 2 and you get the same result for less money. I just decreased the sucking power to save my nipples/ducts from the pressure or being sore.

I did lots of research on pumps and found that Medela rated the best and I think it's a fine pump. The shields do come in different sizes. I've always used the standard. If you only use a Medela like me you have nothing to compare it against and think you are using the best anyway. The Medela pump does have bottles you can pump directly into and either seal the bottle with a cap or nipple with cap.

Oh, it would take me 10-15 min. each side if I single pumped and if I doubled it then it could be 10-15 total. I would single pump so I could massage and make sure I get all the ducts cleared out and it helped prevent clogging.

I pumped for 6mths with the Medela Pump'N'Style (I pumped instead of directly breastfeeding due to some issues) and had very little problems. The only thing I would recommend is that they have a few different sizes of shields to use and to make sure to get the one that fits you the best. As soon as I switched to a larger shield, I was very comfortable with it. Also, they make a soft shield if you can fit in the smaller shields. http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2403238 Also, the most I pumped was 16 minutes at a time, which is what both the lactation consultant and the Medela company suggested doing with that particular pump. They have great customer service and were always more than happy to answer questions or send out replacement parts free of charge.

A friend of mine has the Dr. Brown's pump and loves it. It has the same "massage" technique and has the cushioned shields. It's a bit pricey, but she absolutely loves it and is glad she chose that one.

I have a Medela "Swing" pump and I love it. I express in 5-10 minutes for each breast (it's a single pump, so I have to do one at a time).

I'm not at all familar with the cushions you are talking about, but I can tell you that Medela has different size and types of shields. Mine came with a softer, larger shield and went out and got a harder, smaller shield.

About Avent, I bought bottles back in December in MN and I *swear* the packaging said "BPA-free", but maybe it said "something else"-free, and I'm confused?? Anyone else bought Avent lately?

I love my medela!! I had to pump solely for two months with my son and then four months with my daughter. Neither latched on.

When you turn it off it does let down slowly. There is no massaging, but i wasn't sore. The first couple of days i was sore but i think that was due trying to get my daughter to latch....she had a powerful suck but would only latch to the tip of the nipple...so i can't say that it is was the pump. i dont remember being sore with my son. But what is nice when sore is that i could use neosporin(since the kids didn't latch) and just wiped it very well before pumping. I thought it worked better than lansinoh...but that is cuz they didn't latch. If they did i pry would have just used lansinoh.

As for timing, since it was a double pump i could get the job done in 15min. After a month or two and getting into a rhtym i was able to turn the suction and speed up and get a 15 min job done in 9 min.

If you are thinking you might not enjoy the medela and are nervous to try it dont buy one in the store for $300. I have seen plenty available on ebay for resonable prices. There is nothing wrong with sharing if you sterilize the equipment.

Good Lick!

Congrats on the new baby coming! How exciting your life will certainly become again.
I have a an almost 3 year old and a 7 month old, and breastfed exclusively with both until returning to work around the 5 month mark. I don't think there are BPA issues with Medela's bottles, but I'm not sure. I have the Medela Pump in Style Advanced, and it allowed me to effectively and efficiently pump enough milk ahead of my return to work (had 19 plastic shoe boxes full of milk bags in the deep freeze before returning to to work) and while working again to keep my first (and now my second) fed with breast milk bottles at daycare.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE my pump! I haven't used any other pumps, so I don't have any comparisons for you. However, I can say that in my experience (2-3 pumps/day in addition to nursing on demand full time), I never experienced discomfort or soreness with the pump, probably because it has an adjustable strength dial and let down button, so I can customize my pumping session to my needs and let down pattern. The let down feature really seemed real enough to me in the way that it had the frantic, quick style of sucking that a baby does in the beginning of nursing, then moves to the long draws after about a minute or two, like when your milk lets down naturally. If you let down faster, you can simply push the button and go to the long draw cycle. There aren't nipple cushions, but if you're positioned correctly, there isn't any friction or rubbing to cause discomfort. I know you can buy different sized shields to assist with fit if you need to, and other parts can be replaced for that matter too. I found it helpful to use Lansinoh lanolin after nearly every feeding and after every pumping session to keep the "ladies" in top form, if you know what I mean.
With my pump, I'm completely empty on both sides within 5-10 minutes, both bottles are full--and near the end of each session, while still pumping merrily away, I'm able to massage each side and gently squeeze down from the top to get all the milk out so I'm completely empty. I just have to be careful not to squeeze too close to where my breast enters the shield or the seal can break and I lose suction for a moment. When that happens, I just reposition and go back on my merry way.
One mom who responded indicated concerns with getting milk back up into the motor; with all the pumping I've done, I'd have to say your odds of that happening are very slim. You would have to tip the bottles nearly completely back on themselves to allow the milk to get back up near the tubing entrance for it to leave the bottle and go into the tubing. Once, after being way overdue to pump, I overflowed one bottle, but it didn't go into the tubing, it simply leaked out the top of the bottle from the place where the bottle screws onto the connection for the shield. So, having experienced that, I'd say that if you keep your bottles sitting upright (on your thighs) in the little stands that comes with the set, you should never have to worry about milk going back up the tubing and into the motor.
I was blessed to nurse for 13 1/2 months with my first son, and hope to go as long for my second. I believe that my Medela made it possible to go the distance after returning to work full time since it effectively allowed me to empty both breasts at least twice a day while away from my baby, basically mimicking the two feedings I was missing while working. I'd say, get the Medela, as I think you will most likely be completely satisfied and have a wonderful nursing and pumping experience with it.
Good luck and I hope you have a wonderful delivery and nursing/pumping experience with your new baby!

I like the Medela...one thing I found out with my second pregnancy was that you need to make sure you have the right size flange. Your nipples should not be filling up the tube part. Most come with medium or regular sized flanges. During pregnancy I went from a "B" to a "DD" so I had no idea that I needed the large. An LC helped me figure this out and also stated that studies are starting to suggest that you are able to pump more. Besides...there is less discomfort.
As far as Avent Bottles and BPA...it is unfortunate but there was a knee jerk reaction to one study that was done (which wasn't a great study) and three others that went ignored. You would have to have your baby consume more out of a bottle that has been reheated then humanly possible to be affected by this. Speak to your physician for peace of mind. Good Luck!

Hey S.,
I've used the Medela Pump In Style (an old one), as well as their Swing (little electric, one side at a time) and Harmony (manual hand pump). Of course...Pump In Style is the easiest and most efficient. True, it doesn't have cushions, but the only time I found myself sore is when I had the suction up too high. Otherwise, I really like it. The others work pretty well too. I really trust Medela...they are just about breastfeeding.

Hi, S..
I used Medela double pump (Pump N Style-I think) for my premie twins and it was great. I highly recommend it. It only took about 10-15 minutes each time pumping to empty myvery full breasts. I also recommend using different size shields when you need them. Nipple pain was minimal if at all.

On another note, I used Avent bottles a few times and did not like them at all-I found they leaked all the time. I found the Nuk Ortho bottles worked much better and compliment breastfeeding. Hope this helps and sorry if it's TMI.

S.,
First of all congrats on the pregnancy. I have a double medela pump and I love it.The double is the only way to go. I used it with my son who I nursed for 15 months and I'm currently using it now with my 12 week old daughter. I know when I first started using it after the kids were born it my nipples were a little sore,but didn't last very long at all. I love my pump. Target also carries replacement parts so if you loose any thing. (Speaking from experience) The little white pieces that go on the yellow part of the pump went down the drain one day when I was washing the bottles. Take care. Good luck.
T.

I have heard that Medela is great also but I have to say there is a pump out there that is just wonderful if you can find it. It is the Whittlestone pump and the whole pumping session is the massage technique. My husband got me one off Ebay and we ordered the replacement silicone covers for the breast part. It is wonderful. I loved it especially for the engorgement stage when I really didn't feel like having my nipples ripped off. I used the Medela when I had my son. It was painful!!!!!! This one is very gentle and I was pumping for 20 minutes and getting both breast at the same time is just great. I have never used an Avent pump let alone seen one out of the box So I am not sure if this is similar. I just know if you want a gentle pump that actually produces milk this is it.

I've only used the Medela Pump n' Style, so also don't have anything to compare it to, but used it after 3 kids for a total of about 7 years. I never had trouble with soreness from it, but did sometimes decrease the suction. I always double pumped as was faster & more efficient. I think I pumped 15-20 minutes, until flow had significantly decreased or stopped & breasts felt pretty empty (although I never felt quite as empty after pumping as I did after nursing).

I too have really been looking into the BPA leaching and such. i am out of the bottle stage so i don't have to worry quite as much about that right now. i have used and loved my Medela pump. it was expensive but worth it. my sister-in-law and I actually went in half/half for it 7 years ago. My other sister-in-law purchased new cups and tubes and is still using it right now. She loves it too. It does work really fast. If i remeber right, it does pull a little when you first turn it on and that was uncomfortable. But after that it was fine on the nipples. I can't remember what brand my Sister-in-law used before but once she started using Medela she said it was so much better and faster. Good luck i know it is stressful trying to research and figure the BPA junk and breast pumps out. Congrats on the new pregnancy!

I love my Medela. I just got a new one this weekend as the one i was using was not doing good for me. I borrowed it from my sister inlaw. I just got a pump n style advance and i only need it on the 2nd to last level and in 12 minutes i let down twice. I was having issues with not getting enough and my supply going down since i went back to work and since getting this one and take More Milk Plus i am doing good!!! I hope this helps

i used an advent hand pump when i first pumped for my son. they wanted him off breastmilk for 1 1/2 days to get rid of jaundice, they said. anyway, it was a pain in the butt!! i got the medela free of charge through my insurance company, as long as my doctor prescribed it for me. i thought it was TONS easier, even though i did not find it easy to do both sides at once. however, i didnt use it much either. if you already have the cushions, you can stick them into the medela. i tried that a couple times and though it didnt make much difference to me, if it is important to you, it can be done. i thought the cushions would press on different places on my breast and encourage let-down.

the best thing i discovered to encourage let down was my baby crying. so if you can record your baby crying, it might help you! LOL. it sounds bad, but it works.

good luck, and i still highly recommend the medela. it is a good thing, and easy to take along with you. KUDOS to you for giving your child the best!

Good for you. I too am worried about BPA leaching from plastics. (In fact, after posting to mamasource and getting some great answers, I stopped using Medela's microwave bag to sterilize my breast pump parts and now just use good old soap and water.)

Anyway, I use the Medela Pump'N'Style and, even though I don't have anything to compare it to, I love it. It has 5 settings for suck frequency and a dial setting for pump strength (I have mine turned up all the way.) My sister-in-law, who nursed her baby for more than a year, has one and highly recommended it. I have never heard any complaints from anyone else who has used it.