Seeking Advice on Breast Pumps

I have the metro medella. I find myself pumping one breast at a time because pumping both at the same time became a hassel. Needed the right space at work etc. The machine is so heavy. I am not happy with carting the pump bag, my lunch bag, my work brief case, and my gym bag. The pump is heavier than all my bags! I'm so tempted to buy the new tiny pump machine by medella. Good luck with the pump thing. By the way, my daughter is a new years baby! It was werid being in labor and hearing all the hospital staff yelling happy new years. But it was great!

I have a electric breast pump that i want to sell,only used a handful of times, still very new. Bought it a few months ago. Madela Swing single pump.We can work out a price..$150.00 brand new.

I use a Medela Pump in Style Advanced double electric pump - it's the best thing out there short of hospital-grade that you can carry to work every day, and even at home.

Don't buy a cheap pump, you'll end up buying another better one later. Purley Yours Ameda two sided pump $150 online, cheaper than renting. You'll need it at least a year. I use it not just for bottles if I'm gone, but when they're sick in a cup, good practice to transfer to a cup, cereal... Also, you can donate breast milk to premies/NICU's... breastmilkproject.org

THANKS for deciding to breastfeed, THE BEST thing you can do for your child!!
Le Leche League website is really great.

If you are only going to pump occasionally, get the Lansinoh Double Electric Pump. If you are going to pump regularly, get the Medela Advanced Pump In Style. I use it at work and just LOVE it. Works great, is fast and holds up very strong. Congrats!

I rented a hospital grade Medela with my first child, which worked great, but with my second, I bought a Medela double breast pump. The cost savings was significant, but the rental one definitely worked better than the one I bought. The beauty of buying is the cost savings and you can pass it on to family or friends when you're done (though they should buy their own accessories). Good luck!

we sound very much like we r in the same boat. i am a new mom and have found the medela pump to be very easy and efficient. it is worth every penny. there r several types to fit specific needs and i have the original double style pump that includes the manual pump. i also appreciate the very convenient package that the the pump comes in. wish you well with your search. great help in allowing my husband to be part of her feeding once a day...

Hi M.,

Breastfeeding was very difficult for me--I never made very much milk despite trying many, many things--turns out I had an undiagnosed thyroid disease--and my son was a very large baby and just not interested in sucking that hard. So, after a while, I just pumped as much as I could for 8 months until what little I had dried up, and I supplemented what I made with formula.

I rented the Medela Symphony (yellow) pump from a lactation consultant ("Milkmade at Home" in Hillcrest). I suggest renting--because if something happens to it (mine died mid-pump one night), you can get a replacement right away and someone else is responsible for fixing the original. The Symphony is a double-breast pump.

I rented the Symphony because you could adjust the speed of pumping AND the pressure, so supposedly this was more comfortable and effective than the blue Medela hospital-grade pump, and simulated what babies do when they breastfeed. It is supposed to be one step up from the blue pump. I think this pump was supposed to help cut down on engorgement--but really, not sure about this since I was engorged a lot and got mastitis once. Ugh.

I bought the car charger for the pump so I could pump in parking lots when I went somewhere by myself and while someone else was driving (yes, I sat in the front passenger seat, pumping away, down the freeway--quite an image, don't you think? :-). For me, the car charger was necessary since I only pumped--and in the beginning especially, I was pumping all of the time. I also bought the Medela pump wipes--these were great for cleaning pump parts on the go--made this process easier.

Good luck!!

:-) D.

Medela Pump In Style (dual electric)...it is worth every penny! At work, if you pump for about 2 minutes extra after you are "dry", and nurse at home, you should be able to keep up your milk supply. Good luck and best wishes!

I bought a Medela Pump In Style from another mom on Craigs list and just bought new tubing at BabiesRUs. I went back to work part time when my son was 3 months old. My advice is to start pumping earlier than you need to so you can store up milk in the freezer. Don't give up, it's a bit odd at first but your child will really benefit! I think the Medela worked great but I personally pumped one breast at a time as the 2 at a time just felt too much like I was a farm animal to me. I'd heard breast feeding was tough and I just tred to get past 2 weeks before giving up. I stuck with it and got to 14 months while working and I think my son is healthy for this! Good Luck! Try Craigs list! No point buying brand new when there are so many once used.

I would definitly buy! I have heard horror stories about the rental pumps from the hospitals, apparently many are ancient and painful to use. I used a medela single pump, which worked great, but I was not able to get my supply up to breastfeed for longer than 3 months (and I think it was because I didn't pump enough besides the fact that my son is a little piggy). My cousin had a double Medela (supper expensive) and had no problem breastfeeding for a yearsince she was able to up her supply by pumping after each feeding.

Hi M.,

Congratulations on your upcoming bundle of joy. My son is 10 months old. I was unable to breastfeed because he, at first didn't know how to suck, and then had many latching on issues. So I pumped and then gave him the breastmilk in a bottle. It was a lot of extra work, but it was important to me that he was breastfed. I'm a teacher and was lucky to stay home for 4 months and then returned to work. As for your baby, I would suggest that while you're teaching your baby to breastfeed, don't give your baby a bottle for about 6 weeks due to "nipple-confusion." Yes, there is a term for it. Once your baby is is a good little eater, then try letting dad give one bottle a day. It is very important that your baby learn how to take the bottle, because believe me, getting a break for one feeding is awesome, and dad gets to having some extra bonding time. I used the Medela Pump in Style Advanced. Four of my co-workers/friends used it without any problems. It worked great. It was expensive, but I used it for 7 months, and have no doubt that it will work for future children. I went to a breastfeeding class and the teacher said the more expensive a pump is, the better it will work. But no matter what you choose, get a double pump. It cuts the time in half, and you really don't have extra time with a little one around. One more piece of advice, get it before your baby is born. My husband had to run off to Babies 'R' Us the day we brought our baby home so he could eat. Good luck!

Hi M., I LOVED my Medela Pump in Style! They are expensive but worth it! I tried 2 different manual pumps at first as I, like you, did not really need to pump more than 1 or 2 times a day. But the manual pumps just were not efficient for me and left me frustrated. I finally invested in the Medela and do not regret spening the money. I used it again for my second baby and it still worked great. Then I was able to pass it along to a friend and it worked great for her too! The rental pumps available are great but it is cheaper in the long run to just buy a good one. :-)J

The Medela Pump in Style Advanced has been wonderful. Buy it at Kaiser Permanente's Wellness Center in Riverside and you'll save almost $100. You don't need to be a Kaiser member to purchase from them. Kaiser was in the process of opening a wellness center store in Anaheim so you may want to check to see if it's opened yet. Well worth the drive for the savings. Good Luck!

Hey M. ~

Not sure how many replies you have had, but in my experience the Medela professional pump, the one you rent from someone is the best. There are lots out there, but if you have any issues with BF, as many women do, this pump covers them all. When you are looking at the Medela pumps, turn the box to the side and you will see what the different pumps are designed for.

Good luck in your search, and enjoy the bonding that breastfeeding can bring!

J.

medelas are the best! i got the one thats like the hospital grade pumps and it was like 300+ it was soo worth it and it came with a carrying case it was great i cant wait to use it with the second baby :) yes it is best to get a pump that can do both breast at once it will save you time. good luck!

I loved my Medela pump-in-style. If you're going to use your pump daily (or more) don't get a cheap one. I bought mine used online and bought replacement valves/tubing etc and everything that would touch me. It is an investment and my sisters got cheaper ones at the beginning and then had to buy a nicer one to get the most milk. Some of the cheaper ones are ineffective and sometimes hurt. They sell all kinds of accessories online too (check eBay) :) Good luck! I got extra tubing and things from http://www.elitebreastfeeding.com/ They're close - in CA and I found that they had the best pricing for the items that I needed to replace.

looks like you have a lot of good responces and i agree the electric double pump is the way to go. so i just want to give you some incouragement that this is possible. with my last i was able to stay home until she was 3mons old. i would try to pump and freeze as much as i could but didnt ever seem to have that much. once i went back to work i would pump twice at work. we had to supplement with formula but it was enough so that when i was with her i could keep nursing her and i nursed her until almost 10 months. much longer than i did with my other children. GOOD LUCK and CONGRATULATIONS!

I just want to reiterate what other Mom's have already mentioned (for added support if nothing else). I bought a used Medela pump and replace all the parts including the tubes, though I had to go to the St Jude Wellness Center to find those (maybe I just missed them at Babies R Us?) I planned to breastfeed long-term and felt that if I rented, I'd spend more over the course of a year than I would buying (even if I'd bought it new). I never even bothered with a hand-pump, the electric was so easy. And doing both breasts at once made the most sense working full-time. Best of luck; hang in there. I developed a sort of love/hate relationship with my pump over the course of the year. Loved that I was doing the best thing for my son, hated the time and effort especially when I knew I was getting less out of the pump than he was nursing. Still, so worth it!

First of all, Congratulations to you and your family! This is such an exciting time! After going through numerous less expensive pumps (my husband didn't want to spend a lot of money on the pump), we ended up buying an expensive electric pump. I know it seems excessive, but it was worth it's weight in gold in the long run. I ended up exclusively pumping, as my daughter would not latch. The pricey pump maintained my milk, was quicker and easier and made for a much better quality of life for the entire family. I recommend going to a local mothers guild for recommendations. However, I found Medela the best.

I used the madela pump. I would buy your own if you can. At one point I had it compleatly dismantled and as small as possible on my dressing table in a little basket. ( taking it out of the case so it was not an eye sore ) At times I wished I had that product that hold the pumps for you so you can be hands free. My first few months of breastfeeding took a lot of time. My son was pulling off and on a lot. I was extreamly sore. It all became perfctly wonderful after maybe two months. Don't give up if you do have any difficulty. It's easy, cheap and the perfect food. My son is now 8 months and nurses less. I introduced formula to him last week. It's working for us. PS he eats a lot of table food and freash baby food.

Congratulations, M.!

As most of the other Moms have said, Medela makes fantastic pumps. I used the pump in style, and it was great. I used it at work as well. I would definitely buy one. It pays for itself very quickly, and you can use it for years.

I got mine at Hackley Healthcare Equipment at www.hackleyhme.com. Their phone is 1-866-299-0071. I just checked, and they still offer free shipping on orders over $50. They show all of the Medela models and describe all of the features, but due to an agreement with Medela, they can't show the prices online. Just look over the various models, and then call them for prices. I ordered mine over the phone, and it arrived in two days. It was definitely less expensive than those in the stores or hospitals.

Good luck with the remainder of your pregnancy, and enjoy this special time!

J.

I found two books that were a great help to me: "Working Mother, Nursing Mother" and "So That's What They're For."

I went back to work after 3.5 months with each of my 2 sons. I pumped 3 times each day at work and brought the milk home. Don't be surprised if your little one "reverses" feedings when you go back to work -- that is, starts doing the bulk of the feeding at night. Both of mine did. They decided that if the Breastaurant was available only at night then that's when they'd eat. (I actually liked this -- it meant I didn't have to pump at work as much, because they were getting their feedings from me.) Bring them into your bed so you can get some sleep and don't worry about it if this happens.

Get the Medela (sp?) Traveler. That was wonderful, and it came in a small backpack with a small cooler to keep the milk until you could go home. It has 2 "trumpets" (not sure what else to call them, but that's what they look like, lol) but you can use just one if you want. That's mostly what I did, because not having my hands (one on each trumpet) was a pain. But it did help to have the option, because pumping faster (both at once) was occasionally needed.

And buy it. You'll need it for at least 6 months (preferably longer) and by the time you've paid the monthly rent you could have bought one.

You'll want to pump more than 1x each day while you're home, so that you can get a freezer stock in case of (1) emergencies, or (2) occasional nights out (pump & dump). The best time to pump is the first thing in the a.m. And you get a better let down if you pump on one breast while feeding on the other.

Also, I had to be away for a week for work; having the freezer stock meant my son didn't mis a feeding. I just had to pump the whole week so that I could keep up my supply. And if for some odd reason you have to go on antibiotics, you'll still have milk in the freezer.

Get the books; they have a lot more information and they were great to read. Good luck!

BTW, be ready to go to a lactation consultant if you have any troubles teaching your little one to latch. I had to do it both times, even though I thought I was old hat with the second one. Each baby is different, and oddly enough it can be really tough to get started correctly. Be ready to ask for help, and fingers crossed you won't need it!

Hi M.,
I nursed my son until he was 2 and a half and I pumped for the first year and a half. I used the Medela, advanced pump in style. It is expensive, but worth every penny. I suggest you buy one. You should also invest in a specialized bra for pumps (it has holes in it to fit the pump shield) so that you can be hands free for the 20 min that you will pump. Those are available at A Mother's Haven in Encino. And you can get one of those nusring drapes, to cover yourself while pumping.
You can find the Medela breast pump at babies r us. The good thing about babies r us is that they sell an insurance that covers your pump if something goes wrong. Good idea since you will spend btwn $200-$300. If you register there, maybe you'll get it as a gift, or get gift cards to help pay for it.
Best Wishes!

Hi M.,

I agree with the advice you've gotten so far about getting an electric pump that attaches to both breasts at once. That way, you can pump both breasts at the same time and cut down the time you spend pumping in half (vs. pumping each breast separately). As a mom, you'll appreciate any time savings you can get, whether pumping at home or at work.

I purchased a Medela electric pump. Even though I decided to breastfeed my daughter from the beginning, my milk supply came in late due to medical issues. So, I was glad that I purchased the pump, so (1) I could stimulate milk production and (2) she could still get some breast milk along with formula until my milk supply came in.

For more advice, I'd talk to a lactation specialist/consultant. Check the hospital where you are delivering. Mine had a lactation specialist, and recommended Medela (that's what the hospital uses, too).

If you live in the Los Angeles area, The Pump Station in Santa Monica & Hollywood is a great resource for breastfeeding, too.

Good luck!
-D.

The only thing that worked for me was to pump one breast while the baby suckled the other. For whatever reason, I just couldn't "let down" for the pump. I tried a hand pump (too clumsy to manage while holding babe), a battery powered one and an electric one. MInd you, this was 21 years ago so I am sure that there are newer designs out there now. For me, the electric one I rented worked the best. I would highly recommend that you contact La Leche Leauge. They have so much information and are staffed by loving moms who have breast fed! Best of luck with your new and wonderous life!

I hope my advice is not a repeat but, if/when you get the Medela Pump In Style, there is a bra type zip up thing they sell at Pump Station that lets you be hands free while pumping both breasts at once. It's cotton and has two holes to secure the cups to your breasts in the right place then you zip it up and let go! It made it less stressful and I could read or do something else while pumping. I highly recommend it.

commercial grade pumps are the only way to go. they are expenssive, and your plans may change so I recommend renting. even though i intended to breast feed and stay home, I was one of the 5% of woman who were unable to breasfeed due to low milk productions, so I'm really glad I didn't invest in one. Also, It is so much work to both feed and pump that you want to extract as fast and as much as possible. Nothing could have prepared me for how much work it was and a time investment to pump, so don't mess around with anything short of a commercial grade pump.

CONGRATS ON THE BABY TO BE. My son is 4 months old. I have been pumping since he was about 3-4 weeks old. I would pump once a day for daddy feedings. Now I am back to work and pump a lot. My breast milk is decreasing also. :(
I use the Medula pump-n-style back pack type pump. Its great. I got it from a close friend. They say not to share pumps but so far we have had NO problems. I would have rented a pump but I want to pump/breastfeed as long as I can. It all depends on what you can afford. My pump has the option for dual pumping but its awkward and I usually go one breast at a time.. thats just me. Hope it all goes well for you. Being a mom is the best and breastfeeding is something to take pride in.

I would highly recommend the medella pump in style. It is worth the money.

Good Job M.!
I am a huge breast is best advocate! I bought the Medela "pump in style" electric breast pump 11 years ago for my first baby. I am currently pregnant with my 4th. I still have it it still works great! I have loaned it out to several freinds over the years. It was well worth the $250.oo I paid back then, not sure how much they are now. I love it and it gets the milk out quick and efficient. I love all the Medela products! Best of luck!
Smiles,
Steph

the Medela Hospital Grade Classic pump is the best pump ..i rented one for a month then decided to go on Ebay and buy one..wound up buying 2..and then sold them when i was done for $50 more than i paid! to pump both breasts at the same time you'll need a easy expression bra. you can get them at the Pump Station in LA or i think the site is www.easyexpressionproducts.com
good luck* your milk establishes itself at 6 weeks so try to nurse a lot and pump a lot so that your body learns to produce a lot of milk..then at 6 weeks hopefully your supply will be abundant.

I highly recommend the Medela Pump In Style Advanced. I had the backpack which was easy to carry and none of my co-workers knew what it was. I pumped twice a day for ten months with my first and once a day for nine months with my second. Now my sister has the pump and it is still going strong. Well worth the investment!

The advice I got was great--you can rent a pump from the hospital at a pretty reasonable price (the price goes down by the month I think). These are strong and powerful double pumps. If pumping works for you then you can decide if you want to buy your own and which one will work for you. Many women don't like to pump or breastfeeding doesn't work out. This way you haven't invested a ton of cash to find that out. I LOVED the hospital pump, though you should know they aren't portable. But it's not like you go real far in the first month or two anyway :)

Breastfeeding and working is always a lesson in time management. I teach school, so I have very limited breaks. I also had to travel a lot the first 6 months of my baby's life, so I decided electric was the way to go (from talking with other moms). I did tons of research and ended up choosing the Medela Pump in Style. It is expensive, but I bought mine on Craig's list for less than half the price. I got it from a mom who never used it, because she chose not to breastfeed. You will read over and over not to buy a used pump, but in reality no milk ever goes in the pump itself. It goes into tubes that you can easily replace. You can all buy all the accessories new if you want at Babies R Us, online, or at a baby speciality shop. I loved the pump, and two other of my coworkers got the same one (all used). I hope no other moms lash out at me for my suggestion, because that is all it is. Good luck and I hope you enjoy the last few months of your preganancy.

It has been my experience that pumping lowers your milk production. I've had four babies, and tried pumping with two of them. Big mistake. Nursing promotes milk production. Pumping does not. I had to work full time for three months when my youngest was 4 months old, and at first I tried to pump, but I found that it didn't produce much regardless of what kind of pump I used - and I tried several. What kept my milk production up was nursing a lot when I was home, and nursing at night, of course. After working full time for those three months, I continued to nurse for another year. Do not fall into the trap that many women do, of underestimating their bodies. Your body WILL produce more than enough milk to sustain your baby, and working part time does not have to change that. It is how often you nurse while you are at home that matters.

Definitely get a medala pump in style. It saves time and works great. Also, get pumping bra, something similar to the attached link. It frees up your hands and you can read, type on the computer, etc while pumping. Another option is to purchase a pump on ebay, they sell both new and used. Many people have purchased used pumps off of ebay with great results. Just sterilize or buy new shields and storage containers.

http://store.babycenter.com/product/breastfeeding/breast+...

Hi M.,
Congratulations! It is great that you are planning to breast feed your baby and that you are thinking ahead. I breast fed both my children and with the second child I went back to work full time 6 weeks after delivery and I breast fed him until he was 2 1/2. The Pump Station in Santa Monica is where I rented the pump I used and they are very helpful. It has been a while so I don't know what is the best pump now, but you must get an electric - otherwise it is too challenging and I did both breast at the same time. It is smart that you want to start pumping immediately. The more you pump the more milk you will produce and you can freeze the milk.
Best wishes,
K.

I agree the double electric Medela is the way to go---way worth the money! It is so fast, doesn't hurt and will save you $ in the long run on formula. If you don't want to buy new or can't afford it, you can always buy on ebay or somewhere and just buy replacement bottles, suction cups and tubing--those are all of the parts milk goes thru, the rest is just the motor and carrying case.

Good luck! This is one area where it is worth it to splurge--I'd go so far as to say, it was more useful than a crib the first 6 mo, when the baby slept in our room!

My Medela Pump in Style electric breast pump worked great! It came in a backpack and I could easily get it back and forth from work to home. I am a teacher and I had to pump quickly (during a 20 minute recess) and this pump did the trick. I used it with both of my daughters (two years apart) and now my friend who is due Oct. 31 is now going to use it! It was worth every penny!
Congrats!
Love,
J.

double electric is absolutely the way to go. Its the only thing efficient enough to pump while absent from baby on a regluar basis. I LOVE my medela Pump In Style. I used it when I went back to work full-time after my first was born, and with my second even as a stay at home mom now, it has been vital.

Hi M. :)

Congrats to you and your husband! How wonderful for you both! I'm excited for you guys. :)

My experience with breast pumps that I purchased on my own from the store was not good. I do not have a small chest and I produced a lot of milk. I bought a Medela and it wasn't effective and stopped working very shortly after I bought it. You also have to remember with those things that there are NO RETURNS!

I LOVE the breastpumps that are rented from the hospital. I know they work and they work well. I had mastitis twice and it was the most terrible thing to go through... I know with the hospital grade pumps, ALL the milk is being expressed and I only have to sit there for 15-20 mins total for both rather than twice that on one purchased from the store. I'd look into it and go that route only. They are also great for building up the milk supply and you can set it how it feels most comfortable for you. The monthly rental fee should decrease the longer you have it and then it stablizes. It was abslolutely worth it to me.

Best wishes to you!
J.

I have a 7 month daughter who is breastfed only. I work full time and my husband stays at home with our daughter. I have the electric Medela Pump in Style Avanced Breastpump. It works great for me and is super convenient. I pump 3-4 times a day at work. when you're pumping at work, you don't have much time so you want to make sure that the pump easy to use and pumps out enough milk. You can pump both breast at the same time and is very convenient. I never had any problems with it and I love it. It's more expensive than the other pumps but it's worth every penny.

Hi M.,
Twelve years ago I bought the Medella Pump in Style double electric breast pump. It was the best thing I ever did. It helped me relieve my full breast (which can be very painful...-this happens in the beginning quite a bit but tapers off as the baby gets older.

I used this pump for two of my children and my girl friend used it with her two and she left it at work and a colleague of hers used it too. I loaned it to my neices (altough I dont think they used it much). So, needless to say, it has serviced a lot of babies. Great investment.

It was the pump that the lactation consultants suggested at the hospital when I went to see if I could pump my milk. it worked great and I am happy that is what I did.
Best of luck with your new little one.
T.

Hi M.,
I bought a Medina (sp?) double pump. I actually bought it through Hoag Hospital where I had my daughter. I stayed home the first 3 months so I didn't really need to pump unless I was going somewhere. After I went back to work I pumped twice a day (mid-morning, and mid-afternoon). I am lucky enough to live close enough to home that I could nurse on my lunch hour. The double pump let me get 4 - 8 ozs. in about 10 minutes, perfect for break time. The model I had even had a small insulated compartment with blue ice so what I pumped stayed cold until I got it home.
Good luck,
G.

Hi M.,
Congratulations! Well, with my last (now 11 mos) I had to go and buy a pump. My ped. suggested renting from St. Jude "cuz its only $10 a month" so not true doc. When I looked into renting I found that you have to buy a kit for around $20 and then its $56 a month or so. Still not cheap. I had registered at babies r us and they send out coupons for 15% off so I used that to buy my Medela Pump in Style. It is the Best. (its usualy the one the hospitals rent out.) I figured out if I only used it for only this baby and i used it for 3 months it would be cheaper than renting. (Right now I know that Babies r us has a 20% off coupon good until October 31st I think. If you buy anything in the store they will give you one.) Although it might seem early to buy it, your little one will be here very soon, so if you can swing it I definately reccommend it. Oh and Medela has a few options at a few price points ($250-$320) just make sure you get a double electric. Good Luck!

M.,

I highly recommend joining the yahoo group PumpMoms. I've been a member through the last 5 years and 2 children (they are 5 and 2 now). The information and support has been hugely helpful.

The basic answer is that among the hundreds of women on PumpMoms over the last 5 years, the most popular single user pumps are the Medela Pump in Style (regular or advanced) and the Ameda Purely Yours. Most women who do daily pumping (but not exclusive pumping) do well with them. I have two of the Pump In Style Advances (one for home, one for work so I don't have to drag it back and forth) and loved them (as much as you can love a breastpump!) I'd HIGHLY recommend getting a hands free pumping system. I have both an "Easy Expressions Halter" and and "Easy Expressions Bustier" I got off ebay. The halter was about $20 and the bustier was about $30. The halter is a stretchy tube top with holes in it to stick the pump horns through. The bustier is similar but has a zipper so you don't have to pull it over your head. Hands free takes most of the drudgery out of pumping because you can make phone calls, do paperwork, read your email, etc.... I work full time so I've done plenty of pumping.

For women who have breastfeeding problems, some of them do okay with a single user pump but many (if not most) of them find they need a hospital grade pump (rent or buy). The nice thing about rental pumps is that if you get one that doesn't work well for you, you can turn it in and try another one. Single user pumps can't be returned once they are open so if you hate it, you are screwed.

With breastpumps, you get what you pay for so don't go cheap. You can get them online quite a bit cheaper than you can get them at places like Target or BabiesRUs. I got mine from Elite Breastfeeding via Ebay and saved at least $100 each doing that. Small retailers aren't allowed to post their prices online so you have to contact them but take the time to do it. You can save quite a bit doing that.

Oh, and my favorite breastfeeding friendly sites are: www.kellymom.com (great info on lots of stuff including the care and handling and storage of pumped milk), www.askdrsears.com and www.drjaygordon.

Good luck!

T.

Hi M., I would recommend buying the manual pump for the beginning and then once you get into the swing of things then go buy an electric double breast pump. I have the Playtex double breast electric pump ($80) and the Avent manual pump($50). They both work and it's nice to have the manual one for those occasions where I need to pump on the go. I would wait til you have your baby before you buy one, the hospitals have them to rent to so if you do want to try out one of the really expensive ones before you buy it that would be the way to go. But if you plan on breastfeeding and working the double breast pump will save you time so it will be worth the investment as long as you have somewhere at work to plug up. Good luck! Congratulations on your little one!

Hello M.,
COngratulations on your pregnancy. My little one was born on January 1, 2008, a great way to start out our year. Kaitlyn is my first baby and is now 9 months and I continue to breastfeed her with no problems. As far as Breastpumps go let me tell you I did my research. I am an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse so it comes naturally to research everything medically related.
As far as breastpumps go, the two that are used in hospitals are the Ameda Purely Yours Breastpump, and the Medula Breastpumps. One of the best things to do is ask your OB about renting one of the hospital pumps for one month. They are the most powerful and will help you establish a good supply before switching to the pump you decided to purchase. Many new moms have a difficult time producing enough milk to breastfeed without supplementing with formula because they never establish a good supply to begin with. The rule of thumb is supply and demand, thus the more you feed or pump the more milk you will produce. Secondly, when you double pump not only does it take less time to pump, but more Oxytocin a hormone that stimulates release of your milk is produced allowing a better supply of milk for your baby. Ideally, when you return to milk you need to pump every 3-4 hours to keep up production for your little one.
As far as price goes, you are deffinately getting what you pay for. Initially I purchased another breastpump not recommended by lactation consultants and found that not only did I not produce enough milk, but the suction cups actually pulled off some of the skin on my areola leaving an open wound that burned like crazy. I sent it back to the manufacturer and complained. Then 2 days after the baby was born went to the lactation consultant and found out that I really should have stuck with the information I found about the Ameda and Medula pumps and went ahead and spent the money. The pumps are well worth the price. I rented a pump through Kaiser's healthplan and then went on to purchase a Medula breastpump. I have had no difficulties using these pumps and my daughter is well fed. I work full-time and pump every 4 hours and have enough breastmilk for my daughter as well as extra that I donate to a company which in turn provides it to hospitals for babies in Neonatal intensive care units (NICU's).
I hope that this information has been helpful. If I can answer any other questions feel free to contact me. I would be happy to help.

If it's at all possible I'd go with the super expensive pump by Medela. I used it in the hospital and LOVED it. So, before buying it, I rented it for 1 month when I got home to try it out in a real-life setting (knowing I'd be going back to work and would definitely need one). Since I'd planned to breastfeed exclusively for the first year (at least) I knew I would have to buy one to save money. After that first month I was hooked. I'd heard about other pumps needing to be replaced after a while and being difficult to use long-term. The electric double-pump by Medela has been well worth the $250 price tag. I've had it for seven months now and it's as good as the first day I got it. With the carrying tote it easy to take to and from work each day, the parts are easy to clean, and it's even got a battery pack for on-the-go pumping (my colleagues have told me they've even used it in their cars!). I'm so happy I got it and didn't fool around with buying less expensive brands that I'd be replacing by now.

Good luck!

B. D.

I use the Medela Pump in Style for the same purpose (part time work with both of my babies, it's working great after 18mo of frequent use, 12mo first baby and the next is 7mo now). I recommend you DO NOT give a bottle until 4-6 wk of age when breast feeding is well established. You can pump sooner, after am feeding, and store milk. BUT, do start a bottle by 6wk or earlier or the baby may not take it. Also, I used a rented hospital grade pump for a few months with my first baby and it did not work any better than the Medela. I do recommend you have the pump ready when you come home from the hospital since it is great for engorgement - pump to soften the breast a little prior to feeding and the baby can latch better. It makes the first week much easier and less painful for you. It will take 3-4 days for your milk supply to come in with the first baby, only about 2 with subsequent babies. Good luck!

It looks like I am the only one who recommends the Avent ISIS IQ Duo and maybe that is because it is a relatively new product. I heard too many mixed reviews to go with the Medela pump, so I chose this one. I absolutely love the fact that you can create your own pumping style. You pump at your own pace and pressure and then press a button to mimic the maneuver. It is great for truly being able to reproduce your baby feeding. I start really slow for the let down process and then speed it up when I need to pump a little faster, which also really helps to empty my breasts. I can pump anywhere from 5-11 ounces without a problem! It may be a little more expensive (like other pumps) but a 15% or 20% coupon at Babies R Us really helps to knock the cost down.

Hi M.,
Try to rent one from the hospital the first month in order to ensure you have milk. I have the Medela, it's electric and double pump. I loved it, especially because my lunch was 30 min. and half of it was devoted to pumping.
Good luck. IF u don't have enough milk, keep trying, go to the breastfeeding support dept. at the hospital. They helped me alot, it took me about three months to get my baby to be solely on a breastfeeding diet. It's stressful, but worth it.
Ceci

i got the medela pump and style electric pump. i also bought a bra that holds the pump in place so that it is hands free, which helps a lot. i didn't have any problems, but the electric pump is definitely worth the money. i got a coupon from babies r us for 20% off one item and then i applied for a credit card to get another 10% off to make it cheaper as its $270. good luck!

I haven't seen any comments on the new Medela Freestyle pump. I purchased it for my son born seven weeks ago and I love it. It is tiny and runs off a rechargeable battery. You can clip it on your belt and go. I used the Medela Pump in Style for a year with my daughter two years ago and this one works just as well or better. It has a lot of bells and whistles, but they are well thought out and I use every one. For true portability (car, work or anywhere there isn't a plug) this is your pump. It is pricy on most websites (especially Amazon) but I found a licensed International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who has been an Authorized Medela Dealer for over 11 years. That's important because the factory warranty is valid on these new pumps. Others sold on e-bay ect. are not honored by Medela. Anyway, I bought it for $285.00, far lower than anywhere else I could find, plus $5 shipping to anywhere in the US. Her website link is http://www.addalittlelove.com. She responded to e-mail and phone requests very quickly (I was skeptical it would be powerful enough and had a lot of questions!) and she was very informative. You can find lots of information, including videos of the freestyle actually being used on the Medela website at http://www.medelafreestyle.com/. It works just as advertised. So, I would at least check this one out before you make a final choice. I haven't regretted it!
btw: I also found the reviews on Amazon to be very informative and helped me make my final decision. Good luck and congratulations!

The Medela Pump in Style Advance is the best! It is well worth the money.

Hi M.,

Congratulations on your upcoming baby!

I nursed my daughter and pumped until she was 14 months old. I tried a manual (Medela) and electric (Ameda) pump and was very satisfied with the Ameda Elite Breast pump. It's big and bulky, but very efficient at pumping milk. I'm a full-time Graduate student and always on the go (I commute 47 miles one-way) and this pump was great! I had issues with it's size at first, but grew to love it. I had to return to school when my daughter was seven weeks and this pump allowed me to continue breastfeeding. I had plenty of milk to pump and on a couple of occasions when I traveled to conferences and didn't have my baby, this pump was capable of extracting up to 15 oz of milk in the morning alone.

This pump however, is a bit on the pricey side as it is a hospital grade pump, although it can be rented. The pump itself is used, but the attachments are brand new. If you look online, you'll find several sites that rent and last year, Kaiser Permanente rented this pump for about $80/week.

Hope this helps and good luck on your search!

S.

Get the Medela Pump In Style Advanced or the new Medela Freestyle which is hands-free. They are very expensive but they are worth every penny, and if you are committed to breastfeeding you will more than get your money's worth. I work full time, travel for business, and thanks to my pump I am still breastfeeding my 15 month old. I could not have kept up my milk production without my fantastic portable pump. Good luck and try to stick with it - breastfeeding is not easy and pumping is a huge hassle, but it's a temporary and very small sacrifice to make for your baby. Call or vist The Pump Station in Santa Monica or Hollywood for lots of free advice and support groups (I also couldn't have gone this long without their help and support).