Electric vs. Manual Pumps?

[pendulum]

I need to express milk to try to persuade DD to take a bottle.

I have an Avent Isis but since my supply settled down (DD is 4.5 months) I find it a struggle to get much extra out. I am also very pressed for time and reluctant to spend hours pumping (especially as most of it will go down the sink.)

Is it worth forking out on a different pump, maybe an electric one? If so, which one?

[kiskidee]

ameda lactaline. you can sometimes find them on ebay but new they are about £85 and in my case it more than paid for itself. it is quiet, lightweight and ameda has v. good customer service. it was as efficient as the hosp grade one i rented shortly before i got it.

[pendulum]

thanks kiskidee. Did you ever try a manual pump and how did it compare? (just keen to eliminate the possibility that it might be my problem rather than the pump's)

[ScienceTeacher]

I've done lots of expressing in my time, and I preferred manual pumps - even for the time that I was turbo expressing (ie rtw at 14 weeks). The Isis was my favourite manual pump.

The easiest way to express is to do it as you are feeding your baby from the other side.

[pendulum]

Have tried that ScienceTeacher, but the noise of the Isis puts DD right off her stride and she ends up craning her neck to see what on earth is going on!

What is turbo expressing?

[kiskidee]

i have used the avent isis which i found effective. in my case, big nipples, i had to be careful of how I attached the silicone thingy or i would get some nipple pain which would have ended up with damage. I think with the ameda I also had to be careful but less of an issue with it.

I expressed at work for over a year in total and found that I could just set up the lactaline, let my mind wander and was finished in less than 10 mins. the hand pump meant that this time would have probably doubled.

i didn't use the isis for long but i remember the sore wrists well. i guess after a while that is less of an issue.

[ScienceTeacher]

The Isis is noisy? Don't try an electric then

By turbo expressing, I meant expressing to do about half of DS's feeds during the wsek.

[kiskidee]

the lactaline is less quiet than the avent hand pu mp

[ScienceTeacher]

Re: sore wrists...

You should have to keep working at it. The ideal is to make push on the lever once, and for your letdown to kick in and deliver 2-3oz of milk - then repeat. It's amazing when it happens!

[kiskidee]

no more quiet! toddler on kneeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[ScienceTeacher]

What is noisy about the Isis?

[kiskidee]

SQUEAKsqueak everytime you depress the handle.

[Trolleydolly71]

Message withdrawn

[pendulum]

Hmmm I occasionally experience that "flow" of milk from one depression. But most of the time I am stressing about how I am neglecting my 3YO or how the baby is about to wake up and find myself sawing away for minimum return. Was hoping the electric one would be a bit more persuasive with my norks.

Also, less of the squeak squeak as Kiskidee says (can't imagine doing that in the bathroom at work!) But interesting that electric ones are noisy too.

TBH what I really want is for DD to take the odd bottle of formula here and there, with a view to phasing out BF over the next four months or so. But she won't take formula and won't drink EBM from a bottle either, so I am flailing about a bit for possible solutions (going back to work in 2 months and need to supply milk in some form to the nursery).

Does anyone know if you can rent pumps before committing the funds to buying one? Agree £85 is worth it if she drinks it, but not if it goes down the sink!

[kiskidee]

the lactaline isn't 'noisy' it has a rhythmic hum which if the doors are closed in a room with the thinnest walls wouldn't be heard.

[kiskidee]

you can speak to your local nct chapter and ask what type of pumps they rent. mine only did the big hospital size medela ones which had the same hum as the little lactaline.

[Elasticwoman]

You can hire an Ameda Egnell electric pump - sorry can't do links - google them for the phone number and they can put you in touch with an agent local to you. The hire costs about £1.10 a day and you buy the plastic bits (under £20 for dual pumping). The agent will be a volunteer through one of the breastfeeding organisations (I used to do it for NCT) who stores a few pumps at home and does the paperwork, so you then deal with her and not the HQ.

In the meantime, don't panic. Yes while your baby is only 4.5 mos milk is a big issue, but by the time you go back to work, won't she be taking a few solids? You can then introduce water in a lidded cup. You might not need to express at all - she might just feed from you when you get home. I know some one who did that, leaving her baby all day from 4 months. Child grew up well nourished and carried on bf till 14 mos or so.

[Babyisaac]

Hi

I can strongly recommend the Medela Swing electric pump. Just bought it a week ago and it is amazing! A bit noisy but you just have to turn the TV up a bit. Before I had that I used a Tommee Tippee manual pump and it was soooo slow - the Medela Swing has transformed my expressing life!

Liz

[pendulum]

What is the difference between the Swing and the normal electric Medela pump (apart from £50-odd?) They don't seem to have a website and I can't work it out.

[meimango]

Medela site is
www.medela.co.uk/UK/en/index.php

I'm using the swing also which is diff to the regular one as it has two modes, a letdown and regular. It automatically switches to reg after the letdown mode has been on for two minutes. But you can go straight to other mode if you're ready. You can also easily manually adjust the speed. I've been using it for 2 weeks and its been a joy. I don't notice the noise much- its a regular low purr and lo doesn't mind it.

[Naetha]

Can I bump this as well - after struggling for 6 weeks breastfeeding with a tongue tie (I'm finally getting it sorted, but it's been tough with the backwards thinking medical professionals round here!) I've given in to expressing most of my LO's feeds now. I've been using the Tommee Tippee hand pump and found it adequate (5oz in about 10 mins) but I'm getting serious RSI so I'm looking at an electric one.

The local NCT hire them at £40 a month, but as I'm planning to be expressing for the next 10 months or so, that would prove a bit costly!

I've narrowed my choice down to the Ameda Lactaline (£85, but can't be sterilised in a microwave - I have no other steriliser...), or the Medela mini electric (either single or double - £55 or £70). I don't have any trouble with let-down or supply, so don't see the need to spend more on a fancy dual phase Medela swing pump. Should I just give in and buy the Lactaline and a new electric steriliser? I've heard the Medela mini electric pump is noisy - does this go for the double one as well?

Cheers for any advice, and sorry if this is a minor hijack!

[chipmonkey]

Someone on MN once said that the Medela manual is less squeaky than the Avent because of the type of plastic it is made from.

[kiskideesameanoldmother]

it is not necessary to sterilise a breast pump. a hot soapy wash and rinse or a run through the dishwasher is more than enough.

have you found advice on getting the tongue tie snipped? there is a thread around with a good link at the mo.

[kiskideesameanoldmother]

it is called: how long till hind milk?

i used to wash my pump parts once a day and store in the fridge between uses if using more than once a day.

[jabberwocky]

I have used an Ameda electric with both babies and it was wonderful. I think you would find it well worth the expense.

[pendulum]

Thanks for link meimango. Have just ordered a Swing so we will see how I get on.

Next problem- how to make a breast addict drink out of a bottle or cup......!