Breast pump - manual vs electric?

[scaredbutexcited]

Can anyone help me with which to go for? I am expecting my first baby in around 6 weeks and trying to sort out buying the final bits and pieces. I would like (at some point) to be able to express but not sure which pump to go for.

Can anyone help with if there is a major difference between the manual and electric? The electric ones are massively more expensive - are they worth it?

Thank you for your help.

[getoffthecoffeetable]

I'd hold off buying an electric one until you know that you won't have any issues breast feeding because they're so expensive. Between the two though, there's no contest, electric every time!
Good luck

[scaredbutexcited]

Thank you - that's sensible. Why are they so much better though? It is a huge price difference!

[getoffthecoffeetable]

Because you get chronic arm/wrist ache with a manual pump. With an electric one you can just stick it on and watch the tv.

[scaredbutexcited]

That makes sense! Thank you.

[peeriebear]

I bought a manual Avent one for a fiver from TK Maxx and an electric TT one for £40 off Ebay. I used the electric one twice. The manual one is quicker, quieter, smaller and more effective. However everyone is different :)

[thompson369]

I would really recommend the Medela Swing if you do decide to buy one. They are about £100 but you can sell them on eBay and I've seen them go for as much as £60 second hand. I would also hold off for now and see how you get on.

[neontetra]

I was able to borrow an awesome electric double pump thing from my local children's centre free for a month - borrowing first might be better, as you may find you can't express, hate expressing etc. I then got a fab second hand Avent electric pump which fits in a large handbag secondhand for about 15 quid off eBay. For me, electric was definitely best - I had to express a lot in the early days for dd due to an inverted nipple on one side, and a manual pump would have been exhausting.

[scaredbutexcited]

Thank you for your replies. I didn't realise I could rent one. I think that sounds like the best option as £100 is a lot of money and as you say I don't know yet how I will get on with expressing anyway.

Thank you for your suggestions.

[McBaby]

I love my medala swing, but I would be wary of buying one off eBay as milk gets sucked into the pump which can't be sterilised.

[Andcake]

I ended up exclusively pumping and used a medela sing at first(borrowed from sil) but then the avent manual (£10) for months as I found the manual quicker easier and less depressing. Gave me more freedom too move as well.

But saying that I really would hold off until you can see how bf goes. It can be v easy but also a f*ing nightmare (one of motherhoods best kept secrets). I had a friend who bought and sterilised a £100 medela swing that babies tt took weeks to get cut and by that time milk had dried up.