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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Electric or manual pump

14 replies

TeacupTempest · 25/10/2011 14:29

Not sure which I should be getting. I am intending to breast feed but ideally would like to express some for DH to be able to bottle feed every now and then.

Any advice?

OP posts:

notyummy · 25/10/2011 14:35

Depends on how much you ae happy to spend because obviously manual is cheaper - but electric easier! I got a LOT of use from my pump as DH did at least one feed a day from 3 weeks, plus I did some days back at work during mat leave, but DD was EBF. Electric can also work as a manual, so is fuly portable. Expresing doesn't always work though, so quite a lot to spend if it then just doesn't happen for you. Could you inherit one from a friend, or hire from NCT? (NB - I did neither of these and bought an electric pump during pregnancy because I wanted to learn how to put it all together etc before I had no sleep and a new born....but am aware that I was lucky to find expressing easy and it could have been money down the drain.)

SpannerPants · 25/10/2011 16:24

I started off with an avent manual and progressed to a medela swing. I can get the same amount out, but it only takes 10 mins to do both sides with the electric whereas the manual takes twice as long (and makes my hand hurt after a while!).

Badgerwife · 25/10/2011 16:29

Electric unless you want to spend your days sitting on the sofa and you like muscular hands

NigellaTufnel · 25/10/2011 16:29

Medula swing def. You will hate the manual one, it's a total pain

1catherine1 · 25/10/2011 16:31

I have both the electric and manual tomee tippee pumps. I do not recommend them, there are better ones on the market but I got the electric one on sale for £40 at Tesco. The manual one I hate - it hurts and I dread expressing with it. The electric isn't the most powerful in the world and by no means the best but has served me well. I've had my moneys worth out of it and it is very portable. It takes batteries and fits quite easily in the supplied steriliser box.

I would say to give your supply a couple of weeks to settle down as pumping can slow the settling down process. Then you could hire one. Sure it was about £40 a month from the NCT. Gives you a chance to see if expressing is for you. Some women are great at BF their DC but can't express.

In saying all this - I expressed when DD was only 5 days old as my boob was cracked and sore and I wanted DD to leave that boob alone for a little while. A day of rest helped it heal so much quicker. I don't think that is really recommended though.

Original poster

TeacupTempest · 25/10/2011 18:14

Thanks for all the advice. I feel a bit overwhelmed by all the choices at the moment. Will check out hiring options and look at the electric options a bit more.

OP posts:

Elderberries · 26/10/2011 13:22

2nd vote for Medela swing.

duvetdayplease · 26/10/2011 13:27

At risk of upsetting the consensus i loved my hand pump, found it much quicker/easier than the electric and more convenient as could use it anywhere anytime. Found electric more faff and annoying if staying anywhere else.

TabithaTwitchet · 26/10/2011 13:36

If I hadn't had a Medela swing, I would have had to stop breastfeeding, it was an absolute godsend in the early days when I was having loads of problems. I definitely would recommend it, I never got on with hand pumps at all.

notyummy · 26/10/2011 13:37

But my electric pump came with a hand attachment so it was effectively both. If I was going somewhere where I wasn't sure if I could get electricity i would use it as a manual.

Was an Avent, but can't remember the type. Would recommend in general though. Cost about £90 I think.

Original poster

TeacupTempest · 26/10/2011 13:39

The swing seems a bit pricey...

Would the medela mini be an option?

OP posts:

Badgerwife · 26/10/2011 21:40

get one on ebay! I got my Medela Swing for £25 second-hand and it works brilliantly

brianmayshair · 27/10/2011 09:50

Probably personal preference, i hated the medela electric pump and used to express very early in the am as that's when i could get the most milk, the noise was horrible so swapped to a hand pump which i found much better and had no difficulty getting the same amount in the same time.

izzybizzybuzzybees · 27/10/2011 09:59

My mum spent ages researching electric pumps for me when I was admitted to hospital 6 days after dd was born. In the end she got me a spectra 3 from amazon which was amazing! I've recommended it on here before and had private messages thanking me. It's easy to use, very efficient and a fab price!

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