Double breast pump

[monkeysmama]

New baby due in July and am starting to look at expressing machines. I've seen one of the double pumps recommended but when I looked in John Lewis the assistant didn't seem to rate them.

I bf dd for just over 2 years and found expressing a real pita. It wasn't painful or anything but always took a while. I used to try and do it every day more or less to fill up the freezer and would like to do the same this time.

Any pump advice? (I'm assuming having bf for 2 years it'll be a similar doddle with baby #2....)

TIA.

Which one did you see recommended and why didn't the assistant recommend it?

I found expressing hard with a manual pump with DC1 and bought an Ameda Lactaline with DC2. Can highly recommend that one although it is expensive. I bought mine 2nd hand.

If you are looking at an electric pump I'd recommend getting one with a closed system, like the lactaline, rather than an open one.

(I'm assuming having bf for 2 years it'll be a similar doddle with baby #2....), I'm sure it will be too but at least you'll know where to find help if it isn't .

I have Medela pump in style double pump. It's very good. Had the swing and it was so time consuming but with the double pump, I get six ounces in 15 mins and that was expressing at week six.

Ameda lactaline fan here too!

I was looking at the Medela one in JL. The assistant was just a bit vague about it and seemed rather incredulous that I was considering a double pump. Feel reassured to know you've all got on well with them and will buy one. Thanks very much.

I don't know about the Medela double, but personally I would only buy a closed system and here is why. I know your question is about not sharing pumps, but I still wouldn't touch an open system.It just looks so icky festering in there. I'd check the status of the double myself before I went for a Medela. Like others, I rate the Ameda Lactaline.

I have the spectra 3 from amazon, I have recommended it a few times. I found it brilliant, a second shield and tubing can be bought to turn it into a double easily if that's what you want. It is a great pump and a fab price.

here is a link with reviews etc

This is the pump I bought I had twins and thought it was brilliant, it's really good value too.

I'm going to buy the Ameda Lactaline. What bottles would you recommend using with it? We used Tommy Tipee before iirc.

The cheapest ones on offer! I have a little bottle refuser and have a little collection now! Will PM you about where invade seen a cheap Ameda for sale.

I don't use it often, but just collect into the bottles that come with it and store in storage bags (or your preferred bottles if you're using it straight away). Then use whatever bottles you fancy. I think only the Ameda bottles will actually screw into the pump IYSWIM.

I know that people on here always point out the problems with Medelas...

However, having pumped for a long time with my first daughter with an Ameda Lactaline, and having pumped since I went back to work at 10 weeks with my second using a Medela Freestyle, I much prefer the latter. It's faster and much more comfortable, with the double phase mode etc. I have severe issues with lumps forming after pumping and the Medela is way better at preventing this happening.

Yes, there is some milk sucked back into the tubing and perhaps into the machine. I do clean the machine as best as I can, and I change the tubes for new ones every month or so. (I work fulltime and pump three times per day.) I don't think the milk is in any way contaminated. I could not have continued to pump so long (DD2 is close to a year), or maintained my supply, with a Lactaline.

The ameda can take medela bottles too. I have aa Medela Mini (very noisy!!) And an ameda lactaline and I've found the bottles are totally interchangeable, which has helped quite a lot.