Best electric breast pumps

[HeffalumpsAndWoozles]

I have a Tommee Tippee electric pump that I tried to use when DD was small but it was such an effort to get even the smallest amount expressed that I'd have to know days in advance when I might need to provide a bottle and spend hours pumping away all week just to get enough for one bottle. It also made it extra heartbreaking if any got wasted!

So I was wondering if the more expensive models are worth the money or if it's more likely my technique that made it difficult and all pumps are actually the same? DC2 due in a few weeks and I'm hoping to ebf as I did with DD but hopefully this time with a little more flexibility!

Any experience or advice greatfully received.

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Hello!

We've noticed this thread is quite old and some of the recommendations may be a little out of date. We've tested a whole host of products to find the best electric breast pump on the market right now.

Hope this helps!
MNHQ

I used Ameda Personal Lactaline dual electric breast pump - it did the job (expensive though - I think it was 129 GBP via Amazon). I used to be able to express between 500 and 600 ml a day for DS. Not sure if all electric pumps are basically the same but Ameda was fine. The only issue for me - it was such a drag sitting at the pump 6x a day. BF unfortunately didn't work out and I was desperate to get my milk into DS, so fed him EBM topped up with some formula for 14 weeks.

I had a Tommee Tippee and found it completely useless. I now have a Medela Swing which I'm really happy with. The settings are a lot more fine tune-able and it's much less complicated to put together and less bulky.

Its only con so far as I can see is that it's an 'open system', so if you're not careful milk can go backwashing up the air tube and into the pump unit itself and can get beyond gross. I've got the hang of it now but I did have to get replacement tubing for mine recently when it backwashed and I didn't notice

But overall I'm really pleased with it and wish I'd bought it first!

I had an Ameda Lactaline (bought second hand on ebay) and it was brilliant. I expressed 5 days a week for a year, and it worked brilliantly

Also bought an Ameda Lactaline second hand and it was the only pump that ever worked for me.

Have you seen this on Kellymom? It includes some info on buying used pumps.

Thank you all, I've looked at the Medela and it was the one I had in mind but haven't heard of the Ameda one so will look it up too. Thanks for the link Jilted I'm settling down for a read now :)

If you are thinking of a Medela please do have a Google on open systems and why you absolutely should not buy one second hand (or accept one off a friend). Only closed systems like the Lactaline should ever be considered second hand.

I had a Lactaline and liked it, but I am a lazy sod and only expressed a handful of times.

I have the Avent electric pump and I'm very happy with it. Can get about 5oz in about 30 minutes.

If you have a sure start centre near you phone them up and ask if they hire pumps. They are hospital grade ones and can double pump. We also have locally a le leche league lady who also hires pumps, again hospital grade and works out about £30ish a month

I have a Medela Swing which I'm happy with, but I was offered the option to take home a hospital pump to use for as long as I wanted when I had DD - it was very very efficient and a double pump so quick to get a good amount, I just wish I had taken up the offer! I think it was an Ameda, it was huge and on wheels...

I had the mini medela version with DS and could express about 4/5oz per boob easily in around 20min, bit faffy tho as this had to be decanted into bigger bottles as the medela mini only holds 5/6oz! I'm expecting DC2 in a few months so hopefully I'll do the same again.