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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Breast pumps

17 replies

NoTeaForMe · 14/01/2013 22:21

Does anyone have any good recommendations for a breast pump? I'm currently 22 weeks pregnant and thought I could keep my eyes out for good deals, if there ever are any?!

This is my second baby and although I managed to scrape by to 5 months of mix-feeding last time things didn't go well. The positive of using bottles occasionally meant my husband could feed and I had a little more flexibility that way. I'm not talking straight away, and I'm sure I'll be back for more advice on that nearer the time! However, I'd like to see if I can express this time if possible! We have bottles etc from last time but I only had the cheap tommee tippee hand pump and would like to look at an electric one this time. They're not cheap though so would like a recommendation rather than going on a whim! Are they worth the money?!

Thanks

OP posts:
emsyj · 14/01/2013 22:25

I've got the Medela Swing, which is about £90 I think. It is convenient from the point of view that you don't end up with a seized up hand (I had the same manual Tommee Tippee one you've got at first, and it worked fine but was tiring!)

You can hire hospital grade pumps (which are even more efficient and easy to use) from the NCT, they are quite expensive though - about £40 a month when I looked last, 2.5 years ago. My hospital offered to let me take their huge electric double pump home to use when I had DD - bf rates are very low in my area and they are trying to encourage it. I wish I had accepted really, it took 10 minutes to get 2 full storage bottles with that machine (felt a bit like being a dairy cow tho...) and the Medela Swing is obviously designed to use at home and so isn't as quick. I think there is a Medela model you can get that has a double pump function so you can do both sides at once, but I've not used it myself.

didireallysaythat · 14/01/2013 22:30

I'll second the medula swing. I bought a third hand one off eBay and it was Fab. The avent one didnt suit me. If you don't have a problem with pre-owned, then eBay is great as lots of women buy everything that you can for a baby and then don't bf for more than a month so don't use things for more than a week or two.

Original poster
NoTeaForMe · 14/01/2013 23:05

Thanks, I've had a quick look on eBay and there are a few medela electric pumps but they're not the swing ones, has anyone tried those? Also the electric tommee tippee pump? Any experience of that. We have TT bottles so presumably it wouldn't be bad to have the pump to match the bottles?

OP posts:
emsyj · 14/01/2013 23:42

I have read crappy reviews of the tommee tippee electric pump - I looked at that one as it was half price in Mothercare when I had DD. I didn't buy it on the basis of the reviews I read - you should be able to find some via a search on here, or on amazon.

A friend of mine has a Medela pump that isn't the Swing one. I have heard on here that Medela pumps are 'open' systems and not closed, therefore there is a slight risk that another user's milk could get into parts of the pump and they shouldn't be transferred between people or bought second hand. Having said that, I bought a second hand one from ebay (it said it hadn't been used as the seller had not established feeding after birth) and I wasn't worried about it, but just in case you wanted to look further at that issue - or you might want to search for one that someone has bought in preparation but never used.

I don't think it matters if you have the bottles that match the pump - you can just tip the milk into freezer bags or other bottles or whatever.

Izzybuzzybuzzybees · 14/01/2013 23:50

I have recommended the spectra3 from Amazon on here many times. It's fab and a great price.

emsyj · 14/01/2013 23:55

Sorry meant to say, she has a Medela pump - I think it's the Medela single mini pump from looking at pictures, that one looks familiar - and she has used it for 2 children with no problems or complaints.

greenthumbs · 15/01/2013 00:00

I loved my medela swing until I opened the back one day and saw the science experiment that was growing there. Have a read of this before you buy mythnomore.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/why-you-shouldnt-buy-sell-or-borrow.html?m=1

BrainGoneAwol · 15/01/2013 00:43

I also use a medela swing and think it's great, though I haven't experience of any others.
I also got an adapter which means I can fit it to TT bottles (back to nature size). You can find this in shops in the US, but I had to get an American friend to buy it for me as the shop won't ship outside the US.

pikz · 15/01/2013 05:04

Medela freestyle as he can't breast feed so pump all his feeds. Also have a swing for when out and about.

Can pump 8oz in 15 with freestyle

coffeeandcream · 15/01/2013 05:22

I also have a spectra3 that I got for £60 on amazon. It's not as 'pretty' or impressive looking as better known brands but I really like it and would recommend.

And don't worry about same brand products, not necessary in my experience.

Original poster
NoTeaForMe · 15/01/2013 11:36

greenthumbs that's disgusting! The thought of old milk being left there is making me feel sick, and the fact that it's someone else's is even worse!

Hmm...so does anyone know of a make where that wouldn't happen? A 'closed' pump?!

OP posts:
emsyj · 15/01/2013 11:44

There have been threads on here about it before, so if you do a search you might have some luck?

I would imagine that the hospital grade pumps will be closed systems - the one I used was an Ameda, good name to search for - I think they do pumps for home use too.

As far as I understand, there's not a certainty that milk will escape into non-sterilisable parts of the pump on an open system, just a risk - but it is a risk all the same, hence the advice not to buy them second hand. If you post a new thread specifically about open/closed pump systems there are lots of knowledgeable folk on here who will be able to tell you more.

SpottyTeacakes · 15/01/2013 11:46

The spectra 3 has an open pump but for a fiver you can buy clips to stop it then you can sell it on without feeling bad Grin

Original poster
NoTeaForMe · 15/01/2013 12:59

Thanks, I'll start a more specific thread!

OP posts:
Teladi · 15/01/2013 13:02

The Ameda Lactaline is a closed system pump. I really liked it and pumped exclusively (so no direct bf) with it for 5 months. It's more expensive than the Swing but a friend with a Swing told me hers was going mouldy from the milk being put back into the motor!

SignoraStronza · 15/01/2013 13:27

Had a tommee tippee one to begin with but the air tube kept getting condensation, which rendered it unusable. Finally, the bit where the tube attaches to the electric unit broke as I gently removed the tube. To be fair their customer service was brilliant and they sent me a new pump and tube.

In the meantime though; had bought a medela electric mini which is brilliant and really easy to use and clean. Only use it in the run up to evening out and to relieve engorgement (and build up a stash) so have not used it for a regular pumping/return to work scenario though.

MummyWeatherwax · 16/01/2013 00:54

Hi there

I've used a Medela swing, and recently the new Avent comfort pump that was a MN test, there's a review thread here
It covers the Avent pump, and lots of people have also compared other pumps.
I found it quicker and comfier than the Swing, even though I had been using that quite happily.

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