Breast pump question

[BakeOff]

When I was breastfeeding DC1 I borrowed an electric pump and a manual pump from a friend, and I found I got loads more from the manual one than the electric. Now I'm pregnant with DC2 and wondering if I should buy my own manual one (can't borrow it again unfortunately).

So my question is: did you find that the pump you found effective for DC1 was also effective for subsequent DC(s)? Has anyone had the experience that a pump which worked really well for DC1 didn't work well for later DCs?

Not had that experience as had a really rubbish pump with dc1 (avent isis) and a brilliant one with dc2 (ameda lactaline).

Why not wait until Lo is born and see if you think you still need one?

You can hire really good ones (e.g. Medela symphony-clinical grade, costs over a grand to buy) online.

I used a Tommee Tippee hand one at first with my Dd1, it worked fine, but I began to get RSI in my wrist and thumb from all the expressing. I then bought a Medela Swing which was great. I have only used the medela swing second time round and again, it has worked great, just wish Dd2 would drink all this milk I've expressed - we've wasted loads with her being a bottle refuser.

Bakeoff have you thought of trying hand expressing? If you are buying a pump, I'd look into the difference between closed systems and open systems.

Don't forget the MN breastpump reviews

Some electric ones are really rubbish, some are great. A manual one that fits well does allow you to control the rhythm better than a basic electric but a good electric one will do that and save your wrists.

It depends ultimately how much you plan to express and whether hand expressing might be an option as jilted said.

Hi everyone, sorry I've been away. Thank you for your replies!
I tried hand expressing last time and never got anything more than a dribble, plus I found it quite painful so gave up early on.

I did have a look at the reviews but the two I used last time were the Medela mini electric one and the Avent manual one - two out of the top three reviewed, but I got such different results from them.

I think I liked the manual one because, as NomDeClavier said, I liked being able to control the rhythm myself and feel exactly how hard I was pumping. With the electric one I found that harder to judge.

So have you all found you had similar results with DC2 as with DC1? No one had a dramatic change between subsequent DCs?