Breast pumps.... electric or manual?

[Lanabelle]

Looking into breast pumps to get a bit of freedom back (and some kip). Can anyone recommend best models? and what's best electric or manual?

I have a Medela Freestyle which is good but the Medela Symphony I hired from the NCT was bloody brilliant.

I am happy with my medela swing

Electric is easier but honestly I felt like a cow brought in for milking!

I was sent an Avent to test (thank you Mumsnet) I found it really good. The bonus with this one was that you didn't have to lean forward and could actually relax back on the sofa.

I have a Lasinoh Manual one and I love it!!!

thank you all, looking into avent and medela ones. these seem to get the best reviews everywhere I look too. for those who have used electric ones, are the electric ones really noisy or are they ok? wont wake baby up etc?

Avent is brilliant. Really easy to use and clean. I wouldn't get manual; it'd take ages to get any milk! With Avent I can get 6-7oz from one side in about 10 minutes.

that's really quick. avent seems to be easier to get hold of too. I'm in Scotland and there doesn't seem to be many medela stockists here. if you don't mind me asking which avent is it you have? BreeWannabe

I have no problems expressing with my manual one - I easily get 4oz in 10-15 minutes.

Boots sell the Medela Swing in Scotland.

I used an electric one for a while and found it effective but perhaps a bit too good (ie uncomfortable), though that may have been because it was very early days. I definitely felt like a cow being milked, though.

When my milk came in properly I found a manual one easy enough to use and get a decent amount out quickly enough at the end of a feed.

Thanks managed to get my hands on a manual avent one in a sale. going to try that but if it doesn't work out I think I will give the medela a go. Got this manual avent one for £13 so I'm feeling rather pleased with myself