Breast pump recommendation please

[Ftumch]

I have an Ardo Calypso Pro borrowed from the health visitor, but it looks like I'll have to be
exclusively pumping long term so I'd like to buy/hire one. I'm looking for a double pump that just 'sucks' rather than vibrates, I tried the spectra s2 and found the vibrations so cringey I couldn't bring myself to keep using it. I have a single Medela swing and the vibrations in that aren't so bad, but I have never got very much milk using it. The only reason I haven't immediately just bought an Ardo is that they don't make 24mm flanges, which is the size that fits me best. (Currently using the spectra pump set on the Ardo machine).

Ameda Lactaline. Can be used as a single or a double. It's Hospital grade abs has a closed system so that you can sell it on afterwards. Their customer service is brilliant too.

Congratulations on your LO too

So I had the Calypso Pro borrowed from the hospital while my DD was in NICU and used the hospital grade Mandela while there.

When I gave the Calypso back I had the double Mandela swing and I hated it. It was so loud and off-putting that I wished I had bought the Calypso.

Do Mandela do the 24mm flanges you need? I used those with both the Calypso Pro and the hospital Mandela.

If you were going to hire I would recommend the hospital grade Mandela as that thing was comfortable and was brilliant at producing milk (from me). I remember seeing posters at NICU saying you could hire for £45ish a month so it depends on if you really want to pay for the extra oomph or if you are happy with the Calypso.

@Alarae does the hospital grade Medela vibrate? I found that so uncomfortable with the Spectra. And did you get more milk than with the Ardo?
@BunnyRuddington Thank You 😊 the reviews say that one is better for occasional pumping, did you use it daily?

No I mainly BF so perhaps that's not the one for you, sorry

I hired the medela symphony, which is the hospital grade one as i had rubbish supply and was pumping on top of breastfeeding (and doing formula top ups!!!). It was a million times better than my medela swing i had bought pre baby's arrival and really easy to send back. I just bought extra flanges online. Its was £47 a month.

I used a Philips avent double electric with a hands free bra. It was great.

Looking to sell it actually has spare parts for all the bits you need to wash which if you're exclusively pumping (like i did with my first) is very handy.

I've hired the Medela Symphony, I didn't manage to pump much on the first go this evening. I feel like I must be doing it wrong? Does anyone know if you can slow the cycles down?

@Ftumch there are two cycles - one is for stimulating (before your milk has properly come in) and the proper pumping cycle which you can adjust the intensity of. Are you using the right setting?

OP, can I go against the grain and suggest you buy this one?
It’s AMAZING. I tried the Medela double pump and another one (forgotten the name!) before I bought this one, almost on a whim, before my DS was due. And it’s been hands down, the best of the three. Please read the reviews! It really is marvellous!

And please don’t be put off by the fact that it’s an unheard of brand. It can arrive the next day if you have Amazon Prime!

@FrangipanFlower Yes, I think so. It goes onto the 'maintain' setting automatically after 2 minutes (or before if I press the button) and I can adjust the suction, but not the speed. So it's pretty uncomfortable, and I don't get as much milk as I was getting with the Ardo pump, I can set the suction high and the speed low on that one.

@NatriumChloride Which pump is that?