Advice for buying a breast pump - problems in past with using them

[NattyTurkeyAndEggnog]

i tried a number of manual pumps with my son, got nothing out of them.
i tried the boots electric pump, which worked ok, not brilliant i only got 2 ounces in 45 mins of pumping.
any one have any recommendations for stubborn boobs?
i couldnt work out how to hand express, so i gave up that idea too.
could it be that my breasts are just not sutible for pumping, or should i try a better pump?
no price limit, and would be happy to hire, just want one that works!

oh forgot to mention i tried the electric one with my daughter, and that im on number three now

The one I used in hospital that got my crappy refuse to express boobs working was fab, plus the mw taught me how to use it which I hadn't known with the manual pump I'd used for dd1.It was a lactaline which I think can be hired form NCT???

When I got home I knew that I couldn't afford one so looked around and ended up with a medela swing which was great as it had a fast pump action at the start to "get you going" then a slower rythmn and you could adjust the depth of suck.

PS I was advised by the mw to start 10min on each side then 5min then 2min then 1 min but I wasn't feeding dd2 at all as she had tpo have surgery but this helped my milk come in and build my supply but I really hadn't realised the time scale when using the hand pump,( if it hadn't worked within the minute i was a failure, repeat etc each time i tried!)

ok thanks

I second the Medela Swing, got on really well with it, but did have to persevere to get a good letdown with it. I think that's probably true of any pump though.

did you try a double pump? I think avent do one called the isis duo. I hired a double pump from medela, but it cost a fortune, £40 a month and I kept it for 7 months in the end!!! Next time I'll buy a double pump definitely though. I have fairly reluctant boobs too and the effect of pumping on both sides at the same time made a world of difference.

i didnt know pumping from both would make a differance.
im not sure about getting an avent, cos the manual was awful for me. does anyone have experiance of using it?

i was thinking about hiring one, but for 40 quid a month i dont know if its worth it. if i bought one of the really expensive home models i could use it in further pregnancies? (yes mad woman i am i want 5)

The one I hired from Medela is a hospital grade one, so to buy they cost a fortune, nearly £700. I don't know what other brands are good, but a double pump definitely made a difference for me, stimulating both boobs at the same time made the let down stronger and faster. I never tried the avent manual one, the electric one was fine, but I only had a single electric pump. There have been lots of recommendations of other double pumps on here.

there seems to be lots of good comments about the ameda lactaline dual pump on here....

thanks HF

No probs