Expressing../Breaspumps, which of these is better IYO?

[Bluesapphire77]

Medela Swing
Ameda Lactaline

Am considering buying one
Would like to be able to express straight into bottles but also into bags for freezing
To give me a break, and also hopefully to boost my supply which i know has gone south since the tongue tie (out of desperation i used nipple shields, BAD idea) and with the thrush infection too constant pain for six weeks now has wiped me out...

SO

Which pump is best and what will i need re extras?
Appreciate your opinions
Don't be afraid to mention other pumps as well Just that the two named are ones i have been recommended so far
Thanks xx

Do you have a preference for electric or handheld? My handheld avent is very good and has done me well, but I know many that swear by electric.

If you're after boosting your supply, I would also suggest you contact a BF counsellor - La Leche League and NCT would be the places to start. They may well also have advice on pumps.

I found Medela swing best and did try a few. It was the closest I got to the industrial Medela one our SCBU had (they cost several thousand I think) and I got a lot more milk with of my Medela than with other pumps I tried but def agree with WPR re getting advice from a BF counsellor re boosting supply. Re. extras you can buy bags for breast milk from boots etc that allow you to write date and time on label and you can freeze it in the bags. You get all the other bits you need with the pump but you will need to sterilise the pieces in between times.

The Lactaline - absolutly fantastic, and I pumped 5 days a week for a year with one. Lanisoh bags the best ime, but I pumped into bottles and then decanted into bags to get even measures in the bags.

But if you are concerned about boosting supply, then pumping really is the most faffy way of doing it, so you need some good rl advice on recovering from thrush. Has your baby had their tongue tie snipped ?

I've tried the Medela mini electric, but went back to my avent isis manual and I much prefer it (used it successfully with my first baby to help with supply after two bouts of mastitis, and now using it to have a good frozen supply with baby 2); I found the electric one a bit painful (no issues with the manual) and quite noisy, though the friend who lent me it had used it successfully. If you can, borrow one of each and see how you get on. hth

i use the medela swing and find i get far more than with the lactaline- but i do have a lactaline to sell !!

Woohoo how much lol
Not that you're trying to sell me something

i've got the medela swing, it's very noisy and I soon started to crave a double pump to increase the volume. I also find it tricky to clean and don't like the funnel as you can't see what is coming out very well (I like to watch the action). I read lots of online reviews and went for an avent isis iq duo, it's fantastic, very quiet and I get rather a lot of milk from it too. I got mine on ebay for about £70, think they're about £250 new. It's easy to clean and easy to see the milk coming out. It is fairly heavy but that's not a problem for me as the benefits far outweight this issue for me. I've heard some people have issues with amelda lactaline being flimsy and so not portable (I think the bottles are glass) but I can't comment personally as I haven't used this.

You can hire the industrial ones from the NCT too.

I use a medela lactina and have found it to be great, I have a Mini Medela too but its so noisy i don't think i could use it all the time, especially not if your thinking of pumping after feeds to boost supply. It's do your head in at 3am !

Your local NCT/LLL/ABM will have a volunteer agent for Ameda pumps. If you are looking at a short term boost in supply then the double hospital grade pump is the best bet. I just think they have more ooomph than anything you can buy. Ardo Medical (who supply Ameda pumps) 01823 336 362 can give you the details your nearest volunteer agent. Both Ardo and Medela (0870 950 5994) will courier pumps to you if you don't have an agent nearby though of course it costs more. I hired a Medela Symphony with baby #1 and found it excellent Very quiet, efficient, not a mini-lawnmower like my Medela mini-electric totally agree with WorzselMummage on that (but I love it cos it's little and totally portable). I used it in a hotel this weekend and then got paranoid thinking the bloke in the next room would think I had a sex toy buzzing away (the walls were not thick) because I had to pump after midnight cos I was so full of milk and away from the LO and DH.

just re-read last sentence. Obviously being away from DH does not mean i have to pump - I just meant that I was in the room on my own...........

giveusabreak