Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Flip

Original poster

which electric breast pump is the best

15 replies

taytotayto · 29/07/2009 17:29

my baby is nearly two weeks old and we have struggled to breastfeed, my nipples are very flat and she has a short tongue. i really wanted to breast feed but she gets so stressed and upset i have now stopped cup feeding (im expressing). i have rented a medela symphony but need to buy a pump as i cant afford to keep renting.
i need a double pump and ive no idea what pump to go for. i am thinking about the lactaline electric pump mainly as the price is good at £85 but does anyone know of a better pump for under £150.

OP posts:

grayal · 29/07/2009 20:28

I don't know about a double pump but my Avent ISIS was fantastic. Maybe they do a double version?

stainesmassif · 29/07/2009 20:45

do you absolutely have to have a double pump? i went through two electric pumps and just bought a manual avent isis to take to work and it's better than both. though obviously is single....but it's much more convenient, quieter, more comfortable and quicker. (For me)

good luck, hope you sort something out.

GreenMonkies · 29/07/2009 20:51

Have you seen a breastfeeding counsellor? If her tongue is "short" she may have a tongue tie, a simple snip can release this and make breastfeeding easy and painless.

As for pumps, I got gallons with my Avent Isis hand pump, and miserable amounts with a double electric Ameda. What works for one person doesn't work for another, so if the one you are using right now is good for you and gets results go for one of those.

But try getting help with breastfeeding and latching first, you may be able to save yourself a load of time, hassle and money! Give them a call.

trixymalixy · 29/07/2009 20:55

Avent ISIS was fab for me. i thnk they do a double version (DUO?) too.

JoesMummy09 · 29/07/2009 21:06

Not a double pump but my Medela Swing pump is fab. Got it for about £85 online

1stMrsF · 29/07/2009 21:28

I have the lactaline. It was recommended to me by an NCT breastfeeding counsellor who breastfed triplets (I am breastfeeding twins) and I think it's excellent.

I echo the comment about tongue tie - one of my babies had a tongue tie and we really struggled with feeding. Once it had been snipped we never looked back, dropped the formula top ups in a matter of days.

If it's not that, well done on making sure she is getting your milk - you are doing the very best you can for your baby.

Original poster

taytotayto · 30/07/2009 10:48

they thought she had tongue tie in hospital so we saw a specialist on tuesday who said it wasnt tongue tie but she has a short tongue, he asked to see mine and laughed as he said like mother like daughter. (he was nice about it). the only reason i want a double is because im using one at the moment and find it a god send at night as im up twice to express to keep supply going, getting about 2 oz every 2-2.5 hours. is this good? and will my supply improve in weeks to come. had to top her up last evening and last night before bed, dont mind really but would prefer to give breast milk. she is a big baby 9lb 7.5 oz at birth.

OP posts:

GreenMonkies · 30/07/2009 19:49

I have never heard of a "short tongue" but there are all kinds of tongue ties, not all give the classic heart shape. Can she lift her tongue up, even if the end curls up she could have a "posterior" tongue tie.

HighOnDieselAndGasoline · 30/07/2009 19:56

Lactaline is very good imo. It's also worth getting a hands-free expressing bra like this:

www.expressyourselfmums.co.uk/details2.asp/ProductID/281/easy-expression-bustier.htm

Spendy, but worth it ime.

FenLondon · 30/07/2009 21:49

Medela Symphony on hire worked brilliantly for me. Agree on the hands free bra - may make you feel a little bovine, but makes life a lot easier!

StrikeUpTheBand · 30/07/2009 22:25

I did exclusive expressing for 6 months and carried on until over 7 months. I had the Ameda Lactaline and one of the expressing bras mentioned above and would recommend it highly. I used to frequent an exclusively expressing forum (a US one) and the majority on there used either the Lactaline (which in the US they call the Ameda Purely Yours) or the Medela Pump in Style. The Lactaline is particularly good because it is a 'closed' system meaning it is safe to buy second hand or be sold on as the unit itself (the inside workings) are sealed and will not become contaminated with milk particles etc.

I used to take it with me on long journeys (as the passenger) in the car with the expressing bra and express on the way (it takes normal AA batteries and you can also get a car adaptor). When I was out on my own I would take a hand pump and the medela wipes you can get, plus a couple of spare bottles and just use a feeding room. I used to think it was a hassle at first but then realised no more so than someone who has a baby who breastfeeds extremely regularly and has to keep stopping to feed.

Definitely a double pump was faster and kept the milk supply going well. I never once managed to get DS to latch on without a nipple shield (which did ruin my supply within days) so it wasn't him keeping my supply going but this pump. I could have gone on perpetually but decided to slow it down after 6 months for sanity's sake. I went to visit my parents 200 miles away for a long weekend and forgot my pump so ended up buying a (reduced to £17) Medela Mini Electric and it didn't help my supply towards the end, which meant that stopping was more inevitable, but I could have probably fought to get it back had I not been tired.

Good luck with your expressing and hope it all works out well for you. DS is now 2 and I am 19 weeks pregnant again, and intend to use this pump again (still in my cupboard ).

charliex0x · 18/08/2009 13:04

I tried 3 different breast pumps before I tried the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump - It is fantastic. It takes only 5 mins to fill an 180ml bottle. It has made my life so much easier. It is worth every penny.

fhaye · 01/12/2009 06:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

isabella2008 · 04/12/2012 21:40

Don't spend lots of money on brand name pumps. The Spectra Dew from ANA wiz is a hospital grade pump at £49. I used it with my daughter easy to use and assemble. Just not enough people know about it

Spoonpaws · 04/12/2012 22:07

The Ardo Calypso is great for under £150 - can be used as a single or a double with the double kit add on (£149 for both). I've used an ameda lactaline as well and I preferred the Calypso - the pumping unit is less bulky and the parts in general are smaller. It's easy to use and very efficient at expressing quickly in my experience. It's a closed system pump like the lactaline or medela freestyle too.

I never bothered with buying a specific expressing bra - I just cut a couple of holes in a normal cheap bra and that worked perfectly!

Good luck x

Flip