Avent pumps - bags you've found compatible

[covycrump]

I've been given a manual Avent breast pump by my sister, who didn't ever use it (she also bought a Medela Swing thing, and only used that herself). Avent don't seem to make make bags for freezing breast milk, so I'm not sure what to buy to use with it. Bags are my preference, so has anyone used another brand of bag and found they fitted with an Avent pump? Baby isn't due for another three weeks, so I haven't got anything to do trial and error with yet... (but hoping to avoid purchases that won't turn out to be compatible).

You've got a couple of options...

Avent pumps fit Avent bottles so if you're going to use Avent bottles to give EBM then you can buy some of them and then pour it into bags (you can get packs of bags at boots which are reasonable).

Avent also do a system which I can't remember the name of but which connects to semi-disposable cups for storage (you can reuse them and resterilise about 3 or 4 times - they are available in all the usual places). I used these a lot with my first baby as one problem I found with bags is that they sometimes split if I didn't put them in a box (it doesn't have to have a lid just to protect it from any icicles/sharp objects which will split it!) in the freezer and because I'm absent minded I sometimes forgot!

The Medela Swing is pretty good though and I used this with by second baby when I was donating milk as well so the milk bank gave me it. If you use it I would recommend you buy a couple of medela little bottles (you can buy them in packs of 3) to express into and then pour into bags as the medela bags which fit to the pump are very expensive. If you're worried from a hygiene perspective you can buy the attachments (funnels, valves etc) for the swing seperately - I always made sure I had more than one anyway for when I needed one to take somewhere else. - I found it more difficult to get medela stuff in the shops though and bought it all on line.

Now I sound like a breastpump sales woman! I'm not honest just used an Avent manual with baby no 1 and a Medela Swing (and am still using) with baby no 2!!!

Good luck with it all!

My pump didn't have any way of attaching bags to it - I just expressed into a bottle and then poured it into the bags. You could also fold the top of the bag over the neck of the bottle before you screw it onto the pump.

I've got an Avent pump and just pour it into Boots bags when I've finished.

Okay - so I'll buy some of the little containers or cups made to fit the pump that are here, and I can either freeze it in the little cups (if I get lids too), or decant it into the Boots bags.

I wonder if there is a real reason why Avent say their cups can only be used 4 times; surely if something can be sterilised and reused multiple times, then you could go on doing so with them indefinitely. I'll try and find someone sciencey to ask; sounds like a marketing thing (obviously, am probably still going to follow the instructions to the letter, as it's a PFB we're dealing with here...)

Sadly, I have only been given the Avent pump, and not inherited the Medela Swing. If it all goes well, then I may invest in one for myself, as I'd been looking into donating spare milk, and I imagine an electric pump will be more efficient. Thanks for the tips.

Don't know how to say this without being incredibly confusing but I will try and explain!!!

The little cups go with the feeding system so you might have to buy an attachment to the pump to fit them. They normally all come together though and oddly I think the lids you can use as often as you like!

It might be (and probably is) more economical to buy a couple of Avent bottles (as in the type you would give formula and EBM in) which will screw directly onto the pump and then pour into bags.

The only reason not to do this if you find bag splitting syndrome but this can be fixed by putting the bags in a container in the freezer.

If you are thinking of donating milk (which is a great thing to do) you may want to contact your local milk bank as they may provide you with a breast pump and they will definitely provide you with bottles to store it in.

avent also do a sealing cap you can use on their bottles - takes the place of a teat in the white screw on ring.
www.mothercare.com/Philips-AVENT-sealing-discs-6pk/dp/B001G8C01C/ref=sr_11_1/279-0453426-8368529?_en coding=UTF8&mcb=core

Oh, thanks for the further advice. I looked though the pump's box last night, and along with masses of little plastic bits that I can't figure out what to do with, there were some of the discontinued bags in there; they are sealed, so I imagine are safe to use. Obviously they won't last long, so I still need to buy containers of some sort, and the bottles seems like a sensible idea (sealed for fridge storage with some of beautifulgirls' discs), rather than using the little semi-disposable cuppy things. Then pour any excess into bags, put into a box, and keep in freezer. Okay; I think I have a strategy! But for now, time to sort my priorities; as I'm 38 wks tomorrow, I really should be packing my hospital bag...

Axifeed bottles (google) are a million times better than bags for freezing ebm - dishwashable, resuable, stack neatly in the freezer and never ever leak.

Not sure whether i should but i have reused the Avent VIA cups loads more than 4 times and also did so with DD1. i havent seen any deterioration or anything. each box comes with an adaptor thing for the avent pump. i also use them and pour into boots own bm bags for freezing when i only pump a couple of oz.
HTH