Note: This topic is for discussing breast pumps. We've spent weeks researching and testing breast pumps with breastfeeding mums. Read our breast pump reviews to find out which ones were awarded Mumsnet Best.
Breast pumps
Which breast pump would you recommend to new mums?
TinaMumsnet · 22/10/2018 09:21
We're making plans to test and review new breast pumps and we'd love to know which ones you'd recommend.
Choosing the right breast pump is a very personal decision. But there are so many options to choose from it can be hard to know which one might work for you.
If you've used a great breast pump in the last two years, we want to hear about it! Tell us which one you loved and why you loved it. Your comments will help us to create a shortlist of breast pumps to test and recommend to new parents.
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UPDATE
Hi all,
Thanks for your recommendations. After three months of testing we've found the Ardo Calypso Double Plus to be the best value breast pump for most families.
See our round up of the top 10 best breast pumps for more great recommendations.
Hope that helps!
icclemunchy · 24/10/2018 21:48
Seen the hakka and similar mentioned a few times but it's worth noting that they're not actually a true breastpump. So if your trying to up/establish/maintain a supply they don't work.
Absolutly amazing for milk collection whilst feeding baby from the other side though
WellAtLeast · 24/10/2018 22:45
Ardo calypso. I got the double but I needed a good bra to hold them in place and I found it impractical to double pump if the baby needed tending to so would often use it as a single pump in the mobile battery powered mode. If I had another child I would definitely get that one or the update of it, wouldn't even look around for other options. It had a quiet soothing noise that didn't disturb me or my baby and I'd often nod off while it was pumping. I never had any complaints of sore nipples or mastitis (though I did thoroughly massage my breasts during pumping).
Fieau · 25/10/2018 07:42
Bellababy!! Double electric hospital grade pump. Bought mine from amazon for £30 as thought it didn't matter then if I barely used it or didn't respond to it. It's been amazing!! So easy to use and clean, lots of different settings so can easily trigger a let down and speed up pumping.
NotMrsTumble · 25/10/2018 08:35
I used the avent electric and manual, they were great, and the parts interchanged so it was easy to always have a spare clean pump assembly.
But if its not a closed system I just wouldn't touch it. Have a look on you tube at videos of people dismantling used open system pumps. Bleurgh 🤢🤢🤮
Gnomesofthegalaxy · 25/10/2018 08:52
I have the medela swing and I hate it. I'm expressing constantly as my baby won't latch and the pump really isn't up to the job. Constant moisture in tubing no matter what I do and once it sucked milk into the motor. Have the manual pump too which is slightly better.
Really wish I had bought something else but was a quick purchase as baby was losing weight. May try the Bella baby as pp recommended and price very reasonable. Most others are way too expensive.
With my last child I used avent manual and liked it
howabout · 25/10/2018 12:26
Avent manual for same reasons as pp. Tried 2 or 3 electric versions in hospital over course of 3 pregnancies and never got the hang of them. Actually thought I had no milk with DD3 (as did nurses) until I got DH to bring in my Avent from home.
Also far fewer fiddly bits and much easier to clean and reassemble.
Very portable.
dannydyerismydad · 25/10/2018 15:50
There are breast pumps and breast pumps.
Many pumps women will recommend because they have found them effective, but most are only useful for removing milk once supply is established. Many of them are not cut out for exclusive pumping or building supply in the early days.
Please make sure your tests and research highlight this. There's nothing more heartbreaking than a mum who thinks she has no milk when actually her pump just isn't suitable for the job.
WeeMadArthur · 25/10/2018 16:01
I started with a loan pump from my doctors for the first two weeks, it could do both sides at once and was very powerful ( and noisy) one my supply was established I bought a hand pump which I couldn’t work at all and then the Medela Swing which was brilliant, although the little bottles it came with were no use, think they were only 75ml. I needed 250 ml bottles.
Want2bSupermum · 25/10/2018 17:30
Frazzle That was me too. Then I saw a lactation consultant who was horrified because I was doing everything wrong. I had the wrong sized shields and I had the dial too high. She had me pump for 15mins every 90mins, drink tones of water and eat oatmeal. I was making milk like a bloody cow after about 14 hours. She had me establish supply with the medela symphony and switch to the spectra a month in.
With my first I had preeclampsia and doing this resulted in zero milk. I used formula. My milk did not come in at all.
Mwnci123 · 25/10/2018 21:52
I have a good supply and expressed for the human milk bank and for my freezer stash from when my baby was about three months old. Didn't get on with Tommy Tippee manual pump or with Medela swing electric. Best for me were hospital grade Ardo I rented for a month and manual Philips Avent. I got better results with the manual pump once I'd got the hang of it- I think there's a bit of a knack.
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