See what Mumsnetters think of Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pumps - £300 voucher prize draw for testers’ feedback! NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the 150 Mumsnetters who are trying the Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump.

Here's what Philips AVENT say, "When you are comfortable and relaxed, your milk flows more easily. That's why we created our most comfortable breast pump yet: Sit comfortably with no need to lean forwards and let our soft massage cushion gently stimulate your milk flow. The breast pump has a unique design, so your milk flows directly from your breast into the bottle, even when you are sitting up straight. The breast pump has a compact design, which makes it easy to position. Its ergonomically-shaped handle offers a comfortable hold and full control when expressing milk. Being small and lightweight means it is easy to store and transport, making pumping on-the-go more discreet."

More info on the pump here

Testers, please answer the questions below but do feel free to add any other comments you may have.

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?

All testers who add their feedback to this thread, add a review on MN and complete the survey we sent you will be entered into a prize draw where one tester will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher!

Thanks
MNHQ

[ICantDecideOnAUsername]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?
A compact, easy to use pump.

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?
I didn't really find it any more or less comfortable that any other pump (I've got another manual pump and have a borrowed electric pump.)

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?
Sometimes the suction didn't work properly and I think it was due to the massage cushion not always being on properly, even though I thought it was, so letting air in. Was soon rectified.
I did find that, due to the compact nature of the pump, my hands sometimes got in the way of each other. Also I like to check out how much is coming out so had to turn it to an angle to see, due to the short stem. Again, not a problem but took a bit of manoeuvring/getting used to.
I do like the way it is really sturdy when you put it down. My other pumps are longer and tall and have a tendency to topple over as they are top heavy.
The down side is that it does leak when knocked over by an errant 4yo. Even though the bottle was screwed on tight and the milk stayed in when turned over when turned back upright milk poured out. I think the milk got into the thread area of the screw on the bottle so when turned back it just flowed out. The threads need to be closer together and longer, I would imagine. I was gutted as it takes me ages to pump a decent amount.
I did pump whilst sat back, as it suggests you can, but the milk doesn't aways flow into the bottle if there is only a little amount so I had to lean forward occasionally to get it in the bottle. I also had to lean forward at the end to stop it dribbling everywhere.

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?
Yes, but depending on the price, as with anything.

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?
Yes. Once i'd worked out the little adjustments needed for this one compared to the two I'm used to I found it easy to use. I found the size handy for storing in the fridge between pumping. I like the sturdiness, although will make sure it is safe from being knocked over in the future.

[ThePurpleLobster]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?

A small, handheld manual breast pump. Very easy to assemble and use.

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?

This is the only pump I've ever used, so I don't really have anything to benchmark it against, but it seems very comfortable. I tend to use it whilst sat on the sofa, and this works well.

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?

The first time I used it I ended up with a very milky boob and not much in the bottle. Not too sure how I managed this as it's not happened since! I think it was very likely "user error". Other than this it has been very easy to use. It is easy to clean and sterilise and very quick to assemble.

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?

I think it would depend how frequently it was intended for use. I use it approx once a day and it is fab, however more than this and I can see having to manually operate it would get boring very quickly. For infrequent use it is great - easy to use, small to store and not too pricey.

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes I will. I currently express in the evening which means my husband can feed DS when he gets home from work. It also means I know DS has had a decent feed before we put him down for the night, as he has a tendency to nod off whilst breast feeding which results in a very broken nights sleep for the rest of us as he is enevitably hungry a few hours later.

[thisismee]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?
Small compact manual breast pump. Easy to use, clean and sterilise.

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?
Very comfortable to use, great you can sit back and pump without leaking milk.

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?
Surprisingly very easy, I can get similar volumes of milk compared to my Medela electric pump. Which I haven't been able to do with any other manual pump. I also found it great to pump while I breastfed my baby on the other side.

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?
Yes I would definitely recommend this breast pump.

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?
Yes, I will use the pump again as it's quick and easy to use to get a good volume of milk. Its great to pump if I'm out also , as its so compact and easy to store.

[Caillou]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?

I would say that it is compact, easy to use and easy to clean

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?

I liked the fact that I could relax in the sofa while expressing

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?

It was pretty much straight forward, though the amount I have been able to express is significantly less than when I use my electric pump

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?

I will recommend to my friends as a back up option or a travel pump

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes I will carry on using the pump when we go away or as a back up one, but I will keep using my electric one as it is quicker

Thank you for letting me test it

[Atathania]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?

Give it a go, but don't let it scare you into thinking you have no milk as I couldn't express anywhere near enough for a feed with this bleddy thing, yet I have no problem with other pumps.

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?

Comfortable enough. Didn't work well, mind, but it didn't hurt so... yay...

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?

Looking at the other comments I must have been doing something wrong despite reading the manual because it didn't work for me at all.

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?

Sorry, no.

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?

No. I'll stick to my tried and tested electric pump.

[AGrinWithoutACat]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?

Neat and compact

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?

Very comfortable

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?

It was easy to dismantle, clean and reassemble but I could not get more than a couple of mils of milk using it

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?

I would not recommend or discourage as although it didn't work for me it may work for them, would simply state my experience

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?

No, cannot get the milk to flow with it and I am disappointed with this as hoped to be able to use it as part of going back to work but still keeping supply up

[belleadele]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?
This is a small easy to use manual breast pump that enables you to express milk and then use or store it.
Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?
It's light and the hand mechanism isn't atiff so IT was easy to use and can be done sitting or standing. It didn't hurt me at all.
Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?
It took me a while to get milk out, I didn't realise how important it was to make a seal or nothing would come out, I thought it wasn't working at the beginning but my nipple wasn't positioned correctly. Once the milk started flowing it was very easy to use.
Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?
As a manual pump, I would recommend it as it worked better than my other one but I still think electric pumps despite the price are superior because they are quicker and less hard on the hands.
Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, wh
I will definitely be taking it with me on business trips as I'm back at work and still feeding my daughter. It's much lighter to use than an electric pump so I will continue using it.

[Rachelbarr26]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation? Comfortable, easy to use and does the job!

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use? Pumping is never going to be a joy but this was much nicer than the electric pump I have used.

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use? Really easy, I was up and running within 2 minutes!

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?
Yes
Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?
Yes, it's so portable and saves plugging in to an electric pump

[Unthoughtknown]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?

Easy to assemble and clean, compact and portable.

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?

Completely comfortable, can use one handed.

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?

Easy and no leakage which I have found with other pumps

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?

Yes

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes, I find especially useful to use if I have missed a feed and feeling engorged - I can pump an oz off in a couple of minutes.

[RedRoseMummy]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?

A compact, easy to use breast pump which is very portable and great for travelling with.

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?

Very comfortable. I did find the action of pumping to start to make my wrist a little sore after a while but I have had repeated musculoskeletal issues with my wrists so this would probably not be an issue for most people. The pumping action is comfortable on the breast and I was able to sit in a good position while pumping.

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?

Very easy to use. The instructions are clear and assembly is simple. I wanted this to use when travelling over the festive period and it fit the bill perfectly. Quick and easy to put away and take out again. I wasn't expressing lots but decided to do so to add to my son's food and if I had a couple of glasses of wine. It really was great for that.

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?

Yes. I'd especially recommend it if people aren't looking to express a lot. This is a great pump to use now and again. If they are looking to build up stocks of expressed milk then I'd always suggest electric but it's brilliant for more ad hoc expressing.

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes, I absolutely will continue to use it when I need to. I've actually found it easier to keep clean than my electric and it's great when I just need a little milk expressed. It's a great pump.

[ambikab]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?

Surprisingly useful. My second son is 7 months now, I used my medela swing intermittently in the first few weeks after he was born but when I started weaning I was worried about introducing cows milk to his diet as my older son is severely allergic and skin contact with dairy brings him up in hives. Initially I fed my younger one his breakfast porridge separately to the older one but when this pump arrived for testing I thought I would try expressing small amounts to use when feeding no.2.

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?

I've developed tendonitis in my hands from carrying my baby and I was concerned that using a manual pump would be painful, but it's been fine. I initially thought the pump was pinching my breast but realised I hadn't replaced the plastic "comfort" shield properly so adjusted that and it's been extremely easy to use. My first attempt at expressing was in the morning and as I've never been very good at expressing I admit I laughed at the instruction manual which says you can express a bottle (125ml) in 10 minutes. I became bored of pumping after 5 mins but had managed 60ml!

I think part of the reason I feel comfortable using this pump is that the bottle is smaller than the others so I feel as though there is less pressure to express huge amounts.

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?

The breast pump is extremely easy to use, it's a very simple design, takes a minute to take it apart and put it back together and as my younger son is at the stage where he puts everything in his mouth I've just been pouring boiling water over it after washing rather than sterilising. I particularly like the valve which is bigger and a lot sturdier than the Medela ones.

The real beauty of this is that it is light and doesn't require me to sit next to a power point, last night I grabbed it set it up and expressed enough milk to use for making up supper all within 15 minutes.

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?

Yes

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes, I will as I've said I have found it very useful for expressing quickly for meals and the best part was when both boys could sit together and have their breakfast this week. I will keep using this until baby gets past the stage of throwing his food around!

[Keepthechangeyoufilthyanimal]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?
Good value, compact, easy to set up/understand and use, ideal for travelling/if you only pump occasionally

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use? It was fine, I usually use an electric so I was anticipating hand cramp but it was ok.

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use? Very, few parts that easily fit together and very clear how to use even without reading instructions

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?
Very likely

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?
Yes, I don't pump that often these days but I will carry on using this when I need to pump for relief or if I'm away from home it will be much more handy to carry this than my electric one.

[PannaDoll]

1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?
   

Similar to an electric pump with a handle for manual pumping.

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?

Really comfortable. The funnel shape and the cushion were great.

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?

I found the pump much easier to use than I had expected. There wasn't too much faffing about before I got the hang of it.

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?

I would definitely recommend to friends as I live on a boat without good access to electricity so the manual pump is a god send.

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?

I will definitely continue to use the pump. It works well for me.

[Hekna222]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?
A compact manual breast pump that is easy to put together and clean. It is designed to allow you to sit in a more comfortable position and is compatible with other Avent products.

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?
It was surprisingly comfortable to use, though as a large breasted lady I did find the soft massage cushion a little small for my liking as it would take me a minute or two to find a comfortable position. The handle was also quite comfortable to use as I’ve found others a little on the hard side, especially after 10-15 minutes of pumping.

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?
I consider it to be pretty easy to use. It goes together quite easily (didn’t need to refer to the instructions) and it comes apart just as easily for cleaning. The compact size makes it ideal for taking away and the lid for the pump is very handy indeed, especially if you’re between pumps and removing the bottle for storage, as I’ve found with others that you can end up covered in milk that has collected but not travelled through to the bottle. The lid helps to avoid this little problem. Also helps to keep it clean when being stored or transported.

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?
I would recommend it to someone looking for a manual pump for occasional use. Any more than that and I’d recommend an electric pump. I have never had a particularly strong flow and I found it was a lot of work to get enough milk out. The same time with an electric pump produces much greater results for me.

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?
I may use it when I start to reduce the feeds to help relieve any engorgement, but for me it’s only really ideal for occasional use and perhaps in an emergency. An electric pump is the only thing that really works well enough for me. 30ml after 15-20 minutes of pumping isn’t quite enough at this stage!

I was picked by MNHQ to review this product/ service, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion

[bbrisotto]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?

A compact manual breast pump. Easy to transport

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?

Very comfortable.

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?

quite easy although i didn't manage to pump much milk. This could be down to the time of day though. My daughter did feed from the bottle though which was the first time she would actually drink from a bottle

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?

Yes it is a low cost fail safe option.

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?

I will try if i have to leave my baby for a while. She does prefer to feed from me though.

[CorporeSarnie]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?

It is a good little manual pump, which is ideal for popping into a bag (e.g. for an occasional overnight away from baby).

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?

It was comfortable, easy to use less suction if it was pulling too hard (by reducing the pressure on the hand pump), I didn't find it that much different to other models in terms of sitting back, but I am often pumping in an office chair so perhaps my habitual posture is more forward than not.

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?

Very easy to assemble, even without reference to the instructions I could put it together. Came apart easily for cleaning, easier to clean than older Avent models and fit in my Avent steriliser. No problems with use at all, and I liked the shallower valve vs. the older models (it seemed to make the milk drain into the bottle faster vs. pooling and then 'splodging' with the older pumps, so that you fill the bottle more evenly).

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?

I would, but don't have many conversations about expressing.

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes, will rotate in with my other Avent pump and use at work - it is easier to use a manual at work due to noise, although I have a private office and can close and lock the door, I don't like it to be obvious that I'm expressing in there.

[Gypsytears]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?

A handy portable breast pump that is convenient to use when out and about

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?

I find all breast pumps uncomfortable to a degree, but this one is more comfortable that other hand pumps, but is taxing on the hand like other pumps if used for a long time.

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?

It's simple to assemble and remove the washable parts. It's easy to use in so far as it is simple to understand the instructions and to use from an operational point of view, but is not as effective as an electric pump obviously.

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?

I would if they were looking for a pump to supplement breast feeding for the occasional use, but I would not recommend any manual pump for exclusive pumping or for more than once / twice a day

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?

I will use it to ease discomfort when out and about, rather than as a means to collect milk to feed my twins. Overall I am statistified with the product, it does its job but is not suitable for long term pumping in my opinion

[Twighlight]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?
Small, compact, easy to travel with but not the strongest pump for extending pumping.

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?
The pump fit around my nipple but was not comfortable when I was pumping. This is to be expected with pumping but it was frustrating as I did not get much milk out at all.

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?
The pump was easy to use and the instructions were simple to follow

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?
I prefer electric pumps as they are easier to use and get more milk out. I would not recommend this as I got very little milk out but I would tell others that I was pumping at 18 months so the situation may be different early on in breastfeeding.

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?
I will not use this as the amount of milk I got out was so little it is not worth continuing with.

All testers who add their feedback to this thread, add a review on MN and complete the survey we sent you will be entered into a prize draw where one tester will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher!

[Cineraria]

I was really glad to get the opportunity to be a tester as I was wondering whether or not to get this pump anyway. I already have the Avent single electrical pump, bottles, storage cups and the microwave steriliser, so I hoped it might work well with them. Thanks for the opportunity.

Sorry to be so late in posting but my son has developed silent reflux and is a bit unputdownable right now. The pump was useful in administering one of the medicines though. so I’ll add that experience to my comments. I’m posting this before reading what others have put in order to give an answer that reflects my own experience but then I’ll read through and see if I have anything further to add.

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?

A small hand operated pump that draws out the milk into a bottle or storage container for later use.

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?

It was certainly more comfortable after I read the instructions! The first time I used it, I just guessed and squeezed the handle fully and quickly throughout. I did get plenty of milk but also got aching hands and a bright red swollen nipple that was a bit sore for about half an hour afterwards. After reading the instructions, I realised I should just give just a few quick squeezes before squeezing for as long as the milk flows and that I did not need to squeeze the handle fully. This was much more comfortable and surprisingly much quicker too, perhaps quicker than using the electrical pump. The pump also felt more comfortable when there is plenty of milk to come out; when there isn’t much, it does feel uncomfortable as it is tugging the tissue too much, so I think I’d sooner use the electrical one if I was pumping to increase production rather than just to take out what is there. I found the sensation quite strong and noticed that I collected plenty in a breast shell on the second breast whilst using the pump on the first one. It was a nice change not to have a bit of wire attaching me to the electrical pump unit and allowed me to get up to settle my son mid-pump more easily.

I like the idea of being able to lean back whilst pumping. I tried it and it worked well but I haven’t been able to make much more use of this feature as I prefer to pump straight after feeding my son and have had to lean forward to entertain him whenever I’ve used it. I think it would be great to use this to pump one side when feeding from the other, especially if feeding in a laid back position but my son no longer feeds well like this so I couldn’t try it.



Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?

It was very easy to assemble and use and at the first use I got a good suction and had my nipple centred in the pump straight away without any difficulty, however if I pump toward the end of the day my nipple tends to be a bit large for the cushion, so it takes a while to get through and then gets stuck there. The manual says that large nipple cushions are available, so I contacted Avent who have referred me to their supplier. My electrical one works well for me without the cushion in but this one pulls my nipple so far in that it touches the end and the milk can’t come out if I use it without the cushion. As well as the bottle included, I used it with the Avent storage cups and adaptor and that was just as easy.

I used the pump at every feed for a while when the doctor prescribed Gaviscon for my son’s silent reflux. He had to have it mid-feed and would only take it when mixed in freshly expressed milk in the Calpol syringe, so I had to express 10ml after feeding from the first breast, mix it with the powder, add another 10ml, mix it and syringe it into his mouth. I found the manual pump much better than the electrical one for the following reasons:

• Let-down was quicker if I needed to pump from the side he hadn’t fed on.
  
• I could more easily obtain the right amounts, using the measurements on the side of the storage cups
  
• It was smaller and more discreet, both in terms of sound and appearance, than the electrical one to use and carry when out and about especially if I was feeding him in public
  

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?

I would but would recommend the electrical one as being a little more comfortable and convenient if only buying one pump and would mention that I haven’t used any other brand so can’t compare it with other similar products.

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes, I will. We’re not using the Gaviscon any more as it wasn’t that helpful but I realised that it is nice to have a manual one as it is more compact to pack for a day out. I might also use it if the noise of the electrical one would be a problem, e.g. if listening to something on the radio. Also having two pumps allows me to use the dishwasher to clean the washable parts of the pumps as I don’t need them to be ready for another pumping session the same day.

Any other comments you may have.

It is really nice that the components of the manual pump, the electrical pump, the feeding bottles and the storage set are all designed to work well together however the cushions of the pumps are quite easy to mix up with the one from the breast shells, and they are not interchangeable, so it would be nice if they were marked clearly. I think I collect about as much with the manual pump as I would expect to collect using the electrical pump which surprised me.

[Cineraria]

Just read through the thread and thought of a few more points to add:

I think I must be using a different hand position from those who found the handle too short. I tried it initially with all fingers on it but found it better with the last three fingers on the handle and the index finger resting along the side of the pump. It was less tiring to use like this as the index finger helped with stability. Not sure if this would be a solution for those who mentioned this being a problem. Here's a photo:

To maximise the harvest and speed of collection, I found it best to hold my breast up from underneath with my other hand and then to get as empty as possible, I had to tilt the funnel slightly to each side, up and down and diagonally (like eight compass points around the breast) for a couple of pumps each at the end of the pumping session. This seemed to clear the duct on the opposite side from the one I was tilting toward. This might be due to being fairly large breasted (30J).

I hadn't realised most pumps don't have a cover; that might have been a deciding factor for me if I were choosing a manual pump to buy for use when away from home.

[kod88]

Q1: it's very good.made expressing much easier/quick and convenient

Q2:very comfortable the silicone cushion made expressing comfortable -no pain or discomfort when using

Q3:pump very easy to assemble and take apart to clean. Compact enough to fit in handbag to express when out and about/travelling

Q4: have recommended this pump to friends it's very effective was able to express good amounts using this not as noisy/squeaky as other manual pumps I've tried. I especially liked the plastic cover for the pump. I also like the pads that came with the pump. Great to have a set for day time and a set for night time. Very handy. I feel it's a bit pricey for a manual pump. As I only use it very occasionally so an expensive buy someone like me.

Q5: yes I would continue to use handy for use at home or trips away easy to clean and assemble. Found it handy that it came with a teat that fitted to the bottle so could feed to baby straight away.

[Uzma01]

Q1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?
A small lightweight manual breast pump that could be used occasionally to express milk straight into a bottle.

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?
It was quite comfortable to use.

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?
Once I'd positioned it in the right place and got a pumping rhythm going - I felt it was really easy and relatively effortless. Was simple to fit the parts together after washing/sterilising.

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?
Yes I would. It's a nice lightweight pump which was easy to put together and operate. Would work well for anyone who doesn't have any hand/wrist pain issues as I can imagine it would be problematic after a while.

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?
I would probably stick to the electric one as I'm used to it and only tend to express at home anyway. But as a spare to take with me if I was having any issues with engorgement if I was outside of the home and couldn't get to the electric one in time - this would be helpful.

I feel it would benefit from a plain lid with a screw cap to have for storage purposes, instead of putting the teat on. Also, when I had my eldest I purchased a manual pump for a fraction of the price and it had several extras with it including a container in which to sterilise it. I think for the price stated for the Avent pump - I wouldn't necessarily buy it if I could get an alternative one just as good as this for less money.

I was picked by MNHQ to review this product/ service, which I received for free. This review is in my own words and reflects my true opinion. Thank you for the opportunity MN.

[Gumgardener321]

1. Please detail how would you describe the breast pump to friends/family if it came up in conversation?
   

Compact manual pump. Ideal to use when away from home.

Q2. How comfortable did you find the breast pump to use?

I found it very comfortable. Much more than my Medela Mini Electric that had used for my first son. I liked how I had more control over the pressure being applied. Breast pad comfortable. Handle doesn't need too much pressure to pump which is great for me as I have v weak hands

Q3. How easy did you find the breast pump to use?

Easy to assemble & steralise.
Nice & light to hold. Do not have to apply too much pressure for pumping action though it took a while for me to get into a rhythm.

Q4. If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump to friends and/or family?

Yes.its comfortable to use, light to hold, easy to use. Compact so would be good to use if expressing away from home.
I also found it much more comfortable to use compared to electric as it was so quiet. The constant noise of medella used to do my head in.
Bit annoying that bottle provided is so small though.

Q5. Will you continue to use your Philips Avent Natural Manual Breast Pump? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes, definitely esp when away from home. I like how its so much quieter & how compact of is.

[sufferkate]

Q1. Compact, easy to use manual breast pump. It's lightweight, small, comfortable to use, and very robust. It's everything you need a pump to be.

Q2.i found it very comfortable to use, I could easily hold and pump one handed, and it felt very secure. The silicone cover meant it didn't slip once I had it in position, and the handle was nicely rounded so I could keep a good grip. I could control the strength of the suction with ease, so I could keep up a gentle rhythm that I was comfortable with.

Q3. It was very easy to use, and very easy to control the strength and pattern of suction to get the maximum amount of milk. I didn't get crampy hands like I have with my Medela, and it was easier to hold than my tommee tippee pump. Taking it apart was very straight forward, I love the tab on the valve, so you don't have to grip the valve itself to remove it - I've destroyed more than one valve on my TT by pulling. The way the pump handle is connected is a great design, it means it can be stripped down properly to be cleaned. I like the pump cover as I know the pump is kept clean either before I start pumping, or when I'm halfway through and need a break

Q4. I would recommend this pump to friends and family, I like how compact it is, and how comfortable it is to use. I can happily pump on one side while feeding on the other. It doesn't feel top heavy when it's placed on a table so I'm not worried about it falling over and spilling the milk. It does tend to leak though, so I'm careful to keep it upright. I like how easy it is to strip it down for cleaning, and there aren't any pockets or crevices for water or milk to get trapped in.

Q5. I will continue to use this pump, it's now my favourite out of my Medela Swing, Medela Harmony, and my manual Tommee Tippee. I have found it to be the most comfortable to use, the most convenient, and the easiest to strip down for cleaning. It does leak, but I do most of my pumping at home, so once I've finished the milk goes into the fridge, and I don't have to transport it any further.