Breast pumps

[Colyflower]

I’m pregnant and due in 2-3 weeks time and although I’m intending on breastfeeding I also know this may not go to plan but I also would like to express as much as I can too.

Can anyone recommend some breast pumps, willing to pay money if it’s a game changer. I have bought a manual suction pump from Naturebond so I have at least something to hand if he comes early.

Thanks 😊

I have a Philips avent electric pump which I find good, it is plug in and also runs on batteries. I have the manual one too, which I like as you’re not tied to a specific spot near a plug socket. It’s much easier to do other things whilst using the manual and I’d say maybe the manual is slightly faster. I use the electric one at work and the manual one at home, usually while making and eating breakfast and feeding the baby!

Hi,

We recently reviewed the top 5 breast pumps of 2019 - hope you find it useful!

The Bella baby pump on amazon is super cheap and really good. Check out its reviews.

Hiring a sealed unit hospital grade one is also an option (I did this myself) very easy, no dramas. Good luck with what you decide.

Mandela is really good, it’s pricey but I’m glad I bought it

I would definitely recommend getting one of the cheap silicone haaka pumps for collecting letdown milk - simply put it on the breast you're not feeding from and it will collect the milk that would otherwise be lost. I could easily collect a lot that way.

I have an electric medela and a manual one. I found I could get more milk using the manual one but it's harder work! To be honest I found expressing really really hard in the early weeks, it was difficult to find time to do it. If you do buy a pump I recommend reading the instructions before the baby comes! Figuring it all out when you're sleep deprived is really really hard!

I had a medela Freestyle and one of their manual ones too - I could always get more with the manual.

Thank you everyone, seems that manual might be worth giving a go first then and I’ll see how I go before splashing out on electric.

Spectra S1 is pretty much the gold standard for serious pumps. It's what the majority of those who exclusively pump choose to use. It is a bit more expensive though, so if you're only going to pump infrequently, the Bellababy double is surprisingly good for the price.

The manual is so tiring on the hand if you end up having to do it a lot. I would go electric all the way. I has the tomee tipee one and got loads out of it! Like a full bottle in 10 mins!

I found the haaka/bumblebee invaluable at the beginning. Just popped it on the other boob at every feed. Not only did I build up a stash, but it was great for both encouraging my supply and stopping me soaking DD from the other boob while she fed.

Now, it's all about the Elvie. I can go out with friends, pop it on in the loo and then come back to the table while I pump. No more sitting in a toilet cubicle while I milk myself. With a scarf/pashmina noone knows I'm pumping. I can also pump while looking after and playing with her during the day, which is impossible with other models. Couldn't recommend it enough.