Best manual breast pump?

[deethra]

Recommendations please.

I was going to get a medela harmony, but reviews seem to suggest it as an occasional breast pump, not one for regular use.

I was planning on getting a haakaa for let down while bf, but I feel like I may also need an additional manual pump for expressing.

I feel a little out of my depth, there's so many options. I just keep going around in circles.

Help!? ❤

Have you had the baby yet @deethra? If not, I'd just leave it until those baby is about a month old, then you'll have a better idea of what you need.

@deethra what are you intending to use the pump for? If it’s just to build up a freezer stash - in my experience - the hakaa is fab as it catches the let down and milk flow from the opposite side as you feed baby, practically effortless pumping!

If you’re looking for a pump to solely express and feed baby via bottle then an electric one is probably better. I haven’t used a medela brand (although have heard very good things about them). I found the lansinoh and Ardo Calypso ones a good fit for me. I do think it’s a personal preference as to which one you find works best.

@DominicRaabsTravelAgent I haven't had baby yet. I was just hoping to plan ahead.
Thank you!

Just to build up a freezer stash @Mumofboys17

My first DC struggled with breastfeeding, so we quickly had to look at other options with him.

I'm really hopeful (and would love) to breastfeed this baby for as long as we can/he wants. But in the back of my mind I have that nagging, what if voice. Plus my son (now 10) has mentioned on several occasions that he would like to feed his brother sometimes too. I know its best to wait 6 weeks to establish breastfeeding before introducing the occasional expressed bottle.

So my hope is that I can breastfeed this little one for as long as we can, but also introduce the occasional expressed bottle when needed.

Thank you so much for your advice.
I think I'll wait on the manual/electric pump front in that case, and see how I get on with a haakaa once baby is here.

I honestly don't remember there being this much choice with breast pumps when I had my 10 year old. Its like a minefield.

@DominicRaabsTravelAgent

Have you had the baby yet *@deethra*? If not, I'd just leave it until those baby is about a month old, then you'll have a better idea of what you need.

I was given the opposite advice. Get a manual pump now (I have that medela one) and if you see you are doing it regularly than splash on a good electric one.

It's good to have a small manual pump for just in case: in case you need it at the hospital (a friend pumped for her baby in the incubator), if you BF sometimes you pump if you need to be away from the baby, and even if you pump all the time who knows if maybe your electric pump may fail

I find the medela easy enough, never tried anything else tbh

Thank you @grey12
I definitely want to get some form of pump before baby is here.
I'm officially in that nesting, I need to feel like I have everything ready stage. 😆

It's just knowing what to get out of the huge selection available.

Just to add that there is nothing wrong with getting a pump now but if it's in case the baby is in scbu and you need to pump, the hospital will be letting you use a hospital grade pump anyway.

Are you going along to your local Bfijg Support Groups yet? You can ask there what the Mums are using and which ones they like. They might even know of a local offer.