breast pump - electric or manual?

[2ndDestiny]

I know this is not essential kit for the first few weeks but SIL is thinking of getting me one as a gift and I have a feeling that, unless I specify otherwise, I'll get something much fancier and more high tech than I need! I'm not planning to express loads, as I'll be working at home throughout the first year - just occasionally for DH to feed or if I need to go out for an hour or two. And to freeze in case of illness/emergencies. I instinctively prefer the idea of a manual pump because I feel mildly freaked out by the idea of a piece of electrical equipment attached to my boob (!!) but having never used either, perhaps I am totally misguided! Would like to hear others' preferences and reasons...

I've used both (electric one at hospital and a manual one at home). I found the electric one much faster and more efficient but the manual one I've got (£10 in the Asda baby event - the Tommee Tippee closer to nature one is what I have) is perfectly adequate. It hurts my thumb if I use it for too long, but I have reasonably fast let-down so I don't need to pump and pump.

I think some people find expressing easier than others. If you find it quite easy (like I do) then a cheap manual pump is absolutely fine. Some people tho find it hard to express more than a few ml at a time, so an electric one would be easier for them I think.

My local hospital were happy for me to borrow an electric pump from them for no charge. BF rates in my area are very low compared with the national average so they're willing to do anything to encourage it! You might be able to borrow one either from the hospital or your local BF support agency or hire one from La Leche League (an electric one) so may not be worth buying?

I thought electric pumps would be like cow milking machines - hooked on and sucking out milk etc. But they're not like that. The sensation of using an electric pump is no different from that of using a manual IME.

Thanks emsyj... sounds like I might be better off waiting to get this until I can try them out, maybe I should suggest it's not the best pressie at this stage...

I know a lot of people say that you should get an electric one if you are going to expressing reasonably frequently but I was the same as you afraid of an electric pump!

I got an avent manual one found it here on mothercare. I expressed regularly when I went back to work and it was totally fine, didn't find I had an aching hand or anything. I did by the tommee tippee one second hand on Ebay and I resold it a week later as it pulled my nipples too far inside it and I ended up with bruises :(

This time I am a childminder so won't be leaving this one as frequently as DS (5 days a week from 6 months old) and therefore not using the pump as much so I think I will stick with the one I have. The only thing I will say is that it had a little valve in it that I had to replace a couple of times (but you do get spares) not sure if I was pumping too hard or if it was just the frequency of use.

Definately electric, they are soooooo much quicker. I got a good medela pump which cost 60-80 pounds.

Yes, definitely an electric one and I can also recommend the Medela ones. I had a Mini-Electric with DD1, but now I've got a Swing.....much quieter and more efficient.

Thanks all - just looked the mini-electric ones and they don't look nearly as scary as I thought!

Only person I know who used one was ages ago, she had manual at home and used the electric one at the hospital we worked at, she much preferred the electric one. Have heard that the newer electric ones are better, think called phase 2 pump, but no def info on that. In one think I have read on breastfeeding, it suggests not to pump for first few weeks, but then I have seen on telly somone pumping straight away after feeding twins.