Breast Pumps - Which one?

[lgmum2b]

HI Ladies,
I'm planning to express for the last evening feed and let hubby do this one so I can get a few hours of sleep ahead of getting up for the night feeds.
To be honest I'm a bit nervous about breast feeding incase I really don't like it or it hurts like hell. But unless I encounter any problems I'm aiming to breast feed for the first 6 motnhs.

I've narrowed my choice down to two:

1. The Avent iQ which is electric but has a manual function that you can use to set your own rythm and then it will automatically replicate which I think could be really useful a syou are in control.

www.littleamigos.co.uk/p-99-philips-avent-isis-iq-uno-electrical-breast-pump.aspx

1. The other one I've been recommended is the Medula Swing.

www.boots.com/en/Medela-Swing-breast-pump_36159/?CAWELAID=334493996&cm_mmc=Shopping%20Engines-_-Google%20Base-_---_-Medela%20Swing%20breast%20pump

Does anyone have experiences with both? If so which did you prefer and why?

What's everyone else going for?

Thanks
Lou

It's my first, i want to breastfeed too and i'm a bit terrified! I've bought the Tommee Tippee electric one - don't really know why. I hope it's ok. I'm not planning to express for the first few weeks but i hope it does the trick when i do.

I use the avent iq (double pump version) and I like it - the manual function thing is v good and easy to re-set if you need to during a pumping session. I used a Medela pump once in hospital - they lent it to me while I was in hospital and needed to pump off some milk - and I hated it, found it really uncomfortable even though you could adjust speed and suction. Not sure it was the same model as the one you're considering and I've heard other people rave about Medelas but I would not recommend it.

You could ask about hiring one from your hospital to begin with? Gives you a chance to try it out before spending £££s?

and also ebay have lots for sale, cheap prices too by the looks of it, used and unused ones listed there at the mo, eg, [[http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Avent-breastpump-ISIS-IQ-UNO-manual-eletronic-/140475208605?pt=UK_Baby_Baby_Feeding_Breast_Pads_Pumps_LE&hash=item20b4f9939d this Avent one for 99p at the moment (ends soon!)

Some of the ebay ones are brand new too.

oops - link

I've no experience with the Medula, but I had the Avent iQ & loved it. DD was prem & in SCBU for the first 3 weeks, so it got alot of use!

I got a few tips for expressing whilst she was in hospital.

• you have more milk in the morning, so perhaps you could get your evening feed milk then?
• it's easier to get the milk out if you're thinking happy thoughts about your LO - the nurses told me to look at a photo of DD while I was expressing, they also gave me her blanket so I could sniff it while expressing!

I told a friend of mine this & she reckons she got twice as much milk out just by thinking about her DS!

I used (and will use again) an avent manual pump - it worked just fine. Just remember to eat well, drink lots and REST so your body can make the milk in the first place. Good luck!

I have a Medela Swing which works really well for me. I've never tried any other. You will find it takes a few goes to get more than a few ml at first, my first half dozen attempts only produced about 10ml after 30 mins but after a few days it was more and now at 10 weeks I can pump about 150ml from one side in about 5 mins if I pump in the morning.

I bought a Medela Swing last week. Am an expressing first timer and would heartily recommend this. Easy to use and clean. I've had it less than a week and am only pumping twice a day, but managed to express 5oz this morning, in about 10 mins.

lgmum2b, there will not be many people who have used both as most people buy one and stick with it.
I have used the Avent manual, avent IQ Uno and the duo and found them all great.

I think avent pumps are supposed to be quieter than Medela ones so if you have to express where you will be heard, that might be worth considering? I had to express in work so noise was a factor.

Also, have you considered the Ameda Lactaline. It is not much more money than the two you have chosen, gets great reviews on here and elsewhere and because it is a double pump should halve your pumping time.

Oh and the first time I ever used the Avent manual pump, I got 10oz in 20 minutes. I was well impressed!

Ditto the Avent IQ - I got the duo, it is currently being used by a friend, and then will come back to me for number two due in April. Lovely and simple to use!

I've used both, and both were fine. Personally, I preferred the Medula, but it suddenly and inexplicably broke after a few months.

If I were to express again, though, I think I'd pay the bit extra for a double-breasted handsfree one. It's all so tiring that it'd be a nice labour-saving device and I could MN whilst expressing.