manual or electric breast pump? Is it worth forking out the extra ££?

[emeraldgirl1]

I have bought a manual breast pump but a friend (who breast fed v successfully BUT who is also loaded...) has just told me that an electric one will be much more use. She had a super-swanky Medela (?) one that costs over £200. I've seen a more affordable Avent one for £70ish but is it worth returning the manual one I've bought and paying the extra for an electric one?

Obviously I don't yet know if I'll be successful at breast feeding but I want to give it the best shot possible. I certainly wouldn't want to waste money on a manual pump if it would just be a false economy and better to use an electric one.

So two questions really: are electric pumps worth it and if so, which one? Do I need to spend hundreds or is an Avent one at about £70 just as good?

Thank you v much :)

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Hello!

We've noticed this thread is quite old and some of the recommendations may be a little out of date. We've tested a whole host of products to find the best electric breast pump on the market right now.

Hope this helps!
MNHQ

I breastfed DD1 for two years, my advice is to not pump in the first coupl e of weeks while you get your milk established. I started pumping in about week 3, just once or twice a day, to get some milk in the freezer so hubby could do a late feed whilst I slept. Medela is the only one that worked for me. I used a Mini electric. My friend hired a Medela Symphony and said it was amazing, twice as much milk in half the time. I'm pregnant again and will def hire one this time, I only pumped for a three or four months so it's better to hire if you can.

My husband picked up an avent starter kit with a microwave steriliser, cheap hand pump and various bottles. It is great! If I was pumping with any regularity I'd have to buy a decent one, but for now it is ok and hadn't cost too much. Id recommend getting some bottles and cartons of formula - nearly everyone in our nct group had to do top ups unfortunately, and it's a stressful enough time without having to go shopping!

I used the Avent electric one and never had any problems. It can be used manually as well if you get fed up of the noise. I found it useful to allow dh to give nighttime feeds on occasion. Also, if you are going anywhere that you don't want to bf it allows you to give a bottle instead (although as I grew in confidence with bfing I just used to do it anywhere!) From a purely selfish point of view, when feeds got a bit further apart, it also meant I could have a glass of wine if I had expressed in advance. In other words, I think a pump is well worth it and have already dug out mine again ready for dc2 due v soon.

I had the avent isis pump which is electric but converted to manual too. Very easy to use. Will probably get another one this time. I found it useful to have in the early days when breasts were so full DS couldn't latch. Also, good to have the option of a bottle.