Pumping and breast pumps get asked about reasonably frequently on here, so I thought I would start a thread where people could review various pumps, share knowledge and ask questions about pumping.
First things first (and I cannot sat this enough)- A BREAST PUMP IS NOT NECESSARY FOR SUCCESSFUL BREASTFEEDING.
Now that is out of the way, a bit about me. I was a certified breastfeeding supporter (LLL and NCT trained) but have let my 'registration' slip, I am now a peer supporter. I have successfully fed both of my children, DC1 until he was 2.5 and currently feeding DC2 at 11 months with no plans to stop yet.
I first started pumping with DC1 to donate to the North West Milk Bank. DC1 was a bottle refuser, so never drank my expressed milk. I had high lipase, which may have impacted this. I pumped daily for around 7 months and donated more than 15 litres (unsure of the exact amount). I'm currently expressing with DC2, around 250 - 500ml and have been doing this since 6 weeks. This milk goes directly to the recipient, whose mother has insufficient supply.
The reviews: These are my honest opinions, and I have not been paid for these. It must be remembered that some people respond better to pumps than others and the amount of milk you can pump is not indicative of your supply.
ARDO CALYPSO:
This is a hospital grade pump available as a single or double. It uses a mains plug but has the option to run off 6 AA batteries, though I have never tried this.
Positives:
- Closed system, no milk can get in to the tubing and back to the motor, this means it is safe to purchase second hand and use for multiple children (I was lent my first one from the milk bank).
- Easy to clean. All part which come in to contact with the milk are immersible in water and safe to sterilise by all methods. They come apart easily and are easy to clean.
- the pump is effective, with variable suction strength and frequency. This is good as it means it more closely mimics the suction of an infant - hard and fast in the beginning and lessening off once let down has happened.
- The bottles are a good size - 150ml (5oz), this is neither so big as to be off putting nor too small to be useful. I only occasionally have to change the bottle during a pump session (usually if DC has missed a feed).
- the bottles come with screw top lids which can also hold a teat and be used for feeding from. Teats are sold separately.
- the bottles are a good shape - no fat deposits get stuck in corners or edges which also makes them easier to clean.
- 2 flange sizes to accommodate different breast/ nipple sizes
- pump tubing is a good length, long enough so the pump housing can be on the table next to you but not so long as to lose suction.
- Quiet. The pump when working is much quieter than others I have tested (such as the medela symphony). I can use it without waking husband or baby sleeping next to me.
- Price. One of the cheapest hospital grade doubles.
- Good motor life. The ardo motor has a long life, so can do multiple children,making it ideal to buy second hand or for exclusive pumping.
Negatives:
- Heavy. The pump housing is quite heavy, I wouldn't want to carry it around with me. I only use it in the house so this isn't an issue for me, but maybe for someone wanting to pump in different locations.
- Indiscreet. You can't really disguise what you are doing, the tubes and bottles stick out quite far and it is hard to wear anything over them, especially if you don't have a pumping bra. The flanges are clear so your nipples are really visible through them.
Overall:
A fantastic pump for someone wanting to exclusively pump or give a large amount of expressed milk. Good for increasing supply. Probably overkill for someone who only wants the occasional expressed feed but available fairly cheaply second hand so I'd say go for it anyway!
NATURE BOND:
This is a silicone let down pump. It is designed to be used whilst baby feeds directly from the other breast, or when using a single breast pump on the other side. It is similar to the HAAKA pump. Other similar (and cheaper) silicone let down pumps are available off ebay, these are generally chinese knock-offs and the silicone cannot be guaranteed to be food standard quality. For the sake of £10 (the nature bond is around £14, haaka around £19) I wouldn't risk it.
Differences from the haaka:
- no suction cup on the bottom. The haaka has a suction cup on the bottom of the pump which can stick to a side a table when you've finished pumping to reduce the risk of spillage. I haven't found this to be an issue with the nature bond though.
Positives:
- Easy to use. Takes seconds to set up and use. Hands free once attached and very little intervention needed during use (occasional squeeze to expel air). There's no electrics or had pump action required works though a suction/ let down/ gravity combo).
- Easy to clean. Whole thing can be immersed in water and sterilised. It is pretty much a single unit (I don't us the stpper or 'lid', they don't prevent spills and only prevent dust or things dropping in. As I pour my milk straight in to long term storage I don't need either) so hot soapy water and a bottle brush are all that is required. It's a good shape so no awkward nooks and cranies to clean.
- Light. Really easy to throw in a bag and off you go, you hardly know it is there. Makes it useful for a night out if you just want to express a little for comfort.
- Reasonably discrete. I can get a loose t shirt or jumper over it without much trouble, though it gives me a funny shape! Means I can use it in front of people where I don't mind them knowing what I'm doing but would prefer them not to see my nipples!
- silent. Due to no mechanical pumping action.
Negatives:
- Not for exclusive feeding. Letdown pumps are fairly new to the market so little research has been done on them. There are some concerns that the balance of hind and fore milk wouldn't be as good as an 'active' pump meaning the nutritional make up of the milk collected isn't as good. However this is unlikely to be an issue for the occasional feed but would be more of an issue should you plan to exclusively feed milk collected via let down pump (for example if you went away and left child with another care giver for a long weekend etc).
- Only collects 100ml at a time. Sometimes the weight of the milk causes the pump to fall off. I do have to empty it in to another receptical during a feed to prevent this and to ensure I get maximum milk from it.
Overall - A great buy for collecting milk which would otherwise end up in a breastpad. Great for collecting milk for the occasional bottle feed and for easing discomfort if baby has missed a feed for whatever reason. Some people don't get any milk out of them though.
ELVIE:
The elvie pump is relatively new to the market (around 12 months). It is a truely revolutionary design, a completely hands free and discrete portable breast pump. I borrowed mine from a friend. I've only hand it a couple of days so I'll give a more thorough review once I've used it a bit more but first thoughts:
Positives:
- looks great. Small, breast shaped, discrete.
- truly portable. Very quiet, pops in your bra and with a bit of loose clothing is unnoticeable. You could wear it out and about no problem.
Negatives:
- total bastard to clean. Honestly, takes an age, I have to use a toothbrush, a pin and 2 different sized bottle brushes to get it close to clean and even then I'm not sure. I wouldn't want to feed the milk from it to a very young baby or one with additional health needs. You can't sterilise the whole thing as the motor and electronics are integrated (to make it so portable). I just never feel it's clean (and I am by no means a clean freak).
- the charge port is temperamental.
I'll give a more thorough review in a few days/ weeks once I've used it a bit more.
I hope people find this helpful. Please ask questions and add your own reviews!