Printable View
Hello Ladies,
I have been looking up pumps, as I plan to BF and I would like to pump as well. I am completley confused as what to get. I get that a dual electric is the BEST way to go, but they are expensive. (yet cheaper to buy then continue to rent). What ar eyour thoguhts on All the different types of pumps. Manual? Electric? single? dual? Preferred brands? Any tips or advice / reviews you have would be great.
Thanks
How often are you thinking you'll need to pump? If you're going back to work, you'll probably want to bite the bullet and get double electric. I only pumped when I really needed to (which wasn't often since my son refused bottles) and a manual was perfect for me. I actually got quite a bit of milk from a manual pump since I could control it so easily for what worked best for my body. Even if I needed to pump a couple of times a week regularly I could have gotten by with my manual easily.
Well - work is up in the air... I took this job, because I knew that maturnity leave There wouldn't be enough in finances from my old job, and this would give me the flexiblilty to go back to work when I needed to. My boss is super supportive. I am taking a few weeks to 2 months off, but then I will be coming back Part time (I'm just a little more than part time right now). plus I can bring baby to work with me. We want to pump so I can leave the house. I don't think I will always be comfortable BF'ing in public - I guess it depends on where we go and Dh wants to help with feeding. Plus I am in a wedding party 6 weeks after baby is due so I know I will have to pump then. DH and mom are taking baby responsibilites that day while I do my grooms maid duties....And we are NOT advocates of formula. I want to avoid that at all lengths. Just a personal choice for Dh and I.
If you only want to pump occasionally to leave the house, you don't need a dual electric. If working away from baby for any length of time that would require pumping every day is in the cards at all you absolutely need a dual electric to keep your sanity. Its well worth the investment.
If you're not going to be working full time and your boss is pretty flexible, you should just go with a manual one. I use the Medela Harmony and have since I gave birth (I had to return to work after just two weeks) and it works just fine. The only down side is you don't get as much milk as you would from an electric, but if you don't need it then it's kind of a waste to spend the money. Good luck with your decision!
I agree with PP. No need for an electric one unless you're going to be away on a regular basis.
I'm going to be the one dissenter here (although my experience is admittedly atypical) and say that you should be prepared to buy an electric...like have it in your mind as a possible expenditure after baby's birth. I had/have supply issues which became apparent within a few days of my LO's birth, and buying a double electric was a necessity for me. I wish I hadn't waited 3 weeks to get the pump, because trying to increase supply with a manual is really difficult. We hadn't planned on that expense and it was a little tough.
Not to scare you because true supply issues are REALLY rare, but just wanted to let you know that manuals suck for trying to increase supply. I LOVE my medela pump in style, by the way.
That being said, having a manual ready and waiting for your LO should be quite sufficient for you :)
I will be going back to work part time - 3 full days a week - and I LOVE my Medela Freestyle. It's pricey and if you're not going to be working you may not need that much but if you are going back to work it's really great. I had an Ameda with my first son and it was fine no major complaints but the Freestyle is so much smaller and easier. I pump every morning for a stash and I really can't say enough good things about it. I recently donated my Ameda to a LLL to give out on loan since I definitely won't use it again.
I have to agree. I LOVE my dual electric pump in style. Totally worth the price. It will help keep your supply up and was also great in the beginning when I was pumping after every feed to build up a frozen stash of milk.Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetsriracha
Thanks for the input ladies. After talking it through with DH, I believe we have decided on the dual. He figures, I will just want to get it done faster soI can spend time doing other things, even if When I do have to pump is for only short times. (Which makes sense). Then we already have one for the next baby if needed :)