Breast Pump - Roscoe, IL

Updated on September 23, 2008
J.E. asks from Roscoe, IL
54 answers

I'm pregnant, due in 2 months and want to get a breast pump. I'll be staying at home with my baby, so don't feel that I need a heavy duty breast pump. I see so many recommendations for the Modela pump, but it's so pricey, that I feel I can deal with something cheaper. I'm a little worried about getting a used one...I've heard you're not supposed to share them.

So, my question is...is it worth it to buy a great pump, even if the need to pump won't happen too often OR is a cheaper ($80-$100) pump enough for what I'll need it for?

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N.S.

answers from Chicago on

I did not buy an expensive pump at all, I think it was about $40 or so and it worked fine and lasted me through both kids. I wouldn't go and spend $100 on one when a cheaper one works just as well.

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J.D.

answers from Chicago on

I heard you aren't supposed to share them either... There's some minute chance some breatmilk might make it all the way through the tubes and get into the motor, and I guess if someone else uses it... I've no idea what's supposed to happen. I got a used one from Craig's List. It is a Medela brand electric personal double breast pump and it worked great for me. I bought a new breastsheild kit for $25, and paid $55 for the pump itself. If you are interested, I'd be happy to pass mine on... ____@____.com luck!

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S.W.

answers from Chicago on

For occasional pumping, the Medela Harmony is great. It's a hand held manual pump. You can find it at Target for around $40. I was able to pump the same amount from this pump as my double electric pump; it just takes longer since you are doing it by hand. This is a great pump and any replacement parts are easy to find at Target or BRU. It washes up easily, as well. Oh, and while you do get a couple 6oz bottles to use to fill, it will take any standard size (cheapie Gerber or Evenflo, etc...) bottle if you end up pumping more than 6oz in a sitting.

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L.T.

answers from Chicago on

I am in the same exact boat, so without the experience don't know how much my advice is worth, but I do know for a fact (after attending a Breastfeeding Class at Lake Forest Hospital just last night) you do NOT want to buy a used one or borrow it unless you are renting a Medical Grade one from a hospital. It is not possible to sterilize the tubing in personal pumps that you buy from the store like Medela,etc. With the medical grade pumps you have your own set of tubing that only you use. Remember breast milk is a bodily fluid. The lactation consultant compared it to sharing toothbrushes with someone. So rent from a hopsital or buy new. Good luck!

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M.G.

answers from Chicago on

Medela's are best, so if you can't afford a new one, check ebay. After I stopped breastfeeding, I sold mine with a whole bunch of accessories for just over $100. All you have to do is sterilize the bottles and cones. Good luck!

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K.E.

answers from Chicago on

Hello J.! Congrads on your new baby to be!!

Don't worry about purchasing a pump right now. The hospital will give you one. They will also teach the "how to' in using it properly too.

Good luck!
~Kim (Winfield)

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

I have a Lansinoh electric double pump that I got at Target.com I had registered with the online baby registry and they sent me a coupon for a gift card. Then I used the gift card towards the pump. The pump was $149 and some reviewers complained that the dials were too small but I have not had a problem with it. I use this at work and the great thing about it is that I can either plug it into an outlet or, if out and about, have it operated by AA batteries. You can also vary the suction and speed. I thought about a Medela bt the price and the size changed my mind. This one is compact and I could fit it into the diaper bag if needed.

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A.S.

answers from Chicago on

I agree it would probably be best to get your own. You might want to check cause some hospitals will give you a free pumping kit to use with their pumps in the hospital and in the kit is a decent Medela hand pump. I used it in the beginning with my first cause I didn't have a pump yet and my son wouldn't latch on. BUT it got VERY tiring when I had to pump for every feeding using the hand pump.

I used to work full time with my older son and pumped for 14 months and now with this one I am staying at home. I have my PIS from my last son but often it seems too much for the pumping I do ...maybe a few times a week. I think the Medela single electric would be ideal.
http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/compare/1,1...

If you'd rather do a manual pump, the Medela harmony is a good one, I have also heard the Avent pump is an excellent manual pump.

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A.J.

answers from Chicago on

Hi there. You'll probably get a lot of varied responses to this, but here's my input! I was in the same position as you almost 3 years ago and I waited until after baby to get a pump. I rented a Medela pump, hospital grade and for me it worked great because I didn't produce a ton of milk and it was hard for me to pump. It had a lot more suction than a lot of other less expensive pumps but it still took two sessions to get enough milk for one feeding. I could never get even an ounce with the manual pumps (I tried a couple..) Other moms I know were able to stick a manual pump in their purse and pump while out shopping and get a ton of milk though. Sooo...it's sometimes hard to tell what will work for you until the baby comes. Medela would never recommend buying one of their used pumps but they do have a system that prevents any milk from backing up into the machine. I'm due again in Sept. and if I found a used higher end Medela I would buy that and use my own accessories (tubing, valves, etc.) I believe renting a pump for 6 months was the same price as buying a new comparable one. You might want to try that for a month or 2 to see how it goes? The lactation specialists who are almost sure to visit are also a great resourse. Good luck!

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L.L.

answers from Chicago on

Hi J.,
Congratulations - and good for you for making the committment to be a sah mom. Enjoy every minute! I also researched pumps and didn't want to invest in the Modela since I was home with my son and didn't need to have a super quiet pump like someone would in a work environment. My sister suggested the Ameda Purely Yours pump - which is significantly less expensive. While my little guy was very young, I'd pump once or twice a day, just to have some milk in the freezer (in case needed). With this pump you can do one or both sides at once, it's small enough to pack easily when traveling, and the way the parts are, it's one of the easier brands to clean. I'd buy it again. Only thing I've noticed is a little loss of suction after a year, but I probably need to buy the replacement pieces.

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J.N.

answers from Chicago on

Hi J.! I would HIGHLY recommend renting a professional grade electric pump from your local hospital. If they don't rent them I am sure they can lead you to someone who does in your area. They are not that expensive to rent and well worth the money. The cheaper pumps do not work as well at all and could be the difference in being able to nurse or not, even though you are staying at home. I am a mom of 2 beautiful boys, 4 yrs old and 6 months. I had mastitis(a very painful breast infection) with both of them and had I not had an electric pump to get me through not being able to put them on the breast at that time I would not have been able to continue nursing. It also helps your milk to come in sooner and make engorgement a whole lot more tolerable. Also, it allows you to pump a lot quicker which is worth it right there because pumping gets really old after awhile! Hope this helps and God bless your little one!

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H.J.

answers from Chicago on

I found the Avent Isis IQ Uno to be really great. It was pretty quick, and got out a good volume, while being comfortable and easy to use. Plus the pump screws right on to the Avent bottles, which we used. It was only $150, and I used it almost every day so my husband or someone else could give Brian a bottle while I had a little more freedom. It can be used as either manual or electric, and you set your own pumping rhythm to correspond to the way your baby sucks. That's different from the other more powerful pumps, which have preset speeds. The biggest bonus to setting your own speed is that you tend to get more milk that way because your body is being prompted to produce at about the same speed that your baby takes it. It's also more comfortable.

Good luck! A pump is a great way to have a longer leash while you're nursing.

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H.P.

answers from Peoria on

Hi J.,
Congratulations on your baby! I used my sister-in-law's Medela and loved it. I went back and forth with the used pump thing, but the lactation support clinic thru our hospital said it was fine if I knew the person, knew she didn't "have anything," etc. I really wanted to write, though, to tell you about the International Breast Milk Project (breastmilkproject.org). It's a program where you can help other infants (think AIDS babies) by sharing your extra milk. They send you a free, high quality breast pump if you do the program, all the costs are covered (shipping, medical testing, etc.), and you can do everything from home. I started the application when my daughter was about 6 months old, but it takes a while for them to do the medical testing (they send a nurse to your house and everything, and I think it was just a simple cheek swab), so I think I started when she was about 8 months old. I nursed my daughter until she was 15 months old, but stopped the program a little earlier than that. I felt great about nursing my baby and about helping other kids, too. This was a great way for me to feel like I was doing something bigger than "just" staying home, too, which was an adjustment for me at first. Just thought I'd share another option and spread the word about a great program. Good luck! H.

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S.O.

answers from Champaign on

I recommend the Avent hand pump. It is $40 and works very well (a friend tried the expensive hospital ones and this was the only one that worked for her). It's great to have around to pump here and there or even release engorgement, but not too expensive.

I used it more consistently when I prepared for an international trip (and to keep my milk up on the trip), but not daily.

If you plan to nurse and not use a pump much, it's a nicer amount of money to spend. Good luck!!

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C.

answers from Chicago on

I was a stay at home mom, and then ended up working part time for a little while when he would have one bottle of expressed milk a day. I used the Avent Isis manual pump and loved it. Only $50 with all the accessories and worked GREAT and easy...easy to clean with not TOO many parts. Maybe 5 minutes longer than a double electric pump, but there were surely times I'd pump 9 oz. in 10 minutes. Can't complain at all about that. MUCH more comfortable than the hospital pump I first rented for a month when my first son was early and I had to pump a lot. The Medela Harmony I guess is supposed to be real comparable to the Avent Isis. Who knows if you'll even need it...I'd say the Avent Isis. :)

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C.F.

answers from Chicago on

Try craigslist - you will be able to get a great pump at half the cost of a new one

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J.K.

answers from Chicago on

Hi!

I see you have a ton of responses here, but I don't think anyone pointed this out:

When you are at the hospital (I'm sure this is everywhere, it was true for both Northwestern/Prentice downtown and Edward in Naperville) the lactation consultant will come to your room w/ the hospital grade Medela pump. She will have a whole set of tubing and breast shields for you to use. Those are yours to take from the hospital when you go home. So, by all means, buy a used pump and use the new tubing and stuff which you will be given for free by the hospital. I bought a different brand pump, Ameda I think, from a La Leche League representative about 7 years ago. In this model, the breast milk doesn't enter the tubing or the pump itself, it is confined to the shield/valve/bottle pieces, all of which are small enough to completely submerse in boiling water so I don't see why they couldn't be sterilized at home with no trouble.

Re: the hospital grade pump: I would highly recommend it. I know that there are many people who like the small ones, but if you need more power, they can't provide it. Also, later on, if you get a clogged duct or mastitis, a good pump can make all the difference. The extra suction can make the time spent pumping a lot shorter too.

There is a store in Naperville on Washington street near Edwarde Hospital which sells all sorts of nursing supplies. I forget the name but if you google breastfeeding and Naperville I'm sure you'll find it. The hospital could probably tell you too.

Good luck!

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L.B.

answers from Chicago on

for very occasional use, a good manual pump or small electric/battery-powered will probably serve you just fine. though i'd say going with a trusted brand like medela or avent is probably the smartest thing to do -- just make sure whatever you're considering you check the reviews on to make sure it's generally a well-liked pump and to get an idea of what kind of use it can handle.

that said, i definitely much preferred using my medela traveler or medela 98 to the little single electric pump i had, even if use was only occasional after my second child when i was no longer working. there is something to be said for quick over cheap. so it really depends how often you're going to use it and how much time you feel you'll have to pump. one great thing to do is pump on one side while you're breastfeeding on the other -- really helps the output and doesn't take up any extra time (save for a little extra juggling and setup).

best of luck!

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B.

answers from Chicago on

Hey J.-

I nursed all 4 of my kids to about 14 monthes and they rarely (the last 3 not at all) took a bottle. I used the manual Advent Isis (about $50 now I think) and thought it was great. I also had been given then medela pump in style as a shower gift and never really liked it and gave it to a friend who loved it. I found the most important thing with pumping for me was to make sure my milk "let down" before I started. I stimulated my nipples and looked a pictures of my daughter and then felt the let down and would pump 8oz in under 15 min.
Hope this helps and you find the right pump for you!
Beth

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L.C.

answers from Janesville-Beloit on

Some hospitals will rent them.

Technically, no, you aren't supposed to share them. However, I did borrow one from a friend. I got all new tubing, etc and just used her 'motor'. Besides the fact that I trusted her, it save me a ton as i didn't use mine very often either.

And Congrats!

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B.D.

answers from Chicago on

For just occasional use the Avent Isis was great! It has only a few parts, it is easy to clean and the let down was quick and easy. My hand never hurt either. I think it is about $50.

I loved it.

Hope this helps. Good Luck and Congratulations!

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N.J.

answers from Chicago on

Technically, yes, you're not supposed to share them - BUT I lent mine out to people I know and trust without a problem. I registered for mine and was lucky enough to get the Medela Pump & Style. Yes, pricey, but EXTREMELY user friendly and saved me A TON of time pumping. I had tried a couple of the hand-held ones - even with the "spring" action - and it took me 20-30 minutes to pump out what I would in 10 minutes with the Medela. I have 2 kids and nursed both for a year - never regretted having my Medela. I'm an OB nurse and I highly recommend it to my patients too! Why not register for it? Besides, I've seen them listed for 1/2 of their value on ebay so you could sell it after you use it. Congratulations on your new arrival!

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D.H.

answers from Springfield on

I have used the less expense ($100) Platex pump and the wonderful, always amazing, expensive Medela pumps. There are worlds of difference between the two. If you plan to pump with ANY regularity, I highly recommend the Medela pump. No, they are not supposed to be shared, but the trick is getting the used pump that works, throwing out all the previous owners shields, tubes and bottles, and replacing them with brand new ones. I was lucky enough to have my hospital supply a brand new set with everything I needed to me twice and charge the insurance as part of the delivery bill!! I am done with both my Medala and Playtex pumps & would be willing to sell to anyone interested. Both run great and neither ended up being used as long as I planned.
Good luck!

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A.C.

answers from Chicago on

Hi J.,
First, let me say congratulations on deciding to breast feed.

Other posters have suggested a secondhand pump. Please know this is taking a risk, as bodily fluids can penetrate the interior filter and you don't know WHAT the previous user might have had in their body. It also voids any warranty on the pump.

With three kids, I've used the hospital grade rental down to the handheld pump. I would recommend hospital grade that you own yourself, check out www.medela.com. Then you get great suction, quick pumping, and you're not paying rent. Good luck!

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V.

answers from Chicago on

I breastfed my daughter until 14 mos also. For the first six months, the Avent Isis was great!!! Very easy, hand pump, great let down, but not tiring. Also great to keep in the car for pumping emergencies. After I started working more, my time was crunched so I bought the Medela Lactina double pump. I loved that too, it kept my production way up. I think getting a used Avent pump will be way cheap and fit your needs. There shouldn't be a worry being used because all the parts can be sterilized. Both my pumps are listed on eBay right now. I highly suggest eBay or craigslist. And don't forget The Nursing Mother's companion!! That book saved me!! Good luck!

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E.M.

answers from Chicago on

Yes, you want the good one.

If you prefer that your milk is the majority of your babies diet. Breast pump = the ability to leave your baby for time away. A cheaper breast pump will mean longer time pumping to store enough milk. A good breast pump will help your supply, help you maintain a supply ( a big concern for just about anyone), and help you store enough milk so that you can leave your baby with a sitter, or dad to go out and shop for a while.

While it is nice to be with your child so much, a breast pump is a good idea cause it lets you take care of you.

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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

I rarely had to pump because I only worked a few days a week. I have both a Playtex dual electric pump and Avent Isis (manual). I found that the Avent Isis was easier for my needs and worked very well. Setting up the electric pump, and the noise it made, was cumbersome and distracting. The manual pump was easier to travel with and actually expressed milk better for me. If you don't plan to pump a lot, I'd recommend the Avent Isis.

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K.B.

answers from Chicago on

As a first time mom, we all want to do the best which is often equated with buying new and the best. If you are anything like me, you might find that you don't need a breast pump to tend to your baby's demands. My advice, find a friend who can lend you one. All you need to do is sterile the parts. That way you can determine if you really need to invest in your own. If you don't like it or find you don't use it significantly, you have saved yourself a nice chunk of change.

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S.B.

answers from Chicago on

I have not had a chance to review the other responses so I hope I'm not being repetitive. Medela's pumps are great!! You may want to consider waiting to see how nursing/pumping goes. You can rent Medela pumps from some hospitals. I believe mine was around $50/month. I did purchase the Pump in Style, but with my first I had some problems with my milk "letting down." The lactation consultant suggested I try a different pump which worked well. I am using my pump in Style with my second. I've not used any other brands, but have heard that some can be more painful to use. I think any pump takes some getting used to. Hope this helps! Try contacting the lactation consultants at the hospital you are going to deliver. They are usually EXTREMELY helpful. Good luck :)

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L.D.

answers from Chicago on

Hi J., Congrats on going to be a new mommy. Yes you can share a breast pump if you get the "in contact" replacement parts. You can buy any replacement part at babies r us. Also I think Modela is one of the best pumps you can invest in. I have used a few of the other ones and the Modela I feel is worth the investment especially if you are considering having more than one child. They are easy to use, built very well, good on you body, only draw back is the price. Good luck

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A.K.

answers from Chicago on

Hi J.. I also am a stay at home Mom. My sister-in-law gave me the Medela breast pump but I didn't pump that often, so I bought the Medela pump that is not electric and just did it when I needed it. I think it was either $19.99 or $29.99 I can't remember. But it was all I needed to get me through. You can also rent them from the hospital if you want to try the heavier duty one! Good Luck!

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L.S.

answers from Chicago on

With my first baby I wanted to nurse too and looked in to breast pumps. I waited to buy one until nursing was off the ground and to see if it worked for me and baby. My first was very tricky and glad I did not buy a pump because it actually just didn't work for both of us. My second child I still wanted to nurse, try harder to make it work and it did for about 3-4 months. I did buy an Avent manual pump I liked but it took forever. I then called the hosiptal lactation consultant and rented a very nice high grade breast pump and it worked great! I did not have to buy one and renting worked out fine because the plastic parts all came sterilized already in a blue bag. So check it out, it's worth it to rent (for me) I guess because I did not nurse for that long. Good luck!
L.~

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A.C.

answers from Chicago on

SOOOOO worth it! I am a working mom. For my first child I had bought a less expensive, but thought was good breast pump. It did the job but was uncomfortable and awkward at times -- for my next two children I had a Medella (the expensive one) that someone had loaned me -- I bought new attachments and WOW what a difference. It was so easy to pump -- it is worth every dime. I was fortunate to have it given to me, but like I said, I just bought new attachments -- it is now been passed along to two other moms. We each do the same thing -- buy our own attachments so the only thing we share is the motor.
good luck!

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J.S.

answers from Chicago on

Hi J.
I am a stay at home mom of 2 kids I bf my son and borrowed a pump from a friend cause I didn't really want to go out and buy a big expensive one. I also was not planning to pump a lot so i didn't want to buy a new one. All i did was buy the new tubes and all the other attachments. I just basically used the motor part of the pump. So with my daughter (my second baby) My friend was using hers so i went to a local second hand shop and bought a used on. So long as you are not using the parts that touch the breast you are fine. Oh and I highly recomand medela. I hope this helps some.
J.
Ps. the hand held pumps never worked for me. I hope you find something that will work for you

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J.B.

answers from Chicago on

I LOVED my Medela In Style double Electric pump. It was the best $250 i ever spent. i highly recommend it! I think if you are investing in one, that is the way to go! Totally worth it!

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D.G.

answers from Chicago on

I am a stay at home mom too, and I used The First Years breast pump. They sell it at Babies R Us....and it works great!

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S.B.

answers from Chicago on

Hi J.! congrats on your pregnancy. Well, it is said that you should not use a new one, but when I had the Medela pump in style, my LC told me it really is ok and I sold it when I was done. But, if you are going to be home, I hvae heard really good things about the avent one.

S. Bailey CLD
Aurora
www.tendermomentsdoula.com

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C.V.

answers from Chicago on

I swear by the hosp. pumps! You can rent them by the month and some insurance companies will even pay. If you will only be using if for a small amount of time, then the manual pump should be fine and not as costly. After weeks of trying to nurse, my son would just not latch on correctly so I used the hosp. pump for nine months and it was great in comparison to ANY other pump I tried and let me tell you I tried many to avoid the monthly cost of renting.

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S.W.

answers from Chicago on

I bought cheap breast pump after cheap breast pump - nothing works as well as the electronic breast pump- well worth the $ when I was all done using it I sold mine on e-bay and got almost half of what I paid. Its fine as long as you clean it. Definately worth it- and I was an at home mom. just remember its still not as natural as breast feeding- some moms pump and fill the bottle while others like myself were lucky to get a few onces in 20 min. massage your breast while pumping to help. Good Luck.

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L.R.

answers from Chicago on

Here's another vote for the Ameda Purely Yours double electric pump. A lot of hospitals sell it. SUPER EASY to clean. I got mine from my sister-in-law, but I think she paid about $125 for it.

Best wishes,
L.

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N.N.

answers from Chicago on

You get what you pay for with breast pumps. My advice is to wait and see if you will need a pump at all as a full-time SAHM. If you do, you can always go buy one. You might learn to hand express, too; I know a mom who could fill a bottle faster than a pump that way. I've had 3 pumps through my 2 boys. Here's my two cents' worth:

1) Avent Isis (about $20) is hand-operated, and I found it a pain to clean and not all that good at what it's made for except in cases of emergency, like during engorgement. It's handy to tuck in your diaper bag, though.

2) Ameda Purely Yours (about $220) is electric. I got one with my first son second-hand from my aunt. After my year of nursing, I passed it on to my sister, so it was used for a total of 3 years and still works well. Yeah, I know you aren't supposed to share these, but I figured they're my family...

3) Medela Pump in Style is also electric, and that's the one I use now when I have to pump (not often now that my second son is 15 mos.). I know a lot of people love this pump, but I'm just luke warm about it. I've lost the little white discs down the drain more than once (I was sooooo careful, too) and had trouble getting more from the manufacturer online; sets that contain the discs are available, but I didn't want to pay for extra parts I didn't need. Also, I found that the tubing collects condensation, which takes more than a day to dry and concerned me, since it doesn't seem sanitary. I've also noticed that the suction speed/strength isn't quite right for me.

Honestly, I liked the Ameda best. If you want more input from moms who really know their breastfeeding stuff, you can contact your local LaLeche League at www.llli.org. I know of a mom who was able to get a prescription from her pediatrician so that the cost of renting a really good hospital pump was hardly anything after insurance.

Congratulations and best wishes!

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C.J.

answers from Chicago on

You can buy a used pump, but you need to get new containers, tubes, and the parts that touch your breasts (can be bought online, from a lactation consultant or at a hospital). I bought a used medela pump n style for $50...it works great. I also have a medela single electric pump. It is small and can be plugged in or use batteries. It works well too. I don't recommend manual pumps if you won't be using it much. The electric ones get the milk out quicker...you have to use it somewhat regularly for your breasts to get used its suction. I try to pump 2 to 3 times a week. That seems to be enough. Good luck.

C.

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A.B.

answers from Chicago on

1st of all you need to find out if you are really are going to breast feed. Then determine if you want to pump, you have to have patience to do it.
Don't get your self upset about pump choices just yet.
I nursed 2 children and hardly ever pump. I to am a stay at home mom.
If you decide to pump, you can rent one from the hospital. Find out if you like it, then decide what kind you would like!

Good luck with the baby!!

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E.B.

answers from Chicago on

I like Ameda Purely Yours pump. It lasted thru 3 kids for me, and I've used it a lot since I am working full-time. It's cheaper then Medela, but pretty good quality too. I was never successful with Avent Isis. Good luck!

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R.A.

answers from Peoria on

I know that if you get WIC (and maybe if you don't) if you get a note from your dr saying that you need a pump they will get one for you. This is from your local health department and they also have others that have breastfed that will call and ask how you are doing and you can call them with questions. I know that I've never heard anything nice about safety first. I have an Ameda and loved it. Hope this helps.

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S.B.

answers from Peoria on

it was definitely worth it to me to buy the medela electric double pump. i am also a SAH mom and originally thought i wouldn't need one, but it has provided quick relief and convenience.

it is expensive, but well worth the investment. especially if you consider how much you'll save by not using formula and if you have more than one child.

also you can buy a used battery/motor part (check e-bay) and new parts to save money. or after my 2nd kid, my hospital offered me new pump parts and said that insurance paid for them.

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S.X.

answers from Chicago on

if you aren't planning on being out of the house but occasionally i wouldn't bother for an expensive one. they are just more efficient and faster... if you have to pump 4x a day at work you need something convenient. you can always get a used one and buy essential replacement parts : )

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K.B.

answers from Chicago on

I have the Medela breast pump and LOVE It. It's easy to use, comes in a back pack to make it easy on the go.... it was pricey. I got it as a gift at one of my showers with my son. My sister borrowed it when she had her baby... you just get new attachments. I don't think buying a used one if possible is a bad idea. Hope this helps!

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S.R.

answers from Chicago on

Hi,

I stay home with my boys ages 4 & 6. When my older one was a baby I worked 1 day a week. The only time he was given a bottle was when I was not with him. I found that the Avent Isis Pump (manual) was sufficient. Just an FYI. HTH

S.

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M.C.

answers from Chicago on

Speak with the lactation nurse at your hospital....there may be an option of renting a quality hospital grade pump for an inexpensive price or the lactation nurse may know of a contact to sell one to you much less than at the stores or online. I saved about $150 on mine! Goodluck!

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C.B.

answers from Rockford on

I would totally splurge and get the better pump. You have to remember that when you have the smaller not as good pumps they tend to not empty you as well. Then you have problems with mastitis and painful breasts. I rented my pump from a lady in Rockford. If you are in the area. She was a little cheaper than the hospitals and I rented it every month for a year. I would recommend the stronger medela pumps. I am an RN as well. Good luck in whatever you decide.

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B.N.

answers from Chicago on

Hi J.. Heres my experience with breast pumps. My first baby I bought a middle priced pump (first years). The suction wasnt good and it didnt help stimulate to produce. So I went to formula supplememnts. My second baby was born this year july 31. He was in the NICU and I could only pump not bring him to breast. The hospital had a medela. It was great! To pump at home I had bought a medela. Yes pricey but it worked so great! Now I know you arent sure about buying a used pump but heres the thing... you can replace the parts that the milk and breast touch for about $20. If you change your mind about buying used get a hold of me I only used my pump probaby 12 times because I used the hospitals more since we lived there til my son came home. I have the diaper bag/purse style medela from babies r us. paid 299 but willing to sell for 150. The medelas are awesome pumps from my experience! They are worth the money. I only used it approx 12 times and Im glad I bought it.

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M.W.

answers from Chicago on

A friend of mine gave me her Medela pump in style (250-300) to use and then she is going to sell it. I didn't buy anything new, just cleaned the breast sheilds and bottles. You are not supposed to "share" a pump, but you are really not sharing one if you are the only one using it at a time. You need a good dual pump to help empty your breasts at least every once in a while. Just because you are going to be a stay home mom doesn't mean you have to be chained to your baby and are never going to leave the house without him/her on your breast! Keep in mind a lot of women buy these expensive pumping systems, and then can't hack the breastfeeding at first so quit and sell them. I would buy a good one used. You will not regret it. This pump is so good, I can pump 4 oz out in 6 minutes and make a quick bottle so I can run out the door for a couple hours!

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A.C.

answers from Chicago on

You do NOT need to buy the expensive pump! I'm a stay at home mom too, but wanted to pump so I could get outta the house once in a while. I have the Avent Isis Manual Pump and it works like a dream. Plus, it's only about $50 at Target. Several other moms recommend this pump to me, and I can see why. It's really easy to use, and you can collect, store, and feed all from one bottle. Plus, those dual electric pumps remind me too much of cows. Moooooo! (I haven't tried one so maybe I don't know what I'm missing.) But I think for your purposes the Isis is perfect. The only drawback I've had is sometimes, if I'm not paying attention and press the handle for too long, the valve will dislodge and I have to fix it. But it only takes a minute.
And there is no harm in used pumps as long as you wash all the parts when you get it. Whatever you choose, be sure to start the baby on the bottle at 1 month, not 6 weeks like they may tell you. I waited 6 weeks, and she totally rejected it. We've had such a hard time with bottles, we've gone to sippy cups now at 4 months.

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