Breast Pump - Madela or Ameda

My oldest will soon be 13. I bought a Medela pump in style when he was 2 weeks old - pumping 2-3x/day while working FT for 6 months used it for my second working PT, lent it to a friend, my sister used for get 3 year old & her infant, so Medela's are made to last!

I had both with my last baby. I loved my Medela Swing and hated the Ameda (I believe it was called Purely yours...not quite sure..it was the double pump). But my Swing did die on me at about the 6 month mark and I was only using it a few times a week. The hospital I work at offered the Medela Symphony to use in house and that pump is AMAZING. If I had to do over again, I would have rented the Symphony and I probably would have been able to breast feed longer.

Good Luck,
M.

Hello V.,

I am a birth doula nd I recommend to my clients the Medela. That is the one I have gotten the best feedback on from my birthing Moms. I would get the medical grade for starters and then go with the travel model.

As for getting your milk going, birth is going to set off a cascade of hormones, one of which will get your milk going. That and baby latching on.

Congratulations!

T. Nelson CD

I had both pumps. I returned the Ameda. Because it was loud and I felt it was a harsher tugging. I bought the Medela and loved. Used it for 2 kids and gave it to a friend and she is using it for her baby. Good Luck!

Updated

I had both pumps. I returned the Ameda. Because it was loud and I felt it was a harsher tugging. I bought the Medela and loved. Used it for 2 kids and gave it to a friend and she is using it for her baby. Good Luck!

I have the Ameda Purely Yours. I was very happy with it. The price is much more reasonable than the Medela, but if you want replacement parts, you need to order them online -- they aren't usually available in stores.

Good luck!
R.

I had a Medela. Loved it. Got the double-suction one so I could pump both breasts at the same time. Can't think of anything I didn't like about it - there was a space for storage (non-insulated, for pump parts) and another space that WAS insulated for storage.

Milk supply going -- drink plenty of water yourself. Get the baby on the breast is the best way to get supply going. I took a free breastfeeding class at the hospital. Loved it. They explained that you put the nipple to the baby's nose, so they smell the milk, and will tilt their head back and attach to your nipple.

I had the Medela pump in style and I loved it!

I used the medela double when I was nursing my twins, it worked great.. Fenugreek is good for boosting milk supply.

I don't think the brand matters too much, those are both good quality brands for breastpumps. Just be sure you get a double electric one if you will be pumping at work. They are the most efficient for both time and milk supply. I had an Ameda, I did like that it had the option of being plugged in or using batteries. Just read the descriptions carefully and see if any features would be particularly useful in your job setting, like a car adapter if you travel for work, etc.
As far as how to get milk supply going....nurse a lot! I would recommend not pumping for the first two weeks and just focusing on nursing your baby on demand, and hopefully very frequently. Many women are concerned about the lack of mature milk at delivery and fear the colostrum available to the baby at birth is not enough. Please try to avoid that fear induced pitfall. Giving your baby bottles in the first few days (or any time really) can diminish milk production. The pump is often not as efficient at stimulating milk as a baby, so only pump when you have to, nurse directly whenever you can. When I worked at a daycare we had a mom that asked us to try avoid feeding her baby after 3pm so she could nurse her right away when she got there, she often nursed right there at the daycare because she had a long drive home. Nurse your baby before work, when you are working pump at least as many times as the baby would be eating, and try to nurse as soon as possible after you pick the baby up, and all evening, and at night. I also tried to pump right after the morning feeding. I was always overfull by morning and had plenty left to pump after my baby had his fill. Also do not try pumping before the baby is born. Stimulation to the breasts like that can bring on powerful contractions, sometimes they are powerful enough to cause stress to the baby. I would encourage you to visit with a lactation consultant at the hospital after your baby is born to discuss your early return to work and get her advice on pumping/bottle feeding for that time. Also, kellymom.com and llli.org are great resources for breastfeeding questions and problems.
I wish you and your baby all the best.

I had the Medela Pump in Style and it saved my milk supply. I used it every week day for about 9 months and it held up very well.

I used an ameda at the hospital when my son was born & in the hospital for 10 days & I loved it. The hospital grade pumps are probably much better than the ones you can buy though. I have a medela and it works great. I'm on my 3rd use of it. This time around I did buy the bra you can use & be hands free and now I wonder what I used to do. Both are good so either way I'm sure you will be successful in your pumping efforts! Good luck!