Need Advice on Good Breast Pump

B., Congratulations on everything you are doing! I had great success with the Medela breast pump. Establishing a good routine early on is most important. I worked full-time with both my daughters and was able to nurse & pump and feed them breastmilk exclusively for the first year. Yes, we started solids at 6 months, but never had to use formula. For me, this is what worked best: I woke up early, pumped two bottles (two feedings), got ready for work, woke the baby and nursed her, then pumped mid-morning & mid-afternoon. Nursed her when I came home from work, and again at her bedtime. Then I would pump again before I went to bed. This stored up enough milk for the next day, with an extra bottle in case I was late getting home. It also kept my milk supply pretty strong. It is important to nurse as much as you can on the weekends, still pumping a few times to get those bottles for when you are at work, because nursing stimulates more milk production than just pumping. (I am sure you already know that part!)CHOC also sells Medela, and I just saw a website that advertises reduced prices: www.worldwidesurgical.com They list their products, but you have to call for the prices. I can tell you, this pump lasted through my two daughters (1 year each), my nephew, and one friend's baby. So, they are built to last. Best wishes to you in all your endeavors! B.

1 mom found this helpful

i used the medela portable all the time. it worked really well, but the technique as with all pumps needs to be right. the nipples need to hit the plastic cups to stimulated the milk.

i don't know where you are, but i'd consult with la leche league. they'll be able to give suggestions.

Hi B.,

I have to give a shout for the Ameda Purely Yours. It's a closed system pump that is much less expensive than the Medela. I should note, though, that even though I got a double pump, I only pump one side at a time, because that just worked out better for me (maybe I'm not as coordinated as all the double pumpers!). Pumping both sides could be less suction, but I also haven't needed to turn it up all the way either (only half), so it probably has plenty of suction even with 2.

I started pumping one feeding at 3 weeks so Dad could help, pumped more at 3months when I started part-time, and returned to work full-time at 4 months... coming up on baby's first birthday now and we are still going!

Oh, and BTW, you can get bottles (they call them "disposable" because they're #5 plastic, but I have been using them for months) that are BPA free to pump milk into. They didn't come with the pump when I got it, they were separate.

Good luck!

Absolutely invest in a Medela Pump in Style breast pump. One that's capable of 2 breasts at once. My twins were in the NICU when I started pumping immediately after their birth every 2-3 hrs. I established such a huge supply that I've been nursing them 15 months already with plenty of milk and I've always had extra that I've donated!
If it's too expensive for you,
research finding a used one. You can have it "serviced" at a pumping station and just replace some old parts with new sterile parts. I was lucky enough to get one from a friend and I did just that.
Good luck!

Hi B.!

I'm another fan of the Medela Pump in Style. I actually have an older one that I have borrowed from my friend. She's let other friends borrow it inbetween. I actually bought my own with my second one. It was a newer "improved" version. I pumped a lot with all three of my kids. I'm on my third child and he just was not good at nursing from day one. It kind of got my milk production off to an irregular start and for some reason I felt like the older pump of my friends worked better in this case, even though my new one worked perfectly fine with my second child. But I guess I'm trying to say is that they work very well and obviously are VERY durable. This pump has been used by several people (always new attachments) and has been shipped back and forth from AZ to CA. I'm just now realizing that this Medela Pump In Style is 11 years old and still going strong!!! My friend originallly bought it when her baby had to be in the NICU for a while after she was born. She used it so much she actually had way too much milk and had to throw it away after it began expiring (before she knew there was actually a need for donated breast milk)

The other thing I really like is that a lot of private dealers sell the parts and attachments. Major stores do as well. AND I bought the car power adapter which has come in handy more than I thought. I've actually pumped in the car (as a passenger of course!) many times. You just need to keep the milk cool until you can freeze or put in the fridge. There are compartments in the pump case itself.

I hope I made sense to you!!

The medical grade pumps are the best, I suggest you rent from your hospital. I used a Madela Lactina, I paid about $30-$40 a month plus accessories. Congrats and good luck.

Medela Pump-in-Style breast pump. It worked great when I had to pump. Good luck!

I too am a fan of the Medela Pump In Style Advance. I had the backpack version. I breastfed both my boys exclusively and worked part time. I never would have made it 17 and then 15 months breastfeeding if not for that pump. I also had a manual pump that was fine, but took forever. The money spent on the Medela was well worth it. My sister is using it now and it's still going!

Congrats on being an RN!!
I love my Medela pump in style pump. Some advice: always double pump, especially in the beginning (I started pumping when my kids were 3-4 days old) and wait a few minutes after you think you're done to see if you can stimulate a second let down. Bear in mind the second let down may be brief and only yield an ounce or so, but it will keep your supply up. Pump once beyond what is needed every day and immediately freeze it so you can get ahead of the game. I love your enthusiasm; you'll do great!

B.;
Congrats on your upcoming arrival. Wow you are going to be a busy woman. Great that you are going to pump/nurse with your busy schedule. You may want to speak with the lactation consultant at the hospital where you are delivering. Your milk volume will depend on a lot of factors not just what type of pump you use. My son is 2 months old, was premature and has latching problems, so I use both the Symphony hospital grade pump (yellow double pump)and the Medela Pump In-Style (travel version). The hospital grade has more suction, so it gets the job done faster. The Pump-In-Style will also get the job done, but it just takes longer. If you want to maintain the milk supply there are several herbs you may want to consider using: More Milk Plus by Mother's Love, and Goat's Rue by Mother's Love. The herbs will only work to your potential. Pumping to feed exclusively will be challenging, as the infant is truly the msot efficient at emptying the breast, but the investment is worth it. Good luck!

If you decide on it... I have a used Medela Pump in style that I need to sell. I bought it from a friend to use with my son that was born in December. I got sick and lost my supply so I really haven't been able to use it. You would need to buy tubing for it. Contact me at ____@____.com if interested...

Your responses so far jive with what I have observed -- the Medela Pump n Style is the pump of choice! This is what I used with both of my daughters. I went back to work full-time when they were 3 months old and had to pump all daytime feedings on weekdays until they were both almost a year old. I never had a supply problem, so I can't speak to that, but it worked great for me and the replacement parts are easy to come by (e.g. Target).

My employer provided a mother's room and it was typically used by a half a dozen women at any point in time. Almost all of them used the Medela pump and were happy with it.

Branna : )

Congratulations, both on your second son and finishing nursing school! Both are huge successes.

I quit nursing ages ago, my youngest is now 23, but when he was a preemie, and I had to pump to feed him, I used the electric pump provided by the hospital. Wouldn't one of the hospitals you are currently working with have a breast pump in their neonatal unit, and be able to give you a suggestion as to which is best to buy?

BTW, I live in LV, as well, and would be willing to chat/help you if you need help. I'm a grandmother of 4, with 5 beautiful children. I'm willing to help in several areas.

A.

medela...I think that's how you spell it! I got the most expensive version that they had and loved it. I had a really hard time getting my milk to come in and keeping a good supply so I let my son nurse on one breast and pumped the other at the same time. I found I could get more milk that way. Once I was back at work I pumped OFTEN!! It was much easier to keep my supply up by pumping at the same schedule as my son would eat while I was at work. My pump had a dial from 1 to 10. I would start at 5 and work up to 10 to get the most efficient pumping session. They told me to think about my son while pumping and it would increase my supply. I thought that sounded completely stupid but once I had tried every other 'logical' solution I thought about my little sweet boy and the milk just shot right out. Talk about feeling stupid!! It worked like a charm EVERY time. Good luck and remember one of the reasons for low supply can be stress. You have lots going on so spend that pumping time to unwind and think about your little blessings.

I saw several people suggested hospital grade breast pumps, there is really no need for that. I used a hospital grade pump to help myself relactate (the Ameda version), and then borrows a double electric Ameda, and found that it was just as strong, but also had so many more settings. Plus they are really expensive.

Since you've pumped before, do you know what kind of pump you used? There are really two different kinds, the Ameda kind, it has a hard breast shield, and most pumps use this, or there is the Medela soft shield. Most women can pump more with one or the other, so if you could pumped well with the kind you had before, maybe you should stick with it. I couldn't pump at all (even with the hospital grade pump after full relactation, I still could only get out maybe an ounce and a half).

Since you are worried about losing your supply while pumping, here are some things to help you. Nurse as much as you can, in the morning, evening, night, and weekends. If you can even do just one midday nursing with your baby, that'll help. Don't worry about doing it too often, the more you nurse, the more milk your body makes. When I feel like my body isn't making enough, I just nurse every hour or two (and my son is 5 months old). Many women, when their bodies slow down a little they think their drying up, but you can always bring it back up if you work at it a little. You can try herbs, fenugreek helps increase some women's milk supply (I took that while relactating), or you can try Mother's Milk tea, I've heard good things about it. Oatmeal and many other galactogues (check them out on kellymom.com) help too, try to add them to your diet when you can. Make sure you eat enough and drink enough water, not getting enough will decrease your supply. Also, when you start solids (which I know isn't a while since your baby isn't even here yet), make sure you're still breastfeeding as much as you can. Good luck!

Hospital grade pumps are the best for keeping up your supply, but they are not portable. If you can use the lactation room at work, that will help, but it might wreak havoc with your schedule having to share the equipment. Rent one for home from the Pump Station or look at buying, like Debra suggests below with an eye toward re-selling. I'm sure that Pump Station or a similar retail outlet can do a better job at highlighting the benefits of a hospital grade versus portable pump than we can here. Or call the Leche League.

Hi B.,

It's great to hear how dedicated you are to trying to get your second son breast milk! I breastfed my twins boys who are now 2 1/2 for a year. They only got formula once in the hospital when I had to use the SNS system because they weren't gaining weight quickly enough in the first few days. As soon as I got the breast pump they got breast milk in the SNS.

My recommendation is to rent a hospital grade pump. That is what the lactation consultant at my hospital (Susan Orr at Torrance Memorial) recommended because it is faster and stronger than the best bumps you can buy. I am so glad I did. It ended up costing more than if I had purchased a Medela double pump at Babies R Us because I nursed for a year rather than just for a few months, but it was so worth it.

I also bought this cool sort of bra at the Healthy Beginnings store at Torr Mem to help me pump more quickly. Since I tandem nursed the boys I also tandem pumped. The bra holds both pump cups in place so you can pump them at the same time and your hands are then free to be on the computer, hold a book, etc. It's awesome! Not sure how that works when you nurse a single baby, but maybe you can consult your lactation consultant to see if you can double pump. If so, I highly recommend it as a time saving measure.

Lastly, we had a post-partum doula for the first 6 weeks after our boys were born. She taught us the importance of waiting to introduce a bottle of breast milk (and any pacifier) until the babies were one month old (so they become strong nursers first). After we introduced the bottle, we then gave them one bottle of breastmilk every day so that they would continue to be familiar with taking a bottle. I'm a stay-at-home mom, but wanted to have the freedom to leave them with others if need be. It worked out perfectly. I tel you that in case you change your mind and don't return to school as quickly as you planned and because I worry that if you introduce a bottle when your baby is one week old he may not become a stong nurser and could eventually reject your breast as it's way easier to get milk from a bottle before babies learn how to do the toungue thrust required in nursing.

I wish you all the best!

M. McPhee

I exclusively pumped, and was generally successful with my Medela Pump in Style Advanced. However, if this is your last child, and you REALLY want the good pump, I think it would make more sense to rent a hospital grade pump. That way you don't have to buy something you won't need in the future.

Good luck with the new baby AND school! You are far more ambitious than I would be!

i use the medela pump advance. works great! i pump at least 3 times per day since returning to work when my little guy was 3 months old. i love it!

Hi there. Congratulations to you for being such a supermom. Bless your husband as well for being so great. I have to say the Medela Pump N Style is the best breast pump ever and easy to transport and works as good at the hospital pump.. There is a great place on Ventura Blvd.. called the Pump Connection. They can tell you where to get one and advice of any kind from them is priceless. HAve a great day and smile :0)

I loved my Medela pump. I pumped two to three times per day because I was working full time and my son was given breast milk exclusively while he was at daycare. Paying the extra money was worth it and I was able to keep my supply up.

I also vote for teh Medela pump. I had a horrible time pumping with the pump I had with my first son. I thought it was just me. This time I got the Medela pump and have had no problem. Pumping is actually a pleasant experience!

Good luck!

Cedars Sinai uses medela and that's what I bought. It was and is fantastic!

I had a few different pumps for my 3 babies. I really liked the medella hand pump. and i really liked the one I rented from the hospital. the hospital one is big, and heavy, so it is not portable. I also had the battery medela ones, the single and the double and they were okay. but, not as good as the other 2.

Because my son had problems latching I pumped exclusively for the first 7 months. I used the Medela. It worked great. I had plenty of milk for him and some to store.

Hi B.,

The most effective I used so far is anything from Madela brand (this is not a US product). I've used the manual and electric pump and it was quick, (as short as 15 minutes), not to mention it was easy and comfortable. But the only assurance for you to have continuous milk supply is to express milk exclusively and regularly. Missing your schedule would mean decreasing the supply. It doesn't matter if you have the best and most expensive pump, but not nursing or pumping will decrease your supply for sure. If you plan to go back to school after taking a week off, that means, you need to pump every 2 hours regularly. At first few weeks, you'll get as little as 1oz and it increases according to what the baby needs. For a newborn, they feed every 2 hours for the first few weeks, then goes to increase every 3 then 4 hrs. You also need to keep hydrated and drink lots of fluid to help increase milk supply. I hope you can get that commitment for the first month of your baby. Good luck!

I swear by the Medela Lactina. I tried other hand helds and just didn't get strong enough suction for it to be effective. The Lactina is hospital grade, so it had the suction that I needed to be effective. I rented mine for about $40/month. There is no need to worry about renting it (contamination) because you are only renting the machine, all of the attachments are sold or given to you at the hospital.

Get the Medela Advanced Pump in Style. You really do get what you pay for when it comes to breast pumps. If you are going to be pumping so much, you really do want a good double pump. Good Luck!

Hi B.,

Congrats on your upcoming addition! I used a pump called PJ's comfort. It's a hospital-grade pump with adjustable suction and cycle duration, and silicone cups. It's also pretty small, so easily portable. I had trouble with my supply, so I used it for almost a year.

It's available from Limerick; they provide consultation through my husband's work, but I bet they'd be willing to sell you the pump and bits to go with it. Here's the website: http://www.limerickinc.com/

good luck!
C.

B.,

I have been pumping exclusively since my daugher has been a month old (she's 9 month old now) due to latching issues. I use the Lansinoh Double Electric (I don't know if it's called anything else). I paid around $175.00 for it because I heard and read that it was just as good as a Medela, for less money. (Money is an issue for me). I love it, it's been working great for me. I've been using it twice a day and had no problems with it.

As far as keeping your milk supply up, (mine has dwindled a bit...my fault though) just make sure that you are pumping enough. If you start to loose your supply, I've read several places that the most effective way is to pump every hour or two to stimulate your nipples to produce more milk. Good luck and congratulations!

First of all congrats, I am also expecting the beginning of March (hopefully a tad sooner)!
I know you have MANY answers but if money is not an option then go with the Medela Pump in Style (if you're going to buy) or the Medela Lactina (hospital grade to rent and they have all the NEW parts for sale wherever they rent, I got mine at RiteAid, so all you rent is the machine and your new parts you buy are sterile). I tried MANY pumps and none of them come CLOSE to having enough strength as that one! It's a double pump and has different speeds and strength. I worked full time and my little girl had all the milk she desired and I was able to even stock up, and that was after she was born. If you start pumping now you will pump colostrum and possibly even start your milk coming in, then you can freeze until he's born and you'll have plenty. Just make sure you pump several times a day to keep your milk coming in. Sometimes I didn't have time to pump enough times and I noticed my supply would decrease for a few days which made it hard to store the extra. I only froze mine for about 1 week tops, since freezing causes some of the nutrients to diminish, but I've heard you can freeze for months (not sure the exact amount). Goodluck :)

I LOVE the Medela Free Style. I would say it's comperable in power to the Medela Symphony (super powerful industrial rental pump), but at only 1 bls and the size of an old fashion tape-walkman. It's their latest pump that is ultra light weight and hands free. It is great if you need to be studing or on the computer while pumping.

It's pricy, but totally worth it. If you get it from BestBuyBaby.com you can get a great price on it and free shiping and depending on your state no sales tax.

Good luck.

I loved the Medela Pump in Style. I am using it for number three...never had ANY problems with it!

Hi Breana! Congrats on your upcoming bundle of joy! I have Got to ditto everyone who said Medela! The pump in style is the best pump for the price..if you want hospital grade pump Medela
makes two..the Lactina and the symphony. Both excellent pumps.
Here is the website: http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/breast-pumps
I belong to an online board that has an exclusive pumping forum and they ALL seem to love the pump in style.
Here is a link if you would like to check it out..its all free.
http://www.justmommies.com/boards/index.php?showforum=676

Good Luck!

I also rec the medela lactina. I rented one for a few months in the beginning. It was awesome and worth the money (about $25-35/mo?) The only thing is that it's not very portable and very heavy. You can keep that one at home and use a portable medela for school. Also if your milk starts to dry up, try the herbal formulas from Motherlove Herbal. You can buy online or even at Mother's martket. Good luck!

I use the Medela Pump In Style. I used it for my first son and pumped while back at work until he was one. I'm now using it again for little man number 2!

Haven't had any problems!

-M

I had to pump for twins, and I tried just about every pump in the book. The only one that I was able to pump enough milk with was the Medela Lactina. It is a portable hospital grade pump that allows you to pump one side at a time or both sides at the same time. I was able to rent the pump from the hospital. If you are eligible for WIC, they will let you borrow one for free. I was able to pump the most milk by letting a baby nurse on one side while I simultaneously pumped on the other. The baby stimulates a much stronger letdown than the machine. Good luck!

Wow! You're a busy woman. I used the Medela Pump-In-Style Advanced. My son never took to breastfeeding, so I had to pump and feed him breastmilk with a bottle. It is a little more expensive, but it was definitely worth the money. We lasted 7 months, and I'm confident the pump will make it through my next child/children. I liked it because it could be used as a double or single pump. It came with a cooler and ice pack, which helped since I had to pump at work. The milk stayed cool until I got home at night. Since you are so busy and every minute of the day counts, I would also recommend the hands-free pumping bustier from Easy Expression Products. A friend got it for me and it helped so much. I was able to work on the computer, read, correct work (I'm a teacher), or eat lunch while pumping. Hope this helps! Good luck!

Any of the Medela Double electrics work great. the biggest difference between them, I think there is 2 or 3, is a couple accessory things. The pupms and mechanisms (the just of it) are all the same. But if money isn't an option go for the top of the line! I know if you sign up for babies r us emails or registry they send you coupons for like 20% off if you feel like it. I used mine (the middle one) for 9 months. I did have a supply shortage at the end because I would (ahhhh) forget to pump at work. So I would set a timer or program your phone to remind you to go pump at a specific time so your supply will stay consistant. Good LucK!

Medela pump in style!

I bought a Medela single pump, which was fine for me, since I was home. If I had been working the Medela "Pump in Style" would have been my choice. Whichever brand you go for, just make sure it's a double pump, so you could make the most of your breaks at work. Most of them also have insulated carry bags, etc to store your milk and keep it safe.

I used the Medela Pump in Style Advanced, but I also think a hospital grade pump might be best if you are able to have it set up for the majority of your pumpings. But you can't beat the Medela for traveling around. I pumped while at work for the first year in my car of all places! (I meet with multiple clients throughout the day and my car was my office). Congratulations on school - what you are doing is incredible!

The First Years double pump has been awesome for me - it was around $70 from target online and I have used it 3 times a day for the last 7 months - plugged in and with just batteries and it has been great! Takes me about 10 minutes to pump, is easy to clean and comes with soothie bottles that my baby loves - only downside is that it is really hard to find more soothie bottles - no one seems to carry them! goodluck - I would highly recommend this pump

The Medela Classic Hospital Grade pump is the best pump u can use..u can rent one at the Pump Station but better to buy one off ebay BECAUSE...u can resell it for what you paid for it..i bought 2..just to have a back up..they cost me around $350 ..i sold them both for $50 more than i paid for them! so i made $$
the pump station bought one from me..but they'll only buy it from u if it comes with a case.
call them up and ask their opinion....i breast fed and pumped..and also get the easy expression bra..so u can pump at the computer or sitting where-ever but you can pump both breasts at the same time..it's GREAT www.easyexpressionproducts.com they also sell them at the Pump Station.
hope this helps u ..remember that your milk establishes itself at 6 weeks..so really pump and get your supply up! good luck!! and congrats!

I use the Medela Pump N Style. I actually bought a different pump and decided to use the Medela from my sister in law because I found it much more efficient.

Since you're a nurse, I've heard stories of nurses who just use the pumps at work because they are much more efficient than any pump you can buy. I can't vouch for that though because I never used a hospital pump before. But if you have access to any hospital pumps, maybe you can try that.

Congrats with the baby and your graduation!

I only scanned over some of the responses and I am also a fan of the Medela Pump in Style Advanced. The only thing I didn't see (of the few I scanned) was the halter so you can pump hands free! Best of luck and congrats on following your dreams.

Hi B.-

My daughter didn't latch on for 3 1/2 months so I pumped exclusively for that period. I LOVED the Medela Pump in Style. I ended up using it for both of my kid's and when I was done with it I sold it to a friend. I asked the lactation specialist at the hospital if other people could use it and she said that was fine, just have them buy new tubing and shields.

Good Luck and Congratulations!

The only pump I used was the Medela Pump in Style Advanced Backpack. It worked really well for me and was neat and compact. My friends all used a Medela pump as well. I purchased my pump online at http://www.hackleyhme.com/ and was $100 less than at Babies R Us. I believe they sell other pumps as well and you have to either email them or call them for a price (the price is not listed on their website). It arrived in about a week and shipping was free! It was a great deal at the time (2006). To save money, I did not purchase additional Medela bottles (my sister gave me some of hers). I purchased Gerber bottles which costs a lot less. They fit the pump as do Evenflo bottles. The only thing is that those bottles won't fit onto the "legs" that you can attach to the bottles to help keep them upright on your legs or table.