[1day@atime]

I need to purchase a double electric pump as I have to return to work soon. I will need to pump several times per day to enable my LO to have ebm at daycare. I am tossing up between the Ameda Purely Yours and the Medela Freestyle.
Obviously I need the pump to be quite efficient as I won't be able to spend ages expressing at work.
The Ameda isn't as expensive as the Freestyle but I am wondering how portable it is. I will be taking it to work each day.
If I could get some opinions and preferences from people that have spent a bit of time expressing that would be great.
Also how did you store your milk at work? Does a cooler bag with an ice brick suffice? Any other tips for pumping at work appreciated.
Thanks :-)

[Happy_daisy]

I used the Ameda Purely Yours to express at work for around 6 months after my Medela Swing died. It was a bit bulky (especially compared to the Medela single pump), but not too much trouble to take in a small bag.

I found it very efficient, I could express a full feed in around 20-30 mins. It's also reasonably quiet. I had access to a bar fridge to store the expressed milk in, is something like that or a staff fridge that an option?

The ABA has a booklet on expressing at work, that might be worth getting. I found it quite useful.

HTH

[NinjaMum]

I use the Medela Freestyle currently to express at work. I've been expressing now 3 days a week for 7 weeks (the other 2 days I walk to her childcare centre and BF).

It came with a little portable soft esky with a brick that is shaped specially for bottles. It also came with a nice bag to keep it all in. I sometimes put the soft esky in the staff fridge if it's a hot day, otherwise I find the ice brick does keep milk cool until I get home (at which point I freeze it in one of those milk tray things to turn it into 30ml sticks).

Like the PP found the other pump, I also find the freestyle very efficient. My baby is 5.5 months, and I express a full feed in about 15 minutes.

ETA - maybe consider the Medela Double Swing as an alternative to the Freestyle if the price is putting you off?

This post has been edited by NinjaMum: 25/01/2013, 02:15 PM

[bailee]

I've used the Ameda (tried the Medela in SCN and didnt get the milk out for me) and used it when I returned to work both times. I found it very portable because its compact. I bought the Medela City Style carry bag with the little cooler bag and ice pack bag and it swung over my shoulder and fit heaps in.I found the cooler kept the milk cool all day in average temperature - so office temps, only a prob if you spend a lot of time out in warmer conditions.

I had to exclusively express for 4 months for each child and took that pump everywhere - ran on batteries and car adapter, sure got a workout! Its not whisper quiet though. I only just retired the pump about 2 weeks ago and DD is 2.5 now.