[gemgirl]

It's only early days for us, but my partner is researching, so I thought I'd ask here for recommendations...

I'm pregnant and my partner is the stay-at-home mum. I will be going back to work after the baby is born (not immediately). She's researching the best breast pumps so that she can do night feeds and feed the baby when I'm at work. Obviously I know the success of pumping depends on a number of factors, but we'd just like to research some options now. Is electric better than manual and has anyone had good sucess?

We're both committed to breast milk if possible.

Thanks!

[lucky 2]

A double electric personal breast pump, the tried and true ones are Ameda Purely Yours, Medela Pump in Style and the newer Medela Freestyle.
Double pumping is quicker and has been found to maximise milk production over a single pump.
If you will be back to work I think the double will be the most suited to your needs.
ABA has lots on information about breast pumps too.
https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/br...eeding-and-work
All the best.

[amabanana]

I second the Pump In Style. I couldn't feed DD1 so I exclusively pumped for over a year. I used it hardly at all with DD2 but when I've needed it it is definitely faster and better IMO than a manual pump (you get sore fingers!) or even a single pump. I think I've probably tried them all.... if you are doing more than the odd bottle I would go for a double pump for sure.

Best of luck!

[AllegraM]

I fulltime pump and recommend anything Medela. Beats all other products on the market. I have a Medela Swing (single pump) which I bought before I realised that I would need to pump for all feeds . I manage nicely with it but wish I had bought a double pump. I would suggest a double pump if you expect to be pumping more than a few times a day. You can get hands free bras so you can pump at your desk or while driving if you are keen!

Good luck- we pumping Mums have to be super committed to BM because it can be a total PITA. There are great support groups on FB for Mums who pump full or nearly fulltime. You will struggle to find decent information on the mechanics of pumping from LCs as most of them think pumping is demonic.

This post has been edited by AllegraM: 30/07/2012, 07:55 PM

[KRT]

Depending on when you go back to work, you might find it easier to just breastfeed overnight. Expressing comes with a big overhead of washing up and you will likely have to spend the time that you would have been feeding overnight expressing instead. You might be lucky and have a big enough supply that you can express enough during the day, or you might have to express at night when your baby is feeding.

I got lots of good advice from a lactation consultant on expressing and managing all the washing/pump/materials for a return to work when DS was 4 months. It became so much easier to manage once he turned 6 months and was more predictable in his routine. You might be lucky and have a more settled baby than I do!

I have a Medela Swing because I needed something portable while working part time. I am really happy with the Medela accessories, although my pump is sounding a little unhappy after 6+ months of fairly heavy use. Compared to some of the other pumps I have seen, it is easy to clean and is very simple to use.

[.Jerry.]

It's a while since I pumped, but I hired a double hospital grade pump. I think I used the Ameda brand, but sometimes used the Medela at the hospital.
I was able to claim the cost of the hire of the pump on my private health insurance.

I pumped for almost 12 months. (Actually pumped and fed for 8 of those months).

[solongsuckers]

Almost everyone will say the medela is absolutely the best over everything, but I LOVED my Ameda double electric, for a much smaller price tag than the medela

[babybec]

Pumping full time definitely a double pump, I pumped at work from 5 to 12 months and even that I couldn't have done with a single. Alsoyou need a crop top and cut 2 holes in it for the pump to fit in, other wise you don't have a hand free for a drink of water or anything.

[AnnBB]

Another fan of Medela here. I have the Swing but given the amount of pumping I ended up doing, I would have loved a double pump.
Good luck with your pregnancy

[SylviaPlath]

I only tried one Breast pump, Madela Swing. It's electric. It was recommended by the lactation nurse at the hospital when we were there. I had so many problems with breast feeding and my son lost more than 10% of his weight in the first few days. I was so stressed and I believe having the pump was the primary reason why I ended up being able to breast feed. It just took so pressure off me and helped ease my anxiousness that DS was getting enough milk.
You should also have a look at what the hospital uses. The hospital that I was at had the industrial pumps in the breast feeding room, so was able to plug the Madela in there and it made things more efficient.
Also, I definitely recommend an electric. I can't imagine sitting there for ages hand pumping. DS drank 150mls from the get go. It would take a good 45 mins at times to just get 100mls.