Breast pump

[FelicityS]

Hi to all mums,

Am looking for recommendations on a good breast pump to use. So far have been struggling along with a hand pump and it's hopeless. Takes so long to express a bottle (about two days) and I'm fed up. Am returning to work (two four-hour shifts a week) and need something reliable, quick and easy. Cost is no object at this stage.

What do you suggest?

Cheers,
Flick.

[Tannie]

Haven't used it myself but have heard (and observed a friend using it) that the Medula Mini electric is very good.
T

[lil monkey]

I use both the mini electric (medela) and the avent hand pump and they both take me about 10 minutes to get 120ml.

However, when I first started it took me a few days to get a 40ml but then the next time i expressed it was really easy. A friend of mine was unable t express at all like you and even had help through the ABA and CHn but still couldnt get any milk out so you may be like this! :(

Lu

[willsmum]

Ring ABA (Aust Breastfeeding Assoc) cos they have them for hire - good electric ones like they use in hospital. Also I believe that National Pharmacies hire them if you are a member.

[annsam]

i used a medula and found it hopeless! It may have been faulty, not sure but there was very little sucktion.

You can hire electric breast pumps from most pharmacies for about $15 a week I think it is. May be best to try that and see how you go before purchasing as many women find them too hard and sore.

I like the ones they have in hospitals and that they hire out in pharmacies. It was very effective (all DS's feeds had to be expressed for 6 weeks) but as I said, I didn't find the medula very good.

[Chickadee]

Some women have trouble getting letdown when expressing. The advice i was given was to think of your baby or even look at a picture of bub. The only thing that worked for me was to close my eyes and actually imagine in my head that it was dd at my breast instead of a pump. Oh, and to ignore the whoosh whoosh of the pump! Meditation or any relaxation technique might help with let down.

I used both the Avent hand pump and a Medula double electric rented from the pharmacy. Both were good. I switched to the double electric when I went to 100% expressing for a month, so that I could get both breasts done in 15 minutes instead of 30 min by hand. And save my wrist and hands from overwork!