Expressing: Manual vs electric pumps

[trixiebelle17]

DS is now over three months and up till now i had no problems getting 30-100 mls after expressing with a manual pump, but now that my supply has settled down and DS seems to drink loads more, im struggling to get 10ml even if thats 3hrs after his last feed. I have normal expressed at night 3-4 hrs after his last feed, but some nights i am now getting nothing although the pump looks like it is working.

Would buying an electric pump help stimulate my supply? Now that DS is older i would really like to be able to start leaving him occassionally with his grandma etc... Just wondering if it would be worth spending the money becuase it's taking me half an hour to get even 10mls with a manual pump now

[Briswegian]

I don't know if that would work but you can hire pumps from chemists and ABA.
You could call 1800 MUM2MUM and ask a counsellor.

[Teegzie]

I'd also go with the hired pump before splashing out and buying an electric one of your own. The hire ones are hospital grade and a lot more efficient than the personal ones, so it's a good way to see if you will be able to get enough out.

Either that or borrow an electric one from a friend if you can. A lot of people find that certain brands don't suit their breasts and just won't work for them. It would be better to find this out by borrowing one (if you can) than spending $200 odd only to discover that brand is no good for you.

[BabyPaparazzi]

I agree with try before you buy if you can. Personally I have found the Medela Swing that I have now for DD2 to be 100 times better than the Avent Manual I had with DD1.

If I left DD with someone occassionally for short times I just used the single packets of formula instead of EBM and left my store for the days I was at uni all day because you go through the store faster as they tend to drink more than you express.