Mommy Moo-Cow Filter

February 22, 2008 2:41 PM

Need recommendations for an automatic breast pump.

My wife and I are expecting our second child presently, and for us a breast pump is essential. We've read product reviews 'til the cows came home, but I'm interested in, you know, actual people's experiences.

Specs desired: double, automatic, easy to disassemble, easy to clean, no BPA or at least compatible with non-BPA bottles.

I note with some amusement that I'm not sure whether to put this in the "shopping", "human relations", or "food and drink" category.

posted by Emperor SnooKloze to shopping (14 comments total)

I've tried many, and the Medela Pump in Style Advanced is definitely the way to go. It fits all your criteria, it's quick and effective, and it turns into a purse!
posted by streetdreams at 2:50 PM on February 22

Medela brand, several models are available, according to my La Leche wife.
posted by spartacusroosevelt at 2:52 PM on February 22

Thanks for the quick response, streetdreams. I'm sorry I didn't include this earlier, but your answer brings up another issue: less kit = more better. The Medela rigs make it look like you're packing a ruck for a three-day hike. Granted, I'm not going to be the one schlepping it around most of the time, but Spouse already has a big school bag, a purse(/diaper bag), and god knows what else.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 2:56 PM on February 22

It depends on your level of usage.

If you are going to use the pump full time, i.e. expressing breast milk and bottle feeding it to baby, you should go with a hospital grade pump. I don't have experience with these, but they are expensive and people normally rent one of these.

If you are planning on pumping "part time," 20-40 hours per week, a typical consumer model will be fine. I used the Medela Pump In Style Advanced and it was great. I went back to work full time when BabyMausburger was 4 months old and I nursed for over a year. I used it every day at work and I even took it with me on a couple of business trips. (Pumped breast milk in airports too.) I bought a car adapter and AC adapter to use with it.

Keeping breast milk in the refrigerator at work made some of the young men at work seriously uncomfortable, but I felt that I was doing a public service by educating them.
posted by mausburger at 3:03 PM on February 22

I sympathize with schlepping the Pump In Style bag. I'm about 5' tall and also have a limited carrying capacity. Yes, it was an extra bag to carry and it was a pain. Look at it this way: the whole breastfeeding thing was a pain. Having another bag to carry didn't make it worse, but having a pump that worked really well did make it better.

Looking at Medela's web site, there appears to be a newer model that is smaller and could be put into an existing bag. I found that the Pump In Style bag was more bulky than heavy.
posted by mausburger at 3:10 PM on February 22

Even if you eventually buy the Pump In Style (which I did, and ended up rarely using), I recommend getting a rental model from the hospital for the first month or two. Establishing breastfeeding can be challenging, and being able to quickly relieve engorgement when the baby's not latching is essential. The hospital models work much better, though they're not the least bit portable. When your wife's ready to go back to work she'll have a better idea of what her needs are.
posted by libraryhead at 3:59 PM on February 22

I agree with mausburger. If you're doing major pumping, go with hospital grade. Where we are, the rental fee is $10/mo + an initial charge for the consumables (ie, cups, valves, hoses). Mrs. Plinth used one of those for our first because she wasn't nursing well, so she convinced her body that it needed to make milk for twins - she fed one serving to the baby and put the other in the freezer. This continued until we had to purchase--and I swear I'm not making this up--a chest freezer to hold the milk. She tried some of the consumer grade pumps (her sister lent her a Pump In Style) and there was really no comparison.

Also if you get a consumer grade loaner like we did, have the pressure checked. Consumer grade pumps aren't made to last. Most hospitals or LLL will check the pressure of the pump for you.
posted by plinth at 4:01 PM on February 22

Just a reminder that you might be covered by insurance for pump purchase or rental, and that your flexible spending plan funds may also be used toward those costs. Check with your specific plan to find out what's available to you.
posted by padraigin at 4:15 PM on February 22

Nthing the Medela. I've worked with MANY breastfeeding mothers and it is the best by far! There is a new pump and style model that is much smaller. More like a back pack. Congrats on your choice to breastfeed!! Sorry this is short but my little one is calling for dinner!! Good Luck!!
posted by pearlybob at 4:23 PM on February 22

I would totally recommend renting for the first month before buying. That way you'll have time to make sure breastfeeding works for you. I'd almost bought the Medela, but in the end my milk never came in so I would have wasted a big chunk of change.
posted by HauteMama at 4:28 PM on February 22

Of course milk 'comes in,' just sometimes not as advertised...

Anyway, I have a Pump in Style. It was a gift I, a stay-at-home mother, rarely use, but -- while pumping is a PITA, the Pump in Style is efficient and effective. But I've also heard good things about the Ameda Purely Yours, which looks to be a bit smaller.

Given that this is a second you probably don't need this, but just in case, let me recommend kellymom.com, the nursing mother's go-to, and Dr Jack Newman's book, a riveting (seriously!) read.
posted by kmennie at 6:54 PM on February 22

One more vote here for the Medela, and another for renting a hospital grade pump for the first month or so if you're not going to be exclusively breast feeding. Be warned though - those things can stretch your nipples out like so much salt water taffy. (And just think of what they'll do to your wife's).

For my second baby, I didn't want to spend the money or carry the bulk of the Pump in Style, so I got Medela's Single Deluxe Breastpump, which worked fine for me. I was only working 1/2 days, so I needed to pump about two or three times a day. The suction isn't as strong as the hospital grade or the PIS, and you can only pump one breast at a time, but by the time I started using it (after three months of nursing), my milk supply was well established and easily . . . provoked? There's got to be a better word here, but I'm too tired to think of it. My body gave milk like a cow on hormones. So I was able to keep my baby fed during the times I was away from him and also keep my breasts from exploding.

Anyway, it worked fine for me, didn't cost much, could work on batteries if need be, and easily fit inside my messenger bag/ purse.
posted by bibliowench at 8:46 PM on February 22

I used the Ameda Purely Yours and was happy with it (although I only used it a couple of times a day during the week). However, I haven't heard anything about non-Bisphenol A bottles available for any of these pumps. Does anyone have any sources/references? I'm expecting my second the end of July, and I'd definitely prefer finding non-BPA bottles to store the milk in.
posted by leahwrenn at 4:24 AM on February 23

'Nother vote for the Medela pump-in-style. I used an Avent manual pump for my first child -- this one is much better.

Also-I work from home, so transportation isn't an issue for me. But I'm not sure I understand why you need to take the whole thing with you. Don't people just leave the pump at the office, and carry the milk/attachments back and forth with them?
posted by Badmichelle at 12:34 PM on February 23