Mom's Review of Breast Pumps

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How do I know what kind of breast pump to buy?

In anticipation of the birth of my second child, I wanted to find a breast pump that would be reliable. Returning to work was stressful, until I found a breast pump that worked for me! When choosing a pump, you may have many questions. Do I chose manual or electric? How do those double pumps work? What about renting? There are so many options and it makes choosing that much more overwhelming.

Nothing works for everyone. Keep in mind your needs when reading these reviews. Some children have special circumstances. Mothers of multiples, preemies, and special needs children may need to consider hospital grade pumps to help supply the milk needed for their children. Keep in mind all options before buying!.

First consider why you want to use the pump. Is it just for temporary relief or are you returning to work?
Are you planning to pump exclusively or supplement with formula?
Will you be away from your baby often?

Think about how much time you can allocate to pumping. When I went back to work after having my first child, I was constantly on the road. There was really no time to pump. I'm sure this (and having a bad pump) contributed to my low supply. I finally gave up breastfeeding because I thought I had no milk.

Consider a double pump if you will be going back to work. This will decrease the time needed to pump. I recommend pumps with a battery powered option. This eliminates the need to find an outlet which can be a hassle!



Photosource: www.amazon.com

What Type of Breast Pump Is Right For Me?

evenfloOk so let's get to the review!

Back when I had my daughter I made the mistake of buying the cheapest pump I could find.

Evenflo Comfort Select Auto-Cycling Breast Pump

It seemed like a good idea. I liked the way it fit in my hand. I had the single pump model, which made it easier to control. This pump has several speeds, but no control of suction. Some people who have reviewed this pump have stated that it about ripped their nipples off! Well I had the opposite reaction. I could barely feel this pump! I think this is what lead to the lack of milk made. I needed more control, and the lack of milk production was very disheartening.

As I prepared to have my son, I wanted to give it another shot. I tried the Evenflo again, but it barely got out 1 oz when I was fully engorged. This did not make any sense. I knew it must be the pump.

Things To Consider When Buying A Breast Pump

Nothing works for everyone. Keep in mind your needs when reading these reviews. Some children have special circumstances. Mothers of multiples, preemies, and special needs children may need to consider hospital grade pumps to help supply the milk needed for their children. Keep in mind all options before buying!.

First consider why you want to use the pump. Is it just for temporary relief or are you returning to work?
Are you planning to pump exclusively or supplement with formula?
Will you be away from your baby often?

Think about how much time you can allocate to pumping. When I went back to work after having my first child, I was constantly on the road. There was really no time to pump. I'm sure this (and having a bad pump) contributed to my low supply. I finally gave up breastfeeding because I thought I had no milk.

Consider a double pump if you will be going back to work. This will decrease the time needed to pump. I recommend pumps with a battery powered option. This eliminates the need to find an outlet which can be a hassle!

Pump In Style

In my search for a good pump, I wanted a quality grade pump. I started by looking at what I thought was the best. Medela. This is THE name in breast pumps.

I started by reading reviews of the Medela Pump in Style . I have found that going to Amazon is really the best place to read reviews. What I found was that for the money, the Pump in Style is a good pump. It boasts features such as multilevel controls, comfortable nipple shields, and a place to insert a picture of your little one. All of this sounded good, but I was not willing to shell out almost 200 dollars unless I was guaranteed to produce milk like Bessy the cow. I wanted to make sure that I was making the right decision.
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Purely Yours

I then stumbled onto the Ameda Purely Yours model.
What I liked about Purely Yours was the multi-speed AND multi-suction control. It seemed like the best thing out there. I read up on tips on how to use the Purely yours. It made sense that I could control the speed and suction to mimic my child's suction motion. I thought surely this is the best pump out there. The price was comparable to Medela, but I liked the control options of the Purely Yours
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Lansinoh

As I continued my search I found my pump!!!

Little did I know but Lansinoh made the exact same pump for much cheaper!! Actually in researching, the same company makes both. JACKPOT. I get the pump I want for the cost I can afford!

Update
I used this pump for over a year and loved it. I had no trouble with use or cleaning. There were some reviews about the white valves needing to be replaced, but I never had that problem. I put most of the parts in the dishwasher just fine and hand cleaned the smaller parts. I was able to produce plenty of milk which was wonderful. I did not feel pressured or anxious about making enough. This pump just did it's job quickly and I was ready to get back to work. Thank you Lansinoh!

Photosource: www.lansinoh.com
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Boppy Accessories

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Great Accessories for Nursing Moms

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Learn about other Lansinoh products.

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Breast Feeding Gifts

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Other Lansinoh products

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Why should I breastfeed?

I've heard women talk about fear of pain, or that is it messy. Whatever your fear, I want to encourage you to try. You may find that what you thought was completely wrong! I strongly suggest you have someone with experience help you. I had some difficulties with my daughter, but this second time around you would think I was an old pro!!

You can find out more about the benefits of breastfeeding by checking out The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: Sixth Revised Edition. It is a great book with a lot of useful information. La Leche League is a great resource and support system for nursing mothers.

What Do You Think Of My Page?

  • BusyMOM Jan 27, 2012 @ 11:53 am | delete
    Nice, thoughtful lens! Great info here for Moms.
  • valter1 Dec 1, 2011 @ 5:04 am | delete
    I completely agree with you. Great post
  • GuyB Oct 10, 2010 @ 7:27 am | delete
    Go electric, it saves time and really does a great job pumping it out quickly. Great for a baby that demands instant gratification
  • Yourshowman Oct 9, 2010 @ 11:40 pm | delete
    Good Lens.
    Keep it up
  • CatJB Jun 4, 2009 @ 7:01 am | delete
    Great info, and a good reminder to not give up at the first pumping hurdle. 5*
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Amkatee

Welcome to my page! I (Amy) am a stay at home mom. Mike works from home in the financial advising relm. We have two rambuctious kids, 2 equally rambuc... more »

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