Can Anyone Recommend a Good Breast Pump?

Updated on May 22, 2008
W.S. asks from Aubrey, TX
43 answers

I am wondering if anyone could recommend a brand of breast pump that worked really well for them. I will be working full time, so I will need one for every day use. Is it better to buy one? I saw in Babies R Us that you can rent them too, but I don't know that I will need a hospital grade pump.

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V.T.

answers from Dallas on

Medela Pump in Style is great. I've used the Lactina as well which is the hospital grade pump, but the Pump in Style you can get at the store has been just as good for me.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.H.

answers from Dallas on

I love my Avent ISIS Duo Breastpump. I would recommend it to anyone. It lets you set the speed and having a dual saves time.

M.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.J.

answers from Dallas on

Medela is the best out there, kinda pricey but well worth it. I tried to go the cheap route and for all the cheap ones I bought I could've had a Medela from the start. I have the Pump-n-Style which is a double pump, it's quiet and extracts the milk pretty fast and comes with a carrying case and storage bottles.

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R.F.

answers from Dallas on

Medela Breast pump is the best. I saw one at this resale shop for about 100.00 the name of the resale shop is SUGAR N SPICE it is located in Plano TX you can call and they can give you directions the phone # is ###-###-#### I hope I help you with this info.

Thank you
Rosie

1 mom found this helpful
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D.S.

answers from Dallas on

The Medela Pump In Style is perfect for you. It's pricey for it and all the parts but is totally worth it. (It's also compatable with gerber and gerber style bottles.) They also have a great line of steam-bags for sanitization, although I never liked their breastmilk bags (there are tons of those on the market though). I would deffinetly buy one, and I'd do it from the hospital (most hospitals have at least a lactation dept, the big ones usually have stores and lc's available for consulation, classes, etc). The hospital staff and LC's will have a lot more experience and be able to help you with any problems that arise much better than Babies R Us.

Congrats on your impending arrival!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.R.

answers from Phoenix on

I loved my Medela pump. I actually bought a hospital grade one since I knew I would be using it a lot, but I hear their pump in style is really nice. It costs around $250 I think, but if you are using it a lot it is worth it to have a durable, dependent, efficient pump. The way it pumps it mimics a baby's suck, and you can adjust it to pump differently after you have let-down.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.R.

answers from Amarillo on

W.,
Go ahead and spend the money on a good breast pump. I bought the medela pump in style ($250.) and I have not regretted it for one minute. Ask yourself how long do you want to breast feed your little one and make your decision from there.
God bless :)

1 mom found this helpful
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J.D.

answers from Amarillo on

I am currently using a Lansinoh which I bought at Babies R Us and I spent a little extra to pay for a protection plan that covers it for 15 months after the 90 day general coverage expires.
It seems to be working well for me and even though it was a little more expensive then I had planned for it has been well worth it. ( Origionally I was using the EvenFlo pump from Walmart and it stopped working well 3 months in).

1 mom found this helpful
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C.C.

answers from Dallas on

I used the Pump in Style too. It was so awesome. I actually bought it new but then handed it down to a friend. I personally wouldn't want to buy something like that on eBay. . . unless I knew the person was healthy . . . in fact it says in the instructions that you shouldn't share it because of germs. But maybe they just want everyone to buy a new one! :)

1 mom found this helpful
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J.L.

answers from Tyler on

W. - I pumped for 6 months with the Medela Symphony pump..I believe that is the one that can be rented @ Babies R Us. It is industrial strength. I would pump close to 40 ounces per day! When I wanted to dry up, I started using the Medela In Style Advanced pump and it really reduced my milk flow tremendously. If you are wanting to get the maximum amount of milk that you can...rent the Medela Symphony. Good Luck! J.

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N.H.

answers from Dallas on

I used medelia for all 3 of my kids...loved it.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.T.

answers from Dallas on

i also used a medela pump in style b/c my son could not latch. he NEVER latched, and i was able to maintain a great supply for several months. good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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L.S.

answers from Tyler on

You definitely want a "powerful pump". Do not buy a cheap one at the stores - they do not offer enough suction to really get the milk out. I work full time and pump.

1 mom found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Dallas on

Medela pump in style is what I use too and I LOVE it! I bought it from my sister. If you don't get grossed out by a used one, check out Ebay. You can find an affordable one there. New they're pretty expensive.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Dallas on

Hi W.,
I highly recommend Medela, they have a few models, i bought the less expensive smaller one and i worked fine for me. You could only do one breast at a time, but it's fine. They are a little more expensive, but worth it. Don't even bother with the hand express models, total waste of time and energy.
Have a blessed day!

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C.C.

answers from Dallas on

Medela is one of the leading brands. I used one of theirs (a light weight model for occasional pumping) and it was great. If you're doing constant pumping, you'll need more of the industrial strength version. You can rent (check with your hospital or local lactation specialist) or purchase, which will cost a couple hundred dollars plus accessories.

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H.M.

answers from Dallas on

The Medela is not dought one of the best. I used and Even flow with my first and had so many problems. Them with my second I invested in a Medela and it was the best investment I ever made. I ended up having extra in the freezer even after he was weened at about 18 months.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

H.M.

answers from Dallas on

The Medela Pump In Style double electric pump totally rocks. I can pump for about 10 minutes and I'm all finished. It's a pretty expensive pump, but if you have the means, it's totally worth the investment. I bought mine from the hospital (I delivered at the Medical Center of Arlington) If your doc writes a prescription for the pump, they'll give you 10% off the cost and they'll also match or beat any other store like Target or Babies R Us. You might check it out. Even if you don't deliver there, you could probably still buy a pump from them. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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H.B.

answers from Dallas on

W.,
I used a Medela breast pump that my cousin lent me. I just purchased all the supplies that go along with it and used the pump, which is what you would do if you rented one. I would really reccommend getting a really good pump! The medela one worked awesome for me! I always pumped a good amount out of me with that one!
One of my other cousins just had a baby and purchased kind of a cheap one and said that she can't get any milk out of her breast, that it doesn't have very good suction. I don't know much about breast pumps, but I definitely wouldn't skimp on one if you are wanting to breastfeed for a while!
Hope that helps!
H.

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T.T.

answers from Dallas on

W.,

First off, congratulations on your pregnancy!

I consider myself a pumping expert. I have been EBFing triplets for almost 11 months now. I always had to pump, in addition to nursing - so the pump has become my 3rd arm ;) Can't go anywhere without it.

The first month after I had my sons, I rented the hospital pump (Medella Classic - best for multiples) so that I could really establish my milk supply. Then I used my pump (Pump in Style) from there on out (still using it).

You need to decide how long you want to breastfeed - if it's only a month or two, renting might be a good choice. But if you plan on doing it for more than 3 months or so, you would be better off purchasing it.

OH - another recommendation - hands-free pump bra. The inventor of this is a genious. Nothing more awkward than having to hold the pump to you. Try doing anything else and you will spill your milk (devastating to spill liquid gold!). You can buy them online but I bought mine at "A Mother's Gift" which is the store inside of Plano Presby (where i had my kids). I think it was $35 or so - worth every single penny.

Good luck and Congratulations!
T.

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K.H.

answers from Dallas on

I have the Medela Pump in Style Advanced pump and I would not use anything else. It is very fast and effective. Being at work, you will want to get it over with as quickly as possible (I have to pump 3 times a day!) as there are always people waiting for me!
Babies R Us and Target does carry this brand, but I ordered mine from www.hackleyhme.com. The price was about $100 less than BRU and Target - and no tax or shipping. I got my pump quickly and in perfect, brand new condition.

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P.B.

answers from Lubbock on

The Medela is hands down the best. It's expensive, usually $250-$350 at Target or Babis R Us. The car attachment is another $25 I think so you can pump in the car. Well worth it though.

1 mom found this helpful
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P.G.

answers from Dallas on

I rented the Medela Symphony (hospital grade) for a month after delivery and then bought the Medela Pump in Style. No doubt in my mind the Medela is the brand to get. I would recommend buying new since long term renting would be much more expensive and I just would not recommend a used pump.

I really liked the Pump in Style but if I had it to do over again I would likely buy the most compact hospital grade Medela I could get. It was just much quieter. And the Symphony was the the same size as the PIS. After 10 months of nursing/pumping the extra cost of the hospital grade would have been worth it in my opinion.

I had a great experience with this online purchase:
Christy Laudermilk
http://www.mothersbestbreastpumps.com
###-###-####

Good luck!

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N.R.

answers from Dallas on

Hi W.,

I have the Pump 'n Style from Medela. It's pricey, but I have used it through 2 kids. It's got a battery pack so if you can't plug it in, you can still use it. It also has an adjustable level control which is nice for when you are sore. I would recommend this if you plan to pump more than 50% of the time. I breastfed only a few weeks and then went straight to pumping. I was able to pump for 5 months after I returned to working full time.

Good Luck!
N. R

1 mom found this helpful
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K.T.

answers from Dallas on

Haha...I am pumping right now. I also have the pump in style from medela. The one I bought is the one in the metro bag. It is stylish. I really like it.

Not sure if you pumped with your first child...but here is what I have learned about pumping over the last 7 months.

Start early. I had a ton of milk early on and I attribute this to pumping in the hospital. If you ask they will bring you a hospital grade pump at the hospital and it will help your milk come in faster. Plus, the lactation consultants will get you fitted for the right breast shields. When I left the hospital -- I got to keep all of the supplies I had used so that gave me an extra set of the connectors and shields. I know I didn't pay for it -- so I guess my insurance did ;-)

Then I kept pumping at the begining. Several times a day. I stored about 6 oz a day for the first 2 months. We bought a deep freeze so we could keep the milk longer. Since I only work part time -- we are still using up the milk I stored early on. Once I started getting out and she started to be more fun -- my excess pumping slowed down so I am glad I pumped a lot in the begining.

You can get cleaning wipes for your pump supplies – but I find that a wet wipe works just as well if you don’t plan to use it again before washing. I bought them -- but they seem like a waste of money to me.

I find the gerber storage bags to be the best – they don’t seem to leak for me. The Medellas leaked really badly. I keep a black sharpie to write on the bags.

I am using those breastfeeding bottles from first years – the ones with two nipples that is supposed to simulate breastfeeding. I like those. My dd seems to adjust back and forth pretty easily.

Hope this helps.

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S.T.

answers from Dallas on

I recently asked this same question at the PumpMoms yahoo group!

I am borrowing my friends Medela Pump in Style Advance bought in '05. Medela just came out with the Freestyle hands-free model with a timer and memory mode, plus many more features. I exclusively pump (EP) and plan to continue until Sierra is a least 2. So my husband treated me to this new pump model for Mother's Day!

You can read all 5-star reviews of it at Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/FreeStyle-Hands-Free-Electric-Breas...
(Incidentally, the company selling thru Amazon is selling it at an outrageous price: $499 + $30 shipping.)

I purchased mine on Monday and it is scheduled to arrive in DFW area from NJ on Thurs. I used www.awaybabyrentals.com. They price matched the pump (theirs is quoted at $299) to www.bestbuybaby.com (quoted at $285) and gave me a box of Medela breast pads ($10 value) and FREE shipping.

PLUS with www.awaybabyrentals.com you get round the clock breast feeding support over the phone from nurses on staff. (Not the case with bestbuybaby.) AND I'm very impressed with awaybabyrentals.com customer service.

WOW - can't beat that deal! (I price compared 9 different places.)

Congrats on baby #2 and your decision to feed your little one mom's milk! Good luck deciding on a breast pump.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.C.

answers from Dallas on

when you deliver your baby at the hospital start breastfeeding right away..you can pump in between feeds to help your milk come in faster. it will take a couple of days for your milk to come in so be patient!!

the lactation nurse may suggest that you rent a hospital grade pump for a couple of weeks or so to help you along the way and then you can transition to a breast pump you prefer. medela pump in style is the best yet! make sure it's a double pump versus a single pump. i see a lot of moms (including myself the second time around) happy with the medela brand. you could ask your lactation nurse what brand and type of pump you will need when you get home and when you return to work. by then your milk supply should be well established and you can start storing your milk!

also if you need more support or information about breast feeding la leche league has wonderful information to share as well as support meetings throughout the metroplex. you can google it!

congratulations on your new addition and your sending off your eldest son to college!

best wishes!!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.T.

answers from Dallas on

I agree with the Pump In Style being a great pump. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a used one or borrow one from someone--stores sell all the parts separately, so you can purchase your own parts and you wouldn't have to worry about germs or the health of the previous "pumper". Good luck to you!

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L.

answers from Dallas on

This may sound crazy, but I used the Medela hospital grade attachment that they give you in the hospital. It turns into a hand pump, which works better than any battery/electronic one. I would pump one time a day, in less than 15 minutes for both breasts.

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M.S.

answers from Dallas on

Go with the hospital pump. I didn't think it would make a difference and I bought the best one on the market for retail. I went back to work and pumped several times a day but I still lost most of my milk after a couple of months. When I had my second preemie was in NICU and I was pumping 8 times a day, the lactation consultants talked me into the renting the hospital pump for at least a month. It made a WORLD of difference. My baby is 15 months old now and she is STILL nursing! It was only about $35 a month and insurance will cover it if the doctor writes a prescription for nursing. If you have any questions about that call the lactation department at Plano Presby.

Good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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T.W.

answers from Dallas on

I just finished using the Medela Pump In Style for moms with a full-time job. It worked awesome! I used it until my daughter turned 1 and now I'm through with it. I had to pump 3 to 4 times a day and never had any problems. It was approximately $250 at Target. I did not buy the "Advanced Pump In Style" due to the cost, but I was fine with the "Original." Good luck in your hunt.

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A.J.

answers from Dallas on

Hi, from a mom who pumped exclusively for 3 kids, if you are feeding from the bottle only and not the breast and bottle, then you need to rent or buy a hospital grade pump (I really liked the medela Lactina (I bought one on Ebay for 350.00 they retail new for over 1K)the hospital grade pumps stimulate your breast to let down the mild closer to the way a baby would and you will be able to pump longer with out drying up (pump each side until empty no less than 15 minutes per side but i prefer 20 minutes a side to stimulate the milk production.

If you are breast and bottle feeding then the Medela pump in style should work fine for you. pump 15-20 minutes per side or longer if your let down takes longer.

some women take a little longer to let down to a pump than they would the baby so some women need to pump longer then time frame for a baby nursing and pumping time frame are not the same. the pumping time differs from woman to woman.

good luck!
A. J
www.celebritypartyfavors.com

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M.G.

answers from Boise on

I got a Medela Pump In Style back in 1997. It worked for both of my children, two of my friends (one just last year) and my niece. My best friend got a $50 one first and it did not do the trick. Babies R Us used to sell them and the attatchments. But you can do an online search to find the best price. I hope this helps!

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B.D.

answers from Dallas on

I worked full time 6 weeks after my baby was born and I pumped for 12 months after and I used the Medela pump in style (it pumps both sides) and that worked really well for me!

Also I highly recommend the pumping bra - it will allow you to pump and read a book or do other things with your hands. I wish someone told me about this when I started pumping with my first. I found out a few months afterwards. All my friends got one too because they were sooo useful!
http://www.easyexpressionproducts.com/

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L.N.

answers from Dallas on

I used the Medela In Style Backpack breast pump for 6 months and it worked great. My daughter could not latch on either, so I just used the pump all of the time instead of breastfeeding the natural way. It worked awesome, the only reason I stopped after 6 months was because I was working and it got too hard to keep up and that she refused any milk that was not fresh, if it had been in the freezer or in the fridge for long she would not take it. I know they are expensive, but well worth the money if you plan on pumping every day.

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

I had a Medela with my first child and got rid of it before surprise #2 baby came along. I went with Evenflo this time and it works just as well for way less money. A double pump is the best way to go though. With kids, you need to save time whenever you can.

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H.B.

answers from Dallas on

If you are looking for something less expensive than the Medela, try the Lansinoh Double Electric pump. It was $150 when I bought mine last August. It worked great for me and I pumped everyday, several times a day.

Congratulations.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.D.

answers from Dallas on

Medela pumps are excellent! The new Medela Freestyle, Pump In Style Advanced (the price dropped quite a bit this year on this one) or Symphony rental pump would be great choices for a working mom.
I actually rent and sell new Medela products. If you could give me more specific information I would love to help you further,as well as tell you how to save paying tax on purchase or rental.
Best of luck to you and congratulations!
A.
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A.M.

answers from Dallas on

Medela is the best brand on the market. It is what most working mothers I know have. They retail around $349. I have a barely used one if you are interested. I got it for my fourth and last child (7 months old now)and ended up getting sick and wasn't able to nurse very long. Barely used the pump. My number is ###-###-#### and I live in Rockwall. If you are interested call me.

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L.A.

answers from Dallas on

Medela is the best brand. They have a double breast pump that pumps you in 10 minutes! It's great! They are pricey though. I have one that I don't need anymore, that I'll sell you for $175.00 if you don't mind "used". I used it for 11 months. A lifesaver. Just let me know. ###-###-####

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K.W.

answers from Dallas on

Have you investigated the Avent Isis?

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A.K.

answers from Dallas on

I would also highly recommend using the Medela Pump In Style. I loved mine and have used it while nursing both of my boys and it will be getting use again soon as we pregnant with boy #3. I would recommend to you that you can get a PX from your OB for a breastpump and the hospitals (most of them at least) will give you a 10% discount. They say that it is not safe to buy a used breast pump and I just think it's kind of icky - like buying used panties or bras! I would spend the money and get one brand new!

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L.H.

answers from Dallas on

Hey W.,
I have a pump in style that I used for my son. If you want to buy it you can. I will sell it for $75. I live in Highland Village.
L.

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