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Breastfeeding
closed vs open pumps
I have only used a rental pump so I do not understand how an open pump is different. Which ones are open and which ones are closed and why do they make any of them "open" if it is not good? I am looking at buying either the Medela PIS or Ameda double electric pumps. I think the Ameda is closed which seems better and the Medela is open but more people seem to rec the Medela. So I'm a little confused. Also had a friend offer to let me try her Medela- is that safe if I have my own parts from renting the hospital pump?
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Re: closed vs open pumps
I rented an Ameda Elite hospital-grade pump and then purchased my own Ameda Purely Yours. These pumps are closed systems. The milk never goes into the tubing. It goes directly into the bottles from the horns/flanges. Clean-up is great, and you can share the pump (no risk of contamination). Some companies provide Ameda Elites for their employees to use because you can just hook your own parts up and don't have to worry about contaminating.
Pros to the Ameda: easy clean-up, lightweight, battery-operated (if you want it to be), good suction. Mine came with the travel bag, the cooler, and the bottle into which you can pump (in addition to the necessary parts to actually pump).
Cons: it makes a tiny beeping noise. I pumped in private, so the noise did not bother me one bit. I've heard that people who pump in cubicles or shared offices are annoyed by the sound.
I have no experience with the Medela (which is the open system).
Good luck with your decision.