I'm a FTM and I'm planning on starting our registry in the upcoming weeks since it's hard to know what my time will look like as we get closer to delivery. I've heard good things about medela, but online reviews seem to be pretty negative about the electric pumps. Any moms out there have preferences?
Mrs. B

Re: Breast pumps
I don't know anyone with a Medela pump who was dissapointed. My sister will be using hers for her 4th child and it still pumps as well as with the first. She pumps multiple times a day from day one for anywhere between 6-12 months with each.
I also had really good luck with their customer service.
Make a pregnancy ticker
Medela PISA
ETA: This is hands down the best pump out there as far as quality and customer service. It is worth the price, but I would wait until the baby comes to make sure you will use it.
I got the Medela PISA shoulder bag when I had my first child. I loved that pump, I have NO complaints. It worked well, did the job and it attaches straight onto Dr. Brown's narrow neck bottles too. I also like how the bag doesn't scream 'Breast Pump!' so I could take it to work and it looked like a black shoulder bag. The ice pack also kept the milk cool during an 8 hour work day, I never had to keep them in the break room refrigerator.
med-free birth x2, breastfeeding, baby wearing SAHM
My BFP Chart
Used my Medela Freestyle for 12 months with no problems. I got it b/c its small and can run for a multiple sessions (all day) on a battery - I travel for work.
I also used the Medela Harmony hand pump at times, which was great for times DS slept through a feeding or something and I did not want to assemble my electric pump.
I bought the hand pump before DS was born and then the Freestyle once my supply was established.
I had a medela electric double pump and pumped for 12 months after going back to work. No complaints here. I do have complaints about every single other pump I tried with my first- nothing worked. I love how medela has a let down in the beginning...I swear that pump was the reason I could breastfeed. Don't know what I would have done without it. Not to mention even after $350 spent it saved me thousands of $$ from not having to buy formula.
Good luck!
Medela Pump in Style saved my life with my son.
I would wait to get one until the baby comes, though. My friend just had her baby, and she had bought the pump beforehand, but she says she doesn't have much milk to pump after she nurses her baby. A lot of people I know didn't even own one.
Proud mother of two breech babies:)
Sorry for responding late here, but I personally rented a hospital grade pump after I delivered. I think it was the Medela Symphony. It was amazing - I stopped pumping at 10 months and once my daughter turned 1, I still had 4-5 gallons, yes GALLONS, in our deep freezer. I think it was all because of having a hospital grade pump. I was certainly a pricier option than buying a consumer grade pump, as I think the rental was about $50/month. BUT, knowing that I had plenty on hand and could have stopped a few months earlier made a big difference to me.
BFP #2 February 2009: Beautiful baby girl born at 33weeks 5days after 8 weeks of PTL, hospital bedrest and mag sulfate
BFP #3 September 2010: miscarried at 6.5 weeks
BFP #4 January 2011: Cerclage placed at 12.5 weeks, live miscarriage at 14 weeks RPL testing May 2011 - FOUND Factor V Leiden and slight autoimmune issues! Never so excited to have something wrong with me!
BFP #5 August 2011: Aspirin and Lovenox - trying one more time!IT'S A BOY!!!