BF class and pump question

Izabella22 · December 2011

So we had BF class tonight, it was fantastic and covered a lot beyond just BFing. It was at a different hospital than where we'll be delivering and here is my dilemma... the local hospital where we had the class (and where I'll probably join a mothers group if I decide to go) uses Medela pumps and swears by them... the hospital I'm delivering at just switched to Ameda... well the LC who taught the class said everyone she's dealt w/ that had an Ameda pump had problems with them. Now I'm second guessing my purchase, I got a good deal on the Ameda but I'm not tied to it... and I can buy a Medela PISA at the local hospital for only about $40 more. Just wondered what other Pgal mama's are getting for pumps or what they've been recommended. I know Medela is really popular, but I really liked the idea of a closed system pump.

In good news, she said I was smart not to buy lots of bottles already b/c its hard to tell what LO will like... lol. And I thought I was just a slacker!

Mrs_Est11.11.06 · December 2011

My Mom bought me the Medela PISA as my Christmas gift, I am very thankful. I am a working Mom and really want to breastfeed this pump was referred to me by other working Moms that have to bump more than most. I am going to take a class (as soon as I find one) on just breast feeding our birthing classes didnt really go into to much details.

Beth

LoriJ11 · December 2011

I have the medela and love it. I exclusively pumped for latching problems for 5 months and it was worth every penny.

RunSchwartzRun · December 2011

I pumped with my Medela PIS for 12+ months and had zero problems with it. Although I do understand it is not a closed system I can't imagine how milk would get into the machine itself. I never saw one drop even in the tubing. I highly recommend it, but of course it is all I know. GL with the decision!

rock-elle · December 2011

Ditto Schwartz, I effing love my pisa. The tote is super handy & I have never had milk in the tubes

LottaLattes · December 2011

I EPd for 10 months with a used Ameda and it was fine. It did start to wear out a bit after that but I had literally been pumping 10+ times a day that whole time. It had also been used for an unknown length of time so I didn't see an issue with that. And that was 10 years ago too

. I got a new one with my younger son (only pumped at work) and had no problems. I never used a Medela pump but couldn't justify the cost difference and they can't be reused the same way so buying used wasn't an option. I will register for another Ameda pump this time around, no hesitation!

NY-allie · December 2011

I got a Medela PISA with DS and loved it. I got it on the recommendation of my co-workers who have the same pump. In fact every girl I saw in the pumping room at work has a PISA and loves them. I BFed DS for 11.5 months and I went back to work at 4 months. I never had any problems with milk getting into the tubing you would really have to work to get it there.

llsoule79 · December 2011

I went thorugh the same thing when I was researching/considering BF pumps with DD. I came to the conclusion that the closed system pump wasn't really that necessary IMO because of the ability to sterilize and clean all of the parts anyway. I never had an issue of milk getting into the tubes in either th eMedela PIS or Freestyle. I loved them both. I will say the Freestyle was much easier to use on the go. Lighter, less parts to clean..

Also, DD was very picky on bottles.. For the week she took a bottle, she liked the premie flow nipples by Dr. Brown. It took longer for her to drink so she liked that. It seemed closer to nursing in the time in took her instead of just guzzling it down. For DD , the experience was important. The others flowed way too fast and upset her tummy. I wouldn't buy too many of just one kind until you know what you LO will like. Some people force a brand on their LO.. but personally, I would see which bottle agreed with their tummy more. Some bottles allow more gas to enter their bellies, some have slower flows than other, etc...

Anyways, Good Luck!!

groweeames · December 2011

I pumped exclusively with DD for 4 months before she got a good latch and we switched to BFing. Because she was 4.5 weeks early, the hospital prescribed a breast pump so my milk would come in without her nursing. Our insurance got us an Ameda but the lactation consultant took one look at it and said my milk would never come in with it. I ended up renting a Medela Symphony (the hospital one) for $70/month, and it was totally worth it. Other hospitals might have it available to rent for much less (my friend's hospital rented it for $30).

However - I think I only needed the Symphony because I was using it to establish my milk supply and pump exclusively. I got more milk more quickly with the Symphony, and when pumping 10+ times per day for 4 months, that really adds up. If you're using the pump a few times a day, the Ameda might be fine. I've never tried the Medela PISA so I don't know how different it is from the hospital-grade Symphony.

lauralew · December 2011

My doula recommended Medela. I'm getting the Medela Freestyle. I'm getting the Freestyle because it can allow you to pump one breast at a time. With twins it's common for one to be a good feeder while the other struggles. It's helpful to have the ability to breast feed one while pumping the other breast.

If you can still return the Ameda to get a Medela, I would. If the hospital you are most likely to go to for assistance with lactation (I'm assuming that's what the mother's group is for) is most familiar and recommends the Medela, then I think it makes more sense to use it. If the hospital where you're delivering used to use Medela but now uses Ameda, they probably still have enough knowledge about Medela to help you while in the hospital.

HBaylies · December 2011

All pumps in the hospitals, no matter the brand, are a closed system. The pumps by Medela that aren't hospital grade aren't closed, but I don't see the need to worry about that? You should never share a pump with someone unless it's a closed system, but if you're talking about the pump that you are going to have for your own personal home use, I;m curious what the reason is for wanting the closed system? I EP'ed with DS for nearly a full year and used a single electric Medela (there was no point in me spending the money for the double because my letdown is terrible and I had to use my hands to manually massage each breast one at a time to get the milk to come out while I pumped). Only once did the milk ever back up into the tubing because I wasnt paying attention and the bottle started to overflow. It makes a distinctly different noise while this is happening and I noticed within like 2 seconds and the milk in the tube was no where near getting into the system when I hit the button to turn it off. That being said though, I am the only mom in all the moms I met in a year of going to BF group that ever had milk go into the tubing at all. I can't tell you which to pick, but I did love my medela. And it performed about 100 hours past the typical life of the pump since the once I used wasn't intended to be a pump for an EP'er. In fact, it never stopped working. I stopped pumping before it even kicked the bucket.

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