HeLp!!! Breast pump confusion/overload.

Elisa8683 · March 2014

Hey moms. I'm a FTM and I'm so lost and confused looking at breast pumps. I'm in love with Tommee Tippee bottles and really wanted to use the Closer to Nature Double Electric pump, but I'm seeing so many mixed reviews. I thought about getting it for use at home or if we go to families houses, and getting the Avent manual pump to use discretely when I go back to work.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Anything would be so helpful!!

Thanks!

pfeilele · March 2014

I liked my medela pisa and we used the tommee tippee. They have an adaptor that you can use with the medela, and probably every other pump.

hcsmiley417 · March 2014

Check with your insurance as well. Medela has a variety of different pumps and your insurance may cover all if it if not a majority of it. Also look at all of the accessories and what not. Some you can't pump straight into a bottle, there is only 1 size nipple shields, etc....i think Medela is great and it was covered by my insurance.

runrinserepeat · March 2014

I use a medela pump that I loved. We had a few nuk bottles that we used, it was nabd.

pfeilele · March 2014

Also, I had a manual pump that was great for going out. I just shoved it in my purse and the milk is fine for a few hours without refrigeration. It was a lifesaver when I was in Chicago because we weren't at the hotel for most of the day.

[Deleted User] · March 2014

Medela has one of the best reps. If you haven't already, definitely check with your insurance to see if they cover a pump before you buy one! If you don't like the one you get, then you can always purchase another one.

If you are going to be pumping at work, you probably do not want a manual pump. I'd at least get a single electric, if not a double electric. It may be noisy but it'll be more efficient.

Elisa8683 · March 2014

Thanks ladies. I thought about checking with my insurance but I'm currently on my husbands insurance but as of April 1st I'll be on my own employer provided insurance so I guess I can just wait till then.
So if I go with a Medela but still want to use Tommee Tippee bottles I can do that right? I would just need to find an adapter?

pfeilele · March 2014

Elisa8683 said:
Thanks ladies. I thought about checking with my insurance but I'm currently on my husbands insurance but as of April 1st I'll be on my own employer provided insurance so I guess I can just wait till then.
So if I go with a Medela but still want to use Tommee Tippee bottles I can do that right? I would just need to find an adapter?

The adaptor is $5ish each, so $10. I'd wait to get those though until you know what type of bottle LO decides they like. You can pump and pour into a freezer bag or the bottle.

hcsmiley417 · March 2014

I have had some bottles that I could screw straight up to the Medela pump and didn't have to transfer to anything and I didn't need an adapter.

LyndseylovesHugh · March 2014

pfeilele said:

Elisa8683 said:
Thanks ladies. I thought about checking with my insurance but I'm currently on my husbands insurance but as of April 1st I'll be on my own employer provided insurance so I guess I can just wait till then.
So if I go with a Medela but still want to use Tommee Tippee bottles I can do that right? I would just need to find an adapter?
The adaptor is $5ish each, so $10. I'd wait to get those though until you know what type of bottle LO decides they like. You can pump and pour into a freezer bag or the bottle.

I wouldn't base your pump decision on bottles, like PP is saying, you don't know what type of bottles your LO will like. We went through numerous types before finding one that worked for her. I pumped into the medela bottles and used those or freezer bags to store the milk and just poured it into our dr. Browns bottles. IMO a good double electric is necessary if you are pumping at work.

Elisa8683 · March 2014

So how do I register for bottles since I don't know what she'll like??? (I'm sorry, I know these are stupid questions but almost everyone I know is discouraging me from breast feeding so I don't really have anyone to ask.)

Ecomom17 · March 2014

I would say don't worry about registering for bottles. As others have said, you have no idea which ones LO will like or will work for him/her. We tried a number of different bottles and found the ones we and DS liked best were the 1st Years Breast Flow bottles. They mimic the rate of milk flow from the breast and make baby work harder than other bottles, which is good because it helps baby to use the correct sucking action and to have a good latch.

https://www.amazon.com/The-First-Years-Breastflow-Disposable/dp/B004J4VY0S/ref=sr_1_4_m?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1394347096&sr=1-4&keywords=breastflow+bottles

I also agree with others: a manual pump is NOT going to cut it for work. You'll be pumping every 3 hrs or so and with a single manual pump, each session, I imagine, would take at least 1/2 an hour if not an hour. With a double electric, you're talking 15 min. for a session. I really like my Medela PISA, which comes with a carrying case and cooler pack.

I agree that the choices are overwhelming when it comes to breast pumps and bottles, so please don't apologize or feel stupid for asking these questions! There are a ridiculous amount of choices for bottles and other baby stuff, so it's helpful to get other people's opinions/experiences.

I'm so sorry people are discouraging you from breastfeeding! It sounds like you want to give it a try and I hope that at least your partner is encouraging. It can be quite difficult at first and it really helps to have support to get through the tough parts! I had a tough start with it but I LOVED breastfeeding, so I hope you can find support and form a good breastfeeding relationship with your LO. Make sure you take a breastfeeding class prior to having baby and get help from the LC's in your hospital when you have the baby. It will likely make a big difference if you're having trouble.

AutumnBonfire · March 2014

I have a Medela Pump In Style (if I were going new, I'd go with the Freestyle). I used a hands free bra at work, so I could be getting work done at the same time. I considered the Tommee Tippee pump too, but rejected it based on reviews. I wouldn't go with anything less than a double electric pump at work. That takes up enough time, especially when you're pumping three times a day.

We only ever used the Tommee Tippee bottles with DS. It wasn't a big deal to just pour the milk from the Medela pump bottles into the bottles to drink out of.

kmawb · March 2014

I have a Medela Freestyle and loved it! I pumped directly into the Medela bottles and then transferred to Nuk bottles for feeding DD since those were the ones she liked.

I would recommend not registering for bottles at all, just pick up a single bottle (with newborn appropriate nipple) in a few different makes until you know which ones your baby will like. Does your doctor support breastfeeding? If not I would strongly suggest switching doctors or finding a good lactation consultant.

katnipeverclean · March 2014

I bought a TT double electric pump over the weekend. It was on sale at Homegoods for $45 regularly 250. It was one of two pumps I was looking at to use. My insurance will cover a Medela PISA so I think I am going to get that as well. I will keep one at home and one at work. Hopefully that will make it easier to pump if breastfeeding works out this time.

Also, on the registering for bottles thing I would say don't do it. I registered for a ton of TT bottles for DD and she hated them. That was all I had except one tiny pack of avent bottles. Of course the TT bottles had all been washed and sterlized so I could not return them. I eventually gave them away to a friend whose daughter loved them. It turns out that DD loved the avent bottles.

So either save a few gift cards or if you must register keep the receipts and don't open them!

Dutch Apple Pie · March 2014

I liked my Avent pump but the bottles leaked like crazy. So, I am going for the pump but going to try some different bottles this time around. If you can rent at first just to give it a try I would do so. Don't be so quick to buy out of pocket.

zellatrix · March 2014

Yeah, skip the manual. That will take you forever. Best thing to get is a double electric. As for the bottles, just get a starter pack of the ones you like and if they work well, then get more. No need to have 20 bottles or so ready for when your baby gets here. The three in a starter pack will work for a few days, just have to wash them between feedings.

DeannaGL · March 2014

I had a single electric Medela with my first and ended up renting a double electric because I got so much more milk pumping both at once.

I am so sorry to hear that people are discouraging breast feeding. I don't think I would have succeeded without a strong support system. I met weekly with a group of BF moms In my area. You can search for la leche league, talk to your pediatrician and your local hospital to find out what sort of groups are near you. My family and friends did not know much about BF, but you can do it with the support of other moms.

Unknown · March 2014

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Lucasa2005 · March 2014

I used my tommy tippee pump and bottles for my last baby and loved them. You can get the measure cups that fit right in the bottle or pump right into. Made it very convienant.

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HeLp!!! Breast pump confusion/overload.

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