Breast Pump question for working mom's

djmc71412 · May 2014

My insurance covers a few different options for double electric breast pumps – would anyone who has had experience with these please give me your opinion? I will be working full time after 12 weeks and hope to breast feed for at least the first year if not longer.

I already know Medela is the most popular, but my sister prefers and recommends a closed system. As a first time mom, I am clueless – please advise – thanks!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

· Medela Pump in Style Advanced Starter Kit

(upgrade to “On the Go Tote” for $83)

(upgrade to “Freestyle” for $150 - *plus: comes with rechargeable battery)

· Ameda Purely Yours Select w/ tote

*closed system, battery operable

· Hygeia Q Pump w/ tote

*hospital grade, closed system

· Lansinoh Affinity Pro

· Rumble Tuff Double Electric

· Phillips Avent Comfort

· Hygeia Enjoye

· Nuk Expressive

cecilyandgautam · May 2014

I've use the Hygeia Enjoye, Ameda Purely Yours, and Medela Sympony (hospital grade). I would definitely pick the PISA or Enjoye over the Purely Yours, Avent, or Lansinoh pumps. Both the PISA & Hygeia Enjoye are meant for working mothers using their pumps 3xday, 5 days/week, for a whole year. They're strong and they will last that year, and probably beyond - I pumped til my daughter was 15 months and my pump had plenty left in it.

The Ameda, Lansinoh, and Avent pumps are just weaker machines. Fine for a back up pump, but they're half the price for a reason. If that were your only option, I'd say get one and see if it meets your needs, but since your insurance is offering you the PISA & Enjoye, I'd pick one of those.

btw - I tried to see what the difference is between the Hygeia "Q" & Enjoye and don't see it. They look the same. I had the Enjoye.

welly01 · May 2014

I've only ever used a Medela Freestyle but I would recommend it. It was light and easy to carry around. It's not hard to clean. The battery lasted all day just fine. I think I could make it multiple days on the same charge. Maybe a downside is it is a little noisy but I don't have anything to compare it to.

jf198400 · May 2014

I only have experience with the medela PISA, but I would highly recommend it. It has lasted me through 2 yrs of pumping, and will be used again for baby #3. It's also really easy to get replacement parts b/c it's the most common pump. I've gotten flanges, bottles, tubes, etc from BRU target and amazon.

thedash · May 2014

I got the Hygeia Q through insurance. It's fine but I don't love it. My neighbor gave me her old Ameda PY and I really like it, but I hear they completely changed their assembly since then and people don't like them now. I'd get Medela if you can.

Allison546 · May 2014

Another vote for a Medela. I used a friend's Medela PISA and pumped for 6+ mos at work with no problems. Planning on getting a Medela this time around too.

The debate about open-vs-closed systems is a little overemphasized IMO. As you can see a lot of moms use their same pumps for 2+ children. As long as you take good care of/replace parts when needed, I think it's fine.

Mustardseed2007 · May 2014

I can only vote against the Ameda Purely Yours. It's quit on me more than once and most recently as I posted somewhere else, it quit on me at work, which is a bad feeling.

I exclusively pump and I cannot have that. When it works it isn't as strong as the Medela Symphony but then again I wouldn't expect it to be since that is hospital grade. If I decide to continue to pump I'll be shelling out money for a medela, perhaps a PISA, so I'll own something rather than continue to pay rental fees.

djmc71412 · May 2014

Thank you everyone! You have all been so helpful!

TheBorg7of9 · May 2014

I use medela pump in style. It was my sisters first. It is still working and it has pumped for 4 babies with full time working moms.

Maybride2 · May 2014

I absolutely loved my Medela PISA. I pumped 3-4 times a day every weekday for 7 months, stored it for 3 years, then used it to pump 3-4 times a day every weekday for 7 months again - it worked beautifully, was quiet and efficient. Easy to get extra parts for.

bethughknee · May 2014

I'm only 4 months in but I love my PISA. I pump 3x during the work day and once MOTN. Like a PP mentioned, Medela customer service is always available and other moms from my BMB have been sent replacements overnight. I can remember 2 in particular who started with Amedas only to eventually get a PISA instead.

It's also easy to replace parts for. I even have a set of the "knock off" NeNe Supply ones from Amazon and they work just as well as the Medela brand ones, IMO.

litzo27 · May 2014

I have used Medela Advanced, Ameda and Lansinoh. Two years ago I would recommend the Ameda without hesitation. It worked wonderfully for me for 1.5 years of at-work-pumping. And I liked that it's a closed system. However, over the past year it seems that more and more people are having serious issues with Ameda quality. They increased their manufacturing a lot (since many insurance carriers now made a deal to offer them) and as a result quality suffered. So as of today I recommend the Medela. I have been very happy with it as well - although I do miss being able to control the speed of pumping as in the Ameda.

MickeyM04 · May 2014

I have an Ameda which I used at work for 6 months for DS. Never had a problem. Am ordering another one thru insurance so I can have one at work and one at home. I would probably try a Medela if I didn't have all the Ameda pumping/storage bottles at home already just because I have heard such great things about Medela pumps. But I don't care to go buying all the spare parts for a Medela when the Ameda has served me well anyway.