DD1: 8/2014

TTC #2: 6/2017
BFP 8/3/2017 | CP 8/4
BFP 10/16/2017 | CP 10/21
BFP 12/18/2017 | CP 12/28
BFP 2/15/2018 | EDD: November 2nd | It's a girl!
DD2: 10/2018

This is a place for FTMs to ask questions and S+TMs to share the wealth of knowledge they've accumulated on baby products. Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product to help streamline and make it easier to refer back. This week it's.... breast pumps and accessories!
Please use the prompts below to try to share as much relevant info as you can in a format that is easy for those reading to absorb/respond to. If you'd like to recommend/ask questions about more than one product, please copy/paste the prompts as needed.
For S+TMs:
For FTMs
To view past Product Spotlights or view the upcoming schedule, click this link.
(Also just a reminder that if anyone wants to revive old threads to ask questions as we get further along and it becomes more likely everyone is doing further research, please feel free!)
Re: Product Spotlight Series: Breast Pumps/Accessories (w/o 3/27)
For S+TMs:
For S+TMs:
For S+TMs:
DD1: 8/2014
TTC #2: 6/2017
BFP 8/3/2017 | CP 8/4
BFP 10/16/2017 | CP 10/21
BFP 12/18/2017 | CP 12/28
BFP 2/15/2018 | EDD: November 2nd | It's a girl!
DD2: 10/2018
I basically went through trial by fire with pumping and learned how to pump properly. I did it for a whole year. Wooo.
I recently won a free pump at a breastfeeding event I went to! It’s an Ardo. It looks amazing I want to try it out so badly. It’s quiet and small and won’t make you feel like a total dairy cow (but you will feel like one).
Also, Duck bill valves FTW! And we used regular ol babies r us milk bags (RIP).
I totally recommend the manual Medala Harmony though. It’s pretty good.
ETA: I also clearly didn't do any research with my first pump. Whatever was free and that I'd heard of. I've never heard of closed vs open system pumps.
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LO arrived 11/9/2018! We have a baby!
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Me: 33 | DH: 41
Married: March 2016
TTC #1/IUD out January 2017
PCOS dx January 2018
Medicated cycle 2.5mg Letrozole CD3-7 February 2018
BFP 3/10/2018!
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Did anyone one have a spectra that is not hospital grade? Or what models specifically did you insurance cover?
I like my Freestyle but if I can get a new one for free I’m gonna!
--------------------------------
LO arrived 11/9/2018! We have a baby!
--------------------------------
Me: 33 | DH: 41
Married: March 2016
TTC #1/IUD out January 2017
PCOS dx January 2018
Medicated cycle 2.5mg Letrozole CD3-7 February 2018
BFP 3/10/2018!
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DD1: 8/2014
TTC #2: 6/2017
BFP 8/3/2017 | CP 8/4
BFP 10/16/2017 | CP 10/21
BFP 12/18/2017 | CP 12/28
BFP 2/15/2018 | EDD: November 2nd | It's a girl!
DD2: 10/2018
I did like it. I do wish I had the option for the S1 so I could move around and pump. Also ordering replacement parts wasn't that great bc the Spectra site was always out of stock.
I liked the Spectra a lot but baby brain is real and I definitely forgot parts at home a few times, which generally meant I was SOL since I couldn't just run over to the Target next door. I bought extras on Amazon a few times and while they were all compatible with the pump, they weren't always as compatible with each other, so pick a replacement brand and stick to it (Maymom is good and cheaper than the official replacements). FWIW, I wanted the Hygeia but it wasn't one of my covered choices.
Did any of you ladies use a pumping bag with the Spectra? If so, which one? The only annoyance about the Spectra to me was the round shape which isn't conducive to packing it up well/easily on the go. I just used my really large diaper bag (Skip Hop Baby Grand Central) but something more compact and convenient would be nice.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RYU9FZA/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_CwQmBbDDD88JR
Thank you very much in advance!
DD1: 8/2014
TTC #2: 6/2017
BFP 8/3/2017 | CP 8/4
BFP 10/16/2017 | CP 10/21
BFP 12/18/2017 | CP 12/28
BFP 2/15/2018 | EDD: November 2nd | It's a girl!
DD2: 10/2018
Side note... I was traveling last week and noticed my local airport has pumping "kiosks" in the terminals now! It looked kinda of like a photo booth at first and it took me a minute to figure out what it was, haha.
--------------------------------
LO arrived 11/9/2018! We have a baby!
--------------------------------
Me: 33 | DH: 41
Married: March 2016
TTC #1/IUD out January 2017
PCOS dx January 2018
Medicated cycle 2.5mg Letrozole CD3-7 February 2018
BFP 3/10/2018!
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- Ameda Finesse
- Hygeia Enjoye
- Spectra S2
- Medela Pump In Style
From what I gather from earlier in the post, the Medela Pump in Style has some not so great reviews so I'm probably out on that one. My friend is lending me hers to keep with me at work, so I'll get to compare that with whatever I end up with at home. I've seen some good feedback on the S2 and a few on the Hygeia Enjoye.
@purelex I know you mentioned you wanted the Hygeia but it wasn't covered by your insurance. Curious to know if there's any specific reason why you wanted that over the Spectra?
Dx: PCOS
DS1 born 11/2014
DS2 born 11/2018
3 previous losses
Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green
I've heard of some people who've used other pumps and had the milk leak into the tubes, causing mold to grow in them. I never had to clean the tubes (well, once when the duckbill valves got old/worn out, milk started leaking into the tubes, but as soon as I got new valves it stopped leaking).
The pump also came with a manual pump which was great for when I was on the go. It seemed like a unique manual pump system, so it was much more comfortable (I assume) than the manual pumps that you have to squeeze with your whole hand.
I'll be getting another Hygeia this time around for sure!
DD1: 8/2014
TTC #2: 6/2017
BFP 8/3/2017 | CP 8/4
BFP 10/16/2017 | CP 10/21
BFP 12/18/2017 | CP 12/28
BFP 2/15/2018 | EDD: November 2nd | It's a girl!
DD2: 10/2018
Has anyone tried the portable Spectra 9Plus? I have to purchase mine out of pocket so I'm looking at all of the models. I've heard wonderful things about the Spectra 2Plus (the little pink round model), that it drains really fast, but I'm nervous that if I have to EP again I wont be able to be attached to an outlet with a toddler and a baby. If anyone has tried it, what did you think? Did it drain quickly?
ETA tag
working, clean parts and sterilize. I exclusively pumped for 8 months with this thing, it worked just fine. medela PIS, it was the one my insurance covered. It got the job done. But I’ll tell ya, I didn’t miss all this crap AT ALL lol.