Product Spotlight: Breast Pumps

baseballismyfavoriteseason · April 2020

I think we missed this last week?? If I just missed, I apologize and am happy to delete or close this thread. But it's been on my mind and I've been dying to talk about it.

Let's talk breast pumps - manual, electric, hospital-grade. What are your questions? What's your advice?

baseballismyfavoriteseason · April 2020

I used a Medela Pump In-Style for my first, and it was totally fine. But I have also heard great reviews about Spectra breast pumps. I'm planning to get a breast pump through my insurance even though I still have my Medela, so I can have one at home and one at work and not worry about forgetting (which I definitely did once or twice!!), and I'm not sure whether to do the Medela again, or try the Spectra S2. Any Spectra users, or users of both, who can offer advice?

carrotsandpeas3 · April 2020

I had the Spectra S2 and pumped for a year while at work and it was great. I think it is slightly bulkier than the pump in style (not that I have one to compare directly), but otherwise I have only heard better things. Quieter and stronger. I did have trouble with a recurrent clog that I had to use a hospital grade Medela symphony to help with, but I don't think that was the Spectra's fault. I am probably going to get another Spectra since I liked it,and I have all the flanges and stuff for it already. I might upgrade to the S1. I'm also tempted to try an Elvie, but am too nervous to spend the money and it not work for me.

anitamargarita_82 · April 2020

I had the rechargeable spectra. I forget which version that is. It was fine. I liked that I wasn’t stuck being next to a power outlet. I could pump wherever. I’ll probably get another one so I have 2, one for work and one for home. My insurance will buy another for me with all the stuff that goes with it.

AB518 · April 2020

I had the Spectra S2. I liked it. It was relatively quiet compared to other breast pumps. My friend/colleague at work commented that she never knew that I was pumping at work because she never heard the breast pump even though I was pumping in a room with thins walls and a thin door. I never tried the Medela, but the same friend from work would complain that her Medela was really loud. She used to pump in the same room at work that I used to pump, and I remember being able to hear her breast pump. I'll probably get another Spectra since I was happy with it the last time. I just wish that it was more portable. I'll probably leave one of the pumps at work and keep the other one at home this time.

babyodo · April 2020

I got the Spectra S2 through my insurance company the last time I was pregnant *TW* and they never cancelled my order after my loss, so I got it about two weeks after finding out I was pregnant again.*EndTW* I chose it because the reviews said how quiet it was, but as a FTM, I'm a little intimidated about using it. I've opened the box twice to check out the different parts and read the user's manual, but after a few minutes I'm like, "Too much! I'll figure this out later." LOL

I also registered for a Haakaa manual pump after reading tips from other moms about pumping while nursing so as not to waste any milk and to help keep my breastmilk production balanced.

carrotsandpeas3 · April 2020

@babyodo I used the haakaa a lot the first month or two when I was leaking a lot to gather the extra milk from the other side while nursing and to help relieve the engorgement pressure. It was great and helped me start to build a little stash for when I went back to work. I also used a little Medela hand pump a bit in the first few weeks when I was really struggling with engorgement and uncomfortable to help relieve a little pressure without breaking out the full pump. I didn't want to use the full pump much at the beginning since I was direct nursing and that can result in massive oversupply and difficulty with baby latching. The haakaa and Medela hand pump were good solutions without overdoing it!

profmcgonagall · April 2020

I used the spectra S1 and loved. I exclusively pumped for 4 months and then pumped at least once a day for the next 5 months. It was quiet, effective and was rechargeable so I wasn’t attached to the wall the whole time.

themoonandme · April 2020

I used the Medela Pump In Style for my first two pregnancies and the Spectra S2 for my last and far preferred the Spectra. It was definitely quieter and I loved that it had a light function and a little bottle holder (which conveniently also fits a pint glass). I also found a ton of different "routines" to try with the different settings to help me maximize output. Someone else also mentioned the Haaka which I thought was super useful as well- I would put it on the side baby wasn't nursing from for the first month or two since my supply hadn't leveled out, and then it caught all the extra drips that would have just gone to waste otherwise.

coldbrew · April 2020

I exclusively pumped with the Medela PISA and had no complaints. I couldn’t care less about if the pump makes noise so I can’t really say if it was loud or not. I heard great things about the Spectra so I actually tried it out around the 4mo mark but it pumps very differently and I hated it. I feel like if I started with it I wouldn’t have, but my boobs were used to the Medela if that makes sense.

westslopemama · April 2020

I have the Medela Pump In Style and used it some, but I really preferred the Medela Harmony hand pump (I bought this once I went back to work). I only worked 1-2x/week and I would always come home at lunch to nurse my son so I didn’t need that big of a stash of milk. I preferred the hand pump because I could easily take it off and attend to my son if he needed something while I was pumping and it was just easier to bring back and forth to work. I had a sufficient milk supply so I could quickly pump 4-5 oz from each side using the manual pump.

When my son was first born he had a terrible latch and nursing was horrible. I was supplementing with donor milk and stressing out about my milk drying up. I was trying to figure out how to use my electric pump and I was so confused about how to set it up, probably due to being exhausted and stressing out, but I do recommend learning how to use your pump before the baby is born in case you have trouble breastfeeding in the beginning.

Kurtni · April 2020

I had a pump in style last time and it was okay, it seemed to lose suction despite keeping all the parts and filters changed regularly. Going to try a spectra this time.

The haaka is amazing. I would wear it on one side while nursing on the other and always get a couple ounces.

ellemnop90 · April 2020

I had the pump in style with my son, and I liked it enough.

I am curious if anyone has tried any of those wearable pumps that just go in your bra and you can walk around and do other things?

carrotsandpeas3 · April 2020

@Ellemnop90 I haven't tried one but have researched a lot about them. They are very popular in a physician mom group I'm in. I'm very tempted but it seems like for a good number of people they do not work as well, but are better than nothing if you aren't going to be able to pump otherwise. A cheaper option is to use freemie cups with a baby Buddha pump versus the more expensive Willow or Elvie. As of now, I probably won't get one, but I'm still thinking about it.

morethanamama · April 2020

@carrotsandpeas3 I am tempted too but it's so much money and since I work from home perhaps the benefits aren't as many for me. I also heard that they only catch about 4-5 oz max. I never had an oversupply so it would probably be fine but that's something to consider.

I am a huge Spectra fan. I got an S2 AND and S9 from insurance (I lucked out). Loved both, the S9 was excellent while traveling and on the go. I will just get new parts, so I'm good to go.

I also got super lucky as someone gave me a pretty much brand new S1 and a brand new unopened Hakaa! I had a Hakaa but I started using it too late when it wasn't catching much. So I'm excited to get on that bandwagon right away!

@babyodo I didn't even try to learn the pump before baby. I was shown how to use one at the hospital and they helped me fit me with the right flanges as well, so don't worry too much about it!

carrotsandpeas3 · April 2020

@morethanamama I definitely wouldn't consider it if I worked from home. The convenience for me would be not having to go to a separate lactation room and be able to continue working from my desk at my shared workspace, etc. Did you find the S9 to be strong enough? I was thinking about getting one of those for portability, but heard the suction wasn't as good.

@babyodo I didn't try to figure out my pump until well after birth. It wasn't too difficult. I didn't use it until my kid was 4ish weeks old. I used the haakaa and a Medela hand pump a little before that, but mostly just a lot of direct nursing to get my supply up.

morethanamama · April 2020

@carrotsandpeas3 I would say it was good enough for when I was pumping in the car (while driving back from a date with H LOL) or if i was traveling. I didn't feel a difference in suction with the S9 at all, I will say I always made sure the battery had at least 2 bars.

ellemnop90 · April 2020

@carrotsandpeas3 my friend told me she was able to get a wearable one through her insurance. I’m considering looking into that since I already have the pump in style. I’m not sure if she has really good insurance or what, but something to look into!

carrotsandpeas3 · April 2020

@ellemnop90 that's a thought. I'm pretty sure the high end ones (Willow and Elvie) are almost never fully covered, but maybe like the Freemie Independence or something! I'm nervous that my old Spectra would go out since I've used it so long already, but that's probably just me being paranoid.

baseballismyfavoriteseason · April 2020

Thanks everyone for your responses about the Spectra! I think I’ll try it!

I used the Hakaa a lot as well. In the first several weeks I used it on one side while nursing on the other and was able to have some milk for
my husband to bottle-feed on occasion (until we had a two-day power outage and I lost it). I would also take it into a hot shower with me if I felt a clog forming. Such a life-saver!

babycakesday · April 2020

I had never heard of the Hakaa, but just added it to my list. It would’ve been awesome during my first baby.

annarach · April 2020

Yes! The Hakaa is amazing! A definite need!

peanutorcookie · June 2020

Reviving this thread since I'm trying to make some progress on the registry and all of this. I looked at one of the websites my insurance said was in-network for a pump. It gave 3 options. The Hygeia EnJoye which it called hospital-grade and was free. Then one of the Spectra's for like $120, and Madela for $40.

Does anyone have experience with Hygeia EnJoye? It seems too good to be true that the hospital grade one is cheapest.

Also my insurance said they'd cover the pump after birth. Is that normal? I'm a preparer and am concerned with the idea of having to deal with getting it AFTER baby arrives.

carrotsandpeas3 · June 2020

@peanutorcookie with those options, I'd probably to with the Medela. Have not heard good things about hygeia pumps. That's also crummy they won't cover it until after baby is here. Can you clarify if you can purchase and then get reimbursed once baby is here? Most insurance plans to my knowledge provide it before delivery but have different rules for how many weeks prior. I got mine by like 25 weeks last time.

baseballismyfavoriteseason · June 2020

@peanutorcookie I guess every insurance has different policies but mine did not make me wait. That would have stressed me out. For each pregnancy I have been on a different insurance provider, and with both I was able to get my pump fully paid by insurance before baby came/comes. I already ordered and received mine this time! Good suggestion by @carrotsandpeas3 to see if you can purchase and get reimbursed.

anitamargarita_82 · June 2020

Well as someone who went into premature labor and didn’t have a pump when I delivered it was a stressful situation. The navy had to get me one fedexed over night from Seattle so I’d have it when I was discharged. I had the hospital grade spectra. I worked great! @peanutorcookie which spectra are they offering? I

jgrodo · June 2020

@PeanutButterCookie my one suggestion would be to wait after baby anyways. I totally understand the wanting it in advance but insurance will only pay for one and if you end up needed a medical grade one but got one before hand they won't cover it. I got mine before hand with my lil. I never got milk but I did end up renting a medical grade one in an attempt and if it worked it wouldn't have been covered by insurance.

MJDsquared · June 2020

@peanutorcookie My insurance was like that last time, and because my employer is headquartered in WA and I'm in OR, they said I had to order from this company in WA and I had to do it after delivery. But in the hospital they asked, and they gave me a form for a company in Portland and had it delivered right to the hospital while I was still there! (And it ended up still being covered.) So that was nice.

mammatoomc · June 2020

I exclusively pumped for 10m with my first after he failed to latch. I used a Medela Pump In Style as my primary pump. I also had the Medela Freestyle which charges and is small and portable but sadly it wasn’t very efficient in employing me- but it’s portability was a MUST as an EPer. I also kept the hand held Medela in my diaper bag which was great for a fast bottle. And lastly I used the Freemies when I needed to get things done. They were okay but also not efficient in emptying.

I am planning to EP this time around right from the start. I went with the Medela Sonata which is a hospital grade pump and closed system. I’ve done tons of research and though Spectras are well rated I felt more confident going with Medela again. It was $175 with my insurance and I used my HSA Dollars to purchase, so $0 out of pocket. I received it about a month ago, super easy.

I will also most likely be purchasing the Willow pump for the convenience but it is pricey at $500. I plan to wait until my milk comes in and see how established my supply is before making the purchase. It was A LOT of work to increase my supply with my first.

morethanamama · June 2020

Just got around to check my benefits and I have similar options as last time. I noticed they do offer a Freemie independence free of charge and I'm curious to try it. We were talking about wearable pumps so wondering if anyone has feedback? Lucie's list thinks it's good but could potentially not be strong enough. I wonder however if it could be a good option for pumping on the go? I gave my S9 to a friend and while I can get it back I wonder how good it would be 2 years and 2 users later. I also wondered about maybe get the Medela pump in style but I really don't like the idea of an open system.

Lastly, is it true you're supposed to replace your pump?? Mine is going to be a bit over 2 years old and I thought I just had to change the parts? I was also given a Spectra S1 and plan on trying that one too. STMs, are you reusing your old pump?

baseballismyfavoriteseason · June 2020

@morethanamama I don’t know the official answer on reusing your old pump... (guessing it’s a no-no because of sanitary concerns?) but I’m planning to, somewhat. I have the Medela PIS from my first and will replace all the tubing etc, and ordered a Spectra this time. My plan is to use the Spectra only at first, until I go back to work. Then I will take one pump to work and leave it there instead of
carting my pump back and forth every day. (I forgot my pump at home once or twice with my first and don’t want to risk repeating that.)

carrotsandpeas3 · June 2020

@morethanamama I'm planning on reusing my old pump, and I'm pretty sure it's 100% okay, it just might not last the whole year motorwise. I had a Spectra so it was a closed system, so I will just sterilize the parts (and also get new valves). I haven't decided what 2nd pump I will get yet but would be tempted to try the Freemie if it was available through my insurance and I had an old pump as backup. I've heard mixed things on the strength of the suction though and I used my Spectra on some of the highest settings, so I'd be nervous it wouldn't be enough for me.

ETA--I would reuse an open system pump too if you sterilize and get new parts.

morethanamama · June 2020

@carrotsandpeas3 the strength was the one concern on Lucie's list too, I figured I could use it as a on the go pump or for those days I want to be hands free. I'd definitely want to establish a good supply this time, I feel last time it was just always barely enough and I probably screwed up in the first days when a lot of milk came in. I'm getting all new parts for the Spectra for sure. Thanks for the feedback!

mammatoomc · June 2020

@morethanamama the Freemie Independence is not highly rated. You could get a better pump and purchase the Freemie cups to use with your pump of choice. The cups are very convenient for pumping and multitasking but they do not have great suction. They really affected my supply and I had to work hard to get my supply back up after using them but they were great to have when I was driving or needing to do dishes etc.

As for reusing the pump, open systems are not recommended to reuse and can often grow mold inside. Closed systems are okay to reuse as long as you change out the parts. Keep in mind most pumps are only built to last xx amount of hours. Most website/manufacturers will tell you what the hours are. Unfortunately not all insurances will cover one pump per pregnancy (I have Aetna and they only allow one every 36 months) so if you plan to have more children it might be smart to look into these details before deciding which pump to go with. Also don’t forget, if you have HSA/FSA dollars, you can use them towards your pump purchase.

morethanamama · June 2020

@mammatoomc thanks! I had a closed system. I'm thinking of sticking to what I have. My insurance actually covered two pumps last time! And will cover at least one again this time. Luckily we are two and through so I'm excited to never purchase a pump ever again!

mamahosch · June 2020

I ordered my Spectra S2 pump yesterday through Edgepark since they are in network with my insurance. Just waiting for approval! I reaaaally wanted the S1 so I don’t have to be stuck next to an outlet, but it wasn’t offered/fully covered with my insurance. I couldn’t even find it on their website when searching breast pumps to begin with. Oh well!

amandarenee89 · June 2020

I went through my insurance for the Spectra S2 after doing a lot of research and getting recommendations. I could have paid a little extra to get the S1, but figured I didn't really need to be near an outlet much. I can make it work without an outlet even when I return to work because I have an office with a lockable door.

themoonandme · June 2020

I loved my Spectra after having to Medela PISA. Pro tip: the part that you can set a bottle into also fits a pint glass

morethanamama · June 2020

I finally made a decision on what I'm going to order! I ordered the Ameda Mya portable pump. It looks like it's new-ish to the market and very highly rated in terms of strength, especially compared to the S9 (which I gave to a friend). I'm thinking my S2 from my first pregnancy should have plenty of life left in it, if not I know for a fact I was able to get 2 pumps via insurance last time so worst case scenario the Ameda should be strong enough to hold me over until I can get another one. But pretty sure both my S2 and the S1 inwas given are still great.

coldbrew · June 2020

Has anyone looked into the Kiinde system? It’s not a pump, but they’re bags that attach to any pump (comes with adapters) and then the bags act as bottle liners. It looks like a really nice concept and will cut down on waste and cleaning!

morethanamama · June 2020

Yes, I asked this in the ask a stm thread! According to pretty much everyone I've asked here and IRL it seems to work really well so I've added it to my list. I found out I actually had a mini kit for it as part of one of the baby boxes I got with my son, and I never used it, so technically I have one nipple and bottle attachment, a few bags, and Spectra adapter already. I've added a small pack of Comotomo just in case and just to have some additional bottles for later on when she might drink more than 6oz.

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