Breast Pumps-Help Please!!

[Trinity Bauer]

Hey Ladies I know this sounds really bad but I am very intimidated by breastfeeding and really want no part of it.  Unfortunately I would feel terrible if I didnt give my baby breast milk, so I came to pumping...BUT all the pumps have scary horrible reviews except for the 250 + medela pumps..I can't afford those and didnt win their essay contest.  I really don't know what to buy.  I just cant see myself breastfeeding naturally.  I cant do it. So im looking for a pump to use ALL the time. Has anyone rented from the hospital? How clean is that? how expensive??  Does anyone have a good pump they can recommend?

[Frismschism]

There are affordable pumps out there, that work very well. I personally used the Ameda Purely Yours, which was only $160 with free shipping. It is a closed-system breast pump, which means no outside contaminants can get into the breastmilk. It is also recommended for everyday use. I've had mine for 9 months with no issues. They also have a replacement milk collection kit called the HygieniKit, so you can use the pump for multiple children. I got mine here: http://www.amedadirect.com/ameda-purely-yours-breast-pump.html

Ameda Direct was the only place i found that actually lets you return a used breast pump if you don't like it. You may want to check them out.

[Trinity Bauer]

you used this pump?

[Frismschism]

I'm still using it. It hasn't given me any trouble since I bought it, and I get plenty of milk using it.

[Angelica Perez]

You can get a Madela manuel pump for $40.00 at target.

[Jennifer Harris]

I've heard great things about the Ameda and Lansinoh pumps. They are the highest rated ones next to the Medelas. If you're going to exclusively pump, however, be sure to get a double electric!!! Also, it would probably be cheaper to buy a pump than rent one if you plan on renting for more than 1-2 months.

[Trinity Bauer]

Thanks!!

[Angelica Perez]

I think you should invest in a Madela manuel pump because if you plan to pump only and when you start to do it and realize that you don't want to do it anymore then won't feel like you are out a lot of money. They sell the Madela manuel pump at Target for about $40.00.

[Elena]

I have a Medela I was given by my SIL after she was finished with it. It is a heavy duty one so she probably paid quite a bit for it. But I do know when she gave it to me, she contacted her Medela rep. and bought me a new starter kit. So I had her system but all the parts I use are new. I think the kit she bought cost under $40. My point is if you can find a used one on Craigslist or even rent one, the pieces that attach to the breast, the bottles, hoses, etc. would be all new.

[Trinity Bauer]

hey yea i actually just bought an avent something or other that was 264 at babies r us off of craigslist for 60. the pieces arent new but can be sterilized so im going to talk to my doc tomorrow to make sure that would be ok. the bottles will be new. but thats a good idea. it came with all the original manuals so i could just call them up to price replacement parts.

[Angelica Perez]

You can buy a used pump but you need to buy all new parts for it because it is not sanitary to use it after someone else. Also, you might what to check target out for breast pumps. It might be cheaper for ou to buy a new one instead of a used one.

[Teri F.]

Ameda Purely Yours work s pretty good for what it costs. It's much cheaper than the Medela. I really don't pump a lot. I pumped more when my son was around 3 to 6 months then I slowed down. I don't work and it's just much easier to nurse. It's such a hassle to pump...bring the bottle with you and having to warm it up. Then cleaning them...

[Tonia Sanders *Resident Mom*]

I have rented the Medela Symphony from the hospital several times. It is a great pump and I really love it. Nothing beats the hospital grade pump.

I will tell you from personal experience that having the best grade pump is essential to a long and successful nursing experience. For this I did purchase the Medela Pump N Style backpack when I had my first daughter in October 2006 and I was retuning back to work.

I worked outside the home and nursed her successfully for 14 months. She weaned herself as we introduced whole milk.

My newest daughter is 8 months, and I use the Medela Pump N Style every day at work. At one point my milk production went down and I went back to the hospital to rent the Symphony for two weeks to get it back up. I'm a 'die hard' nurser. I'll do anything to keep my milk production up.

The personal pumps may seem like they costs a lot of money, but it matters in the big scheme of how much milk you pump. The best pumps pump the most milk in the shortest period of time and therefore, I think, are worth the asking price. Especially if you decide to have more kids. My pump has been my BFF since 2006!

I loved having the hospital pump also, they are very clean and safe to use, BUT they are not cheap over time! If you calculate how much money it costs to keep the pump for 1-2 months, it is nearly the cost of investing in a personal unit. That's how I made my decision. At the end, the hospital pump is not YOUR to keep!

I would rethink the word "afford" by asking these questions:

1. How long do I plan to nurse (pump)?
2. How much will the hospital pump cost to keep for ____ amount of time?
3. How much is a personal pump?
4. If I don't have enough milk to satisfy baby, how much will formula to supplement cost?

Just FYI...I paid $250 at Target for my pump. I pumped for 14 months with baby #1 and so far 8 months with baby #2.

$250 pump/22 months (nursing so far) = $11.36 per month

Any personal pump is an investment in the health of your baby, but also it saves money...really!

I hope this helps you. Please let me know if you have any questions at all!