Member of GeoCities Wellesley community.
The two main pump companies recommended by LLLI are Ameda/Egnell and Medela:
There are lots of pumps out there. Some are good, some not so good. Some people do well on just about any pump. Others, do well only on hospital grade pumps. Do a lot of research and keep in mind how often and for how long you want to pump. If you only want to pump until the baby is about 3 months, it might be a good idea to rent a pump. If you hope to pump for longer, look into buying.
I am most familiar with the Medela pumps. I have used the hospital grade pump (in the clear lucite cover), the Lactina, the Pump-in-Style, and the Mini-electric. Pretty much their whole range. The hospital grade is by far the strongest. I could only stand it on the medium setting. The lights in the whole neighborhood dimmed when I turned it on.
While the Lactina is rated as a stronger pump than either the mini-electric or the Pump-in-Style, I found that my results for all three were the same. The only reason I could think of for this was the thickness of the tubing. The Lactina has a much wider tubing than the Pump-in-Style. I beleive that much of the pressure is dissipated along this tubing and therefore the resultant pressure is less. The mini has no tubing, therefore all of the pressure is applied directly to the breast.
The following is a good faq on pumping. This faq is not up to date and does not talk much about the new medela Pump-in-Style. It also mentions that the Lactina is much weaker than the hospital grade Medela pump. This is true, but also keep in mind that the hospital grade pump is a lot more expensive to rent and very inconvenient to carry around work.
If you are looking for infrequent pumping, battery operated pumps are usually fine. However, the motors on these are not meant for long-term use. Having said that, I have talked to many people who have used fairly cheap battery operated pumps for many years without wearing them out.
For pumping at work, I recommend any double pump. It saves a great deal of time by allowing you to pump both sides at once and by providing more stimulation which might increase or speed letdown. If this is your first child or you are planning on having at least one more, you will probably find purchacing a pump at the $200.00 range is more cost effective than renting a pump.
Most important, talk to other moms who have pumped. Especially to those who have had problems. Hear their solutions. Remember, a $200.00 pump is paid for in about 10 weeks if you assume that your baby would have gone through about 2 cans of formula at $10.00/can. Not to mention the doctor bills and prescription charges for the sicknesses your child can avoid.
On my return to work, I was exposed to every virus that had passed through my coworkers during my leave. One particular virus almost put me in the hospital with dehydration. My son never got that one and only got the colds mildly.
Good luck finding a pump and let me know if you have anything to add.
Go back to The Working Cow
Member of GeoCities Wellesley community.
