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AngieBabe 
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Location: Christchurch
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 Topic: Breastpump - what do you think?
Posted: 11 January 2011 at 2:46pm |
I've been using a Medela mini-electric breast pump that was handed down to me from my SIL (I replaced most of the plastic parts and thoroughly sterilised the rest, so pretty much it was only the motor part that was second-hand). I pump most mornings, mainly to get a freezer stash...
But yesterday, the motor stopped working  I have priced buying a new motor unit, but they're the most expensive part and are only marginally cheaper than buying a whole new unit. The mini-electric suits me, but I say that with it being the only type of pump I've tried, so I'm trying to figure out whether I buy a whole new pump (same type as the one I've been using is designed for the amount of use I give it), buy another second hand unit, or go to a different type of pump (as in a manual) that is cheaper to buy...
Keeping in mind, my boy is has just started solids and I often used expressed milk to make these up... and I would also like to keep BFing for as long as possible - but who knows how long that will be...
What do you think?
Edited by AngieBabe
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jazzy
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Posted: 11 January 2011 at 3:27pm |
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I used one of those but when I went back to work I got a Avent Isis Breast Pump manual as I did not want anyone to hear, lol & I really enjoyed that one
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mothermercury
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Posted: 11 January 2011 at 3:39pm |
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I got a Medela Harmony Manual (with two phase pump action) off Trade Me for like, $20. (Thoroughly sterilised it, of course!)
It works great, but I only need to use it occasionally. I haven't gotten a sore hand or anything (then again, I am only really using it when Chloe hasn't fed all night and I'm bursting in the morning - milk just tends to spray out by itself by that point).
At least with the manual you don't have to worry about the motor dying. Also, it might be too much work if you had to use it many times a day, but for once a day it's definitely okay (for me, anyway).
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E&L+1
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Posted: 11 January 2011 at 4:11pm |
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I used a medela harmony and it was great. When DD was younger I was using it 1-2 times a day at 3-4 times a week one point and found it great. I found it easy to pump milk by hand too so a Manuel pump didn't require too much effort for me. I only used it while I was working and haven't used it in about 5 months now (DD is 14 months).
If you are pumping everyday and need to get a significant amount or are planning on returning to full time work soon I would probably go to an electric one as they are more efficient.
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Raspberryjam
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Posted: 11 January 2011 at 7:33pm |
 jazzy wrote:
I used one of those but when I went back to work I got a Avent Isis Breast Pump manual as I did not want anyone to hear, lol & I really enjoyed that one |
This is what I have to and its the best manual pump have used - I actually found it works better for me than the medela hospital grade and swing pumps and also better then the closer to nature manual one
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http://lilypie.com] 
http://lilypie.com] 
http://lilypie.com] 
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Shezamumof3
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Posted: 11 January 2011 at 7:38pm |
I loved my medela Swing  I tried the manual pumps and didnt like them
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AngieBabe
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Posted: 11 January 2011 at 8:35pm |
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Thanks for all your comments... I have no issue with going manual since I don't pump heaps, my only hesitation is the whole efficiency thing compared with electric (I can, well could when it was working, get 180-odd mls from one side in about 15mins)... and the frustrating thing is I can't test drive different pumps to see how I go!
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cuppatea
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Posted: 11 January 2011 at 8:45pm |
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I had mini electric double and it was great but mine also blew up, I did accidently flood mine with breastmilk though so I might of been the cause of it's demise not long after. And it had a lot of use I pumped full time for a while with my first, then leant it out to friends then used it with my second.
I ended up buying a medela swing second hand cos that was cheaper than buying a new motor and found that worked just as well as the other pump, just not as quick if I needed to pump both sides, but I didn't do that much anyway as wasn't pumping full time.
I've used an avent hand pump as well, had that before I started pumping full time first time round and I could get as much using that as well was just laborious cos I ended up needing to pump lots, would have been fine for the odd pump though, a friend bought that and used it for her first baby and for pumping with her twins second time around and found it great, but again she wasn't pumping heaps.
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Raspberryjam
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Posted: 11 January 2011 at 8:46pm |
Id let you use mine to see but your a bit far  maybe others who live close by could let you have a turn on theirs
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http://lilypie.com]
http://lilypie.com]
http://lilypie.com]
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mothermercury
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Posted: 11 January 2011 at 8:46pm |
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Wow, that's a lot! I don't know how you feel about second hand ones, but you could always get a cheapie off Trade Me or something and see if it's any good before you splash out on a nice new one.
If you got a manual Medela, the shield and the little white plastic valve thing from your current Medela should fit (I think it works like that), so you'd be using less of the actual second hand bits.
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Lucky apple
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Posted: 11 January 2011 at 8:49pm |
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I haven't read the replies, so sorry if I double up with any other suggestion....
My friend dropped hers and broke it - she rang the manufacturer and got a nice guy on the phone who said that they happened to have a spare one that had been returned as it was reportedly not working - only, it did still work - so, he sent it to her, free of charge!! good story huh? I think it was an Avent. Worth a shot maybe??
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AngieBabe
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Posted: 11 January 2011 at 9:48pm |
MissShell wrote:
Wow, that's a lot! I don't know how you feel about second hand ones, but you could always get a cheapie off Trade Me or something and see if it's any good before you splash out on a nice new one. |
Yeah I know!  I am a very good dairy cow  (must be 'cause I grew up in the Waikato  )
Anyhoo, the pump I've been using was passed along... didn't mind 'cause it was from my SIL so knew the history, but think I probably will end up getting another Medela off TM cheap, either electric or manual, so I can use the parts I already have that 'touch' the milk, IYGWIM.
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Emmi_
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Posted: 11 January 2011 at 9:57pm |
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I vote for the swing, I love mine (and you can get it for 100$ cheaper from baby star!)
ps far out, 180ml!! I always thought 100ml was good! You defo are a good dairy cow!
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Mrs_B
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Posted: 11 January 2011 at 10:18pm |
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Another vote for Medela Swing . I have lent mine to two friends (we all have our own attachments) and they both say is the best pump they have used.
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fattykat
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Posted: 11 January 2011 at 10:42pm |
Another vote for the Medela Swing.
Mine got a hammering as DD never got the hang of BF so I expressed (& exclusively used breast milk) EVERY feed untill she was 6 months and it was still going great 
(LOL....another great 'cow' here too  )
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Breastpump - what do you think?
