breast pumps? first timer needs advice

I'm slowly researching everything else for bubs but have stopped short on the breast pump....I have NO IDEA what to look for,how they work, what I will need?

Any advice would be great and I am sure there are a lot of us mums-to-be that would be curious to know whats what?

Thanks

My advice is not to get one until after baby is born. Some people don't/can't bf beyond the first month, others bf but don't feel a need for a pump. If you just want to express for the odd time, it's easy enough to do by hand; and if you want it for EBM for going back to work you really need to make a decision about that much closer to the time - is bf working for you, will you be on formula by 6mos (in which case mayaswell hire), will baby even accept a bottle.

I've got an Avent Isis hand pump and when the gremlins were tiny I hired a Medela double electric. I agree with Busymum - wait until bubs is here. With Maya I barely even needed a breast pump at all, I started off with a Medela hand pump that someone had lent me but it didn't work for me and my midwife lent me an Avent and it was brilliant so I bought one and used it only a few times.
With the gremlins I found the double electric great in the veeery early days when I was trying to bring in my milk, but after about week 4 I found the Avent hand pump worked faster and more effectively.
I never tried the Avent Isis IQ (electric) but the lactation consultant I saw told me if I wanted to go electric that the Medela was better than the Avent? (GO figure, coz the Medela hand pumps suck IMHO!)

I hand express and can get about 70 mls a day out. I really just express so Josh can have a good "fatty" feed at night and i'm slowly building up a supply for the end of this month when I am going out for the day without Josh.

I didn't start until Josh was 3 weeks old, that was just so me and DH could go out for lunch for our 1 year anniversary. I then continued it on and do it daily now.

What/who are breastmates?

I didn't get a pump before my boy was born, just to see if it was needed.I was only able to feed for 1 month but was given one during this time, it is the Avent Isis which I used and loved.
I know in AKL you can hire them from the chemist for a small deposit that is refunded when you return and then a small amount each day...less than $10. May pay to even try before you buy.

 

I with the others, wait until baby is born. I brought a avent isis hand pump and its only been used a few times and now Rhyley is fully bottle fed I have no use for it. It was easy to use and great to relieve some presure if missed a feed.

hey there - haven't read the others so sorry if i repeat.

Hand pumps are all good for occasional use, but sometimes get a bit annoying - (though i used mine lots) if you go for a hand one - make sure you can use it one-handed, you'll need the other to massage or support the breast.

Medela mini electric pumps are wonderful if you plan to use it long term.   I think they also make another one called a "swing" pump which is still electric but not so highpowered - again good for short term/infrequent use.

dunno much about the avent ones, but i think i saw them mentioned somewhere above.

I agree with the members who say to wait until the baby is born before buying a breast pump. I have a Medela Pump In Style Advanced (it's a double electric pump that comes in a little backpack with a chilly bag and everything -- very styley) that I bought on TradeMe secondhand, then bought new bottles and parts for. It's a hospital-grade pump and works really well, but looking back, I could easily have done with a Medela Mini Electric. I started off thinking I could pump both boobs at once, but that never happened -- I had a really hard time with pumping, and only ever did one side at a time. I also had a really hard time getting enough milk for a feed -- I could pump for a whole day just to get one bottle's worth. When Emma Rose weaned herself at 12 months, I couldn't pump anything at all -- there was just nothing coming out.

I'd advise waiting to see how your milk supply is, what your baby's feeding demands are, and how long it takes you to really establish breastfeeding before buying a breast pump. Everyone's needs are different. You might have enough milk for Africa straightaway, but it might take a couple of weeks to get things really sorted and you don't want to rush the pumping -- or rush yourself, when you're still working out how to live on no sleep at all and cope with the demands of seemingly nonstop breastfeeding!

Edited by Katherine