Hi there,
Can anyone give me some advice on breast pumps? Which one shall i get? I know that Medela and Avent are perhaps the most popular brands?!
Thanks in advance!

I used the Avent Isis breast pump with no problems at all. I plumped for a manual pump because I thought I could do with the exercise! Also I didn't fancy feeling like a milking cow on an electric pump.

It was pretty simple to use once I go the hang of it and I would recommend it.

Do you know whether you want to use hand or electric?

Not sure yet - haven't really decided! great thanks for the advice though - if i go for the manual i'll def consider the avent isis! How tired do you get using the manual pump and how long does it take?

Hi There,
You might have decided already which type of pump. I have used both hand (Avent Isis) and electric (Medela mini) and found the electric easier to operate -probably just me. The only problem I had with the electric was that you can't wander about while using it. You are tied by a very short electric cable to a seat by a socket!
I found the hand pump difficult to operate on one breast (left handed- right handed problem), and the very clever insert kept falling off.
My only other thought on breast pumps is that for first time mums with minimal milk production to start with (like me) using the breast pumps in hospital is a great way to increase production early on.
Hope this helps. =:)

I think it really varies person-to-person how long it takes, but I think it took me about half an hour, I used to use it as an excuse to sit and read a glossy mag.

CJ's right, working it on one breast does take a bit of getting used to, I'd forgotten that. I didn't find it all that much of a problem thought.

It does tire you out a bit, but as I said, that was one of the reasons I got it.

Thought i'd re-start this thread because i'm planning to breastfeed and have been thinking about breast pumps.

I was going to get the Avent Isis, but today in Boots i saw that they do an own-brand steriliser complete with bottles & breast pump for £29.95. Has anyone tried the boots breast pump?

Good question. Not tried the Boots one though I'll try to find out more about it.
I loved the Isis but obviously that comes out at about the price of the whole set from Boots.
Other user advice very welcome!

Just had a look on the Boots website and can see what the Boots one looks like. Does is have a lever like the Isis or it is a very simple suction action?

Hi Laura,

I've just looked myself on the Boots website and they don't have the set that I saw in-store. I can't remember exactly what it looked like now, but I think it was probably a simple suction action one. Will have another look when I'm at the store again.

I'll probably play it safe and get the Avent Isis but I'm not sure about the bottles as some people on this website have said that they found the Avent ones leaked.

Sarah

I am also confused, I have been told the Avent Isis is very good to use. But also my Gina Ford, Contented Baby Book recommend using an electric pump. I thought the mini Medela mentioned above was for occasional use? The other electric pumps all seem so expensive.

Hi Alison, finally stopped breastfeeding Isaac at 13 months. My experince with pumps was that the electric pump was very usefull when production was low. Once baby and mother had the whole business worked out the Isis was quick and easy to set up. But don't be fooled. Hand pumps are far from quiet! I can remember queaking away in toilets/restrooms at work while trying to maintain "inner calm" to keep up production. Whatever you decide on, try and relax and hang in there.

Alison, there's an electric version of the Isis, I have it and it's good. It was quite expensive but I had 2 operations under Gen Anaes within 11 weeks of giving birth and had to express an awful lot in a short space of time both times, so for me at least it was very well worth it from the start.