Once again, all I have is my own experience to draw from here, but I went about the breast pump thing differently with each baby, and here is what I learned...
Baby # 1 (2004): I sent my mom out for the most expensive pump in the store, which at the time was the Medela Pump in Style. It cost over $250.00 brand new. It was a double pump, so I could pump both breasts at the same time. I remember pumping for 15 to 20 minutes at a time and winding up with 1/2 an ounce from each breast, maybe an ounce if I was lucky. It was frustrating and frankly, painful. I will admit, though, that after a couple of months it got a little better. I just didn't fee like it should be so tough. I have heard this complaint out of a lot of women. After my daughter was weaned from the breast I got rid of the pump.
Baby # 2 (2006): This time I didn't go out and spend a small fortune on a pump all at once. I wound up spending a fortune over a period of time. Yes, this time I opted to rent. I rented a hospital grade double pump after being told that there was nothing out there that would work better. I was attracted to the promise that it would work better than the one that I had purchased with my last baby. I was even willing to pay the $50.00 per month that renting it would cost. I rented the pump for three months and paid $150.00 for the pump, and another $50.00 for the tubes and bottles and parts that I had to purchase to go with it. I also had to pay extra for supplies to clean the pump and accessories and bags to store milk in. All in all, this way was just as pricey as the Medela and was pretty much the same thing! I will tell you, though, that this pump was a little more powerful, and I did manage to pump with a little more success. But, before it was still painful, and at one point I had to go in and buy more accessories because the non refundable accessories that I had purchased with the pump didn't fit my nipples. There was another $5.00, and we all know that every penny counts.
Baby # 3 (2009) This time I had a good partner and a lot of support. I was all set up to work from home and decided that I really didn't need a pump since I would be with my baby most of the time. The hospital provided me with a manual pump (made by Medela). I did use the manual pump until about a week ago. It was challenging and really only worked if I pumped one breast while my baby fed on the other. That stimulates milk flow from both breasts. I recommend trying that method to any new mother who is trying to pump with little results. Since this is my third time breast feeding and I have kind of already been through it all, I definitely have had an easier time of it. I know what to do to keep my nipples from getting sore, and I was lucky enough to have my milk come in really early, so it was easier to satisfy my baby from the start. I leaped the first breast feeding hurtles with little incident, even though my baby was born tongue tied and jaundiced, and I am almost always around to nurse on demand. But what do I do when i just need a break? I had underestimated how much of a super mom I was going to have the energy to be. The truth is, even the most devoted and energetic mom needs a break now and then, and being able to hand your little one over for a feeding now and then is a real blessing! I was able to use the manual pump for awhile, but it was messy, and tedious and frustrating. I decided that I needed an electric pump. But my experiences in the past made me reluctant to spend the cash. I went into the local Babies 'R' Us and browsed the pumps. After talking with another new mother in the isle looking at the slings, I took her advise and went with the most inexpensive electric pump on the shelf. It was the evenflo single electric pump. I really had my doubts about a pump that cheap. I bought mine for about $40.00. But when I got it home and hooked it up, I was shocked at how great it worked. I immediately pumped half a bottle full of milk and it only got better from there. The biggest challenge now is finding an extra 15 minutes to pump. I will also say of this product, that it comes with few parts and is really easy to use and to clean. You can either use batteries, or plug it in. There are no accessories, or extra parts to buy. It is hand held, so there are no little tubes to tether you to one spot. With other pumps you wind up stuck in one position for the entire time because you are tethered to the engine by plastic tubes that will pop off of the machine if they get pulled. I can't say enough about this pleasant surprise. How often is the cheapest product the best? I recommend it to any new mom who is shopping for the best breast pump out there.
Now, if I can find time to use it between diaper changes, feedings, work and trying to keep my life from falling into utter chaos!
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