Breast Pump- electric vs manual

[Anonymous]

Ladies
since the price is soooo different for the 2, i would like to know if the $$ difference worth it?
would that be better to rent from hospital? do they rent electric or manual pumps?

[Anonymous]

It depends on how much you're going to need to pump--and some people have an easier time than others. Some people do fine with hand pumps, most people I know who pumped frequently got a pump in style or similar model.
usually the hospital grade rental pumps are electric and work the best. we were also able to rent one from our pediatrician when my son was born.

[Anonymous]

Rent the hospital one. Totally worth the $$.

[Anonymous]

ditto on PP- hospital pump is so much fastr- rent- don't buy (well- calculate on how long you plan on pumping but those are pretty expensive(- recommend the medela symphony over the other harsher one- ouch that hurt! the medela was softer and effective (hospital grade)- gl!Q

[Anonymous]

I used my Medela Pump in Style every day, twice a day from about 2 months to 9 months when my son started really teething and went on a bf strike.

It was great and totally worth the $250. I'm also expecting my second now and plan to bf again, so I already have it.

What I tell people to do is to buy one at BBRUS right before you have the baby but don't open it, and then if you need it when you come home from the hospital to increase your milk supply, it is there. You can also hang on to it for a few months if, like me, you weren't really going to use it regularly until you went back to work at 3 months. If bfeeding doesn't work for you and you don't need a pump, you can return it (only if it is unopened and with the receipt) to the store.

I've heard good things about the hospital pumps too, but if I were planning to have more than one kid and planning to bf and go back to work, I would get one and not open it.

[Anonymous]

As far as renting vs buying from the hospital - I am currently renting a hospital-grade pump at GU. They don't sell their pumps (well at least the hospital-grade ones). Perhaps other hospitals do, but I haven't inquired. They charge 60/month for the rental.

[Anonymous]

It really depends on how much you anticipate pumping v. nursing v. supplementing with formula. On the extreme side, you may have low milk supply so you may be pumping more than you think or, on the other hand, get too frustrated with pumping/nursing and just opt for the convenience of formula.

Some stores, like the Burlington Coat Factory (the baby depot section) won't let you return pumps at all. So keep that in mind.

Check the rent rates at the hospital. If you pump for 2, 4, 6, etc. months, then it maybe cheaper for you to just buy one yourself and keep it for babies to come.

The manual pumps are too much work IMO. I'm glad I have the electric Medela one plus it has a car adapter as an accessory which was a life saver when we take long car trips.