Avent breast pump

[Isadora]

Anyone use an electronic avent pump, if so are they any good? I have only tried expressing a few times and on an el cheppo tommy tippie manual pump that was given to me. I could barely get a drop, so I havent bothered since. I would like to be able to express a bottle here and there for DH so I'm thinking of getting a decent pump. Just dont want to spend the money and find out that I still cant express anything.

[Danielle_NZ]

I can't compare them to other pumps but I have a manual Avent & an electric one... and I got more from the electric but that could have been cause I didn't get a sore hand from pumping lol

I like the fact that it has the soft "petals" that "massage" your breast as it pumps. It's a shame you not near me or I'd say you can try it out if you like... I'm planning on selling it as I haven't used it for 4 weeks and I can't seem to find the time to build up a supply for the freezer

[LoveKnowsNoBounds]

I didn't have much luck with the avent electric one and wouldn't buy it again. Hardly anything came out and it took AGES!!! I have heard the madela ones are good. I'm sure there are more experienced BBers than me who know what to recommend. You can also hire them from chemists, that way you can try before you buy maybe? Good luck. I'm wanting to do this too with my next one so will be watching this thread

[Ginger]

i used a medela one and found it to be really good...

[Taurean]

I didn't like the Avent one at all but everyone is different. I reckon I got 3 times more milk out using the Medela Swing. I love the Medela pumps - easy and efficient

[Isadora]

Maybe medela is the go. Still deciding though, they are so expensive. I would hate to spend that much and it still doesnt work. I'm wondering though if expressing hasnt worked for me simply because of the dodgy pump I've tried on?

[Taurean]

Maybe try hiring one? A lot of pharmacies hire out the Medela double pump, the hospital grade one. It's pretty amazing and top of the range but I did find the Swing really good still after using the double pump (I hired one for a few months due to feeding and supply issues).

[LoveKnowsNoBounds]

Do most chemists hire them or just big ones?

[onthefly]

You can hire through ABA - get a member discount too.

[Taurean]

Good question, not sure. Our little local actually hired them out so not a big chain by any means. Maybe try phoning a few you can hire them from the ABA too. I hope it's OK for me to post this link to their site Australian Breastfeeding Association - Breast pump hire Does that help you at all?

[human bean]

I didn't realise you were in Perth..... I have an Avent Electric one if you want to try it? Just let me know if you do, it's sitting in the cupboard. I bought it after using the manual one, and found it to work fine, when I did express, but I was rather lazy when it came to expressing.

[Taurean]

You're in Perth? I can't see that cause I'm on my phone but I am too! I hired my double pump from Greg's Discount Pharmacy in Freo

[peanutter]

I love my Avent electric breastpump.

I found it worked really, really well, to the point that I actually have two, one for at work, and one for at home. When I was initially breastfeeding, I'd pump crudloads multiple times a day. Got more out than even on the fancy pump at the lactation clinic! And tons more than the hand pump.

I hope you find one that works well for you

[~Stoked~]

I have worked in various pharmacies across Perth for 13 years and almost every one hired out Medela breast pumps so you should be able to find one fairly easily.

[buliej]

I have a Medela Pump In Style (I think that's the name) - it's fantastic. But I started out with a rental through the ABA of a hospital grade medela - it was fantastic (my PIS isn't far off though). The best investment I made in terms of pumping was a hands free bra that holds the funnels in place - I can use the computer while I pump! you don't even need to buy one - I hear that with a good fitting sports bra, if you cut slits, you can make your own hands free bra.

[kaze]

i used to have a medela mini electric and found the suction too strong on the lowest setting and felt like my nipples were being ripped through the cap (and the cap i had was only the hard one but i think you can get a soft one?)
when i started back at work a few weeks ago a friend lent me their avent isis manual pump and wow so much difference. it didnt hurt to do the pumping, but pumping every day for nearly 2 weeks for 15 minutes did give me grazing, which i got with the mini electric anyhows. i didnt find it too hard with the manual pump action.
if you are planning on pumping regularly or more, go an electric, but hire before you buy or borrow from a friend

[Taurean]

i used to have a medela mini electric and found the suction too strong on the lowest setting and felt like my nipples were being ripped through the cap (and the cap i had was only the hard one but i think you can get a soft one?)

Just on this, if you go with Medela it's SO important to make sure you get the correct size breast shields - it makes all the difference! Expressing shouldn't hurt but I learnt the hard way by using breast shields that were too small initially. The larger ones made all the difference.

[Isadora]

Thanks ladies. I went away over the weekend and never ended up looking on here/doing any further research. I think I'm going to go down and hire a medela from the chemist.

Human Bean - Thank you so much for the offer though!!