what is the best breast pump? manual or electric?
Thursday, November 26th, 2009 at
1:36 pm
I’m trying to look online and see if I can find a good used breast pump, but not sure which one is the easiest on the boobies. I used an avent manual isis last time, and it was easy on the boobs, but I’ve given it away and now i’m looking for something else.
i’m sure the electric ones would probably make breast feeding easier. Can you recomend one please 
Filed under: Avent Breast Pump Faqs
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My baby boy was born 4 weeks early, putting him in the NICU for 12 days. For those twelve days I pumped every 3 hours (sometimes i’d go four) round the clock…even at night. (then brought my milk to the hospital to bottle feed him)
ANYWAY, what I’m saying is…I pumped A LOT. Now that he’s home I’m still pumping once a day when someone helps out and gives him a bottle. At the hospital i used an electric medela, and at home i use an electric ameda. My nipples got really torn up at first, and I even ended up with mastitis, but they’re toughening up now, and the discomfort is minimal.
I used a manual just once, it was medela (in the car, lol)…it was a lot of work and kind of hurt my back because of the way i had to angle it.
If you’re pumping every once in awhile, manual would be fine. If you’re pumping to go back to work/school…you’ll need electric. Also, if you’re pumping to help your milk supply come in, you’ll need electric. I think i overdid it, though. My baby is breastfeeding now and he only eats from one side at each feeding…even at that he often gets sprayed in the face because he just can’t eat fast enough for my boobs, lol.
an electric is a lot easier. but two off the same assembly line still won’t be just the same.
Medela I used it… great great great
electric is what ive heard
Electric is better because I have found when I use manual I tend to get cramps in my hand. Also have found it hurts my back. With an electric you can sit back and relax but they are a lot more expensive. Also be careful if you are only sometimes using the electric pump that you don’t over do it. I did that once and I had to wait for my breast supply to slow down. Very painful and uncomfortable.
Lansinoh/Ameda or the Avent Electric($). The Lansinoh is about 150. I absolutely would never use a used breast personal pump but the Lansinoh/Ameda makes one that is the only one approved for multiple users. Check out
http://www.breastpumpsdirect.com
BTW I have an Avent manual. It actually works just as well as a double electric as far as output. I’ve used a medela pump and it hurt and they just seem cheap.
this really depends on how much you plan you use it since electric can get expensive.
i have a manual which i rairly use because i am a stay at home mom. it works just fine for me and my needs. but i wouldn’t recommend it to someone who was going to pump all the time. after a while it hurts your hands. but the main reason i like it is because it is small and quiet.
honestly i would wait till baby arrives to buy one. since alot of moms find breast feeding to hard and stop. but please try, it is a great gift to your baby. but if you find that it isn’t for you, then you waisted the $ on an expensive breast pump.
I used a manual one. By First Years, I think. But I have used an electric, by Gerber. I definitely prefer the manual. It lets you go at your own pace & it’s not continuous…The electric, you have to plug it in, s you’re not free. It’s damn loud! It’s constant sucking. And over all, just uncomfortable. I’d say stick with a manual one.
Medela…both the manual and electric are great. There’s 2 types of manual though. The best manual out of the two is called "Harmony One-Handed Manual Breastpump", it’s still the Medela brand. The electric is fine but you can’t control the suction’s speed, just the pressure. For myself I think the "Harmony" manual pump works best. It has dual pumping pattern that is designed for faster let down and milk flow.