Choosing a Breast Pump

Breast Pumps are a necessary purchase if you are planning on going back to work or school after your baby arrives. Or if you will be exclusively pumping. (not putting baby to breast)

But if you plan on staying home, buying a breastpump is not necessary. You can easily manually hand express your breasts if you need to be absent from your baby for one feed or if you need to relieve fullness.

Breast Pumps fall into two basic catagories: electric or manual.
Electric pumps come in a single pump option or a dual or double pump option. A manual pump is a single manual pump.(you must pump breasts one at time

Trying to decide if you need manual or electric? Practically speaking if you will need to pump for more than one feed per day, it will be a more efficient use of time to use an electric double pump. A single pump, whether manual or electric, will require you to pump 10-15 on each breast for a total of about 30 minutes per pumping session. So the only people I recommend a single pump to are those who will be away from baby only on occasion.

The use of a hospital grade breastpump is warranted when you are unable to nurse your baby after birth for whatever reason. These highly efficient pumps will help to better establish your milk supply. They are available for purchase or rental.

I have narrowed my pump recommendations down to three brands: Medela, Ameda and Hygeia.

Here are my reviews of these pumps,

Pumps that Do NOT make the grade: all pumps not listed above. playtex embrace, the first years natural comfort, evenflo comfort ease, nope I dont recommend any of them.

Can I borrow a used breastpump from family or friends?

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