I'm looking for recommendations. I plan on returning to work 12 weeks after my baby is born, so I'd like something that I can take with me to work. The place I work for is a large building with few people, so privacy isn't so much as issue. I do plan on continuing to BF on weekends and nights. I know that the pumps range in price from manual pumps around $50 to electric pumps around $350. Does anyone have any experience/recommendations?

Sorry Sara, I'm no help at all. I breastfed all 3 of mine but was at home and the only pump I had was a manual one that they sent home with me from the hospital. (I do NOT recommend that one for sure...!)

I personally used a high-end Medela- I was only away from DD for 6 hours a day, and I had a lot of problems puping enough. Wouldn't have made it through w/o formula if I had used a lesser-quality pump. I can't tell you which one in particular I used- I don't remember. (It was given to me by my sister, who used it before me, which is generally not recommended, but I know her health history, and I got all new pump kits, too.)

While I was actually at work, I generally used one of the hospitals pumps that IS meant to be used by multiple people (the milk cannot back-up into the pump, ever.) I was lucky enough to work in a place that has pumps and a pump room and also provides pump kits for employees to use.

I HIGHLY recommend getting used to the pump starting somewhere around the one-month mark, and then introducing expressed bottles when you and the pediatrician feel it is a good time, but well BEFORE you go back to work. My sister didn't give a bottle soon enough, and as a result, my mother had to drive my niece to my sister's job every day to be fed. She refused the bottle no matter what they tried. So with my daughter, I had my husband give her the first bottle of breast milk at about 3.5 weeks, and then once every two or three days after that until I went back to work at 13 weeks. This will also give you time to adjust to the pump- as I said, I had problems, and was never really able to pump more than about 2 ounces at a time, so I knew to feed her immediately before I left her, then pump 3 (yes, THREE,) times while I was gine those six hours to provide enough for the bottle for the next night. Wouldn't have known that if I hadn't started pumping weeks in advance.

With DD, I bought a Medela pump for around $150. (I just looked at their website and they don't make mine anymore.) It's run on batteries and lets you double-pump at one time. Double-pumping is definitely a feature I'd highly recommend.

This time, I rented a hospital-grade Medela pump for $55 a month. It's SO much better- definitely worth the money! However, my situation is different... I am only pumping right now, since my preemie DS can't breastfeed yet. (My milk goes into his feeding tube, and he's just started trying one oral feed a day.) When you're doing only pumping all day, rather than just occasionally pumping, you need a stronger pump.

I'd stay away from manual pumps if you can... I've heard bad things about the time and effort it takes to pump that way.

I agree about the Medela pump -- I had a Pump In Style and although I was rarely separated from DS, it worked great. Also, I LOVED the manual Avent ISIS and know LOTS of moms who did -- I actually sometimes got more milk with it than with the Medela! And it is quiet, easy, and about $30. I'd highly recommend getting one of those in addition to whatever you decide on.

Kudos on your commitment to breastfeed your baby!!!

medela here too, pump in style advanced. I loved it. much better than any manual. :)

Medela pump in style all the way :)

I had the medela pump that has the battery attachment, power cord to plug into wall attachment or the manual.

Love it!

and actually just dragged it out of the box to get ready!

Sara,

Check with your insurance carrier to see if they'll cover a medical grade breast pump. I found out that mine will cover most of the expense if the doctor writes a prescription and you buy it from the hospital.

I also pumped 2 x's a day at work while I was breastfeeding and was able to exclusively breast feed until my son was 6 months old. I used the medela pump in style and it was fantastic. I only had a 15-20 minute break to pump also, so it was nice to be able to do both breasts at the same time. Very nice.

Sara,

Check with your insurance carrier to see if they'll cover a medical grade breast pump. I found out that mine will cover most of the expense if the doctor writes a prescription and you buy it from the hospital.


Thanks for the tip. There is a $1,000 deductible for it, and I don't plan on buying one that expensive, but I didn't even think to check.

I did find out that my insurance does offer a "healthy pregnancy" program, which I signed up for an includes a free baby bag.

For a working mom with an established supply of breastmilk the Medela Pump in Style or the Medela Symphony are good.

If you have difficulty with your supply or if you are exclusively pumping (like Amy for her preemie), you should rent or buy a Medela Lactina or Medela Classic.