Breastpump Recommendations?

[pintobean]

Hi, I apologize if this Q has been asked already. I am expecting twins in June and after taking some time off, I plan to go back to work full time. I do plan to breastfeed and am in the market for breastpumps. Just looking for some recommendations and also what worked best for you? And, why? (if you used breastpumps)

Thanks

[twowhat?]

I rented a hospital grade pump (Medela Symphony maybe? Can't remember), and used it for the first couple of months. Then once my supply was well-established I got a Lansinoh double electric (this is the same as the Ameda Purely Yours). It worked just fine for me, but I never had any issue with supply, and I only used it to build up an emergency freezer stash. I had quit working at the time so I nursed my babies.

If you'll be needing one for pumping after you return to work, I'd either consider continuing to rent to hospital-grade pump (cuz really, nothing is better and more efficient), or get an Ameda Purely Yours or Medela Pump in Style (I think these are the 2 recommended double electric breast pumps - someone correct me if I'm wrong!)

One thing with nursing twins - establishing supply will be really important - you will be needing to make a LOT of milk, especially between 4-6 months of age (and I would actually recommend renting the hospital grade pump until your babies are 4-6 months old - that's when they're drinking the most milk). Also know that nursing is more efficient than any pump - I could definitely tell that the babies got more milk from the breast than I could get from pumping...so if you really want to breastfeed, then I'd try and establish some kind of schedule before returning to work so that you can get in as many nursing sessions as possible (i.e. nurse more frequently before and after work - your body really can adjust to making more milk at certain times).

Congratulations, and good luck!!

[kaharris83]

I exclusively pump, but for a singleton, and for the first three months I rented a Medela Symphony to establish my supply. The first 12 weeks are the supply establishing time. After that I used a Medela Pump In Style Advance(months 3-7) until about 2 weeks ago when I got a Medela Freestyle. The PISA worked great and I didn't lose any of my supply going from the Symphony to the PISA. I am really loving the Freestyle now though, it's much easier to move around the house while I'm pumping and not be so tied down. If you're only pumping while at work or a few times a day the PISA would be just fine though. I've heard good things about the Lansinoh/Ameda pumps as well but never tried them. I will say Medela's customer service is excellent. They sent me a new PISA after a recall and when I bought my Freestyle there was something wrong with it and they overnighted me a replacement one of those as well.

ETA: Sorry I didn't notice this was posted in the Multiples forum when I replied.

[Momof3Labs]

I EP'd for the twins and rented a Symphony. Loved it, so I kept it as long as I pumped. I have a PIS and Ameda PY also but didn't like them nearly as well as the Symphony.

[NN317]

I rented a hospital grade pump (Medela Symphony maybe? Can't remember), and used it for the first couple of months. Then once my supply was well-established I got a Lansinoh double electric (this is the same as the Ameda Purely Yours). It worked just fine for me, but I never had any issue with supply

I was able to get the same amount of milk with both pumps, though my supply did increase after the first couple of months with demand using the Lansinoh. I exclusively pumped and successfully made an overabundance of milk for my twins for the first 6 months.
Good luck!



Twin DDs 9.2008 courtesy of IVF

[caheinz]

With my singleton, a PIS was fine, but I ended up renting a hospital pump for the twins. It was a Medela Classic, which were hard to find even then -- but my hospital's LC's had a few that they refused to pull out of service because they worked so well for so many.

[Uno-Mom]

I loved my PIS (as much as one can "love" a breast pump). But Sprog was a singleton.

My friend with twins rented the hospital grade medela and she said it worked great. I've heard they're faster and that's probably important for you!

[golightly1118]

I exclusively pump for a singleton, and have used a PISA for eleven months now with plans to wean in a couple of weeks. For multiples, I'd go with a rental-they have more consistent suction and work faster. Also, something I learned from EP'ing-keep a log of your pumping. Whether you're planning on nursing with pumping, using a pump to build your supply, or switching over to EP'ing in the future (I know of one twin mom who did that once her babies became mobile and too fidgety to nurse) it's nice to see your supply on paper. Also, know that it IS possible to make enough milk for multiples-my supply was at 60 oz. a day until DD was six months old, at which point I dropped down to three pumps a day. It didn't drop below 40 until she was ten months old, and now that I'm starting to wean I still make between 25-30 ounces a day with three pumps, so more than enough for her. Sorry to hijack the thread and write a novel, but I hope this helps!

[Purple18]

Hi. I used the PISA with excellent results after going back to work full time with my first 2 singletons (extra supply especially in those early months, but my supply was well established with almost exclusive nursing for the first 14 weeks before I went back to work), but it seems to be losing power so since I'm expecting twins, I'm planning to rent a hospital grade pump instead of buying another PISA - this will probably cost more since I plan to need it for 9-12 months, but I'm thinking it will be worth it. I breastfeed whenever possible, but end up pumping at work at a minimum. I'm not likely to return to work full time after the twins, but I will have further complications of 2 other kids besides the twins with their own demands and schedules so I want to have a good pump. I was thinking I was going to have my PISA checked by the lactation specialists at my hospital (I heard they can check the suction and they have some tricks to make sure it's at maximum suction) and use it if needed/in a pinch/if I don't want to haul the hospital pump somewhere, but mostly rely on the hospital pump for pumping at home/work. I'm guessing I'm going to want to save as much time as possible and I'm thinking the hospital grade pump will faciliate that. Since I loved my PISA, I would like to get something like it and I have tons of connector parts for the PISA so I'm hoping that the hospital Madelas will work with my supplies.

[BabbyO]

I pumped for DS (singleton) in the AM (because I was a huge producer and DS could only nurse from one breast in the AM) and 3x/day every day when I went back to work.

I will note, however, that I produced nearly enough milk for 2 kiddos since I gave over 1/2 my freezer stash to my cousin who had low milk supply (her DS is the same age as my DS).

Anyway, I had VERY good luck with my Lansinoh double electric. I think that it is the same as the Ameda Purely Yours pump. It did loose suction, but that was after I dropped it on the floor...so I not sure that counts. What I really liked is that due to the design of the pump it is completely impossible for milk to back up into the pump itself (even my pediatrician said her Medela had this happen to her). So when I dropped the pump, I just found one somebody was selling on CL. I didn't use any of the parts or tubing, just the pump and got a replacement very inexpensively. The second pump was used 3x daily for 8 mo and I never felt it lost suction.