BreastPumps Manual vs Electric
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21186
Printed Date: 22 August 2025 at 10:53am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: BreastPumps Manual vs Electric
Posted By: xox6Girls1Boyxox
Subject: BreastPumps Manual vs Electric
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 7:49am
|
Morning
I was wondering about breastpumps. I want to try and breastfeed this time and I'd like to know what kind of pumps are good....
I've got one of those Tomme Tippie angled manual pumps but with DD1 even when I was full of milk I'd only get a couple of drops out at a time & it got really frustrating. I was thinking of going electric this time round but I was wanting to know what everyone else used and how they'd prefer that way over the other way? I dont really want to spend to much money eg: no more than $150 either in case it does'nt work out again.
Any suggestions would be good... ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com/"> 
|
Replies:
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 7:54am
| I didn't have an electric one, but I found the Avent manual pump great for me while I was expressing for the first few weeks. My friend had the electric one and she loved it, so I reckon Avent is a good brand to look at. |
Posted By: pikelets
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 7:56am
|
I borrowed a manual pump. For about 3 months I couldn't express. My baby fed well and was not missing out at all but it was like I got stage fright when I tried to express.
After about 3 months or so I found I could express only after the morning feed. So basicly I just gave up expressing after that and haven't really had a need for it. Im still breastfeeding. I am glad I didn't buy an electric pump and was lucky to have borrowed a manual pump. Apparently 1 in 10 women can not or have problems with expressing. You can hire electric pumps from some chemists. If you use them longterm it works out better to just buy one but you could always hire one at first to give it a go. Good luck with BF this time round.  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 3 Angels - Dec10 / Mar11 / Dec11
|
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 8:00am
|
Yup, thumbs up to Avent manual here too.
I fully expressed all of Ella's feeds from 4 weeks (and lots before that too) and had no trouble maintaining my supply. They are a great company to deal with too, if you ever have any problems. I needed a part replaced at one stage and they sent it on overnight courier free of charge, with no questions asked. The pump is still going strong 4 years later. ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
|
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 8:00am
| I had one that worked as both electric and manual (avent isis uno). I got it 2nd hand so didn't pay that much for it and looooved it. I never used the manual, always the electric |
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 8:04am
|
*Threadjack* Congrats Stacey! Fingers and toes crossed for a lovely healthy pregnancy! ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and:
|
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 8:12am
|
I used a medela electric initially which worked ok but I ended up buying an avent manual which I found really good. I'll just use my avent next time. -------------  
|
Posted By: xox6Girls1Boyxox
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 8:25am
|
Ok so Avent has had some pretty good recommendations so far, Has that pump got the little handle squeezie thing on it? or does it work like that tommy tippie angled one where you've got to pull it in and out LOL... ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com/">
|
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 8:28am
|
Avent do have a handle to squeeze
And thanks! |
Posted By: sonyaw
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 10:43am
|
i got a avent manual one 2nd hand in excellent condition off trade me for like $30 buks and it came with some bottles and brand new avent nipple shields so try there you could find a good buy..i bought mine locally so i could see the condition before i handed over the money..cant give you an opinion yet as i havnt got to use it but not long to go now ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
SHAY 9 QUIN 7 2 angels @9wk 1 day on 30-04-09 our angel 6-06-07 |
Posted By: Joscia
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 10:51am
|
OT - but Sonyaw - I love yr little girl's name! Beautiful! ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
|
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 12:53pm
|
I had the avent manual one which I found great and then when DS was about 8 weeks I started expressing full time so I bought a double electic medela pump which was awesome and sold my avent one to a lady at my antenatal group who borrowed it and then wanted to keep it.
If you are just pumping now and again then I would say just get the avent manual one, I always got just as much out I only bought the electric one for convenience and speed cos of pumping full time. ------------- 
 
|
Posted By: Mel&Kel
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 5:37pm
|
I will be a first time mum so I have no idea but find this really useful. I asked on a website (not sure if I can say what one) and they suggested the Medela electric one which is under $150 - I want to do one express a day so that DH can do one night feed so I get a bit more sleep, he is always awake late as he is a night owl... I am now wondering if Avent is better... ------------- Mummy to Eva born 11 Feburary 2009 and Charlotte born 18 April 2011 |
Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 6:01pm
|
I'm also going to be a first time mum and am finding this thread very interesting! Having been a nanny I've seen other mums using a variety of different pumps and they have all seemed fairly happy with what they've got - be it Medela or Avent.
I have bought an Avent manual pump (came with a travel kit and extra bottles etc) because it was on special at a baby fair and I figure I will give that a go but if I find for whatever reason I need to express more than I thought I would then I would look into getting an electric one later. ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 6:50pm
|
If you do go for an electric one then I would suggest getting the double one, there is a little valve you can turn so that it is only single pumping if you are feeding bubs on the other side or just want to express the other side after feeding bubs etc. I found with the double I could express both boobs in 10mins rather than taking 20 cos of having to spend 10mins on each side. The medela you can also buy attachments so that they can be manual but it is the pull style rather than the pump handle, and they can be mains or battery powered so pretty versatile.
Have a look at breastmates.co.nz. They are who I bought my double pump off and I found them really good and helpful. -------------
|
Posted By: sonyaw
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 7:34pm
|
i agree the double electric is great my friend had 1 and she lent it to me but has since sold it as she really needed the money..id love to get 1 myself but holy cow they are expensive!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
SHAY 9 QUIN 7 2 angels @9wk 1 day on 30-04-09 our angel 6-06-07 |
Posted By: kakapo
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 8:20pm
|
Double electric breast pumps are fab - they save so much time. But only really worth buying if you are expressing several times each day. I bought an Ameda "Purely Yours" off TradeMe for about $150 I think. Ameda is the same brand as the hospital ones (where I live). I hired one of the hospital grade ones through Parents Centre for the first 3 weeks, but actually preferred the one I bought even though it was slightly less *sucky* lol I never used a manual pump, but found this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEHdR5R6mxY - video clip which may be helpful? |
.Posted By: Mum2L
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 9:17pm
|
I am a first time mum, and I ended up buying the Medela Swing, as I will need to express a couple of feeds a day while I am working or studying. If I was away for the whole day, I would have invested in the Pump In Style Advanced. I only brought on the Medela Swing on the advice of my midwife, as she said the sucking and pumping action of it is really good.
I decided against the Medela Double Electric, simply because I need a breast pump that can express as much milk in a short period of time. I did do a lot of research on what pump I should buy, after reading reviews, midwife recommendations, and also what other mums have told me. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 9:38pm
|
I don't understand what you mean about expressing as much in a short time. The quickest way is to pump both boobs at once which is what the double pump does. -------------
|
Posted By: Mum2L
Date Posted: 25 September 2008 at 10:40pm
|
My midwife said that the pumping action of the Swing is different to the Double Electric, therefore you are able to express more in a shorter period of time. The Swing uses a 2 phase expression cycle, compared to the Double Electric.
Cost wise, they are about the same (well the Swing is about $50 dearer than the Double Electric), but the Swing is also more suited to frequent use compared to the Double Electric. My midwife told me to invest in the Swing rather than the Double Electric, as I will be expressing 2 to 3 feeds during the day. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 26 September 2008 at 8:39am
|
I found the Avent manual pump good though I never tried a different one. That said, I did have some trouble expressing and seldom managed to express a full feed - I've always put that down to my equipment rather than the pumps! The Avent manual one was comfy to use though - very important, and can easily be used one-handed. The Tommee Tippee angled one has never looked very comfortable IMO. I bought mine off a person selling them new (new and discounted... choooice!) on TM - that was a couple of years ago, so no idea if they're still selling them, but worth a look. ------------- Andie |
Posted By: xox6Girls1Boyxox
Date Posted: 26 September 2008 at 11:43am
|
Ok Avent is a very popular one. I went into babycity yesterday to have a look. Does anyone know how good the tommi tippie back to nature ones are? I have started stocking up on those bottles coz i like the shape and feel of the teats but i didnt realise tht tommi tippie had tht new kind of breastpump...Any thoughts???? ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com/">
|