Breast pumps - what kind, where to buy?

[constancefaith]

If you are planning to BF exclusively then I would highly recommend the Medela Freestyle. You can buy them in HK but at a higher price, around $5000. You can ALSO buy it online, which only costs $3800 (When I bought it that is).
It is electric, double pumping (left and right together), rechargeable (you can take out easily), it comes with 4 medela bottles, one cold pack, a bottle holder bag, a bigger bag for all the equipments.

I have been exclusively pumping for 7 months with the freestyle.
I also tried the Medela manual one, and I suggest you use both actually. I pumped every 2 hours and for 30minutes in the first few months to get a higher supply and I get around 16oz every time I pump. Obviously every one will be different, but pump more and for a shorter period of time (like 8 times for 10-20mins)! It will stimulate your breasts thinking baby is not having enough milk!

 

[Newbie_hk]

I used the Medela Pump in Style backpack. I loved it. I used it at home when I was going out and it came in a handy backpack that I brought along with me at work (that was back in Sydney and they allowed me to express at work). The backpack is big enough to store all the bottles so it was great for storage afterwards since everything is in one bag.

 

[constancefaith]

Oh. Forgot to mention, the freestyle has straps that you strap onto your maternity bra so you can pump without holding onto the pumps!!! It was GREAT for me cos I got on laptops, read magazines, feed or change diapers for bub and even DRIVE hehe.

Trust me, I've pumped in toilets (clean ones :S), car, restaurants (with a cover over obviously)... Freestyle is absolutely the buy... will use it when I have second bub!

 

[mariac]

thanks ladies! i have definitely decided to get a medela electric pump, so now trying to decide whether i should go for double or single pump. i don't need to pump exclusively, but i do want to breastfeed exclusively. is it advantageous to get a style that comes with more storage bottles etc.? i have no idea how much i'll be able to pump at one go. i saw the medela swing which is a single electric but it only comes with one 5oz bottle i think. what is the use of storage bags? can the bottles simply be stored in the fridge or no?

constancefaith - what is the site for buying it online from HK?

 

[nicolejoy]

You can always buy more bottles if you want them. If you want to pump a lot, I think double is definitely the way to go - but if it's just for once a day or even less, I'd probably go with something smaller and just single pumping. I love my Pump In Style but it is a bit bulky if I wasn't using it all the time. The Swing is probably what I'd go for if I wanted electric but for less frequent pumping.

I pump into the 8oz bottles (I have just three of them), then I transfer the milk into the 5oz bottles, cap it and put it in the fridge. I only have five 5oz bottles. Then I feed directly from the 5oz bottles. I don't freeze milk at all, just use chilled freshly pumped milk (never more than a day old).