Kat writes…If you’re thinking about breast feeding it’s likely you’re also looking at breast pumps. It may not look glamorous but using a breast pump can help you get some rest or go out for a few hours whilst someone else does the feeding. Due to an odd milk supply I had to express milk before every feed for about five months, so I spent lots of time hooked up to one of these and can speak from experience!
Medela Mini Electric Breast Pump
This is a great breast pump for general use. It is compact, easy to use, clean, and you can take it out and about. It’s either battery or mains operated. I can vouch for the ease of use and have even managed to operate it whilst on a motorway (I wasn’t driving though!). I would recommend getting this if you want the speed and convenience of an electric pump but don’t need to use it daily. £54.99.
Medela Swing Electric Breast Pump
The Swing is a two phase pump which means it has a quick ‘stimulation phase’ and a slower ‘expression phase’. The combination of two phases mimics your baby’s own action and helps you get a let down more quickly. Like the Mini Electric, it can be either mains or battery operated. The breast shield is soft fit which is very comfortable to use. If you are expressing more regularly I would recommend investing in one of these, as pumping is quicker, more comfortable, and the machine is quieter than the Mini. £89.99 Also check out our previous review.
Medela Harmony 2-Phase Manual Breast Pump
A hand pump is definitely the more eco-friendly option as it uses Mama-power. The Medela Harmony has a unique two phase action (like the Swing) to make expressing comfortable and easy. It also has a soft fit breast shield which flexes around your boob. This pump is perfect if you want something on standby for infrequent use. £24.99
Medela Freestyle Double Electric Breast Pump
As I was expressing between 4 and 6 times a day, every day, I coveted double breast pumps as you can get the job done in half the time. The Freestyle Double is the world’s smallest high-performance breast pump. It has a two phase action, can be used as a double or single and even has two types of breast shield. It even has a rechargeable battery with three hours pumping time. It comes with its own shoulder bag and cooler so you can take it out and about with minimum fuss. This is a must have for those of you pumping regularly or having to pump at work. £249.99.
You can also pick up some useful accessories like Medela Breast Milk Storage Bags and spare Medela Storage Bottles which both attach to the pumps.
All available from Mothercare.
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