howdy, just a quickie really, I am wondering if my troubles with expressing are a wee bit to do with my pump not being very comfy (bruisy!) although I don't know what other ones are like......does anyone have any recommendations?

Also, the one I have (avent manual) is obviously manual, but Mothercare have a TT electric one on offer at the moment - is electric really better? Is it worth it? I would really like to express more cos I feel so restricted going to places I don't feel I can feed, and resent using formula to please other people haha!

I tried both the TT and Avent manual pumps and found the TT to be better to use. Though they were both very painful but I did get more when I expessed using the TT one.

It is expensive to buy and find it's not for you. My Surestart centre used to hire out electric breastpumps for free. It might be worth asking your HV or local centre if they have a similar scheme near you.

xx

I had the medela swing and that was okay. I bought it from Tesco Direct and then sold it on eBay for almost as much as I paid.

i had the avent manual pump and swapped to the electric one, it definately made a difference being electric, like pepper says tho try your hv to see if you can hire one for free x

hmmmm I had forgotten some places hire. We don't have surestart but I wonder if my h.v might finally prove her worth and know anything - we are heading there tomorrow anyway

I don't know why but I'm surprised people buy second hand pumps - thinking about it though I can't really see why not!

I had a madela electric one and sold it for about a tenner doh!

Used the TT manual one, have two infact, and could express about 6 ounces off two boobs in 10/15 mins using breastshells on the opposite boob too.

Just to add, and sorry as you prob/poss know this already - but when expressing, massage the boob first, have a drink before and/or during and try to either have a picture of baby or baby in the room to look at, as well as sitting comfortably and well supported - with everything to hand so you don't have to be stretching about too much and can relax. Just all helps the brain to boobie to bottle flow

Hope the HV is of use - the more expensive electric ones (like in hospital) are really good as you can adjust the strength and the frequency of the suction iykwim so well worth a try - even to just get your breasts used to expressing and then you will probably find that the manual pump will work better after that boost too. xx

I generally only get 2oz ish maybe 3 if I express from both sides but I only do it occasionally ust now because its sore after 10 minutes!

I find that I need to sit quite uncomfortably in that I need to lean forward or the pump leaks back down my tummy, is that what they are all like??? I have tried loads of different ways of sitting, but hunching over is the only way I can get it to go into the pump, its not exactly a nice calming experience!

No, leaning tends to be the way annoying isn't it - cos you can't support your back. If you can at least have your elbows supported, moreso the non-pumping arm to take some of your body weight - and try not to focus on the pumping but the baby (I used to look at pics and vids on my phone) and have a tasty snack or a cuppa that you can tempt yourself with, and a magazine or the tv on to look at too, make it a bit more pleasant? Your boobs are clever though, they know when they're being duped I think, and it takes a while for them to figure out their not being abused so they will give up the milk more easy! Do you get the feeling of let-down and get the milk faster flowing after a bit, or is it hard work throughout and like pulling the milk out? Oo, I can almost feel the tingle just thinking about it

You could pump every day or every other day at a certain time, and either chill (3days life) or freeze (months worth of life) what you express, just so it's more about getting your boobs used to pumping rather than only pumping when you need to? That way you can try it for a week or so and see if it gets comfier and/or you get a bit more milk. xx

hahaha its uncomfy! No, I do get a decent let-down, most of the time Eli is lying on the floor in front of me (asleep, not just dropped ) so it seems to work, I think because I only do it a couple of times a week I havent got 'the method' down and end up with 2 or so ounces and get impatient!