What's the best breast pump to buy? Or should I rent? Or should I express by hand?

I have a Medela Pump-In-Style, and have used it for both of my kids. I've been really pleased with it, considering that there's not much way NOT to feel like a dairy cow! While the Medela people get crazy about people reselling them on eBay, that's where I bought mine for a fraction of the cost of a new one, and you can get the bottles, pump shields, container stands, tubing, etc., at the hospital when you have your baby. Just ask your nurse and s/he'll grab a kit for you. As for expressing by hand, this was a last resort for me, if I was away from both my baby and my pump and simply need to relieve pressure. It's monotonous and can cramp your hands!

I tried 4 different pumps and every one of them left me disapointed because there was only a little milk and it would come gushing out at first and then very quickly after it wouldnt get anything out. I expressed by hand most of the time. It was difficult for sure but I found that I got more out that way because I could massage different spots and I felt way more comfortable with my own hand then a thing like pump hanging off my boob making horrible noises and looking very silly. But every women is different so maybe try the hand expressing first, its cheaper and if it doesnt work...apparently the avent isis has very good reviews, so ive heard lol.

All my work colleagues said Avent so that's what I registered for. We never got them and when my milk came in I DESPERATELY needed a breast pump and the public health nurse recommended Avent too so I went and got all Avent stuff. I pumped once every day or two to keep my milk supply up and the pump was easy to use and clean. As for the bottles we never had any problems with nipple confusion or anything. Even when we gave my daughter a bottle once very early... (at 4 weeks instead of the 6 weeks the hospital and the public health nurses recommend) because we were going out to a Christmas concert one night and my parents were babysitting. After that my hubby gave my daughter 1-2 bottles a week for 5 months just to make sure she'd keep taking them when necessary. They say they're closest to the breast and I guess they're right! Plus a friend of mine had a problem where a part of her pump fell in the dishwasher and got wrecked. She said Avent was fabulous about shipping her a replacement part really quickly (because when you need it you NEED it!!!) When your child switches to cups, you can purchase the cup spouts and handles that will fit onto the bottles you already have! The spouts are spill-proof and are available in a variety of fun colors. Avent also makes pacifiers, spoons, plates, bowls, etc. Also, I hope you never experience this, but a manual pump is handy to have if you ever get a plugged milk duct. (OUCH!!!) This happened to me twice and all you can do is breast compressions/massage and nurse like crazy to try to work it out before it turns into a Mastitis infection. I'd nurse my baby on one side and take the pump with me into the bath. I'd lay on my tummy in nice toasty warm water for a few minutes and then pump while still in the bath and it got things flowing smoothly again in no time at all. I only ever expressed by hand a bit in the shower to relieve some of the pressure if I started leaking all over the place because of the warmth. It seemed like a pretty messy time consuming arrangement with a lot of margin for error. You can't miss the bottle with a pump. :-) Good luck!

when i hand expressed it seemed faster!!! the pumps seem to take a while to get your let down.

Just get a avent isis. They get great reviews, and ive heard people say theyre better than the medelas you get at the hospital. Even the electric ones. Expressing by hand makes it hard to get everything and avoud producing less.

Avent Isis, it is a good price and works well. There is a new Avent automactic, I don't know the price on that one.

If you only need to express occasionally, I'd suggest doing hand expression or buying the Avent Isis.

Expressing by hand was very difficult for me. Think about it, your breasts are sore at first, filling with milk and getting used to being sucked on and pulled at by a pump, trying to figure out the expressing move was just too much for me to handle. You don't just squeeze and milk comes out. You have to do this rolling thing with your hand....The pump was much easier. I used a manual one, but I wish I had an electric one, and a double pump at that! Because when you're pumping one breast, the other one leaks! So I figured, might as well have a pump on that side too! I heard the Mudela pump is the best. It is also the most expensive, though...

hard to express by hand or manual pump....... you have to pump 15 minutes for each boob..... a total of 30 minutes each time.......and you have to do this 3, 4 5 times day????? best pump is any of the double breast pump from MEDELA. you can rent from the hospital if you AREN'T planning to do long term pumping......it's just temporary.... costs between $70-$80 a month to rent.... might as well just buy your own........