Manual Breat Pump

Hi,

I really loved the Avent Isis pump. For me, it was better than my Medela electronic pump. I never tried any other, though, so I have no comparison.

Best of luck,

S.
Mom of a 6y.o. and 3y.o.

Avent all the way! I actually used it exclusively for a year and a half. I work full time and when I needed to pump at work it was magic! Quick, easy, quiet, compact, and I never needed an outlet. I loved it!

I have both an electric and a manual pump. I have the Medela Pump in Style electric for home, the bag is huge and I don't want to carry the bag around. So, I used the Avent Isis for work. It's compact and easy to use.

Check to see if you can get a battery pack for your Medela PIS. I had one and it worked just as well on the battery pack as AC power. I don't know much about manual pumps (the PIS was all I ever used). Hope this helps. Good luck, and safe journey!

I used the Medela Harmony manual pump and had no problems with it. I can't say how it compares to the pump in style. If you do go with harmony you can use the same bottles as you already have with the pump in style. I would try them out a week before your trip to make sure you like it so that if your unhappy with it you have enough time to try a different one. There actually was another manual pump that I used and I don't remember which one it was but after about a month of using it I couldn't get it to suction any more so I exchanged it for the Harmony pump. I hope this is helpful.
Congrats you little boy.
C.

I have never had great luck with the manual pumps. When I went overseas I purchased a battery pack for my Pump In Style that just used AA batteries. It wasn't very expensive and I at least knew that the pump worked and I didn't have to worry about the electricity aspect.

I love the avent pump for infrequent pumping. I used it on a trip to France to keep up my milk while separated from my daughter and it worked great.

A friend who could not get the Medela (electric) or anything else to work for her, loves the Avent.

Hint: Do not pack this in your suitcase. Carry it on. If you have your son, it might not be so bad, but they lost my luggage and it was painful.

Good luck!

I have used both and found the Harmony to be better. It's easier to clean (less pieces) and you can fit regular sized bottles (or medela bottles) with it. Especially if you alreadh have the PIS, you will be able to use the medela bottles you have. The Harmoney has a nice letdown feature, as well. I was able to pump as much with the Harmony as my double pump. It just takes longer, since you have to do both sides separately.

As far as not responding well, there is a learning curve. The more you do it, the better your body responds. The best time to pump is first thing in the morning, when milk supply is at its highest level. Be sure to really compress the breast with your other hand, as you pump, to get as much milk out as you can.

When I went back to work (briefly) after my son was born, the Avent worked like a charm for me until I started stressing out! It was under $40 and it did it's job. ;) Good luck!

I have not used the harmony, but the pp is correct in saying that if you use the Avent pump you will have to invest in avent bottles or some kind of collection containers since you cannot use the medella containers with it. Also, I had the same problem with the shield insert on the avent pump as the pp. The milk seemed to get between the insert and the funnel and I ended up taking the insert out. I did like the covers to keep it clean in a bag, and I like the size that allows you to put in a purse or small bag for discretion, which might be nice at a wedding. The only other thing I have to say about the isis is that I eventualy had to throw mine away because it got a crack in it, but I think it might have got dropped.

I also use the Medela PIS. I've used the manual piston attachment that comes with the PIS with success, the Harmony does look better than that. I was given an Ameda manual pump (one-handed) during a recent hospital stay and I do like it better than the PIS manual. It seems to run around $25-30. I feel like it removes more milk and is easier to use than the medela piston.

I used the Avent Isis. It works well if you only use it a couple times a day for a few days. It's not meant to use more often than that.

I used the Medela Harmony occasionally and it seemed to work fine. I had nothing to compare it to, though, but it got the job done.

I've never used the Maedla one, but I have an Isis and I really like it. I've used it in all sorts of odd places like below decks on a sailboat between races, on a hiking trail, at a conference, etc. A manual pump is fine if you only need a bottle or two each day, but it can get to be a pain if you need to use it too often. Good luck!

I've used the Avent Isis and love it! It's nice because you can pump with just one hand and it's gentle. (I have not tried the Medela version.)

Learn to hand express. It's pretty easy once you get the hang it and so easy to take with! I actually expressed directly into the bottle! Take aim and go!

Just curious...how in the world could you possibly have a naughty 3 month old baby? Has he taken the car for a joy ride? Is he hanging out on street corners? Remember...kids become what you say they are!

I have both the Medela Pump in Style and the Avent Isis and I was usually able to pump more with the Isis hand held. It' s only about 40 dollars and works very well. You control the suction yourself so I always felt like the Isis had more suction than the Medela on it's highest setting.

I own and use the Medela Harmony and have brought it with me on vacation all summer. I love it. It has a stimulation phase and an expression phase, is small and very portable, and has a flexible cone. I must sound like a salesperson, but it's been so easy to use!!! My sister uses the same one as well when she pumps at work. I haven't heard about the Avent one, but the Medela one is a great buy.

Avent Isis! It's a really great pump. I have the Isis IQ, and loved it when I used it with my son. It's a great manual pump, and then at home you can set a specific pumping rhythm when using the electric option.

A friend of mine used the Avent Isis and really loved it when she pumped at work. She used it every day for about 6 mos.

A big plus of the Isis is its ease of cleaning. No little tubes, and all the parts are dishwasher-safe on the top rack. I used a lingerie bag in the dishwasher to keep the small parts from flying all over.

The Harmony isn't bad as long as your baby nurses well. It makes an annoying noise, but if you need it here and there it should be fine.

I'd just put your baby in a sling and nurse.

I used the Avent Isis with both my sons (4 and 6). It worked great!

S.

I had great success with the Avent pump with my daughters. I would definitely recommend it. I agree about the insert part and it being more of a hassle. I took it out. I am large chested, and it just hurt. I used it for 5 months with my first and almost a year with the second.

I used the Avent Isis manual pump with my first and really liked it but I hated the insert for the shield that is supposed to help with expression. I used it without since it seemed to catch the milk instead of letting it go to the bottle. If I bought a manual now, I would buy it again.

I loved my Avent. It worked so well. Much better than any other manual I tried. And it was simple to store and clean.

Good Luck and have fun! How exciting - a wedding in India!