Recommend Pump for Travelling

Been a long time (the one I did this with is 10) but Medela had a mini electric pump that was fabulous and I don't know what I would have done without it.

When I traveled out of town I brought my Medela pump and just used the battery option. It less bulky and easy to use even in the airport-yep, the airport bathroon stall! I did think about buying the advent manual pump, but really was fine with what I already had.
Good luck!
C.

The last time I flew, I took my pump in style motor out of the back pack and packed in in my suitcase in between my clothes. It's held inside the back pack by velcro and is easy to put back in. Then, I just packed my pump parts, electric cord, tubing, and bottles in ziploc bags and placed them among the clothes too.

I've seen this mentioned below, but here's my 2 cents - the Avent Isis manual is wonderful! I used it on my first trip away from my guy (long weekend) and had no problems maintaining my supply. If anything I boosted it because it was so easy to use (not to mention I was paranoid and pumped every 3 - 4 hours). The Isis was also really easy to clean and fit into a small handbag so no one I was traveling with even knew I had it with me - not that I cared, it's just that compact.

Hi,

The pump that I used all of the time was the Avent Isis(manual pump). That was 3 years ago, but I am sure Avent still has pumps out there. Hope this helps. Able to nurse both my boys (6 and almost 4) for 21 months each.

Medela back pack is what I use! Nursed all four kids (twins for a year) and that was the pump. It is the best I believe.

I love love loved the Playtex Embrace. It was quiet, light, and VERY gentle. It also comes with a very cute carrier bag.

Geraldine, I worked and pumped for 15 months of my son's life, and nursed for total of 21 months. I had a Medela Harmony, it's their manual pump, and it worked just fine. It shares some of same parts as the pump'n'style which I also used while working. It's pretty simple and easy. Nursing is so good for baby, and it's so rare to find working moms who stick with it. Know there are others for support if you need it. I loved the Yahoo Group PumpMoms. They are wonderful. Stick with it and you will be so glad you did!

I flew with the backpack-style pump in style for vacations, not too bulky. My question is, since my pump flights were pre-London, logistically, what do you do with the expressed milk? You would probably have to forgo it and just pump to maintain supply. I have noticed that in the past few years, I see fewer women in downtown Chicago with the tell tale backpack and overnight bag. Just a consideration -- if you cannot take the milk back home with you, then a smaller/lighter pump might do just as well...

Hi again,

I rented the Medela Symphony when I wanted to store a surplus, otherwise, I've only owned/used manual pumps. I've used the Ameda and Medela handhelds. Both would be fantastic for travel, they're compact and easy to clean. Ameda has better suction, no leaks but harder to pump (hands/wrists tire quickly...but I'm a massage therapist by trade so maybe it wouldn't be that tiring for you?). Medela is much easier to pump, but can leak if you don't make sure the seal is tight, and also doesn't get great suction unless you make sure flange sits just right. That said, I've found I can remedy the Medela flaws so feel that is the better pump. Also, the Ameda broke on me after months of use (how I came to buy the Medela) so contruction-wise Medela seems better. Medela's manual, like their electric pumps, also has the let down/sucking phases. Ameda doesn't offer that, of course. Doesn't seem to be a huge asset in the manual realm but it's another feature to consider I guess. Manual pumping is definately more time consuming than electric so I'd go with Medela's smallest electric version (maybe you can buy just the pump since you've already got the interchangeable hook ups?). Though I don't know how well their small electric works (I've heard it works well) it'd be worth the purchase in the time consumption department. Carol Chamblain is the lactation consultant I used, she's in St. Charles and she knows pumps backwards/forwards and sells Medelas should you want professional input. Good luck!
J.

i agree medela is bulky but the smaller ones dont work very well. so it is a bit of a trade off. I have a Yours Truly by Ameda/Hollister and I think it works better than medela's pump in style and is slightly less bulky.

I love my Ameda "truly yours" pump ($150), and am on my 2nd child using it.
I work part time and have the electric cord, car charger, and batteries in it so I can use it whenever/wherever I need to.
The only down side, is the sound. They tell you that it will sound a bit like a xerox machine ... and it does.
I have heard more than once however, that the Isis is the way to go if you are going to be doing manual pumping as well.
Good luck

Geraldine:

Look at the Purely Yours By Hollister. It is on my web site. you can take the pump out of the bag or buy without the bag.

P., RLC, IBCLC, CST
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions
www.breastfeedingandparentingsolutions.com

I really liked my Avent Isis. I got the uno. It's both manual and electric, and you can set it for whatever pattern at which your baby sucks. It's comfortable, and super easy, and very compact. I took it to work with me and pumped during the day. I could pump both sides in about 10 minutes. It's also very cost-effective, at only $150.

I don't know if you have a target around you or wal-mart even. I went there and picked up my pump. I got an Avent one that was "automatic" persay. I didn't have to pump manually, but it was probably $30-40 and I loved it! I did not pump often because 1) I didnt like it and 2) it's hard to find time when you work at a hospital :) but I would recommend that, and some even come with a traveling case and they are VERY light weight! Hope you find it :)

With the PIS you'll get the best results, so it's kind of worth the weight imo. You could take the motor out of the bag (oh, wait, is that only in the Traveler version you can do that?) which would make it smaller.

For smaller pumping jobs, like when I was engorged in the a.m. or if I was just going out to dinner or something, I used the Avent manual. It would pump about 2/3 of what I got with my PIS, and that was the best result I got with a manual.

I would recommend the Avent Isis. It is a manual pump, but very easy to use and assemble. I used this pump for months after returning to work full time, with no problems with supply. I eventually did switch to a dual electric pump. The Avent Isis didn't take much longer to pump than with the electric. It is also compact and would be easy to travel with.

Hi! I have a Medela swing single pump and love it. It's very lightweight and fits well in the pouch that comes with it. I'm actually traveling by plane in a couple of weeks and will be taking it with me. You could also use the same containers to pump in as your Pump in Style although the Swing comes with 2 also. Mine was about $150.oo, but I know Babies R Us has coupons for Medela pumps. Hope that helps!!

I went with the Avent Isis IQ Uno Complete. It it small, light and compact and has an electric motor with plug, a battery pack and a manual set-up so that you can really use it anywhere under pretty much any circumstances. It is very affordable as well compared to some of the other pumps out there (around $140-150). It works great - I love it. Good luck!

The mini electric is what I have a couple of. They are loud but they work very much like the pump in style. Except for the noise. I had a cigarette lighter on mine and a plug in. I used them where ever. You can make them a double pump if they have a little hole in the side where the attachment fits on. You use a small tube from it to the back of the breast attachment. Tubes are available at most medela stores as I had to buy replacements a couple of times when I lost something. I would definitely recommend these. I used a Pump in style back pack at work and then had one in my car as well as to travel with. I commute 45 minutes from my home and so when I took the first one in to wash and left it at home by accident...I was in a pickle. So I purchased another one. I have used the Advent also. It was OK. Make sure if you purchase the mini electric that it has the hole in the side of the area where the breast attachment screws on also the attachment will have a hole in the side of it that matches up. Some of the singles have the hole as well but not all. It allows you to pump dually. I have pumped in the car, on an air plane in a rear seat and at meetings. Many times they will give you a place to pump. Airport bathroom was the worst place as standing in the middle of the bath room exposed was quite embarrasing on a business trip. Anyway...good luck.

I love my manual Avent Isis. I use it every night (never got good results from the electric pumps) and it's speedy, lightweight, and easy to travel with. I even discreetly pumped in my airplane seat using it.