Recommendations on Hospital Grade Pumps

[TigerMom]

Hello everyone. I used to read regularly (as MamaC), but have been absent for a while.

My DS (nearly 4 yo) is still nursing at bedtime/naptime/wake-up, but my supply is quite diminished. We've just been matched with a baby that is due Dec 31. I plan to start pumping again and have been advised to rent a hospital-grade pump to build up my supply in preparation of newborn nursing & tandem nursing.

Does anyone have experience with hospital grade pumps? My choices seem to be Medela Lactina, Medela Symphony, and Ameda Elite. I used a Lactina for the first month after my son's birth, but then I switched over to the Ameda PY (I own two -- the first fell off my desk a few too many times & stopped working well after ~2 years, so I replaced it). I'm having a really hard time letting down for the pump now and I really want to get my supply ready for the new baby.

I'll cross-post this on the Pumping & Working Outside the Home forum. Thanks for any advice or tales from your experience!

[stephie]

I work in a hospital L&D. I set moms all the time with Medela pumps. I love them I used them while at work when nursing my daughter and had much better results and comfort then with my Ameda at home. I rented one from my hospital when I had my baby for $54 a month. Check into your local lactation consultant at a nearby hospital and see if they offer that service. But I love the hospital grade pumps!!!

[ChristmasTree]

the limerick pj comfort pump is now being recommended for induced lactation, it has completely soft cups that contract and squeeze breast/areola/tip of nipple like baby does. it is a very good pump. i have one. you can find one on ebay pretty easily. please go to www.fourfriends.com/abrw and www.asklenore.com they will give you lots of support. it would be good. they can tell you exactly what to do to get started :)

[TigerMom]

Update: I've rented an Ameda Elite which I use at home and will take up to NY with me when the baby is born (less than two weeks now!). I'm using my Lansinoh (same as Ameda Purely Yours) at work.

I'm struggling with my pump let-down (it's very spotty), but I'm still managing to freeze roughly an ounce a day. That's up over 10-15 mL for the day when I started pumping again, so I'm pleased. All I've done so far is add 3-4 pumping sessions per day (to my 2-3 toddler nursing sessions) and start eating a big bowl of oatmeal daily.

I'm definitely feeling really good about my body's ability to ramp up production to feed a newborn, though. I feel like what I'm doing now is preparing the ground so that, when I hope that little girl in my arms, my body will just be ready to respond.