Breastfeeding Products Reviews

L'ovedbaby 4-in-1 Nursing Shawl Out-on-the-Town Brown

2009-12-10T15:07:00.001-08:00

... I wish I discovered this product when I had my first child, it has made life so much easier. My second child refuses to take a bottle so I needed a solution for discreet public nursing. This product has helped me turn a difficult situation into a convenience. I carry this "cover up" in my diaper bag and I'm free to nurse anywhere in any kind of 2 piece outfit. It offers just enough coverage, it's super light and soft and my baby loves being under it. It doesn't get too hot, even in warm weather. It doubles as a blanket and my daughter likes to hold and snuggle it. Most of all, it's super easy! At feeding time, I slip it on, get myself set, tuck baby undereath and she feeds. The neckline is large enough so I can peek at her and allows enough light so baby can find her way when latching. So now, I nurse anywhere. I don't have to carry bottles or worry about pumping or mixing formula. I have this in brown and I get so many compliments on what a cool thing this is. It washes beautifully too--gentle cycle, drip dries fast with no wrinkles. This is definitely worth the money! ...
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Medela Pump & Save Storage Bags 50-pk.

2009-12-09T14:30:00.001-08:00

... These bags are awful and in my experience, after they are in the fridge, leak more than 50% of the time and, if they put in the freezer, leak more than 80% of the time. Yuck! The Lansinoh bags are wonderful--get those instead! ...
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The First Years - Nursing Privacy Wrap Black

2009-12-08T14:47:00.001-08:00

... I am not obese by any means, but I have huge baby feeders now that they are full of milk! If you are in my boat, this wrap is terrible! I can't even fit my babies head underneath of this cover... terrible and I wish someone else would have told me! ...
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Gerber Warm or Cool Relief Packs

2009-12-07T14:31:00.001-08:00

... My husband bought me two boxes, and I am so thankful. I keep one set for warm and one for cold (in the fridge always), and it makes pre and post breastfeeding or pumping much, much easier (and less painful!). ...
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The First Years Milk Storage Organizer

2009-12-05T14:21:00.001-08:00

... The organizer seems to hold its purpose which for me was to hold all of my frozen milk it one compartment (without being all over the freezer). However i did not think it held the bags upright very well. I had to just throw them in the case however they would fit. ...
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Lansinoh Double Electric Breast Pump, BPA Free, 1-Count Box

2009-12-04T14:52:00.001-08:00

... I have used this pump for about 8 months now and it works great. I highly recommend it. Much less expensive than the Medela pumps and works just as great. "Baby bargains" gives it an "A." I give it an "A+." ...
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Philips Avent Disposable Nursing Pads 100 Count

2009-12-03T15:08:00.001-08:00

... Small - very good for nursing bras, absorbent, not backed with plastic (no extra sweating), and a little size-enhancing for those who desire ;) ...
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Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump

2009-12-02T14:27:00.001-08:00

... With my first baby I used the Avent Isis pump even when I returned to work and I was exclusively breastfeeding. I could pump 3-4 oz per breast in ten minutes so twenty minutes for 6-8 oz. But...it took about ten minutes to dissassemble, clean all the parts, and reassemble.

Now with my second child I decided to try the Harmony because it has fewer parts to disassemble and clean. With the Harmony I can pump 6-8 oz in twenty minutes and there are only a few parts to wash so clean up takes only two-five minutes! I also found that I can pump one side while baby nurses the other due to the ease of use and swivel handle.

One feature of the Harmony is the "let-down" squeeze which is quick pumps that help stimulate let-down. You can do the same thing on any manual breastpump with fast pump strokes but this just makes it easy and consistent.

A few of the pieces have to be carefully positioned to work correctly but that hasn't been a problem, if I find suction is low I know what to check to get it fixed.

One other perk I've found helps in an unexpected way: My new baby (now 8 weeks old) likes to use me as a pacifier and would hang out all night if I'd let him. I have found that he uses a different suckling at night just for comfort (it doesn't stimulate milk let-down) when I desperately need sleep I grab my pump, hook to the other breast and use the let-down squeeze until I hear my little guy start swallowing, he will generally go ahead and nurse and then fall off for a couple hours of sleep instead of pacifying indefinitely. ...
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Playtex Nursing Necessities Disposable Nursing Pads 60 Count

2009-12-01T14:44:00.001-08:00

... I have tried Lansinoh, Medela, Johnson & Johnson, and Playtex nursing pads. The Lansinoh are best overall: great absorbancy, nice countoured shape, and good adhesive that stays in place without bunching up. J&J were also great, but I'd recommend them to women who size A or B since they are smaller in size. Playtex has great absorbancy but they are not at all countoured so they bulge unless you have the perfect bra that will hide a huge bulge. Medela are super thin, therefore much less absorbant, and also the core gets bunched up inside the outer lining so they are almost impossible to unbunch between feedings. The adhesive stinks too, so they don't stay in place too long. So overall I recommend J&J to smaller women (cup A or B), and the Lansinoh to larger women (cup C and above). ...
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Medela Freestyle Breast Pump

2009-11-30T14:32:00.001-08:00

... I don't want to be biassed. So let me say it out loud: I HATE BREASTPUMPING!!
With that out of the way, despite my personal reservation with the process itself, I have to say that this pump is a lifesaver. I wouldn't have gone down this road if it weren't for those lactation nazi at the hospital who turned me into a paranoid new mother. My son was born on a larger/heavier than the average baby. At 9.6lbs, he's been drinking 4oz ever since he was born, contrary to the newborn's belief of their stomach being the size of a marble. When I found out that my baby was crying non stop due to hunger (although he had been latching on for 20 minutes on each breast every 2 horus), and then finally realized that I wasn't producing anything yet not even colustrum, I decided to pump to see how much milk I was producing. Those lactation nazi at the hospital never once recommended a supplemental feeding with formula! Being the firstime mother, I became paranoid and decided to pump ever since to ensure that my baby received adequate supplies of food. That's what got me pumping on the first place.
With that said, I use this pump every 4 hours everyday thus far (it's been 10 weeks). The pump is a bit loud, and forget about those handsfree attachment. This unit is not intended to be handsfree at all. Milk will be leaking all over the places otherwise, so just hold it manually.
I like the digital features with the timer. It's simple and straight to the point. Every piece is made out of plastic, thus a bit cumbersome to clean.
I'm not sure how long it will last. But the company offers a 1 year warranty. I have asked for a motor replacement thus far, not because it broke down. The LCD display leaked. Having had spend over $300 for a brand new pump that was used less than 2 weeks after the LCD leaked, I asked for a replacement which the company had happily sent over. I received the replacement within few days of reporting it.
I'm giving this pump a 4-star for the great warranty, its performance and saving me from paranoia thoughts. Durability... hmm... that remains to be seen. Afteral, there is a reason why the warranty is only for 1 year right? ...
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Milkscreen: Home Test to Detect Alcohol in Breast Milk 20 Pack

2009-11-29T13:17:00.001-08:00

... I am in a wine and cheese bowling league every other Friday. It's so nice to be able to finally actually drink the wine! No more worries about whether my milk is ok! ...
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The First Years Breastflow 9-oz Bottle, 3-Pack

2009-11-28T14:21:00.001-08:00

... This is the most amazing bottle on the market. Next best thing to God's own creation. Thank you First Years.... ...
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The First Years - Easy Comfort Manual Breast Pump

2009-11-27T14:53:00.001-08:00

... Terrible product. Bad design. Reprehensible instruction manual. The pump works marginally well. It seemed fine for the first few days. Even when perfectly clean and reassebled well, it still only works for a while. After searching through the manual to determine which parts need to be sterilized, it was unclear, so we boiled the body, valve and the bottle. Everything warped, so now it works even less well. Garbage! Went out and bought a Medela - much better design that works well. ...
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The First Years miPump Single Electric Breast Pump

2009-11-26T15:08:00.001-08:00

... I bought this item hoping it would boost my milk production. I could not afford an expensive pump. I tried a manual pump first which did not work well. This pump did get my milk flowing. When you open the package, all the attatchemtns are a bit overwhelming but once it is put together, it is fairly easy to use and move around. This pump is fairly compact and the bag is great. It is very quiet compared to the medela. The T-Bar is great to use because it leaves a free hand; however, it is akward and takes some getting use to. I wish this pump offered more suction power. I have large breasts and have to use the highest power. If there was a stronger power, I think I would get more milk. I think this would work very well if you have smaller more firm breasts. ...
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Philips Avent ISIS iQ Duo Twin Electric Breast Pump, BPA Free - White

2009-11-25T14:27:00.001-08:00

... I had a Medela Pump In Style Original that I used for about 3 months before it suddenly seemed to lose suction/power and I could no longer pump as easily as I once had. I was already pleased with all the Avent products I had - bottles, pacifiers, the microwave steam sterilizer, and the bottle warmer - the Avent breast pump seemed to get good reviews and I liked the idea of pumping straight into the feeding bottles, so I took the plunge. It *is* a lot of money, but so is any other dual electronic breast pump. I only wish now that I had bought this one first so I wouldn't have wasted money on the Medela.

I've been using this pump for two weeks now and I just hope it's lifespan is longer than the Medela because I absolutely LOVE this pump!

Compared to the Medela PiS the Avent Isis Duo is:

Quiet
-----
The Medela was like a piston engine. One of the ways I new it was losing power was because it was no longer as noisy as it used to be. The Avent pump is MUCH quieter. If I wanted to, I could probably pump right in my cubicle and no one would be the wiser.

Comfortable
-----------
Again, the Medela was like a piston engine. I felt like a cow hooked up to an automatic milking machine and it certainly didn't feel like my baby nursing. All the suction was concentrated on the nipples, not the areolae and, while not necessarily painful, it wasn't comfortable. It was supposed to have the two-phase suction that simulated the early, light sucking that stimulates letdown, followed by the deep, nutritive sucking, but I can't say I ever noticed a change in the suction or the rate. Sure, you could adjust the speed and intensity of the suction, but only to five specific presets.
The Avent, however, has the cushions that "massage" the areolae and I think this really does help with letdown and subsequent flow. If you know anything about proper latch-on, you know that baby is supposed to get the areola in his mouth, not just the nipple, so the Avent is much closer to nature in that respect. Plus, the intensity and duration of the suction are completely customizable and can be reset at any time. So you can really mimic the quick, soft letdown sucking before moving on to the long, deep sucking. I've gone entire pumping sessions without really feeling the suction, which is just like nursing - it doesn't generally feel like the baby is trying to tear your nipple off, but that's what the Medela felt like!

Efficient
---------
So Medela only had the preset speed and suction options and no matter what setting you chose, the suck part of the pump was the same duration as the release. But because you can completely control the rate of the Avent pump, you can do a very long pull (the instructions even say to depress the handle that creates the vacuum and hold it there for 3 seconds). The first time I tried this, I was amazed! The milk poured forth, a steady stream for the whole 3 seconds! It was really satisfying to hear the plop of all that milk fall into the bottle over and over again. I can finish a pumping session in much less time than I ever could with Medela. Also, because you can reset the rate at any time, you can restimulate letdown or change to a longer pause between pulls as you get to the end. With the Medela, I used to be able to still hand-express milk after the pump had long since stopped producing any, but I seem to get every last drop with the Avent pump!

Other things to keep in mind:

- The Avent funnels have more parts to disassemble, clean, and reassemble than the Medela funnels. Factoring in cleaning and assembly, while the actual pumping takes less time, my pumping sessions are overall the same amount of time from start to finish as they were with the Medela PiS.

- The Avent funnels are easier to clean by hand. When I'm at work, I use sterilizing wipes between sessions and I can actually reach all the places milk touches with my fingers. I couldn't do this with the Medela funnels.

- The Avent pump isn't integrated into the bag and it's cord is longer. This makes it a little more portable.

- The Avent tubes are stiffer than the Medela tubes. Be sure to use the bottle stands or those tubes will pull them right over.

- Avent includes funnel covers and screw bases that seal up the funnels between uses to keep them sterile. BIG plus over Medela in my book.

- The trigger and button for adjusting suction and speed are right at your fingertips instead of on the pump housing. With Medela, when you were double pumping you had to start the pump with one hand and then try to position that funnel over the breast while it was sucking, and you also had to try to break suction while the pump was still going and both hands were full - not easy!

- The included Avent manual pump is FAR superior to the manual pump included with Medela PiS.

All in all, if you're considering Medela, do yourself a favor and get this Avent pump instead! Your breasts will thank you!
...
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Playtex Nursing Necessities Embrace Deluxe Double Electric Breast Pump System

2009-11-24T14:43:00.001-08:00

... This pump is a bargain! It works well and isn't as expensive as the other pumps of this grade. I personally did have trouble with the sheilds being to soft for me, so I switched them out with the Almeda ones they give you in the hospital and it worked great! Also, the system that goes with this pump is awesome, freezing and storing couldn't be any easier if you tried. One thing no one told me though as a new mom, don't expect this pump to be silent, as a matter of fact, don't expect any pump to be silent. They all make a little noise, but ladies, you have to get over it. Eventually everyone is going to know what you are sneaking away for every little while. I promise you get used to it. Also, the car adapter is such a great idea!! I thought I would never use it, but boy was it a life saver on trips! And the discrete carrying case makes it practical to take along with you to more public settings. Again though, if you are a working mom, eventually everyone will notice, it's ok. Now, I will say my pump did go out at one point and Playtex was a dream to deal with! They overnighted a new pump to me as soon as I called and when I received the new one, I just sent the old one back. The new one has worked ever since. If I had to do it all over again, I would buy the playtex again! ...
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Evenflo Comfort Select Auto-Cycling Breast Pump

2009-11-23T14:31:00.001-08:00

... I originally had a Medela Swing, which was ok. It was my first pump, so I didn't know any better. But when we out of town, my pump stopped working because it shorted out (my dog had bitten thru the wire, and when my husband tried to re-connect the wires, it died). Anyway, I needed a pump badly, we went to Wal-Mart and bought this one because it was a cheap fix. When I first used it, it felt sort of violent at first because I was used to my Medela,which is very gentle. But it was only because I wasn't used to the Even Flo. Well, I was amazed at the amount of milk I got in such a short amount of time (a full 5 oz in maybe 10 minutes!!!but I was pretty engorged, too). I think it's much more efficient since there is no tubing, which can reduce the suction power. I havent had any problems with the pump at all, and am very happy with this purchase and price. The breast pads that came with it are terrible, though, and I stick to Lansinoh pads, which ROCK! They don't leak at all, even in the morning when I tend to be full. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because it is pretty loud, and the flanges only come in one size. ...
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Evenflo Comfort Select Performance Single Electric Breast Pump

2009-11-22T13:16:00.001-08:00

... I bought this pump as a back up to keep at work. It works reasonably well turned up to full power but is VERY noisy! I use the Lansinoh double electric pump everyday and would recommend it over this one for daily use. ...
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Lansinoh Double Electric Breast Pump - 1 Count

2009-11-21T14:21:00.001-08:00

... After reading hundreds of reviews-this seemed to be the only one that received good reviews. After purchasing it, I've had no problems with it-except for one small thing. I dropped the plug for it and it cracked, it still works, but doesn't seem to be the best being that it only had a 1 foot fall-but besides that-I've never had any problems! I've had other friends that bought other pumps and said that they have had leaking problems and they have paid almost double what this pump costs. ...
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Playtex Embrace Breast Pump System

2009-11-20T14:52:00.001-08:00

... I will be going back to work soon, but used this pump starting at one week postpartum. It is comfortable and easy to use.
I breastfeed and suppement with a bottle at night so my baby sleeps longer. This pump has been wonderful! I use it at least 2 times a day when he sleeps so long and misses out on regular feedings. I am able to pump enough breast milk to easily store in the refrigerator or freezer. I would recommend this pump to anyone who will need one for going back to work or for having a convenient supply of milk around. ...
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Playtex Nursing Necessities One Step Breast Milk Storage Kit

2009-11-19T15:07:00.001-08:00

... I'm pretty sure this is the same product they list here that has more reviews: http://www.amazon.com/Playtex-One-Step-Breast-Milk-Storage/dp/B000231GF8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1239205439&sr=8-2

These work great for me, but since I double pump I had to order two and I need to be really careful to get them back in my bag to be transported to the office for the next day. 4 kits would be ideal but that's expensive so for now I have two and just keep bottles as backups for when I forget a piece at home.

...
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Philips Avent ISIS Manual Breast Pump - White

2009-11-18T14:27:00.001-08:00

... I love this pump. The silicone massage cushion works wonders and makes the pump very effective. I get more milk with this pump than with my double electric. It's easy to assemble and wash. I do wish the white plastic dome piece stayed on better but that is a very minor complaint. ...
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Philips Avent ISIS iQ Uno Electric Breast Pump - White

2009-11-17T14:43:00.001-08:00

... I received a hand-me down Medela pump in style from a relative and was very happy with it, but needed a more portable pump for "emergencies" and when I was out places where I couldn't find a discreet place with an electrical outlet (the manual pump that came with the pump in style I got was broken).

I purchased this pump because I liked that it could work via an AC adapter, battery pack, or manually. The pump works well, but I don't get as much milk as with the pump in style, and it takes much longer (even longer than if I pump each side individually with my pump in style). It is quieter than the Medela pump and I like that there are no tubes, which makes it easier to clean. ...
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Lansinoh Breast Milk Storage Bags 50-pk.

2009-11-16T14:31:00.001-08:00

... I've used these bags for a couple of months now. I use them only infrequently, but so far I do not have any problem with leaks. I noticed that many of the "leak" reviews were from 2007, maybe they are doing a better job now? ...
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The First Years miPump Double Electric Breast Pump

2009-11-15T13:16:00.001-08:00

... I started out using a little Avent hand pump, which works wonderfully. I decided to buy this pump based on its price because I'll be going back to work in August. Not only does it hurt a lot, but it doesn't pump nearly as much milk as my little hand pump. Now I'm back to using the hand pump, wondering if I should invest in a Medela, and stuck with a $75 pump I can't resell or return. Good luck. Hope it works for you. ...
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