[ElizabethS]

Ok I am looking for a breast pump. I'm due in the end of April. I have breastfed three babies. I rented a hospital grade pump w/my second and third child when I had to go back to work (exclusively breastfed the first since I wasn't working..and didn't have to pump). However it costs $60/month. If you add that up I could have bought several pumps of my own by now.

I'm looking to purchase a double electric pump this time around but am unsure which to get. For some background, I have trouble relaxing and with letdown, when pumping and not breastfeeding. I also have a hard time finding any that fit...I have really really large nipples, and they seem to get pinched/suctioned hard with even the wide flanges.

So anyways my question is I need something that....

*Is comfortable, and does not pinch (with the knowledge that my nipples are quite larger than the average apparently!)
*Something that will not impede my breastmilk production, I'm going back to work at 6 weeks and will probably start pumping at 1 mos to start some storage. I'll also probably pump when engorged the first week or so and set aside.
*Something that is QUIET. I will be pumping in the bathroom at the bank where I work and customers will be able to hear a noisy pump...embarrassing and will probably tense me up and impede let down and milk collection, once again.

I am not willing to spend $800 on a pump, but wouldn't mind looking in the $200-$300 range IF necessary. If I can find a cheaper one that works just as well, all the better. But I know how vital it is to have a pump that you like and doesn't hurt! Thanks girls!

PS> The hospital grade pump I used before was a Medela Symphony 2.0, which costs $750/used. So way out of my price range =(. But it worked well.

[mgm78]

I would look at the Medela Pump In Style Advance. I had an older PIS and it was pretty quiet if i put a towel over the motor part.

[brightmommy]

I have a Medela PIS and I really like it. The motor isn't exactly silent, but it's not extremely loud either. It has a button for extra letdown function so if it takes you longer than normal you can hit the button and it will go through the letdown phase again if that helps you. The shields it comes with fit me fine, but you can easily purchase larger ones if you need to. It is normally around $300 but every now and then Babies-r-us will have a promotion and I got mine for $250 + $50 worth of Medela products with it (quick wipes, extra rings, nursing pads, etc.)

[nilla]

I have the Ameda Purely Yours pump, and I think it cost me around $350 for the pump, all of the accessories, and a back pack to carry it in. It is kind of noisy, though. I put a towel over the motor to muffle the noise a bit. Other than the noise, I really like my pump.

Ameda Purely Yours® Breast Pump with Backpack | Ameda.com

[jmills1129]

I have the Medela Pump in Style Advance, and I love it, like pp said you can buy bigger shields. It is comfortable! I do not know about noise, as this is the only pump I have ever heard, but I pump in the early morning and DH sleeps through it so I assume it is pretty quiet.

It comes with a backpack, and also can be battery powered, which I wanted. We paid 300 for it, and it is a double pump.

Good luck!