Ameda Breast Pump vs Medela Breast Pump?

Question

I went to the hospital and they told me I couldnt breast feed, and when I go back, they tell me that I can because I dont have to take my medication until I want too, so Im a little upset that throughout my whole pregnancy they told me I couldnt, and 11 days after giving birth to my daughter they tell me I can, and now she wont even take to my breast, I had a cheap evenflo breast pump that was good for 5 min and took me 30 min just to get 2oz, but I heard good things about Medela, but they are so costly, and I heard alot of good things about Ameda also, so I was wondering has anyone used the Ameda? and is it worth the buy because I'm in the military and I only get 6 weeks of maternity leave, and then I go back to work, and they only give me such amount of time to pump, so I want something that will work well for that hour or so I get....

Any Suggestions?

Answer 1

Don't be discourages 11 days is certainly not to late to get her nursing! Just keep offering. And contact a lactation nurse for help if possibl b/c BF is hard to learn the 1st few weeks. And the 1st few wees are the worst nad once your over them it'll be much eaiser. As for the pumps I personally use the Medella Symphony and Pump in Style Adv. I like the Sypmohony more but the PISA works just as good adn both are very efficent as emptying both sides at once in a timly manner I can do both in about 10-15 min. You can also rent them tht might be better for you just to see if you like them first and if you want to continue asit might be very har to pump in the military setting. Good Luck and don't be afarid to get help if you need it.

Answer 2

This information is based on pumps from 5 years ago. May not apply today. Medela Pumps are well built. They can be expected to last through several children, even used full time. Ameda Purely Yours Pumps are pretty good. They are perfect for full time feeding for one child, even two, but may not have the lasting ability for 3. Some women actually get more milk from the Purely Yours, but I think that is an issue of breast shape. It's REALLY hard to get comparisons from lactation consultants because they tend to be focused on how long the pump will last, vs. other needs such as cost. Most Medela, for instance, may be out of range for say, the woman who only needs an electric for occasional use. One issue I have with Medela is price fixing. They only allow certain online places to post prices that are predetermined, even though other individual dealers may offer a lower price. As a result, a lot of consumers are forced to pay more. Finally, while I TOTALLY agree with posters when they say a hospital grade pump works better, it is not necessarily a better choice, pricewise. To rent a hospital grade pump usually costs $50-80 a month PLUS the $75 fee for the tubes and attachments (new for every user). For some, the price I list is PER WEEK! Insurance doesn't typically cover these costs unless your child is in the NICU. Totally worthy if you will primarily be pumping or have multiples. Before renting a pump, check with an independent lactation consultant before you have your baby. She may provide a better deal than the hospital.

Answer 3

My daughter is almost 6 mo old and I returned to work 6 weeks after having her. I have had the most success with both the Ameda hand pump and the hospital grade one. The letdown feels natural as if your baby was nursing from your breasts. The milk does not get into the pump, so you will have no mold issues. I bought a Medela single deluxe, but the letdown is non-existent unless your breasts are FULL. Milk does get into the pump, so you have to clean it often by running water through the motor. Ameda Purely Yours is the best!

Answer 4

At the children's Hospital that my newborn boy was at, (he had a stroke during delivery, so he never got to nurse) I was using the medela pump the hospital had, which I really liked. I did however double pump. so if you want to use medela you can rent them, pending on where you live some grocery store Pharmacies will rent them to you, tell them you would like to double pump. you can pump two bottles in one time! Since you are so pressed for time double pumping may be a really good idea for you. All i can say is in the middle of the night it is so much easier to get up and double pump than it is to single pump.

The only other breast pump I have tried is from Advent. which works okay. not as good as the Medela. Ameda I have not tried.

Answer 5

I have the Ameda and I have been using it 2-6 times a day for 9 weeks. It is great, very small and portable and a good investment. I would say the Medela may be a little better quality but maybe not as good for the price difference. Otherwise rent a hospital grade pump.

Answer 6

You need a La Leche League Leader or a Lactation Consultant who can work with you. You can probably get your baby back on the breast if you try. A LLL Leader will help for FREE and with a young baby who isn't latching, she may be willing/able to visit you at home.

http://www.lalecheleague.org

Evenflo is a piece or trash. It can also damage your nipples. I have used a Medela Pump In Style and it is a good pump. I used one for a year with my son. I have heard good things about the Ameda Purely Yours but never used one. Also, if you qualify for WIC, visit your WIC office as you might qualify to get a pump from them.

http://www.kellymom.com is a great resource for breastfeeding info as well.

Answer 7

The Medela pump-in-style is the Cadillac of pumps. If you're trying to pump at work, I'd definitely recommend it. It's faster than just about anything else and worth the expense.

Answer 8

Check around your area for ( I hope I spell it right ) a local Le Leche League. It is an organization to help breast feeding mothers. You can rent a very good pump from them, instead of buying one. All you will have to buy is the personal parts that you actually use on your breast, and that the milk goes in. My wife did this for both of our children. They have a dual pump to save 1/2 the time it would take to pump both sides individually. It worked well for us, so I hope it does for you, too.

Answer 9

I had the Ameda Purely Yours breastpump. It was the best investment I ever made. It saved me lots of time, was comfortable, and in the long run saved me money. I too have a hectic schedule and this pump really saved the day.

Answer 10

I have a Medela. They're great, I dont' have anything else to compare it to, but I didn't have any troubles with mine.

Sometimes it helps to have visual stimulation while pumping. If you can't have your baby near you, then bring along a photo of your baby, or close your eyes and imagine you are feeding your baby. It helps you let down your milk a lot faster and easier. :)
Good luck with this!
And give yourself a pat on the back for continuing to feed breastmilk to your baby :)