Breast Pump Recommendations

[englishteacheralex]

Short question: I get another free breast pump (thanks, Obama!) through my health insurance for kid #2. My Medela Pump in Style Advanced did me just fine for kid #1, but it did start to wear out a bit by the end and I figure I might as well go for a new one, since it's free. I was thinking of going with the Medela Freestyle but a short Amazon review perusal indicates that the suction isn't great on that model. I need all the help I can get as far as suction goes.

Anybody have a strong opinion on awesome breast pumps?

Also, a chance to weigh in: is it kind of weird/wasteful that we get free breastpumps (that can cost $300+) for each kid? I feel kind of bad about it. My first one is definitely a little worn out, but I think it could get me through kid #2. I intend to keep it at home and have my new one at work. They are supposed to be single user items because of hygiene issues, which seems so wasteful to me.

[meerkat]

Also, a chance to weigh in: is it kind of weird/wasteful that we get free breastpumps (that can cost $300+) for each kid?

Breast pumps are only meant to last for one kid, although they do assume heavy use - I think they're designed for one year of full time pumping. I'd rather have a new second pump, although I did keep my first pump as a back up. I like the idea of having a pump that I can keep at work instead of carting it back and forth every day. Medela also has a program where you can send in your old pump and they refurbish it and do something charitable with it (I forget the details) so it doesn't just go in the trash at the end. That helps me feel better about the "wastefulness" of potentially duplicate pumps.

No advice on the pump itself, I think I got the same one because that's the go-to insurance one. I'm curious what others have to say, though.

[Landlady]

The Medela Harmony was my favorite and it's just a simple hand pump. It's inexpensive at $26 and I thought it was faster and much easier to cart around. I'd definitely recommend getting it in addition to your free health care paid electric one. If you end up not using your free electric one, you can give it to a friend that needs it. Some people like to have one at their office and one at home so they don't cart it every day. I always hated taking mine on the bus home and that's what made me get the Harmony. You might as well take advantage of the benefit!

[Tiger Stache]

The breast pump my wife got came off craigslist and has lasted three kids and will be passed on again eventually. There must be some crappy pumps if they only last one kid. And single user? If you don't clean it or buy new hardware for it. Get the one that comes in a travel bag that can be plugged in or used with batteries.

[letired]

As much as a person can love a breast pump, my friend used the Spectra S2, and was very happy with it. It is as quiet as they say, and as a biologist, she really liked the backflow prevention. It was also reasonably portable for pumping at work. That said, I have no direct personal experience with the machine!