What pump do I want?

[preppy]

I will be returning to work after 14 weeks and hope/plan to breastfeed/pump until about 12 months. I already have a Lansinoh Signature Pro Double Electric pump that I got for free (new in box) at the annual ACOG tradeshow I was at for work. I plan to have one at home and for travel and one to keep at work, so I still want to get my free one through insurance. I travel a lot if that makes any difference

My plan will cover either the Ameda Purely Yours or the Medela PISA. Which one should I choose?

[Deleted]

Either is good. I think the Lanisoh and the Ameda are actually the same, so the parts might be interchangeable.

[sunshine608]

I went with the PISA mainly b/c the parts were easy to find at most retailers. Ameda parts seemed to be harder to find.

It worked because I remembering running to the Walmart across from my job for membranes and flanges a few times when I left that particular item at home.

[preppy]

Aug 7, 2015 10:17:14 GMT -5 sunshine608 said:

I went with the PISA mainly b/c the parts were easy to find at most retailers. Ameda parts seemed to be harder to find.

It worked because I remembering running to the Walmart across from my job for membranes and flanges a few times when I left that particular item at home.

This might be good in case I forget something while traveling...

[mannah]

I haven't tried it but the Spectra gets a lot of love on here.

[curbsideprophet]

I have used both and while the parts are not interchangeable they both fit the same bottles. I never had issues finding parts for my Ameda and I liked that it was a closed system. I did find the Medela to be more efficient. I would go with the Medela.

[AmyRI]

Both are good pumps. Comparable suction levels.

The difference between them is the cycle speed. The Medela pump can go way faster. In terms of usefulness, this allows you to mimic the baby's suck pattern when they first start nursing and are trying to trigger your milk to release (called a letdown). Once your milk starts flowing, the baby's suck pattern slows down and gets stronger. So Medela pumps have 2-phase expression to mimic this process. Ameda pumps can only do the slow and steady pattern, so some women have trouble triggering a letdown when they pump. You can make the Medela pump like the Ameda, but not vice versa.

The Ameda pump might be just fine, but you won't know until your baby is here whether or not you respond well to that pump. I would get the Medela pump so you have both options. It would mean lots of non-interchangeable parts, though.

(FYI Medela is the only pump company I'm aware of that has the fast cycle speed - Lansinoh and Ameda are both similar.)

[starburst604]

I had the PISA and had good luck with it. Easy to use and it would get me to let down really quickly, like within 30 seconds.

[Deleted]

Aug 7, 2015 10:33:46 GMT -5 mannah said:

I haven't tried it but the Spectra gets a lot of love on here.

I EP and use a Spectra. Way better than PISA or Symphony even. I still use my PISA for 6 pumps a week at work and it is fine.

I did realize yesterday that with a little work, my manual will actuall drain better than any of the electric pumps normally do. So that's weird.

[runblondie26]

Aug 7, 2015 12:24:18 GMT -5 AmyRI said:

Both are good pumps. Comparable suction levels.

The difference between them is the cycle speed. The Medela pump can go way faster. In terms of usefulness, this allows you to mimic the baby's suck pattern when they first start nursing and are trying to trigger your milk to release (called a letdown). Once your milk starts flowing, the baby's suck pattern slows down and gets stronger. So Medela pumps have 2-phase expression to mimic this process. Ameda pumps can only do the slow and steady pattern, so some women have trouble triggering a letdown when they pump. You can make the Medela pump like the Ameda, but not vice versa.

The Ameda pump might be just fine, but you won't know until your baby is here whether or not you respond well to that pump. I would get the Medela pump so you have both options. It would mean lots of non-interchangeable parts, though.

(FYI Medela is the only pump company I'm aware of that has the fast cycle speed - Lansinoh and Ameda are both similar.)

I asked this quesiton in a post earlier this week, didn't get a response from anyone. Sounds like you would know the answer.

Since the speed and suction controls are independent on the Ameda, wouldn't turning up the speed and lowering the suction in the beginning of a session mimic the letdown feature of the PISA? Or is there somehting more to it?

[AmyRI]

Aug 7, 2015 13:07:13 GMT -5 runblondie26 said:

Aug 7, 2015 12:24:18 GMT -5 AmyRI said:

Both are good pumps. Comparable suction levels.

The difference between them is the cycle speed. The Medela pump can go way faster. In terms of usefulness, this allows you to mimic the baby's suck pattern when they first start nursing and are trying to trigger your milk to release (called a letdown). Once your milk starts flowing, the baby's suck pattern slows down and gets stronger. So Medela pumps have 2-phase expression to mimic this process. Ameda pumps can only do the slow and steady pattern, so some women have trouble triggering a letdown when they pump. You can make the Medela pump like the Ameda, but not vice versa.

The Ameda pump might be just fine, but you won't know until your baby is here whether or not you respond well to that pump. I would get the Medela pump so you have both options. It would mean lots of non-interchangeable parts, though.

(FYI Medela is the only pump company I'm aware of that has the fast cycle speed - Lansinoh and Ameda are both similar.)

I asked this quesiton in a post earlier this week, didn't get a response from anyone. Sounds like you would know the answer.

Since the speed and suction controls are independent on the Ameda, wouldn't turning up the speed and lowering the suction in the beginning of a session mimic the letdown feature of the PISA? Or is there somehting more to it?

Ameda advertises it that way... however, when you turn the speed dial all the way up so it's the fastest the Ameda can go, it's still 1/2 the speed of the Medela "letdown" mode. This is at least the case with the Ameda Purely Yours - I am not sure if the hospital grade Ameda pumps can go faster or not. But generally the question around here is comparing the Purely Yours to the PISA.

[MrsAggie]

PISA lover here. I've used mine everyday for the past 8 months.

[runblondie26]

Aug 7, 2015 13:10:54 GMT -5 AmyRI said:

Ameda advertises it that way... however, when you turn the speed dial all the way up so it's the fastest the Ameda can go, it's still 1/2 the speed of the Medela "letdown" mode. This is at least the case with the Ameda Purely Yours - I am not sure if the hospital grade Ameda pumps can go faster or not. But generally the question around here is comparing the Purely Yours to the PISA.

Thanks, I appreciate the response. I've pumped for my last 2 kids using an Ameda PY, but have been considering a PISA this time.

[preppy]

AmyRI thank you!!

[luckyno7]

Spectra lover here as well. I keep my PISA at home for my morning pump but I love my spectra.

[AmyRI]

Aug 7, 2015 13:25:53 GMT -5 runblondie26 said:

Aug 7, 2015 13:10:54 GMT -5 AmyRI said:

Ameda advertises it that way... however, when you turn the speed dial all the way up so it's the fastest the Ameda can go, it's still 1/2 the speed of the Medela "letdown" mode. This is at least the case with the Ameda Purely Yours - I am not sure if the hospital grade Ameda pumps can go faster or not. But generally the question around here is comparing the Purely Yours to the PISA.

Thanks, I appreciate the response. I've pumped for my last 2 kids using an Ameda PY, but have been considering a PISA this time.

If you got good output with the PY, you're probably safe using it again if you want. If you took a long time to pump, or took a long time to get a letdown (first or subsequent) then I'd seriously consider trying the PISA.

I had purchased a PISA right after having my first, and was really happy with it. Then the ACA happened before my second, but my benefit is only the Ameda pump, so I got that thinking I could leave one at home and one at work. No such luck for me - it took me twice as long to let down for the Ameda pump and I couldn't get a 3rd letdown to save my life. I gave up and used only the PISA.

[skib]

When I was pumping for my DD, I had a Medela Freestyle, and I LOVED it. I could pump 8-12 ounces in 10 minutes max.

On my insurance plan, they will provide a free PISA, but you can pay the difference to upgrade to a Freestyle. I am definitely planning to do that with baby #2. You might check to see if your insurance will do the same.