best set-up for pumping at work?
EDIT: based on the feedback I got here and in other pages, I added 2 more pumps (Eufy S1 pro and momcozy M9)
Hi! My baby is 5 months old. When he is 6.5 months I will resume working while he goes to daycare.
I will probably pump 3 times a day and breastfeed in the morning/evening and at night. I work in a hospital in management and often have back to back meetings in different locations at the hospital. I'm looking for the ideal balance between output and easy of use as I might have to walk while pumping. I would like to have a model that has an easy set-up + sync start. I usually have a good respons to pumps and I now pump 15-20 minutes to have the amount I want.
In the first few weeks my baby had to be triple fed, so I borrowed a medela freestyle flex for some weeks from my LC and could then use a Medela swing flex from a friend (5 years old). I really liked them both with good output. I use the pump with a pumping bra, so no "hands-free" inserts. I'm still the medela swing flex it now occasionally for when I'm gone a couple of hours.
I also have a Youha The Ins gen1 single hands-free pump. However, that is already 6 years old and output is a lot less than the medela so I don't use it.
Here at home in my own comfort I don't mind the tubes and the bra and the set-up with the flanges etc.. when I'm using the medela swing. But at work I would be better off without any tubes/external motor and I really want to go for an in-bra model. However that comes with it's prices and consequences for output.
These are the options I'm looking at:
- buy hands-free collection cups from medela that fit my current medela swing flex. This is probably the cheapest option (because I only need the cups) but that I will be stuck with tubes and the motor which is not so easy to stay attached to my pants. There is a clip to fasten it to your pants/belt but I often just hold it because I'm afraid it will fall off.
Medela Collection cups for maxi swing - around 70 euro
- medela Inbra set: there is the "Magic Inbra" vs the "Motion Inbra". The Magic is more expensive and comes with an app and a "new" technology: FluidFeel. But in terms of mechanical strenghts I think it is the same?
Medela Motion Inbra double: 200 euro
Medela Magic Inbra double: 440 euro
- Elvie pump: I read a lot of good reviews but the most expensive one. It is worth it?
Elvie double pump: 480 euro
- Eufy: Also good reviews online but a brand less known here in Belgium.
Eufy S1 double pump: 180 euro
Eufy S1 pro double pump: 240 euro (same mechanics, but more conveniece
- Momcozy M5: also not so known, but this brand comes up a lot.
Momcozy M5: 200 euro
Momcozy M9: 270 euro (stronger suction, more settings, better battery)
So my questions are:
- do you think the inbra models are "strong" enough to prevent dip in output?
- are the high-end models (Elvie, Medela Magic) worth it? I don't mind paying more, but I do want to have a significantly better pump in that case.
Thanks a lot!