Manual or Electric?

The first question you need to ask yourself is how much pumping you intend to do. If you are a stay at home mom (and therefore do not need to pump at work), and only see yourself pumping occasionally, you can probably get away with a manual pump. I thihk the chief drawback to the manual for occasional use is that you have to squeeze it, leading to hand fatigue. But they're compact and less expensive, so for occasional use, they're probably fine.

If you intend to pump often, you should probably go with the powered models. They're much noisier and bulky, and very expensive but you can pump both breasts at once, saving time, and you don't cramp your hands.

I'm a working mom, so I have a Medela Pump in Style, which I really liked.

I know you said you do not want to spend a fortune, but from personal experience all I can recommend is the Ameda Purely Yours. I did go back to work with both kids, and this was the pump I used:
http://www.amedaonline.com/ampuyobrpuwi.html

It is not cheap, but it was also quite comfortable and easy for me to use.

From friends that bought less expensive options and did not need to pump as often as I did, I have heard good comments about the Avent Isis Duo Breast Pump.

Everyone I know who used a manual pump hated it and switched to electric.

Best wishes!

Manual pumps are the next best thing to having your baby nurse, as far as milk production is concerned. What you have to think about is that it is a lot of work to get the milk out. I wouldn't say that they are more comfortable though, because they have more suction.
I am a working mom, so I chose the Medela pump-in-style, which was comfortable and quick. If you are pumping one breast at a time, you need to pump longer with an electric pump on each breast, but if you have a double set up, you only need to pump for about 10-15 mins.
As far as cost is concerned you are saving hundreds of dollars in breastfeeding anyway. The average parent spends $1200/year on formula, and the most expencive pump is around $316, so if you breastfeed for 4 months, that pays it off!
Hope this helps!

Addison's Mommy

I am a SAHM and I used both an Evenflo and Medela electric double pump. I like d both brands and while a little pricey were easier to use and much faster than a manual pump. Not sure if you already have a baby or if you are expecting, but time is still a premium if you are staying home and the last thing you want is to be tied down by pumping! Good Luck!

I recently went on a tour at Del Webb Hospital and they have a gift shop on their maternity level that sells their pumps for much less and without tax. I compared prices and it was almost $100 less than any I had seen at retail stores. It's worth the trip or maybe calling other hospitals to see if they offer the same discount.

I also bought some bras there that were about $20 less than what I had paid for them in thr stores.

Everyone I've talked to btw (books, moms, doctor and nurse) say electric. Saves times, the hand fatigue thing, and it's oftentimes hard to get a good rhythm to pump adequately with manual ones.

I used the Medela - that is what the hospital I delivered at used and recommended to me. It is very durable. I found a brand new pump - never been open (was an extra one someone got at a baby shower) - on ebay for 1/2 the price you'd pay at a dept. store. I think manual or electric is a personal decision. Myself I liked electric because you could use both pumps at the same time and get 2 times the amount of milk out with less effort in half the time (I was even able to read a book while pumping- I know amazing, huh.) However, if you are sensitive then you might consider a manual. I know with both my children I used the electric pump and naturally I was very sensitive (I think it is just part of our hormones and our bodies adjusting) however over time it got better and I made sure to use an ointment that is designed specifically for lactating moms. I don't recall the name of the ointment, but if you use it after each time you pump or nurse it prevents chapping or bleeding. It is the best! You can find that ointment at any Target.

LisaMommy is a discussion leader in Paradise Valley/Scottsdale area for arizonamoms.com. Her two boys are ages 5 months and 3 years old.

I used an electric pump (Evenflo) with my son and a manual pump (Avent Isis) with my daughter and I have to say that the manual pump was much more effective by far.

With the electric pump I would be lucky to get 1-2 ounces per session, but with the manual pump I usually got anywhere from 3-5 ounces per session. And I didn't have problems with getting hand cramps.

It is better to be hated for what you are, than to be loved for what you are not.