Tommee Tippee Single Electric Breast Pump

After a second electric breast pump purchase you might think that shopping item can be permanently checked off your list... think again. Mini me and I went through the Lansinoh Affinity Pro after a week, as well as the Medela Swing after a month and now I'm on the Tommee Tippee single electric breast pump. There are major differences between the three models I have used, and I wanted to take some time to explore them.

Unlike the Medela, Lansinoh's Affinity Pro is features a closed pump design (which means there's no chance of backflow). Within a months time my Medela Swing started to pump back up into the pump, regardless of a membrane change (to ensure proper sealing). This gives mold the opportunity to grow in your pump, which is put right into the fresh milk. The old milk hardens and can make it difficult for everything to work properly. Needless to say, I began noticing a weaker suction, and was soon unable to supply my 2 month old with a suitable quantity to get through the day.

One thing I liked about the Tommee Tippee pump is that it's guaranteed (featured right on the box) to have 0% back flow! And, when you take a look at the pump's membrane design, you can easily understand how this pump's assembly provides this guarantee as something you can trust. Another favorite feature is the soft silicone that fits over the plastic breast shield. Not only is it more comfortable, but it mimics baby's sucking and reflexes as they nurse, to provide you with a more relaxing pumping session - yielding more.

After my week of use I have to say I'm rather surprised with the amount of milk I've been able to express, regardless of the fact that I have been sick (which generally affects your supply). Generally I start the week with a strong 5 ounces after my first Monday session, and have a steady 1 ounce drop as each day passes. With the Tommee Tippee I have not only been steady in expressing 5 ounces in my first daily session, but I actually pumped 2 more ounces two days into the week! This pump also allows me to pump more in a shorter amount of time; 40 minutes total time rather than an hour.

The settings on an improved Tommee Tippee single electric pump are user variable, meaning it isn't automatic. Although I originally loved the auto change setting on the Swing pump, I now prefer the changeability Tommee Tippee offers. According the to flow of your milk, you can move up on the scale with the press of a button, or even go back down! There is one button for each setting, so if you need to back off two settings you simply press one button and you're done.

If I were to rate each of my pumps, I'd have to say it's been an improvement with each return. Lansinoh Affinity Pro would receive three stars. Although the closed pump design deserves a five star rating, it loses one star because the pump isn't really strong enough to support two pumps running at once. It loses another due to the fact there were too many pieces to take apart come cleaning time.

Medela Swing would receive two and a half stars. The brand name makes you feel safe, but when you experience a back flow, and read about the potential health dangers to your infant, the overall design loses two stars. Another half star is taken off for not efficiently expressing milk.

Thus far, Tommee Tippee gets four and a half stars. It's more efficient, features a better, simple, design that's easy to take apart and clean, fits my bottles without an adapter and needs one strip of surgical tubing. Tommee Tippee loses half a star from being a lot louder than the other two, and I mean quite a bit louder.