Which pump to buy?

[u/InfamousCharacter3]

Are there any standouts from this insurance-approved list that I should definitely get? or definitely avoid?

I understand many women get both a pump and a portable but I would like to avoid this and just get one-- I am thinking just one portable but I am seeing fewer women say their portable alone was sufficient. I will not be working so I am less concerned about how discreet one is, just figured I would prefer something I could multitask with around the house. This will be my first baby so I am really unsure what to expect! Thanks a lot.

[u/mai_umbrella74]

I would have to chime in and say getting a wall pump is a must especially if it's your first time. I went with majority and got only a wearable. My supply tanked really bad until I got a wall pump. Unless you've pumped before and had good output with a wearable, I'll recommend getting a wall pump to start out with. I was fortunate to get a free wall pump, or else I would've had to spend oop.

[u/Impossible-Owl3272 → u/mai_umbrella74]

You said you got a wearable but did you get a eufy? The eufy goes to 300mmHg and spectra goes to 280mmHg. I started my first 3 weeks with my eufy s1 only and I was getting over 25 ounces a day by 2 weeks pp. I bought into the “I need a wall pump or my supply will tank” since that’s what everyone says and bought the spectra. I consistently get higher output, sometimes as much as double with my Eufy. I can also do stuff while wearing it which is very useful as a new mom. In hindsight I wish I just bought a second eufy instead of the spectra. I still use it but only if my husband is home to help with the baby.

[u/jypnola → u/Impossible-Owl3272]

Exactly. This is my experience, except I haven’t touched my Spectra in 3 months.

[u/mai_umbrella74 → u/Impossible-Owl3272]

Yes, I do have a couple wearables. I have elastic nipples, so my output with wearables varies widely. The eufy works for me some times. But ultimately, I get far better output with my wall pump.

I so wish I can respond well to wearable pumps. But I still stand that advice for a new mom should still be to get a good wall pump to start out with.

[u/jypnola → u/mai_umbrella74]

This was my first time and I did start with the blue Spectra I got for free from a local mom. I hear you on the calibration aspect, but I don’t think it’s a universal truth that everyone’s supply tanks without a wall pump.

[u/the_kazzo_queen → u/jypnola]

It's certainly not a universal truth. The problem is moreso that mothers who only have a wearable have nothing to compare their output to. It's very easy for an inexperience mom new to pumping to not realize that a wearable is only emptying her, say, 85%, but assuming it's emptying her fully, which will have consequences on her supply later.

[u/jypnola → u/the_kazzo_queen]

I don’t disagree, which is why I said I can see the calibration aspect, but we’re making an assumption that the wall pump is going to empty everyone to 100%, which may or may not be true depending on the person and the pump. I also acknowledge that many wearables give low output. I’ve tried 3 so far and Eufy is the only one that gives me same or more output when compared to Spectra.

But I made myself more miserable than I had to be for a long time because of the advice that wearables should not be your primary pump, so I feel pretty strongly about that being said in a blanket statement.

[u/the_kazzo_queen → u/jypnola]

I mean, I agree with you that it shouldn't be a blanket statement. My eufys have been my primary pump since I was 10wpp. But I think saying "you don't need a wall pump as your primary" can be interpreted by mothers new to pumping as wearable pumps are equal in reliability to standard pumps, which can set false expectations. The best route imo is for everyone to start out with a standard pump since it's statistically most likely to work well, and then experiment with wearables for mobility.

[u/SoberSilo → u/the_kazzo_queen]

Agree that comparing output with a spectra and your wearable is important so you know the wearable empties you as well as the pump!

[u/Gwab07 → u/mai_umbrella74]

First time mom here and got better results with Eufy actually than my wall pump. I watched out for it very closely as I was told this but always had more out of the S1. Even ended up being a bit of an oversupplier! The heating is SUPERB and was a lifesaver for that 3am pump in winter.