Anyone ever buy...

mysweetpeasWil&Wes wrote: The PIS on Ebay?? I have the single pump, forget it's name, but I want the double this time. And I figure if I already have all the tubes, plus the hospital gave me extra of everything, I may as well get a semi-used one. All I really need is the motor part, but it still sorta freaks me out to get a used one. Any advice?

mckayleesmom replied: I have a baileys nature lll double pump that I got off ebay...I just bought all new tubes and parts from the company....I really only used the motor from the lady. That reminds me..I need to sell mine...I got all the new parts and everything for it...right before I went into the hospital for my gallbladder and never used the new parts. I think that as long as the milk can't get in the motor and you can buy new tubing and stuff..then it should be fine. The baileys nature ones are awsome....I never used it as a double pump though...I wasn't coordinated enough

coasterqueen replied: I would NEVER buy a used one, especially an "open" system pump. Diseases can be passed on through the milk. I don't care what anyone else says it's possible and not a good thing.

Here's an article of the LC that posts to the breastfeeding support board my friend moderates:
Used Breastpumps

A pump is definitely worth the $200+ it costs BTW, since you are a stay at home mom you could probably get away with something like a Isis.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
I had no idea the milk passes through the whole system! Like I said, I only need the motor part...does that get touched by the milk? I trust your opinion, but just wanted to be sure you understood I have all the other major parts already.

Isn't the Isis the manual one from Avent? I had that one and threw it out the first time I used it. I never got a good suction on it. I'm not going to go into milk supply issues since I'm not even there yet, and it stresses me out to even think about it, but I was hoping that a double pump would help increase my supply. I don't believe I fed Wil enough, nor pumped enough the last time to keep it up, so that's why I'm wondering. I'm willing to pay the full retail price of the PIS if that's the way to go, staying at home or not.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Okay, I just read the whole article...GROSS! I wonder though, do you think articles or websites such as these are sponsored by pump companies only making statements like this to get you to buy one at full price? Just a thought. I'll go with what they said though...thanks.

coasterqueen replied: That article you are talking about is from a Lactation Consultant who loves what she does dearly and her only hidden agenda is the safety and welfare of those who are nursing and their nurslings themselves. Kathy is a great woman. I don't know her personally, but my friend on that board does. I know Kathy through 3 years of posting and she has helped me personally with many breastfeeding issues I had. I trust her judgement wholeheartedly.

I do believe milk can get backed up into the motor. Would I have said that a year ago? No. But in the first month I pumped for Megan I wasn't paying attention and milk went back up into my tubing and to the moter. Yes! In the 19 months I pumped for Kylie I never once had that problem. But it sure did this time around.

What about trying a Medela Harmony. I have a friend who liked it as well as the Isis.

You should not have any supply issues if you are putting baby to breast EVERY time baby wants to nurse or suckle. That is the BEST way to increase supply. Baby will always be 10x better at getting milk from the breast than a pump ever will.

If you have to miss a session you should pump every time. that means if you want Dh to feed so you can sleep, well you should be pumping that missed feeding not sleeping . A lot of people just don't seem to understand that and don't realize they will pay for those few extra winks that are not as important as keeping up supply.

If you were/are always putting baby to breast for feeds and suckling and still have supply issues then you should be working with a board certified lactation consultant.

Many people think they have supply issues they really don't have. It's a common problem and a huge cause as to why women do not succeed at nursing.

mckayleesmom replied: Mine never backed milk up into the motor...I don't even see how it would be possible because the milk goes nowhere near the tubes that connect to the motor. Its got this filter thing inbetween.

coasterqueen replied:
Believe me it can!

mckayleesmom replied: Even with the tubes at the top? I can see if you tipped the bottle over or something...but not if unless you had an accident and dropped it in order for it to flip upside down.

holley79 replied: I was wondering about it getting near the motor also. A friend of mine has the Medela PIS. It's the same one that I bought. She just had a baby not long ago and was pumping the other day while I was there. She was showing me how it worked and we were making copies of her manual since I don't have one with mine. How does the milk get into the tubing/ motor? I'm just curious. I'm not doubting anything anyone says.

I bought a Medela bp from a consignment store but it had never been used. Got it for 150.00 instead of the full price.

Tamatha replied: I agree wholeheartedly with Karen. I went to a talk the other week given by an LC, and she explained how our milk supplies are created. The body must have a certain level of prolactin in order to make milk. When a baby is born, the mom is overloaded with prolactin and continues to be for the first six months of the baby's life. After that, prolactin levels taper off until they are just above that minimum baseline. But every time you put baby to breast, you are stimulating the production of prolactin, which in turn stimulates the production of milk. For this reason, even in those very early weeks, you are affecting your long-term milk supply! I had no idea!! Of course, I was pumping every 3 hours for the first 4 weeks of Trey's life, so I got plenty of nipple stimulation. But still, its amazing how even those early days can make an impact down the road!

jacobsmama replied: wow i'm not preg nor breastfeeding but as a nurse i get asked about it alot so this is great info to know! Thanks

jcc64 replied: Listen to Karen, I'm getting ready to annoint her our own resident LC! She obviously knows her stuff!
I did pass along my PIS to a close friend, who got a lot of use out of it. I knew for sure I never backed up milk into the motor, and more importantly, my friend knows my medical history is clean. Not so with a stranger from Ebay, kwim? I would feel pretty uncomfortable under those circumstances.
If price is an issue, and even if it's not, the Advent Isis is a great little pump. As I've said here many times, I had both, and I eventually stopped using the PIS b/c I got just as much milk from the Isis, and it was just more portable and convenient. If you're really tied up in the double pumping thing, you could buy 2 Isises for less than half of what it would cost you for the PIS. (isis is $40).
And ita Karen, about the weak supply thing. It's a shame.

coasterqueen replied:
Thanks Jeanne.

BTW, I got my pump from my SIL. Now I didn't know at the time what I know now, but it's ok if you get it from someone you know REALLY REALLY well and know their medical history and such. Other than that no strangers IMO.