I have, sort of, evaluated the new Gerber hand pump. I thought it looked
different and that it might offer something the others didn't. IMO, it has
potential, but some big limitations. The horn part is quite a bit deeper
than on other pumps, and the breast has to be pretty far into it, to get any
suction and get the massaging pads to function. The suction, when the pump
is working correctly, does not seem to be nearly as much as the other good
hand pumps, but depends on the massaging action of the pad. The biggest
problem, that I can see, is that whether or not this pump works at all for
someone depends on their breast fiting into it correctly, and it appears
that it only works for those women who are between, say, a large B cup,
through a smallish D. I had to really work to get my DDs into it at all.
Also, I suspect that there would be quite a few adoptive moms whose breasts
would not be big enough to go far enough into it for it to function, as most
adoptive moms do not get as much breast enlargement. I am not so sure
someone whose breasts were harder or extremely wide (like with some implants
or engorgement) would be able to get their breasts into it, either. I did
find that it works to stick the soft pad part into the horn of another pump.
I was hoping this pump would offer something of benefit in induced
lactation. I still think it might, for those whose breasts are the right
size and shape to fit it but, at this point, the only way I would ever want
to see anyone buy it would be if they came and tried mine out first. I
think the designers of it have a good idea, but need to go back to the
drawing board to make it a real useful pump. Perhaps they could alter the
design to have a detatchable horn (like Medela's pumps) and have two or
three sizes in each kit. The price is also a problem, as $40 is too much
for most women to pay, just to be able to try it. Certainly they would want
to make sure that they could take it back, if they found that it didn't work
for them.
Of the supermarket variety, the First Years Easy Comfort one-hand pump is
pretty decent, for the $20 price, and the Evenflo ComfortEase one-hand pump
is my favorite hand pump, for me personally, but some women love it and some
don't. All in all, I think most moms would be better off to pay a bit more
and get the Avent Isis. The Medela Harmony pump looks good, although I have
not evaluated it in any way. I have seen it for under $30.
I think this is a very important topic that needs alot more attention than
it gets. So many moms don't think about a pump until they are in need of
one immediately, and don't have time to shop around. What happens to be on
a supermarket shelf when a tired new dad gets there to look for a pump for
his wife can mean the difference between continuing to breastfeed, and early
weaning. Fortunately, the old cylinder pumps are pretty much gone from the
shelves. At least I don't think any of those currently found on store
shelves are likely to produce hematomas on the breast! I feel like some of
these manufacturers have made a real effort to improve the design of their
pumps, and I think feedback from lactation educators could be very helpful.
I think it is also good to encourage store personel to stock the best pumps.
Here is a link to some reviews of the Gerber pump:
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=cm_reviews_dp_seemore/601-1186650-3634568?asin=B0002OF40U&alt%5fview=custReviews&frombrowse=1&coliid=#B0002OF40U25001104572566
Aloha,
Darillyn Starr
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