Here's my song-and-dance on the PIS vs. a rental pump.  (I don't rent or 
sell pumps, so I have nothing to gain from encouraging someone toward a 
rental).  When someone has just dropped $300 on a PIS, the discussion 
requires some diplomacy:

"The ([personal-use pump] is a fine pump -- technically, in its 
specifications, a new one reaches the same suction level and number of 
cycles as a hospital-grade rental pump.  It's got a good track record as 
the pump for working mothers, and that's the audience it's aimed at -- 
someone with an established supply, and a baby who is doing a great job, 
and the mother is pumping 2 or 3 times a day until they get back 
together.  But, if someone is in more special circumstances, that 
they're battling with some unusual milk production difficulties, or the 
baby isn't feeding well yet, especially in these early establishing 
weeks when the baby's intake is going up quickly, you might consider a 
short-term rental of a hospital pump.  It's not made to be portable, and 
it's got a bigger motor, with a quieter steadier, smoother pull, that 
sustains a longer peak to the suction curve, and for some mothers,  a 
hospital pump can make a big difference.   Nature didn't think about us 
trying to let down milk to something that is not as cute as a baby, and 
mothers have very individual reactions to pumps.  So we can certainly 
get started with your PIS, and it might do everything we need it to.  
But if that doesn't quickly seem to be doing the job, it's good for 
morale to know that there's another kind of pump that might be a better 
tool for the current situation.  Your pump will probably be a great for 
routine use once you get past these problems.  As an analogy --your car 
is fine for most everyday purposes, but you might rent a truck when 
you're moving."

If a baby is doing *something* productive at the breast, and the mother 
isn't battling with any unusual milk production difficulties, the PIS 
certainly can be fine for giving the system a boost through some early 
problems.  We've all seen mothers who do great with a PIS for a period 
of exclusive pumping (and seen people who get tons of milk with some 
really sub-optimal pumps).  But in special circumstances, mothers should 
know that for some people, the hospital pump is more productive.

Once you get past Medela and Ameda, and maybe Hygiea (just not familiar 
enough with it) I haven't been very impressed with the other 
double-electric pumps out there, which are starting to get pretty 
pricey, so mothers assume that they're great pumps.  My heart always 
sinks a bit when I see one of those freshly opened up, and hopes that 
the mother is one of those natural-born pumpers that lets down milk to 
anything that asks.



Margaret Wills, IBCLC, Maryland


> From:    Linda Hill<[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: PIS as good as hospital grade???
>
> Jaye says:  "Even Medela states the PIS isn't the same as a hospital 
> grade
> and is not ideal for bringing in a milk supply!  This mom is only 7 days
> pp.she needs a hospital grade pump - not a 3 yr old overused pump that no
> one has any idea of how well it actually is working.and she is only 
> pumping
> 1 oz at a time.sigh.
>
>
>
> Why is this inaccurate information still out there?  This inconsistent
> information (that I apologized to the mom about) is one of the biggest
> frustrations I have.  Some things should be 'known' by now, shouldn't 
> they?"
>
>
>
> I don't think we can make a "blanket" statement as you are wanting.
>
>
>
>     1)  I check the strength of the symphony pumps and the PNS pumps 
> all the
> time.  Both seem to
>
>         consistently pull at 250 mmHg.
>
> 2)        When moms have a "used" pump - I offer to check the strength 
> and
> integrity.
>
> 3)           The factor that REALLY warrants the use of a hospital grade
> pump would be "how many times a day" she is needing to pump.  The PNS (or
> any store bought pump) is made to last at about 3 pumpings a day.  The
> hospital grade is made to last for 10 plus pumpings a day.  So . if a 
> mom is
> having to pump more than 3 times a day, she should use a hospital grade.
> But, if the pumps are pulling at the same strength, and mom is willing to
> take the chance on "wearing out" her PNS . is it "wrong" for her to use
> it???
>
> 4)           If the hospital grade pump is "more comfortable" to mom thus
> she is able to "relax" more during the process of pumping, then she 
> should
> make the switch while establishing a healthy supply.
>
> 5)           Could it be that Medela states this as just another money
> making ploy?
>
> 6)           What if mom is on her last baby and her pump checks out at
> pulling at proper strength . and she only plans to breastfeed for 4-6 
> months
> and doesn't give bottles once her supply is established?  I just think 
> that
> each case still needs to be individualized to their own situation and 
> that
> blanket statements don't fit every need.
>
>
>
> Respectfully,
>
>
>
> Linda Hill RN, IBCLC
>
> Capital Pediatric Group
>
> Austin,Tx
>
>

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