A Mostly Good Breast Pump
Written: Aug 15 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Cheaper, effective, compact, discreet packaging.
Cons: Several small irritating details.
The Bottom Line: You get what you pay for. It's cheaper than other similar double electric pumps and has small drawbacks, but it's a good, effective pump for the money.
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| gaiasmom's Full Review: Bailey Nurture Iii |
Originally I used the Avent Isis breast pump when I returned to work after having my son. I liked the Isis a lot, finding it an excellent value for the money, but in the end it couldn't keep up with my 3-times-a-day-3-days-a-week pumping schedule.
After noticing a decrease in my milk supply, I spoke with a lactation consultant who recommended that I purchase an electric, double-sided breast pump. After much research I settled on the Bailey Nurture III because reviews claimed that it was smaller, lighter and less expensive than the Medela Pump-in-Style, while providing the same performance.
The Bailey package I purchased included the pump and related materials (including an attachment that allows you to pump both breasts at once or just one breast at a time), an explanation video, a black carrying case, "Blue Ice" (the refreezable blue thing you use to keep six cans of soda cool in a cooler), and six small bottles with lids.
Things I Liked
1) I could control the frequency and amount of suction. With an electric pump I was worried that even with multiple suction settings, one might be too strong and hurt and the next lower might be too light and not be effective. The Bailey offers multiple settings (three for single pumping, two for double) and also allows you to control the length of time each "suck" lasts with your thumb.
2)The carrying case is discreet. The case is black and contains two sections: an upper section for the pump, and a lower section for the ice and bottles. Together, the whole thing looks like a boxy purse or one of those insulated cloth coolers.
3) It works well. When I used the Isis I had to focus hard to achieve let-down and it usually took awhile. With the Bailey, I don't even need to pay attention and ten minutes later the bottles are full (or relatively full).
4) It's cheap. When I priced the Bailey I found that comparable breast pumps with similar features generally cost twice as much.
Things I Didn't Like
1)The bottle lids leak. Because the bottles, lids and sealing rings are all made of hard plastic, closing them tightly doesn't result in much of a seal, and milk will drip out if you don't keep them upright.
2) Some parts have to be replaced. I like to think that when I spend $130 on a breast pump I'm not going to need to buy anything more. However, the filter that prevents milk from getting in the pump and the rubber flange seals need to be replaced periodically. They aren't expensive, but it could be a hassle.
3) It's hard to wash. The bottles have narrow mouths so it's hard to reach all the way inside to wash the bottoms without a bottle brush. The flanges have several spots that are hard to get to with anything.
4) The pump is loud! I've heard others say that the pump is quiet, so it could be that mine is defective, but the sound very much fills my office when I pump at work. I can talk over it, but I'm sure that people can hear it when they walk by outside. The buzzing in combination with the sucking and releasing sounds often sound just like a cow milking machine.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
gaiasmom
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Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 0 members
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