3 Words: Don't Get It!
Written: Oct 09 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: comes with a cute little bag and is inexpensive
Cons: everything else: noisy, painful, difficult to use
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| rmgood's Full Review: Evenflo Breast Pump Kit Press and Pump Battery/Ele... |
The time to return to working part-time came before I was ready. In my haste to find a breast pump, I neglected to do my homework. I thought I knew what I wanted: something small, simple, battery operated and inexpensive. I only needed it for a couple nights per week and figured for such little use a inexpensive pump would serve its purpose fine.
I read the boxes. Most of the small electric/battery pumps looked the same and were described almost identically on the packaging. I liked the price of the Evenflo Press & Pump so I bought it. Big Mistake! This was the single worst purchase I've made since embracing my new role of mother!
Need specifics? How about this -OUCH! The directions are unclear and the machine does not operate correctly combining for a painful result. As a first-time mom, in the beginning I was sure I must be doing something wrong. Embarrassed, frustrated and in too much pain I made several attempts to express breast milk with this awful machine. One drop here, two drops there... If I pumped more than three drops, I was literally screaming out in pain.
This pump does not have a patterned suction pattern. You attached it to the breast and it pulls, and it doesn't pull gently! The directions describe how you are supposed to push the button on top of the pump to release the suction. You are to do this in a pattern that feels natural to you. All I can really say is, YEAH RIGHT! The suction barely lightens much less releases when you push that button. As far as finding a comfortable pattern, forget it. The initial suction is so painful that nothing feels comfortable except removing the hideous torture device and rubbing your sore body! This pump almost made me give up entirely on pumping milk.
Of course, that left me two options: quit my job or stop breastfeeding. Neither of which sat well with me. So I swallowed my pride, threw the Evenflo Pump & Press Battery/Electric straight into the trash and started doing a little research. On the recommendations of a lactation consultant, I bought a Medela pump and no problems at all! I never even imagined two pumps could be so vastly different! I never did get more than a few drops expressed with the Evenflo pump. It served only as a complete waste of money and endless frustration.
If I have to say something positive about this pump, I will credit Evenflo for making a cute design and including a convenient little travel bag in the packaging. I did keep the bag for the replacement pump I bought, but this hardly makes for a worthwhile investment! The pump size is small and compact which is nice for discreetly pumping in the car or restroom, but many other brands offer similar pumps that don't make you break out in tears as soon as you turn it on!
This Evenflo pump is the cheapest one on the market, by both meanings. My best advice is to spend the extra money for a nicer pump, such as a Medela one -you'll probably have to in the end anyway. The Medela Mini Electric serves as a wonderful and affordable alternative to this Evenflo model for moms who need to occasionally express their milk. Like the Evenflo pump, the Medela Mini Electric powers by either plugging it in or running in on batteries (a very nice option for being out and about). The difference is the Medela one actually works!
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID: rmgood
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Member: Raquel
Location: Minnesota
Reviews written: 89
Trusted by: 85 members
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