1. My baby isn't latching and the doctor/LC/midwife/etc. said I need to pump. What type of pump should I use?

   This is a very good question. If baby isn't latching you will need to get your milk out somehow! Many moms use hand expression very well, but in the US that seems to have gone by the wayside. As far as a pump goes, you will want to use a pump that is designed to maintain a milk supply without a baby and there just aren't any affordable pumps for purchase out there that are designed to do this. The pumps that you purchase are designed to take milk out when mom is away from baby and the good pumps do that very well.
   So the answer to your question is that you will most likely want to rent a double electric hospital grade pump like the Medela Lactina or Symphony or the Hollister/Ameda Elite.

2. My doctor told me that I need to pump to see how much milk I have because my baby isn't gaining well. What type of pump should I get for that?

   That's a very important question!!!! First of all, you have to know that a pump is NOT a reliable indicator of how much milk you have. So there really is NO pump that is good for that reason. Not all moms let down to a pump easily and the only way to get milk with a pump is to have a let-down (just as with a baby only babies are much more proficient at getting let-downs). The more let-downs you get the more milk you'll get.

   A much better answer to this question is to see an IBCLC who will help you determine WHY your baby isn't gaining weight well. Is the baby sucking effectively? Is it a case of limiting time at the breast? Is there some physical limitation on the baby's part that doesn't allow them to transfer milk well? Is there some issue on mom's part that can be easily resolved to increase production (assuming it is a production problem)? You see there are MANY reasons why a baby might not gain well and it really helps to have a professional help you narrow down the reasons so that you can FIX it instead of simply start supplementing with a bottle (although that may be something that is necessary!).

   So the ultimate answer is to instead of using a pump to determine how much milk you have (which it CAN'T) try to determine how much milk the baby is taking and for that you will want to see a lactation professional.

3. Which pump is better for exclusive pumping or pumping MANY times a day?

   I always explain to mothers that the Hospital Grade Rental pumps are designed for bringing in and maintaining a milk supply when baby isn't nursing or isn't nursing well.

   I found a review on Epionions.com that reviews the Lactina vs the Pump In Style vs the Symphony. Now, it's from 5 years ago, so YMMV, but it's a fairly good representation of what to expect, from my own talks with mother.

   Epinions review

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