chrys,
i must admit tat i am not the ideal spokeperson for Ameda cos i didnt pump tat often. i was BFg directly most of the time. I bought Ameda cos my 2 GFs swore by it (both started out wif Medela single pump n were unhappy wif it) and it was 1/2 the price of Medela PIS (Medela is abt $650-after disc while Ameda is only $280). i didnt consider abt the spare parts cos i wasnt sure then how often i need 2 replace them. so far i've yet 2 replace any.
i tik i mentioned b4 it's each mummy's call as 2 which type of breastpump 2 buy. i personally prefer electric cos i lazy. i do know of a few mummies who use Avent manual pump (ISIS) and they swear by it too. If i not wrong, tat pump is relatively cheap (<$80). in the mkt, i also come across other types of breastpump such as Pigeon & Nuk.
i cant comment abt Avent y they get spoilt easily. mayb some stuff is like "yi fen qian yi fen huo". i havent come across my GFs telling me their Ameda breastpumps got faulty (they are heavy-duty users who bring their pumps 2 work, pump 3-4x at work then bring home 2 pump again and they breastfed for >9mths).
for me, i am willing and also have no choice but 2 spend $x on breastpumps cos i hate 2 use manual so no choice but 2 spend more 2 buy an electric pump, know i was going 2 breastfeed for a long while and know tat if i have #2 or #3, i would still wanna breastfeed...hence the willing 2 spend $150 on the medela electric single pump, sold it at $80, then spent $280 on the ameda pump.
though i also spent $x amt on milk bags, nursing tops, disposable breastbags, etc (all the BFg equipment), husband often shared wif friens tat he saved a lot on FM for abt 1yr. when friens/relatives/strangers know i BF my son for 14mths, they commented how chubby he was (he was like a sumo bb <6-7mths old), how gd his complexion is, how gd it is 2 b drinking BM (betta than FM), etc. husband n i took their comments in stride (we may not argee wif them on all their comments/remarks) as we know y i BF for so long. it's not bcos of BM betta than FM, for gd complexion, 2 make sure my son gets chubby (i've come across bbs who only FM n they are chubby too). i BF for so long cos i enjoyed the closeness (physical & emotional) i had wif my son, the convenience and saves us the hassle of preparing FM, sterilising bottles, bringing bottles & hot water on an outing, etc.
mayb u can start off wif using the Avent ISIS manual pump (if i not wrong, Avent electric pumps are very ex). once u know tat, u wanna BF for long (min 6mths) and u'll still wanna BF when u have ur 2nd or 3rd kid, then mayb u can consider buying a betta breastpump.
bearybear,
i also waited for tis detailed scan until my neck very long. if not for my gynae who was on reservist last wk, i would have gone for my detailed scan on 17mar.
u wanna try the Avent ISIS pump? i know jen & sherhino swear by it.
