celticdragonfly: (Breastfeeding - international symbol)
celticdragonfly ([personal profile] celticdragonfly) wrote2007-06-19 03:06 pm
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Vaporpump?

Grrrr.

I've been wanting to get one of the hands-free Whisperwear breastpumps. Not that I actively need it now - more that I'd like to be a milk donor again, if I can do it without making my life too difficult.

But last night I was thinking that if anything happened to take me away from Alanna temporarily, that would be bad, Karl would be left scrambling to try to find some formula alternative and figure out what was best and how to use it while juggling a screaming hungry baby. My advice was in such an emergency, call the midwife and ask her advice, and fer gosh sake get avent bottles and get the pump to me as soon as possible. Hopefully nothing bad will happen. (Yeah, my ankles were all swollen again yesterday, and we automatically think about worst case scenarios.) He was saying maybe he should get an emergency stash just in case. If so, he has to hide it.

Anyway, it had me thinking maybe I should just look into the pump sooner and start freezing some emergency supply, better all around. So I called the retailer down SW of here, wanted to look into a couple of sleep bras anyway. She says the pumps have been backordered for months, and she hasn't even been able to find out anything about when they'll be available again. If she doesn't hear soon, she's taking them off her site.

So I dug up the main company site, and called them. "Nobody is available to answer the call" in either sales or operator. I left a message, but I'm rather concerned that the company may have become vaporware. DAMN.

I could get a new kit for the 11 year old 'rental' Medela pump I own. I think the thing is starting to lose efficiency, though. And the worst part is that for it, I have to be tied down and away from the kids for a 15 minute period, ideally a few times a day. I can probably do it, but it's annoying. I do still have the old 'stuff' for it, I was using that when we were trying to encourage labor, and I suppose it'll still work for now, once we get the bottles thoroughly clean, but a new kit would be a good idea.

[identity profile] patgund.livejournal.com 2007-06-19 08:21 pm (UTC)(link)
The backpack Medinas are pretty portable. Would that work better??

[identity profile] celticdragonfly.livejournal.com 2007-06-19 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
The problem isn't "portable" as in "take it with me when I'm spending a day elsewhere" - it's "portable" as in "am I attached to this pump sitting at a table with one hand on each bottle/cup/breast and unable to move, read, knit, make lunch for the kids, etc" as opposed to the theory of the Whisperwear, in which I could tuck the things inside my bra and walk around, no tubes/powercord/hands, and do anything except nurse.

[identity profile] patgund.livejournal.com 2007-06-19 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, my mistake!

Breast pump solution?

[identity profile] bkseiver.livejournal.com 2007-06-19 08:24 pm (UTC)(link)
It might be worth your time to do a Google search for breast pump, add whatever modifiers. If your choice has become vaporware, a better mousetrap might have caused its demise. Wishful thinking, I know, but worth a look.

Re: Breast pump solution?

[identity profile] celticdragonfly.livejournal.com 2007-06-19 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
A good thought. You'd think the lady at the Lactation Consultant shop would know - but worthwhile searching anyway, I'll see if I find anything.

Re: Breast pump solution?

[identity profile] rixende.livejournal.com 2007-06-19 09:19 pm (UTC)(link)
This is the only site I found that did not list they were out of stock. It would be worth checking it out.

http://www.breastpumpsdirect.com/Whisper_Wear_Breast_Pumps_s/20.htm

Re: Breast pump solution?

[identity profile] celticdragonfly.livejournal.com 2007-06-19 09:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Bother. "Availability: Currently Unavailable "

Re: Breast pump solution?

[identity profile] rixende.livejournal.com 2007-06-19 09:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Actually, it appears that this is the latest and greatest, that's why almost everywhere is backordered for it. Of course, my sister who is currently pumping is using one of the medela pumps, and has a zip up band that holds the pumping cups up so she does have her hands free when pumping.

Re: Breast pump solution?

[identity profile] celticdragonfly.livejournal.com 2007-06-19 09:45 pm (UTC)(link)
One of those was suggested by the lady at the website. I doubt it would work for my size, and only works with the type of nursing bra where you open part of the front. I use DecentExposures bras and just pull them up, so that doesn't work.

What I *really* covet is both the hands-free and the walk-around-free.

I'd feel better about it being backordered if anybody had answered the phone at Whisperwear.

[identity profile] sandy-tyras.livejournal.com 2007-06-24 04:09 am (UTC)(link)
Why do you think you need a pump? I used to milk myself by hand - like a cow. It never took more than 5 minutes or so per breast. Certainly not 15.
Granted, it's not terribly comfortable, but it beat the heck out of engorgement.