When I was pregnant, I had no idea how I was going to feed my baby. I knew I wanted to try breastfeeding, but was very aware that it might not work out. I wanted to be prepared for all outcomes, so I bought nursing bras, a breast pump, bottles, a steriliser all for ‘just in case’.
Finding a breast pump was one of the hardest things to pick. I knew I wanted one in the house just in case I needed it, but I had no idea where to start. There were manual or electric, single or double, not to mention the various different brands to choose from. One thing I noticed was that they all came with a hefty price tag. Having a baby is very expensive, without paying out hundreds of pounds for something that you may or may not use or something that you may not get along with. I kept reading reviews, taking everyone’s recommendations, but I definitely kept putting off buying one.
I eventually found the Bellababy pump on Amazon for £36! (Sometimes the price varies by a few pounds on different days.) It’s an electric double pump that came with glowing reviews. I was sold instantly. I thought if I didn’t get on with it, or didn’t use it, at least I hadn’t spent an absolute fortune on it. So, I ordered one, it came the next day and I was finally prepared for any ‘just in case’ situation.
If you have read my breastfeeding experience post you will know that it was successful, but not plain sailing. I had the need for a breast pump quite early on. So, out came the Bellababy and I put it to the test.
Bellababy Pros
- It is a double, electric pump that can be charged and doesn’t need to be attached to a power supply, meaning you can pump anywhere.
- It’s lightweight and ideal for travelling or on the go.
- It has an additional battery pack, so if the charge runs out you can use the back up.
- It’s easy to assemble and clean
- It has a digital LED touch screen display making it easy to see how long you have been pumping for and change the settings.
- It comes with attachments allowing you to pump straight into milk bags rather than bottles for easy storage.
- It has 4 modes and 9 levels of suction on each mode for you to choose from; including massage and stimulation modes.
- It’s comfortable, easy to use and fairly quiet.
Bellababy Cons
- The only downside to this pump is that it doesn’t leave me hands free. I have to hold the suction cups on as they do not stay attached. I have since realised this is because they don’t quite fit me properly. The shields are too big, however this is just a personal issue. I know a couple of other people who have this pump that don’t have this issue and they can sit comfortably with it attached. This is the only reason I bought the Elvie hands free pump (more on that to come).
The Bellababy pump is fantastic quality and I would even go as far as to say it is better than the hospital grade pump that I used when I was readmitted to the maternity ward. I ended up getting Ryan to bring my own pump in. I was thoroughly surprised with how good the pump is for the price tag and I would recommend to anyone who is looking to buy a breast pump, whether you want it just to be prepared like me or if you are an exclusive pumper.
Which breast pump have you used? I would love to hear your experiences, so please leave me a comment below!