Tomme Tippee Freedom Breast Pump

Just as a pre-warning to this review, there is some talk of women's girly parts (namely boobs), so if anyone is bashful about things like this, don't read more than the first two paragraphs!

The Tommee Tippee freedom breast pump has been a very useful item of motherhood for me. It is easy to set up, use and clean, and in my opinion, it is a very good way of expressing milk.

Why I use it
~~~~~~~~~
I use ...
...drink out of a bottle, which gives me the chance to go out for a few hours, and it is also very useful for new mothers who would like to get a good sleep at night, too! I do not use my pump to mainly feed my baby from bottles, but it is possible to do this, and many people do, especially those that have to return to work and still wish to keep feeding their baby on nutritious breastmilk.

Some information on expressing milk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
more

Just as a pre-warning to this review, there is some talk of women's girly parts (namely boobs), so if anyone is bashful about things like this, don't read more than the first two paragraphs!

The Tommee Tippee freedom breast pump has been a very useful item of motherhood for me. It is easy to set up, use and clean, and in my opinion, it is a very good way of expressing milk.

Why I use it
~~~~~~~~~
I use my breast pump to express milk for my baby to drink out of a bottle, which gives me the chance to go out for a few hours, and it is also very useful for new mothers who would like to get a good sleep at night, too! I do not use my pump to mainly feed my baby from bottles, but it is possible to do this, and many people do, especially those that have to return to work and still wish to keep feeding their baby on nutritious breastmilk.

Some information on expressing milk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As I have mentioned above, many women express their milk to give themselves a bit more freedom, whilst still giving their baby breastmilk. It is recommended by the WHO (World Health Organisation) that babies are exclusively fed on breastmilk up to the age of 6 months, and a breast pump enables some mothers who are otherwise unable to feed a baby to do this.
Some women suffer with sore or bleeding nipples, which makes it very painful to feed if your baby does not latch on properly, and this is one of the reasons many mothers stop breastfeeding. Because you can control the pump as it suits you, it can be positioned so it is in the most comfortable position for you. I have to say here that for anyone with sore and cracked nipples, using a pump may still give a little discomfort, but it would be nothing compared to the excruciating pain that can come with breastfeeding a baby with sore nipples. According to the manual:

‘There should be no pain using your breast pump. If you feel pain, try using the pump more gently. Then examine your breasts. If there are any red or hot areas contact your breastfeeding advisor as soon as possible.’

In most cases the ‘breastfeeding advisor’ is a midwife or health visitor.

What’s in the box?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Tommee Tippee freedom breast pump cost me £25. For this I got
- the pump itself
- a 6oz ‘closer to nature’ bottle and teat (size 1), with bottle storage lid
- a steriliser box, for sterilising and keeping the pump in when not in use
- an adapter to fit the pump to other sized bottles
- 6 Tommee Tippee disposable breast pads
- assembly and usage instructions.
This was a special offer box and an ideal collection of things to get started. The pump is also available on its own, so be sure to look out for the box as a set. I bought mine from Boots.

Parts and Assembly
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
According to the box, the pump comes in three parts; the handle, the main body and a valve (there is also a spare valve included). These are all separate pieces and can be taken apart for cleaning. There are also two other main parts to the pump; the bottle it connects to, and two adaptors. Tommee Tippee ‘closer to nature’ bottles are wide-necked and there is a wide adaptor to fit these. For anyone who has a large collection of other make bottles, it is reassuring to know that there is a smaller ‘standard’ sized adaptor, making it possible to use the TT pump with other brand bottles.
The handle is attached to a soft rubber collar which slots easily into the body of the pump, then the handle is clicked in place. This can be a little fiddly to do, but it is not a difficult job. The valve is a small piece of rubbery plastic which fits into the bottom of the main body. The adaptor screws on to the body, and the bottle screws on to the adaptor. So it is a pretty simple thing to put together, and takes about 2 minutes in total. The only problem I have ever had when putting it together is forgetting to put the valve in, as it is only a small piece. There are illustrated instructions with the pump which are very easy to understand.

How to use the pump
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As you can see in the picture, there is a large cup attached to the main body of the pump; this fits over the breast to provide an airtight seal. It should be positioned so that the nipple sits in the hole in the middle of the cup, and there are no air gaps around it. Then you gently squeeze the handle and a suction is created, pulling on the nipple. This pulling simulates the sucking of a baby, and encourages the milk to flow. Releasing the handle will open the valve and let the milk into the bottle.

I have found the pump easy to use, and there are instructions with it which are very helpful. My only criticism would be that my nipple chafes slightly against the sides of the tube when it is pulled in, but on the whole, the pump is quite comfortable to use.

Some tips on expressing milk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Expressing milk using a pump may take a bit of practice. It is best done in the morning, as you have more of a supply of milk then. It can take a while to get started, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time the first few times you use it. It helps some people to have something of their babies around, as the ‘let-down’ reflex (the reflex that makes the milk flow) is stimulated by motherly feelings as well. To start of with, the pump only pulls a drop or two of milk from the nipple at a time, and as you pump it will increase to a steady flow. There is no need to pump hard; if it feels too uncomfortable, then reduce how much you are squeezing the handle. It is best to simulate how your baby feeds. A basic routine for this is
- 1. regular hard sucks to start with, this builds up the initial flow
- 2. when the initial flow has died down, less regular sucking
It may take up to about half an hour to express enough for your baby, but it may only take 10 minutes, it’s best to experiment a few times. If you don’t have much luck one time, leave it a couple of hours, or try the next day. Or if you don’t manage to express very much the first few times, keep trying, as it may take a while to master it.

When to start and how much to express
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unless it is necessary (because of sore nipples, etc), it is best not to bottle feed a baby in the first couple of weeks if you wish to continue breastfeeding alongside, as your baby may become accustomed to a teat and refuse your breast. On the other hand, if left too late, a baby may refuse a teat. The ideal window for starting to combine the two is between 3 and 6 weeks. I have found that 4 weeks old is an ideal age to start.

There is no way of knowing exactly how much milk a baby takes when feeding at the breast, so it may take a few times to get the amount just right, and even then your baby may alter how much he takes. For a 3 week old baby 2 or 3 oz may be enough, and it might be about 4 oz around 6 weeks. But every baby is different, and you should use trial and error to find out how much is enough. If a baby completely empties a bottle, express a little more the next time, until they leave a little bit at the end.

Cleaning the pump
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Because the pump is easy to assemble and take apart, and there are only a few pieces, I have found it easy to clean, the only thing is losing the valve in the washing up bowl! It also fits easily into my steam steriliser unit.

Accessories
~~~~~~~~~
The steriliser box is very handy. The pump and bottle can be placed in this with 100ml of water in the bottom and put in the microwave for a few minutes, which is a very simple and hassle-free way of sterilising. The box also comes in very handy for storage, as the pump is an odd shape, but it fits in the box perfectly.

The TT ‘closer to nature’ bottles are supposed to make it easier to combine breast and bottle feeding, and I have never had a problem with them. There is just one 6oz bottle supplied in the pack, which is enough for the occasional bottle as I use, but more regular bottle feeds would require more bottles. The bottles are sold separately for about £6 for a pack of two.

The storage lid supplied fits onto the bottle so milk can be stored in the freezer.

The TT disposable breast pads were a handy free gift, as I am always leaking, and these absorb it quite well. They are not as comfy as some of the breast pads I have used though, as they are quite large.

Summary
~~~~~~~
I would say I am definitely happy with this pump, and I would recommend it. 

...less