Breast Pump Comparisons

Avent Breast Pumps

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The Avent brand had its beginning in 1984 when a bottle for breast fed babies was designed with a wide nipple to encourage a wide open mouth when feeding from the bottle as they do when nursing. Also the bottles themselves were made wider to make thorough scrubbing of the insides easier and to have a more stable design that does not tip over too easily. The shape is also more ergonomically comfortable for the hand that holds the bottle. Through the years the Avent brand bottle saw additional improvements such as a one-way valve to prevent the swallowing of air, which can cause colic in babies.

In 1997 Avent introduced the manual Isis Breast Pump, featuring a patented Let down Massage Cushion™, to imitate the natural mouth action of an infant when breastfeeding. The Massage Cushion consists of five oval-shaped petals to gently stimulate the areola and induce a let-down. The differences between the Isis and other conventional breast pumps inspired a random clinical trial in the UK of the Isis Manual pump versus a hospital grade pump . The study showed that the mothers using the Isis had the greater milk output.

Avent Breast Pumps were the first of its kind to allow expression of breast milk directly into the same bottles that can be used to store and feed. They called this "product integration," and it continued with the introduction of the Magic Cup sippy cup in 2000 and the VIA system in 2004. VIA are sturdy, but disposable, containers for breast milk that integrate fully with Avent Isis breast pumps or the Avent bottle nipples. Since then many other breast pumps have introduced bottles and feeding accessories that are compatible, because it only makes sense to lose less milk, preserve the cleanliness of the milk and to have fewer containers to wash by preventing excessive pouring of the expressed milk from one container to another.

Avent is also associated with the brand Philips and is sometimes called Philips Avent. They currently make 3 breast pumps: a manual, a single electric, and a double electric. All their products are BPA-free and have a 1-year warranty. The funnels (or breast shields or flanges) come with covers to protect the milk in the collection bottles from getting contaminated by germs floating through the air if pumping must be interrupted for a time. A disadvantage to the Avent pump is that there are no other funnel sizes. The the massaging cushion the funnel measures 24mm and without it is 27mm. One solution for someone who needs large funnels is to try the Super Shields. the Super Shields by Pumpin Pal. For more information about breast shield fit, see our article at http://babylovesyourmilk.com/breast-shield-fit.php.

• The (Philips) Avent Isis Manual Breast Pump is a trigger-type* pump with a maximum of 200 mmHg and the unique feature of the massage cushion in the breast shields. Users have also found that once let-down occurs, they need fewer compressions on the trigger to maintain milk ejection. It currently has a price between $30 and $100 (USD) depending on the accessories one gets.
• The Avent Isis IQ Uno Breast Pump is a single electric pump which means it is suitable for pumping one breast at a time. It can also be used without the motor as a manual pump. It is vacuum and cycling adjustable. A unique feature of this pump as well as Avent's double electric pump is that the user begins by manually pump and Isis uses its electronic memory to record and later replicate the rhythm when desired. Depending on the accessories desired the Uno can be purchased online for as little as $100 or as much as $300 (USD).
• The Avent Isis IQ Duo Twin Electronic Breast Pump is comparable to a Medela Pump in Style or some (like the Avent company) would say a hospital rental breast pump. Its vacuum is adjustable up to 260 mmHg and its cycles per minute adjustable to 52. It has the same electronic memory feature as the Uno. The controls are on top of the funnels so there is no need to move your hand off the bottles to the motor. It only runs on its AC adapter and does not have an option for battery power and has no car adapter. Of course, anyone determined to pump in their car could by any good AC to DC inverter (converter) for around $30. Some reviewers have expressed the opinion that that the pump motor has a more pleasing, aesthetic design. The Avent Isis IQ Duo (sometimes also called the Twin) can be bought for a range of $260 to $350 online.

Why Medela, Ameda, and Avent?

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