If you need to express breast milk, the type of breast pump that you purchase really depends on how often you plan to use it.
Say for occasional use – like once per week, if you are going out for a night and will be away from baby, or to relieve breast engorgement and mastitis symptoms, then a manual pump would probably be best. For this I’d recommend the Avent Isis Manual Breast Pump
For medium use, say 3-4 times per week, once or twice a day, the occasional feed, or to build up your supply, then I’d recommend a mini-electric breast pump (medela)
For heavy or frequent use, such as returning to work, or being away from your baby for 8 hours per day and expressing all their feeds, then I’d recommend either the Avent Uno Electric Breast Pump or the Medela Swing electric breast pump which are both more powerful breast pumps.
if you need to express the majority of your baby's feeds, then you will need to look at either the Avent Duo Double Electric Breast Pump, or the Medela Pump in Style advanced system.
For a little more detail I have elaborated below:
The Avent Uno Electric Breast Pump is a fantastic pump because you can set the speed by starting the pump off manually, push the button, and then it continues at that speed that you started. It can also be used as a manual pump (in case of power cut), or with batteries and mains. The Avent Uno Electric Breast Pump comes with additional items such as the carry case, cooler packs, and a couple of baby bottles and avent bottle teats. (Which you’d need to purchase separately if you go for the medela brand).
Comparatively the medela mini electric breast pump only has 3 suction levels, so you just choose which level suits you for comfort. The Medela Swing Electric Breast Pump (with more closely resembles the avent uno) has the unique patented milk let down which more closely resembles breastfeeding. All of the medela pumps can only be used with batteries or mains power, they don’t have the ability to go manually like the Avent Uno does.
The difference between the medela mini electric, and the medela swing is really just the frequency that you are planning to use it.
The medela swing breast pump and the avent uno electric breast pump are more suited if you are needed to express for least 3 feed per day
All our breast pumps have a 1 year warranty also.
Now as for bottles: all Medela breast pumps come with one bottle that attaches to the pump. They don't make their own brand of teats, but we do sell Green To Grow narrow neck teats which fit the medela bottles. But you could also buy the avent bottles or the Adiri Natural Nurser and then pour/store the milk in those bottles. With the avent starter set you get 4 bottles, and 6 teats, and a brush. The good thing about all the avent bottles, is that the bottles, toddler cups, sipper cups everything, teats, etc they are all interchangeable, which makes them really useful if you are short on bottles at any time.
I would also recommend that you purchase the Avent Microwave Sterilizer or the medela microwave sterilization bags .
The microwave sterilising method method is a lot easier to use than boiling parts on the saucepan (and so many people contact me needing spare parts after they melt their stuff on the saucepan). The avent sterilizer also comes with some bottles and teats too.
Okay, well I hope that has answered your questions, I know it can get very confusing.
