C'mon, express yourself!! (Avent Isis Breast Pump)

Member Name: wishywalshy

Product:	Avent Isis Breast Pump
Date:	07/03/01 (680 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quick and easy to use, reliable and effective

Disadvantages: Hardly any

A manual breast pump manufactured by Avent.
Completely sterilsable and dismantles for easy cleaning, it incorporates a let down massage cushion and easy one hand operation.
In this instance the disposable system, but also available for the wide necked system.
Costing £28.00 from Mothercare and including all necessary extras for successful expression and safe storage of breast milk.
Awarded the Mother and Baby Gold award in 1997 for best new feeding equipment it has also been given a Millennium product stamp.
Although not everyone can or wants to breastfeed, there are undeniable benefits to both mum and baby.
For mum, the stimulation of feeding causes the uterus to contract far quicker, and provides a natural bond with their new child.
For baby, it gives not only essential nutrients; it provides a natural immunity and gives them a chance to be really near mum
Even if you can or want to give your baby the first few very important feeds (colostrums), then you have done well.

Why do I need a breast pump?
It is not an essential piece of baby equipment, but it can prove to be a valuable asset in the early months.

When should I start expressing my milk?
It is not however recommended to be used until your full milk supply is established which is normally at around 6 weeks post partum (after delivery)
There are exceptions to the rule, premature babies and babies separated from their mothers for varying reasons still need the benefits of mother’s own milk.

Is there a specific time of the day to express?
No not really, but some mothers find it easier to express on one side whilst feeding the baby on the other, allowing the natural reflex action to be in place. However, there are no hard and fast rules about this, I found it easiest to express first thing in the morning, whilst all was quiet, and when I could relax.

Do I really need a pump though?
No definitely not.
It is quite eas
y to hand express, in fact whilst in the hospital with my premature daughter, I found it more comfortable to hand express that to face the huge overbearing machines installed there.
At one stage it was so successful that I was called on to demonstrate my newfound talents to the unbelieving midwives, who were in amazement at the quantity of expressed milk in such a short time.
I believe that it gave incentive to other mums there to go with their own natural instincts, and after all no one know your body like you.
When hand expressing it is essential that the receptacle that you are going to use is sterile, and that your hands are scrupulously clean, hair must be tied back, and overall you must relax.
It is almost taboo for women to be seen to handling their own breasts, but with a few gentle stokes towards the nipple, the milk will start to flow, and with gentle massage the milk will flow into your receptacle.
The added advantage of this method is that you can actually feel where the milk ducts are, and whether they have any milk in them to be expressed.
Initially a little embarrassing, I soon became accustomed to an audience of students.

Why did you buy a pump if hand expressing was so easy?
My sterilise wasn’t big enough to fit the jug in.

Why this pump in particular?
I had researched many designs and manufacturers claims, and after great consideration selected Avents Isis.
I want keen on being hooked up to the mains, or listening to whirr of a miniature motor, or the never-ending supply of batteries needed for other models, nor did I fancy squeezing what resembled half of a turkey baster.
This pump claimed to be easy to use and has a one handed action.
The additional selling point for me was that there was no need for messy transfers by using the bag and freezer system, the milk is expressed directly through the pump straight into the bag, which is either sealed and frozen or sealed and put in the
fridge for use within 24 hours.

What does the kit include?
The pump itself which comprises of 8 pieces all of which interlock, and form an amazing vacuum, a bottle bag holder, 20 sterile bags, 10 snaplock clips, 20 Time date lables, a slow flow teat, sterilisable travel covers and various spare parts for the pump.
Mine also contained a breastfeeding guide who would have been quite useful for first time mums, but as this pump was bought for my 4th child, I think it was a case of "Teaching your grandmother to suck eggs", however it was detailed and comprehensive.

Is it easy to assemble?
With a little practice it is extremely easy to assemble and use. The pieces fit in one way only with the exception of little white flanges which sit in the middle of the unit.
If these are fitted incorrectly, you will end up with wet legs, or the pump will fail to work.
The unit snaps together with a minimal effort, and the bottle bag and holder simply screws onto the base of the pump.

How does it work?
The funnel part of the pump has a small circular silicone fitting (Let down cushion) in which you gently place your breast.
The idea of the cushion is that the five protruding ridges on the cushion, act as massagers and imitate your babies natural sucking action, but allowing the ridges to flex in and out and massaging the area behind the nipple therefore drawing milk out in a more natural way.
Working on massage and suction the pump is gentle and effortless, the large white pump handle is ergonomically designed so fits nicely into your grip, and can be successfully used by right or left handed ladies.
The amount of suction is up to you, the further that you squeeze the handle down, the higher the vacuum.
The silicone diaphragm, guarantees that the suction is reliable and controllable by the user.
The results are stunning and very quickly you will find yourself with a large quantity of milk in a very shor
t time.

Does it hurt?
Initially it can be a little uncomfortable until you have worked out what suction and position is best for you.
In this instance, I think that the smaller bottle would have been more useful, as the length of the entire unit often made it difficult to sit in a low chair and operate the unit comfortably.
But it is not painful.

How do you transfer the milk to the baby?
The bag is easily refitted to the holder, where the teat (silicone tinted blue, and shaped to closely resemble a mothers nipple) screw top ring and cap are fitted.
Please note do not boil the bag or defrost and heat in a microwave, as it will heat faster than a conventional bottle so please take care not to burn your baby with hot milk.

Are spare parts readily available?
In most instances yes, most of the large chemists and baby shops have a wide range, but should there be any difficulty in obtaining any broken/lost parts there is a free phone number for speedy replacements.
0800 289064.
Spare teats cost about £2.50 for two, and must be the blue tinted version designed expressly (Scuse the pun) for the disposable system, other wise the teat gets sucked in and the baby gets a milk shower.
Bags cost £2.50-3.00 for 40
Handles to fit the bottles £3.00 for 2
Sippy cup teat £3.00 for 2

Is there anything else that you need to know?
All of the parts of the unit can be sterilised, either by boiling, steam or chemical, and must be washed with a mild detergent and sterilised before every use.
The handy pump covers and screw on base enable you to clean and prepare the unit for later use, without it cluttering your steriliser up.
Keep the instructions, these are very important and will save confusion should you need to use the pump again.
The bags are not particularly accurate and only measure in ounces or 30 ml measurements, I really do think that after charging so much for replacement bags that Aven
t could have pushed the boat out and splashed out a little extra ink and graduated in 10ml quantities.
The vacuum created as the baby sucks the milk from the bag causes it to collapse preventing air from finding its way back into the bottle, and reducing the amount of air taken in can alleviate colic and bloated tiny tummies.
It also reduces spillage as the vacuum keeps the milk in and the air out.

Breastfeeding is not for everyone, do not allow yourselves to be bullied into it by overpowering midwives and the like, do it if you are comfortable, but if not, don't worry.
You are not a failure, formula fed babies do just as well as breast fed, and a baby would rather have a happy mummy than one who feels victimised and is breastfeeding to please others, the stress will start to show and your baby will pick it up.
Relax and enjoy your baby.

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