The ISIS Breast Pump is Convenient, Quiet, and Portable!
Written: Aug 13 '02 (Updated Oct 14 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: ● Compatible with Avent disposable, reusable bottles & Magic Cups ● NO electricity required
Cons: ● Assembly can be confusing ● One breast pumping
The Bottom Line: The Avent ISIS is economical, comfortable, and convenient! I recommend it to any woman who pumps as often as once a day, or as little as once a month.
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| marybatson's Full Review: Avent Isis |
Recently, while on vacation, I misplaced the membranes for my Pump In Style breast pump, which are vital for operation. I was in a predicament. The spare parts were safe at home, and I had a hungry boy on my hands. Unable to nurse, I have provided my son with breast milk by pumping 3-times a day since birth. I was concerned about maintaining my milk supply, not to mention the discomfort of very full breasts. I purchased the Avent ISIS Breast Pump because
1.) I use Avent bottles
2.) I liked the convenience of pumping right into the disposable liner for storing
3.) Or pumping directly into the bottle for feeding.
Let me start by saying, I was amazed by the comfort, control, and power this little hand pump provided. After pumping for a minute or so, my milk was flowing freely. What I mean to say is, I did not have to continue to pump. I just held the handle down, and my milk flowed freely-and-easily. It was remarkable! Avent claims that the patented silicone petals massage the area around the nipple, which stimulates the letdown reflex. I guess there really IS something to those petals. I experienced a natural letdown every time I used this pump. It was painless pumping, and quick. It generally took 15 to 20 minutes to empty each breast, which is efficient for a hand pump. Oh, and quiet! Squeak, squeak, squeak… and then, dribble, dribble, dribble. The Pump in Style was my primary pump, and once I became proficient with it, I had to have some background noise in the form of a TV, or stereo, because the motor sound drove me NUTS! Eek EEK, eek EEK, eek EEK, it was enough to make me want to pull my hair out! My hair was the only good feature I had going at the time, so that would have been tragic.
We traveled frequently when William was an infant, so the ISIS Breast Pump became my out-of-the-house pump. Consequently, it did its time on the road. I stored it in the steam sterilizer to protect it from the bumps and bruises of traveling, which were many, but it always worked smoothly. There are several parts to assemble with this pump, which can be daunting at first. It goes together like a puzzle. The first attempt is confusing, but the instructions are well written. Closely follow the manual. There are 6-steps in all, and each is vital for a successful pumping experience. Once you have the steps down, it’s easy, like most things.
Whether one decides to use a manual pump, or an electric pump, using a breast pump takes time, and practice. There’s NO question about it. The first few attempts can be painful, and downright frustrating. I presumed I would breastfeed to save money, plus I know the antibodies in breast milk help to protect against infection and allergies. My many attempts to feed my son the natural way, failed; thus, I was forced to bottle-feed. Fortunately, my sister had the foresight of lending me her Pump In Style before William was born, so I was prepared.
My advice to first-time pumpers is ~ TAKE YOUR TIME! Try to be patient with yourself, and relax. Place a warm cloth over your breasts before you begin. This may help to encourage the flow. If you can, make an effort to get away from the hullabaloo for just a few minutes. It might surprise you what begins to trickle. Once you get the hang of it, pumping isn’t so bad. I felt blessed to have the ability to feed my son breast milk, as I believe the health benefits are substantial.
Description:
The ISIS Breast Pump is a manual pump designed to express breast milk one breast at a time. The pump converts into a feeding bottle for quick, convenient feeding. It is lightweight; when assembled it weighs less than 1-pound. The pump, and all its parts are dishwasher safe, and are compatible with the Avent Microwave Steam Sterilizer. The following is included in the package.
● One, 8-ounce disposable bottle with newborn nipple
● 20 pre-sterilized bottle liners
● 10 sealing clips for storing
● Date/Time labels
● ISIS Breast Pump, cover & stand
● Travel cover
● Additional diaphragm & stem
Other Points of Interest:
● Disassemble, and sterilize all parts before every use
● Do NOT use abrasive cleaners, bleach or anti-bacterial products
● Avent offers a 1-year guarantee on this product
Pros
● Excellent value
● Compatible with disposable, reusable bottles & Magic Cups
● Portable ~ no electricity required
● Lightweight & compact
● It’s quiet
● It's durable
● It’s dishwasher safe
Cons
● Single breast expressing
● Assembly can be confusing
Closing Remarks:
Overall, I enjoyed the convenience of this quiet, portable pump. Not having to be plugged-in was a HUGE bonus for me. The Pump in Style was not compatible with the Avent bottles, so I stored breast milk in disposable liners, and Evenflo bottles. The ISIS Breast Pump allowed me to pump directly into the bottle, so there were fewer bottles to clean. The ISIS was great in a pinch, or for a weekend away. However, the Pump In Style was superior in speed, and quantity of milk expressed. I recommend the ISIS to any woman who pumps as often as once a day, or as little as once a month. It just was not practical for me to express 30-ounces a day using this pump. I expressed 16-ounces in 20 minutes with the Pump in Style, whereas it took me 30-minutes to express 10-ounces with the ISIS. For a manual pump, the ISIS is fantastic! When I first encountered this product, I was an experienced pumper. This may have contributed to my success, although it was NOT the only factor. Avent designed an economical pump that’s extremely comfortable and convenient!
Avent
475 Supreme Drive, Bensenville, IL 60106
Toll Free: 800-54-AVENT (800-542-8368 Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm CST)
www.aventbaby.com
Additional Feeding Reviews:
Magic Cup
Mealtime Tote
Deluxe Gift Set
Medela Pump In Style
All-In-One Starter Set
Non-Spill Toddler Spouts
Reusable Variable Flow Nipples
EXPRESS Microwave Steam Sterilizer
EXPRESS Bottle & Babyfood Warmer
Recommended:
Yes
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marybatson
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Member: Mary
Location: Phoenix
Reviews written: 169
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