Probably more than anything else, I did a lot of research before buying a breast pump. I pump 4 times a day and hope to breastfeed for at least 12 months and then a possible next baby, so I need a good pump. I used an Avent Isis at first, but that did not work out. While I decided what to do, I rented a Medela Lactina for a few weeks and liked it, but felt it was too big and bulky. I wanted a more permanent and economical solution and decided that a high-end pump was the way to go. I went back and forth between the Medela Pump in Style and the Ameda Purely Yours for a while, but finally decided on the Ameda for the following reasons:

1) The Ameda Purely Yours has more cycling settings and suction levels which theoretically can make it more comfortable.

2) The Purely Yours has a closed hygenic pumping system that can keep out bacteria better than a Pump in Style

3) The Purely Yours has a more advanced pumping motor than the Pump in Style. It is a piston style computer microchip controlled motor - like the hospital rentals.

4) The Purely Yours comes with more features - it is lighter (no one can ever believe how light it is), comes with more storage bottles (6 vs. 4 - which is good since I use 5 a day) and also has an option of flexishields like the Avent Isis to help with let-down. You can also get an attachment to use it as a Manual Pump - so it is like getting 2 pumps in one.

With all these features it is still averaging about $50 less than the Pump in Style. That is not the say that the Pump in Style is not a good pump. I have never used one, so can not offer an opinion there, but I felt that the Purely Yours was definitely a better value. So I bought one and could not be happier.

The Purely Yours is extremely comfortable to use (I had heard before that it wasn't, but that has not been my experience). I did buy the flexishields also (about $18) as they were one of the few things about the Avent Isis I liked. But I found that when I used them, it really cut down on the amount of suction, and even at the highest settings, I wasn't able to pump much milk. So I don't use the flexishields, and still find the pump very comfortable. I was quite nervous about returning to work and my ability to exclusively breastfeed, but the Ameda has made it so easy. I do a 4 day compressed work week, and so don't nurse for about 11 hours 4 days a week and I have done quite well keeping up with my daughter (except for a couple of growth spurts she had). With double pumping I am able to get about 4-6 oz in 10 mins - which is great since I do have a low milk supply, and is more than I was able to get from the rental.

Also their customer service department is great. About a month after I got the pump, I noticed that one of the breastshields was cracking. Even though I had not filed the registration card (new mom, busy, etc..) I explained to them the problem and they sent me 2 new ones - no questions asked. I didn't even prove to them how long I had had it, they just re-sent them immediately and I received them 3 days after my call. They also suggested that I not boil them to sterilize them anymore and that all I had to do was wash them in warm soapy water. I have had no problems since.

The Purely Yours is obviously an investment (as is any high-end pump) and you probably don't need one if you are only going to pump occasionally, but I think it is a definite must have for working mothers and anyone else who pumps frequently.