Manual breast pump a pain?

I will be pumping at work, and I don't want to carry my huge automatic pump with me. So, I want to buy one and just keep it at work. I saw manual Medela Harmony pump (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006HBS1M) that looks nice. My question is: are manual pumps a real pain? Does it take forever to pump? Hands get tired? Should I not bother getting it?

Its a pain in the butt, and doesn't do a very good job. You end up leaving a lot of milk behind which can mess with your supply.

I recommend just taking the big electric and dealing with it. You'll thank yourself later.

it hurts your hand but you get used to it, i can do it while watching TV and nursing my daughter on the other boob and i dont even notice anymore. I usually just pump for as long as she feeds so it doesnt take any longer then a normal feed.

My hand got tired after 30 seconds and that was the only time I bothered with it. Plus you have to get the rhythm of it right. IMO I'd rather hand express. Leave your bulky pump at work. I do most of the time unless I know I need to pump at night.

've never used a manual pump, i just cart my automatic one back and fourth, not too big of a hassle, its just weird cleaning it at work. it takes me about ten-fifteen minuets with an automatic so with a manual i can only imagin how long it would take!

I have that one and I love it! It is not a pain at all! My hands never get tired, mainly because I hold the handle in the sucking motion for like 5 seconds then pump again. This way my hand does not get tired. It is super easy, and will fit right in my purse. I use the plastic storage bags to pump into, and those store very nicely. The good thing about this pump is that there are not too many pieces. So it is easy to clean and there are less things that could break. Unless the mechanical pumps.

I suppose you can't return a pump if you don't like it, huh?

Quoting toki4004:“ I suppose you can't return a pump if you don't like it, huh?”

Nope!