My pump broke down last 2 weeks ago and the very first thought that came to mind what that my pump broke down again. This would be the 3rd time. I checked with the shop where I bought the pump from and also online for the warranty period and then, found some numbers to call up to the agent directly. WARRANTY PERIOD MIRACULOUSLY EXTENDED TO 2 YEARS! Heard that the change was because of the change in the agent/distributor in Malaysia. What good news!
However, after a quick check, it was my adaptor that was spoilt. The adaptor, the original one was MYR125 each. That was quite a big chunk out of the total price of Ardo Calypso! Searched online and I finally bought the OEM adaptor that was only MYR69.90.
AND now my Ardo Calypso is up and running again. So far the longest lasting and hardiest unit I ever have.
With a 2 years warranty behind me, I am confident now that I want and I can breastfeed my twins till they are TWO. Happy yeah.. :)
Showing posts with label Breastpump. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Breastpump. Show all posts
Friday, October 4, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Ardo Calypso - Satisfaction BUT..
Apologise for the delay in posting up my review on Ardo Calypso. Well, to start with, I am pumping with it now as I blog.
AND my twins are exactly 1 year old today! Finally we have reached the 1 year milestone set in my breastfeeding journey and we are still going strong. My twins are a pair of boy and girl and they are now about 8.8kg and 8.2kg respectively. Happy boy and girl!
Ardo Calypso has been a great pump so far, in terms of the performance versus the price. I bought the pump with some complimentary items, i.e. bag, ice packs, bottles, etc..
I like the design as it is light weight enough for travelling and the colour - cheerful green and beige seems like perfect combination, though some commented that it looks like a toy to them. The pump comes with 2 difference sizes of flanges. I am probably not the best judge on which size to use but I am comfortably using the bigger one.
No problem adjusting the pump to suit my needs, in terms of the suction level and speed. The suction is quite good. It has a total of 8 suction (vacuum) levels and usually I use level 5 or 7. There is also a total of 8 speed levels. To stimulate let down, I usually adjust the speed to about 6 or 7. Once milk is flowing, I reduce the speed level to about 5.
Each session for me usually lasted for about 20 mins minimum to about half an hour maximum. When my twins were less than 11 months old, I was able to consistently get about 10-15oz each session with 5 hours interval in between during working hours. Sometimes, even 18oz - after some durian-booster session the night before.. :) Now that my twins are older, I can only manage to get about 8-12 oz each session, which is sad but still, enough to fill them up in between solid meals. So, still a good balance of supply and demand.
As I travel for business quite regularly, I pump outside alot. At malls, in the car, plane, office, home, even restaurants. It was quiet enough for me to pump discreetly under nursing cover.
BUT, it is a problem when I am at places where no electrical point is readily available. Ardo Calypso has no built in battery. Can be used with electrical supply, battery and car adapter (it fits Ameda's). Best is with electrical supply and on "stable ground". When used in car with car adaptors, the pump will show the error light if I accidentally shake the pump. The low performance alkaline battery is only enough for 1 pumping session, whereas, Energizer can last longer but still, the suction seems lower than normal which is not enough for me since I am used to high suction levels.
The pump unit will also show error light when used at high suction, high speed levels for single side pumping, in other words, when not used for double pumping. Due to this reason, I got my pump unit replaced once, after about 3 months of usage.
The next time I got my pump replaced was because the pump just would not come alive no matter how I tried to revive it. It just went dead.. and it died on me when I was on an outstation business trip. Lucky I did bring my manual kit along.
The manual kit was bought from Singapore. I did not manage to find it in Malaysia. It consist of only 3 parts and you can fit it onto the existing flange. In Malaysia, I found shops that only offered the full manual pump set.
In conclusion, I like Ardo Calypso BUT too many technical problems. This is the upgraded version bought in year 2012 but I think they definitely has to work on the reliability of the pump and at least, extend the warranty up to 2 years from child's date of birth rather than only a year. MY PUMP WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRES TODAY!!! Due to the problems, I have to survey for a spare pump to keep me company for another year.
P/S:- I wish to breastfeed my twins till they are 2 years old. Wish me luck!! :)
AND my twins are exactly 1 year old today! Finally we have reached the 1 year milestone set in my breastfeeding journey and we are still going strong. My twins are a pair of boy and girl and they are now about 8.8kg and 8.2kg respectively. Happy boy and girl!
Ardo Calypso has been a great pump so far, in terms of the performance versus the price. I bought the pump with some complimentary items, i.e. bag, ice packs, bottles, etc..
I like the design as it is light weight enough for travelling and the colour - cheerful green and beige seems like perfect combination, though some commented that it looks like a toy to them. The pump comes with 2 difference sizes of flanges. I am probably not the best judge on which size to use but I am comfortably using the bigger one.
No problem adjusting the pump to suit my needs, in terms of the suction level and speed. The suction is quite good. It has a total of 8 suction (vacuum) levels and usually I use level 5 or 7. There is also a total of 8 speed levels. To stimulate let down, I usually adjust the speed to about 6 or 7. Once milk is flowing, I reduce the speed level to about 5.
Each session for me usually lasted for about 20 mins minimum to about half an hour maximum. When my twins were less than 11 months old, I was able to consistently get about 10-15oz each session with 5 hours interval in between during working hours. Sometimes, even 18oz - after some durian-booster session the night before.. :) Now that my twins are older, I can only manage to get about 8-12 oz each session, which is sad but still, enough to fill them up in between solid meals. So, still a good balance of supply and demand.
As I travel for business quite regularly, I pump outside alot. At malls, in the car, plane, office, home, even restaurants. It was quiet enough for me to pump discreetly under nursing cover.
BUT, it is a problem when I am at places where no electrical point is readily available. Ardo Calypso has no built in battery. Can be used with electrical supply, battery and car adapter (it fits Ameda's). Best is with electrical supply and on "stable ground". When used in car with car adaptors, the pump will show the error light if I accidentally shake the pump. The low performance alkaline battery is only enough for 1 pumping session, whereas, Energizer can last longer but still, the suction seems lower than normal which is not enough for me since I am used to high suction levels.
The pump unit will also show error light when used at high suction, high speed levels for single side pumping, in other words, when not used for double pumping. Due to this reason, I got my pump unit replaced once, after about 3 months of usage.
The next time I got my pump replaced was because the pump just would not come alive no matter how I tried to revive it. It just went dead.. and it died on me when I was on an outstation business trip. Lucky I did bring my manual kit along.
The manual kit was bought from Singapore. I did not manage to find it in Malaysia. It consist of only 3 parts and you can fit it onto the existing flange. In Malaysia, I found shops that only offered the full manual pump set.
In conclusion, I like Ardo Calypso BUT too many technical problems. This is the upgraded version bought in year 2012 but I think they definitely has to work on the reliability of the pump and at least, extend the warranty up to 2 years from child's date of birth rather than only a year. MY PUMP WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRES TODAY!!! Due to the problems, I have to survey for a spare pump to keep me company for another year.
P/S:- I wish to breastfeed my twins till they are 2 years old. Wish me luck!! :)
Friday, May 25, 2012
My New Breastfeeding Gadget - Ardo Calypso Dual Breast Pump
Finally I managed to get the new upgraded Ardo Calypso Dual Breast Pump as soon as it was released in the market. Although this retailer has an online website (http://www.enjoybreastfeed.com/) where all their items can be easily purchased with just a few clicks, I went all the way to the Enjoy Breastfeeding showroom in Klang just to test out the pump last Saturday.
The shop was pretty small and had 2 staffs assiting the boss and lady boss, Michelle. The shop was basically swarmed by mummies. Some were getting advice on breastfeeding and some were looking for breastpumps for their coming bundle of joy. I went straight to one of the staffs and requested to test out the Ardo Calypso Dual Breastpump.
She explained to me patiently on the pump and I also managed to ask questions on the Ameda and Medela Freestyle breastpumps.
Ameda is great as well and is from the same manufacturer as Ardo Calypso. However, I heard from a friend of mine that it is a hassle when it comes to pumping at weird places like toilets since she cannot think of a suitable place to place the pump unit and the bottles. So, this will also definitely be a problem for me as I travel alot.
Medela Freestyle.. wow.. I must say that I was not pleased at all with the sound that was emitted from the tiny machine. It was loud compared to the pump that I previously bought, Avent Single Uno. AND it sounded weird to me, kind of funny too. However, in terms of size, it is a plus point since the pump unit is smaller than Ardo Calypso's.
Ardo Calypso.. affordable, weight wise is about the same as Medela Freestyle to me. Size of the pump unit is two times the Medela Freestyle's which is big. It is as big as my novel as shown in the picture below:
There is a hook on top of the unit which makes it convenient for me to put a string so that I can hang the unit while pumping. This eliminates the need to look for a suitable spot to place the pump unit while preparing or pumping.
The pumps is also really quiet! This is good. At least I can more discreet when I pump.. :)
Below picture shows what I get from the whole package - The Dual Pump, 3 Ice Packs, 8 Bottles, 1 Bagpack and a free bottle of Fenugreek! Good deal at RM976.
The below show how the pump fits into the bag - Of course I will not be bringing all 8 bottles out at one time, so the pump funnels and bottles will go here:
The pump unit and adaptor will be placed at the bottom of the bag:
Shall look forward to commenting on the performance when I start using it later.. Next week! Soon..
The shop was pretty small and had 2 staffs assiting the boss and lady boss, Michelle. The shop was basically swarmed by mummies. Some were getting advice on breastfeeding and some were looking for breastpumps for their coming bundle of joy. I went straight to one of the staffs and requested to test out the Ardo Calypso Dual Breastpump.
She explained to me patiently on the pump and I also managed to ask questions on the Ameda and Medela Freestyle breastpumps.
Ameda is great as well and is from the same manufacturer as Ardo Calypso. However, I heard from a friend of mine that it is a hassle when it comes to pumping at weird places like toilets since she cannot think of a suitable place to place the pump unit and the bottles. So, this will also definitely be a problem for me as I travel alot.
Medela Freestyle.. wow.. I must say that I was not pleased at all with the sound that was emitted from the tiny machine. It was loud compared to the pump that I previously bought, Avent Single Uno. AND it sounded weird to me, kind of funny too. However, in terms of size, it is a plus point since the pump unit is smaller than Ardo Calypso's.
Ardo Calypso.. affordable, weight wise is about the same as Medela Freestyle to me. Size of the pump unit is two times the Medela Freestyle's which is big. It is as big as my novel as shown in the picture below:
There is a hook on top of the unit which makes it convenient for me to put a string so that I can hang the unit while pumping. This eliminates the need to look for a suitable spot to place the pump unit while preparing or pumping.
The pumps is also really quiet! This is good. At least I can more discreet when I pump.. :)
Below picture shows what I get from the whole package - The Dual Pump, 3 Ice Packs, 8 Bottles, 1 Bagpack and a free bottle of Fenugreek! Good deal at RM976.
The below show how the pump fits into the bag - Of course I will not be bringing all 8 bottles out at one time, so the pump funnels and bottles will go here:
The pump unit and adaptor will be placed at the bottom of the bag:
Shall look forward to commenting on the performance when I start using it later.. Next week! Soon..
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Ardo Calypso Dual Breast Pump Will be Back!
Haha.. I finally got a reply from Ardo. Sent a general inquiry to their website to check on the status of the Ardo Calypso Dual Pump. And, YES, they are upgrading the pump and it will be making a come-back in April. However, since the look will remain the same and the difference will be internal, the manufacturer requested to check with them first before actual purchase to ensure that we are getting the latest model.
April, I can wait since it is not too late. I will be due by end May or early June for my twins. So, enough time to get all this settled before I get busy with the twins.. :)
April, I can wait since it is not too late. I will be due by end May or early June for my twins. So, enough time to get all this settled before I get busy with the twins.. :)
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Ameda vs Avent, Medela, Ardo and Online Retailers Price Review
Visited the Motherhood 2012 expo at KLCC last weekend. Interestingly, Avent ISIS Duo was selling at RM1499 with free gifts i.e Avent's Children Meal set and etc.. I really liked my Avent UNO Pump and so, since I am having twins, naturally, I will want to have the electric double pump from Avent. I got the green light from Hubby and went to the booth again, this time to purchase the set. However, after feeling how heavy the pump was I changed my mind. It was just too heavy for me to carry (I am 6 months pregnant with twins, BTW).
It is just out of my consideration for now since in the long term (I plan to breastfeed my twins for 2 years), I need a double pump which is portable enough for me to carry during weekly business visits and on board flights. With a 5kg pump and a 5kg laptop, I will surely exceed the cabin luggage weight limit, 7kg.
So, next in mind.. Ardo Calypso. Wonderful pump with great comments. BUT heard from a retailer that this model has been discontinued and almost all the online retailers no longer have any units available. Based on comments, it seems comparable to Medela Freestyle at just half the price. It is also light and even quieter than Medela Freestyle.
Why not Medela Freestyle? Hmm.. considering the fact that it is so expensive and also the problem with the possibility of milk getting into the tubes/pump since it is an open system, not at the moment.
Medela PISA or Pump In Style Advance - No, same reason. Cause it is an open system and equally bulky compared to Avent ISIS Duo, maybe only half the total weight but still BULKY for me.
Medela PISA or Pump In Style Advance - No, same reason. Cause it is an open system and equally bulky compared to Avent ISIS Duo, maybe only half the total weight but still BULKY for me.
Too bad.. so now, next... AMEDA LACTALINE DUAL. Closed system, weight is great, price is right! Breastfeeding twins even for only 6 months can easily return the cash I invest in the pump. PERFECT BUT, fussy Mummy here is not too in favour of the design. Turning the dials/knobs on the pump seems too technical although this is actually an advantage over Medela cause instead of fixed suction power/frequency. It is totally adjustable. It comes with battery and power adaptors, great for me since I may pump at weird places. Oh.. the knobs/dials make the pump look a little flimsy too but again, this is not a problem since it comes with manual pump as well and warranty is 1 year, just in case it fails me.
After all consideration, still Ameda is best so far. Wish they change the knobs/dial to some kind of button (>.<).
Looked though the online retailers and found the following:
- Little Whiz
- One Baby World
- Blessed Mum
- Little Baby Ville
- The Baby Loft
- Enjoy Breastfeed
- Mom's Little One
- Fabulous Mom
Prices range from RM750 to RM965 from the above. All except 2 offer free gifts i.e. breastmilk storage bottles, bags, ice packs, etc.. Just got to compare and decide now.
Since warranty starts from the time of purchase except for 1 (This is a little weird since it is the only one that allows warranty to start from baby's DOB and even weirder is that it is also the only one that will charge RM20 if we request that the pump to be sent to Ameda's service center.. Why?), I shall buy at the very final stage of my pregnancy.. :)
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