Reddit mentions of Spectra Baby USA S1Plus Electric Breast Pump

The Spectra is so much better. Spectra Baby USA Double/Single Breast Pump with Rechargeable Battery, 3.3 Pound

The S2 is cheaper because it doesn't have the built in battery, but it's great to be able to brush your hair and then go pack lunches all while pumping. You can also easily rig Medela parts to it if you want. They do make nice flanges and are more readily available.

This one. i like that it's a closed double pump and actually it's one of the highest rated on Amazon. It doesnt come with a carrying bag but that doesn't matter to me. If Tricare will only cover a few select ones though, like other insurers, I'd pick whichever one is free. :)

Ok, I will try to format this nicely, but for some reason it always comes out TERRIBLY, so if you see it's been edited, it's just for formatting. Also, I didn't do any sort of price search, so these links aren't the best price guaranteed.

Dream Team Pumping Purchases

• Spectra Pump S1/S2 - one has a battery, that's the only difference. You can vary both the suction strength and the suction frequency on both the milking and letdown settings. There is a timer (yay!), and it remembers your settings. The only drawbacks is the tubing has a strange surface finish that picks up everything, so that kind of sucks, and the default is it's not on the letdown setting when you power on.
  
  
• Pumpin Pal Flanges - Unfortunately these aren't compatible with the Spectra style pump parts, so you need some other pieces to use them. They draw the whole breast in, not just the part around the areola.
  
  
• Maymom Adapters - These allow you to use the Medela style connectors and flanges with the Spectra.
  
  
• Medela Connectors - These don't have to be Medela, they can be Maymom or Nenesupply, but I couldn't find ONLY the connectors from either companies in my quick search.
  
  
• Duckbill Valves - These are way better than the little yellow piece valve with a rubber flap (if the flap moves, it doesn't always work). These are one piece, way awesome.
  
  As for bottles to attach...you can use Ameda or Medela bottles, or any bottle that fits the Medela connectors (I use the Medela bottles and sometimes Dr. Brown's bottles since they fit (depends on what's clean).
  

Its definitely tough and a lot of work. I will say based on your summary, it seems like you are doing everything to the best of your ability, which is the most important thing. I just passed the two month mark, so I will tell you now, it only gets slightly better. Supposedly at 3 months, it can start to get a lot better in regards to having a pattern and more control over the schedule. But, as a 2 month vet, here is how I'm managing this to the best of my ability:

You wife definitely does need support. Depending on how well you can sleep, instead of STAYING awake with her, get up, get the baby, help her set up for a feed, then go back to sleep.

I don't know about yours, but my baby needs to feed for anywhere from 30 minutes to a full hour. an hour of sleep 3-5 times a night can make a big difference with your ability to handle it long term.

Also, buy your wife this pump. Its WAY better than the free one we got with insurance, it pulls out way more milk, and it's easier on her breasts. As an exclusively breastfed baby, this will allow her to pump, make a bottle, then SHE can go back to sleep and you can take 1 or 2 feedings every once in a while.

You love your child. you are trying, and you are asking for advice. You are already doing EVERYTHING right. Hang in there, it'll get better.

P.S. Once you get your first regular baby smile, it'll allllllllll be worth it

I've heard wonderful things about this Spectra one. My insurance paid for the Medela PISA, but I plan to buy this one out of pocket if it doesn't work out for me. It's hospital grade and less than 200$.

Here are mine:

• Secure Beginnings Crib Mattress - a totally breathable crib mattress. You can take the "sleep surface" off and throw it in the washing machine when needed. I surprisingly don't do it that often. The mesh fabric and space under it helps in temperature regulation and air exchange. Basically, helped me as a new mom not worry about suffocation. I ended up going wild and getting two sleep surfaces per mattress. I got one set in the regular size and a mini crib for our room.
  
• LED Touch Light - these suckers are rechargeable and hold their charge a long time. They're super portable. What I like best is that you can turn them suuuuper dim, which is great for middle of the night wake ups and diaper changes. We have one hanging from our headboard and one hanging above the changing table. And then another around the house. There are tons of sellers of this type of product and they're quite inexpensive.
  
• Wet Bag - a reusable and washable bag to stash wet/dirty stuff. An essential for cloth diaperers, but also great for pooped on clothes, bathing suits, etc.
  
• Fischer-Price Ultra-Lite Day and Night Play Yard - this is a smaller and less expensive version of a traditional pack and play. We kept it in the living room and baby spent a lot of time there as a newborn.
  
• Gripe Water Lots of gripe water. Good for gas, sometimes hiccups, and gentle relief for stomach upset. Also helps some newborns poop.
  
• Grovia Magic Stick Diaper Balm - made for cloth diapers, but would work for sposies. A barrier "cream" on a stick, so you don't have to get your fingers gross. Smells amazing - I literally sniff the stick every time we use it.
  
• Freemies - great for hands-free pumping, especially in the car or at work. Fits inside the shirt. Can be hit or miss on if it works for individuals, but it works GREAT for my boobs. Regular flanges hurt me and didn't yield good output, but Freemies agreed with my body wonderfully.
  
• Spectra Pump I have nothing but good things to say about the Spectra pump. I have the S1 (battery operated), S2 (plugs in), and the S9 (battery operated, but not as fancy as S1). I haven't had any issues with my pumps, but others have had great customer service experiences. It's a "closed" system, which means it's impossible for milk to get into the pump on accident. This is a good thing.
  
• Kiinde Storage Bags - these breastmilk storage bags are more expensive, but highly durable. I love the twist top - much easier to use then a zipper top. We used the whole bottle system from 0-6 months. At six months, he realized he could take the nipple off the bottle and we switched to Como Tomo bottles. But for those months, it was SO NICE to just send the bags to daycare and wash only the nipples (the shells stayed at daycare).
  
• Lillebaby Complete Airflow Baby Carrier - while baby carrier preferences will vary widely by body type and personal preferences, I love my Lillebaby most. It doesn't require any special insert for newborns and the lumbar support was awesome. The airflow version was great, as I live in a very hot state.
  
• Lectrofan Sound Machine - you may be wondering why this is $45 and other sound machines are $20. Because it is amazing, that is why. Seriously 100% amazing.
  
  Hope this helps somebody!
  
  Edit: added a few more after the Spectra.