What Is The Best Breast Pump To Buy
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Breast pumps can be manual or electric, and they can be single expression (pumping one breast at a time) or double expression (pumping both breasts at the same time). They can also be deemed closed or open system.
Electric breast pump: Electric breast pumps are connected to an electronic device that creates suction. This type of breast pump is ideal for parents who pump frequently and need to express a significant amount of milk at a given time.
Single pump: A single breast pump only allows you to pump from one breast at a time, which may come in handy if you plan on pumping from one side while your baby nurses from the other.
Hospital-grade pump: These offer a higher level of suction and are more efficient than some of their less innovative competitors. Many major breast-pump brands offer hospital-grade models.
A closed system breast pump is one that includes a barrier to prevent overflow milk from leaking into the pump system. This helps to keep the whole system hygienic. No system can be completely closed, as some air is needed to flow in and out for the vacuum action of the pump. But a closed system will come as close as possible.
I used this pump for both of my children, born 3 years apart. Despite originally seeking out a wearable option, I found the Spectra S1 to be the most effective pump to actually suction out enough milk in one pumping session and to do so without causing much discomfort. I love the varying suction levels offered.
The Harmony offers a great amount of comfort and ease for a manual pump. This is because of the ability to move the handle to the most comfortable position for each individual user and switch positions every time if needed.
Exclusively pumping was a lot more intense mentally and physically than I thought it would be. Being trapped to an outlet every 3 hours for about 20 minutes felt like torture even though I knew what I was doing was good for my baby.
I started researching wearable and portable breast pumps and came across the Elvie. Positive features that enticed me to purchase were the wearability, hands-free factor, the very quiet pump, and that it was pretty discreet underneath the right top. It was a bit awkward to wear the first few times while getting used to them.
Despite being a budget pick, this pump comes with eight suction levels along with three pumping styles (option to go cordless with batteries, plugged into the wall, or use a car power adapter). The adjustable suction options help with letdown, and the closed system keeps the pump hygienic.
If a baby is having trouble breastfeeding, a breast pump can sometimes help a parent increase or maintain their milk supply. Going back to work or any planned separations from a baby often also require the use of a breast pump.
When your baby is gaining weight and keeping a moderate weight, experts recommend waiting 6 weeks to use a breast pump to first establish a nursing routine. However, low birth weight, separation from your baby, and other factors may mean your medical team recommends you start pumping sooner (but never during pregnancy).
If you have a low milk supply, need to build up stores, or establish your milk supply, a hospital-grade breast pump is a good choice. If your baby spends time in the NICU or is born prematurely, your healthcare team may recommend one. In most cases, a double electric pump will fulfill pumping needs.
Manual pumps require a slightly different process. You will want to stimulate your breast by hand first and then center and press the pump to your breast before you start manually pumping the handle. Check out our full article on how to pump here.
Your breasts after breastfeeding and pumping may be different than before having your baby, but many people experience minimal long-term changes. Nipples may change in size and appearance while breastfeeding, and stretch marks may intensify.
What to Expect's Editorial Director Christine Mattheis tested five types of breast pumps during her seven-month breastfeeding journey with her daughter, Rose. She says that the Spectra S1 was by far her favorite. "The Spectra pumped milk extremely efficiently," she says. "In just 15 minutes, I could express up to 5 ounces per breast, while with other pumps I'd get maybe half that amount." Plus, she says, the Spectra was easy to use, fit comfortably and was easy to clean.
The pump weighs 3.3 pounds and has a handy little nightlight, so you can pump during those bleary midnight hours without turning on the lights and a screen that shows a digital stopwatch so you can see how long you've been pumping.
I have both the Medela Pump in Style Advanced and the Spectra. The Medela is fine, but the Spectra is more comfortable, easier to clean (closed system), gives you more control over the pump settings, is quieter and gives me more milk when I express."
This compact and lightweight pump features two pumping modes and multiple levels of suction. The pump itself is nice and sleek, too. The device, which fits in the palm of your hand, clearly displays the working mode and suction level.
Christine tried both the Medela Freestyle Flex and the Medela Pump In Style. She was able to express similar amounts of milk with each, even though the Freestyle Flex is smaller and somewhat less powerful. Plus, it made outings a breeze. "I exclusively breastfed for the first few months of my daughter's life, and the first time I finally went out for dinner without her, I was so worried about having to pump in public," she says. "But it was so easy with the Medela Freestyle Flex. It fit in my tote bag, and was easy to set up in the bathroom. After that first on-the-go pump, I started venturing out a lot more frequently, and always brought my Medela with me."
This manual pump is extremely affordable, plus small and lightweight, which makes it easy to pick up as a backup for times when you might need to relieve just a little bit of engorgement or if you only tend to pump a few ounces every once in a while.
Christine used the Lansinoh Manual pump occasionally. "It was most useful for me when my daughter started sleeping longer stretches at night, and I'd wake up engorged," she says. "I wanted my body to adjust my milk supply accordingly, so didn't want to do a full pump with my Spectra or Medela Freestyle Flex. So I would use the Lansinoh Manual for just a few minutes to relieve pressure. Lansinoh bottles were the only type my daughter would take, so using this pump was a no-brainer."
This pump has a corresponding app that controls the suction and keeps track of milk volume, pumping time and previous pumping sessions. You can change the settings with a tap on your phone or, as of January 2023, your Apple watch.
Keep in mind that although the Willow is much more discreet than a typical breast pump, you won't necessarily be able to go about your day without other people noticing that you're pumping. "The Willow is helpful if you want to, say, throw on a big sweatshirt and take a walk around the neighborhood while you're pumping," says Robin. "But it is larger and more noticeable than I was expecting, so I didn't feel comfortable wearing it in the workplace or in more public settings."
And while it's small, it's also mighty: This pump has 10 massage settings and another 10 for expression to make sure it will not only do the work, but also stay comfortable for you. Moms who pump in the middle of the night will also appreciate the easy-to-read LCD screen and the low-hum motor. The closed system makes keeping things sanitary nice and easy, too. The pump also comes with three breast shield sizes, a pumping bra and tons of other accessories.
What to Expect's Editorial Director of Special Projects, Robin Hilmantel, tested the latest version of the pump (featured here) herself. She loved the included timer on the unit, which made it easy to keep track of how long she'd been pumping, as well as the A-plus suction and portability. The only con "With the way the parts attach, it is a little finicky to get everything together to start pumping," she says.
Christine also found the Haakaa helpful for coping with a powerful letdown. "At the beginning of every feed, my daughter would cough and almost seem to be choking on my milk," she explains. "So I started using the Haakaa to stimulate my milk flow, and once I got past that initial tingly feeling of a letdown, I'd pop it off and have my daughter latch. Then I'd pop the Haakaa on the breast she wasn't feeding on and collect any milk that leaked."
Like our staff members, many What to Expect community members have found the Haakaa to be a pumping life-saver. In fact, several use it as their go-to breast pump: It was deemed the Best Manual Breast Pump in the 2022 Feeding Awards.
One of the many benefits of a wearable breast pump is that you can pump just about anywhere, but the gig is up if your pump makes a telltale whooshing noise. Luckily, the Elvie Pump is one of the quietest on the market.
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), passed in 2010, health insurers must cover the cost of a breast pump. The type of pump you qualify for will depend on your particular health insurance plan, as each plan has its own set of specific guidelines.
They recommend introducing a pumping session after one feeding each day when your breasts are still feeling full. (For lots of people, this is often the first morning feed.) Around this time, you can also start introducing your little one to a bottle.
Also note that the breast shield on the collection cup is fairly large, but the pump comes with a 25mm silicone insert to make it smaller if you need to size down and other size options available through Legendairy Milk.
Although advertised as quiet, we think the Baby Buddha is actually on the louder side as compared to other similar pumps. The suction is also pretty strong, which is perfect for some pumpers but not so great for others.
For another portable option that pumping parents report has gentler suction but still does a great job expressing milk, check out the Pumpables Genie Advanced Portable Breast Pump. It weighs about half a pound and can be used as a primary pump. 59ce067264