Breastfeeding your child is one of the best practices you can resort to as a new mom. The colostrum (very first breast milk ) and the ensuing naturally secreted breast milk is nature’s way of ensuring the nutrition of your child. Breast milk contains various essential elements like antibodies and nutrients which will keep your child healthy and protected. But, if you do not have an adequate milk supply from your breast, a breast pump can be of immense help.
Breastfeeding is very important for the primary immunity of a child and hence you must not ever think to skip breastfeeding. It is difficult to get one pump that suits all. Some would be best breast pumps for twin moms while some could be best breast pumps for large breasts.
Choosing the right breast pump is indeed a challenge but you must always prioritize comfort when doing so. Many people also have specific brand preferences when it comes to choosing the correct breast pump for themselves. One cannot generalize any situation for the particular use of breast pumps. Everyone’s situation is unique and you must always listen to your needs. Mostly working mothers prefer to use breast pumps if they have to step out for work just after delivery and yet prefer to continue breastfeeding. The breast pump is also a necessity if you are not experiencing enough flow.
Top 10 Best Breast Pumps
Here is the list of the top 10 breast pumps which are suitable for use. Each of these is unique in its way. So, let us check them out
- Best Overall: Spectra S1 Plus Electric Breast Pump
- Best Budget Pick: Haakaa Manual Breast Pump
- Best Premium: Medela Pump in Style Advanced On-The-Go Tote
- Lansinoh Signature Pro Double Electric Breast Pump
- Philips Avent Manual Breast Pump
- Willow Wearable Breast Pump
- Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump
- Bella Baby Double Electric Breast Pump
- Medela Freestyle Flex
- Evenflo Deluxe Advanced
Given below is the ultimate review for the best breast pumps:
#1. Spectra S1 Plus Electric Breast Pump
This is a closed system breast pump. The greatest benefit of this breast pump is its versatility to be used both as a single and a double pump. The pump is quite robust and highly adjustable. The vacuum pump of this particular one is super efficient and adjustable. Spectra S1 Electric breast pump is lightweight and easy to carry. You can run it via a battery or a cord. Another amazing feature of this breast pump is the light and timer associated with it. For night pumping sessions, this breast pump is a great option. In the beginning, you might find things a bit difficult and have to be a little careful to prevent the backflow and unnecessary moistening of the tube.
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- Adjustable
- Comes with a timer and a two-level night light system
- Runs on both battery and cord
- Can be used either as a double or single pump
Cons
- Possibility of backflow
- The bottle can be inconvenient for a lot of babies
#2. Haakaa Silicone Manual Breast Pump
This is a manual pump and for those, others who are comfortable with the manual breast pumping technique, there is no option better than this one. It is portable and most importantly this is a true budget pick. You get amazing features at an affordable cost.
The best time to use it is when your child is feeding on one breast. During this time there will be an automatic flow in the other breast and you can manually express it out while using the Haakaa manual breast pump. It is better for those who use the breast pump occasionally for expelling and storing a moderate amount of breastmilk.
Pros
- The storage bottle is made of superior quality silicone
- Portable
- The Ultimate budget pick
- Helps in the storage of a small amount of milk at a time that could relive mothers of the painful breast engorgement
- Convenient for storing breast milk
Cons
- The shape is not spill proof
- Requires more manual labor than electric breast pumps
#3. Medela Pump in Style Advanced On-The-Go Tote
The Medela Pump On-The-Go-Tote is a stylish breast pump that comes in the form of a tote. You can just grab the tote and you are ready to go. The breast pump is very efficient and helps in the easy suction of milk. You can use the Medela Pump for a speedy suction and hence it is a great option for busy working moms. It is a closed system breast pump and ensures hygiene better than the open system. It makes noise while operating. The tote is easy to carry since it is lightweight. This is one of the best breast pumps for travel.
Pros
- Extremely efficient suction
- Very quick in option and a great choice for speedy sessions
- Lightweight and portable
- Stylish look
- A closed system hence prevents spillage
Cons
- The level of suction cannot be controlled precisely
- Makes some noise
#4. Lansinoh Signature Pro Double Electric Breast Pump
This one is a hospital grade double electric breast pump. So, that is a whole load of features into one single product. Firstly it is hospital-grade and is super efficient for strong sucking sessions. Secondly. It can run both on batteries and the cord, hence quite versatile. The breast pump is lightweight and portable with easy access and simple operation. It is a closed system breast pump that keeps it hygienic. It supports three pumping styles and the suction function is highly adjustable.
Pros
- Closed system hygienic breast pump
- Great control over the suction system
- Lightweight and portable
- Cost-effective
- Comes with a backlit LCD screen
Cons
- Makes sound while operating
- Runs better on batteries than on a cord
#5. Philips Avent Manual Breast Pump
If you are in search of a manual breast pump that will offer you premium comfort. Go for this one. You can express milk manually with this pump even while reclining. The silicone layer of the pump makes it hygienic and comfortable. It is super affordable and a great option for first time breast pump users. The parts are not long-lasting and demand frequent replacement.
Pros
- Extremely comfortable
- Very hygienic
- Parts can be easily disassembled and cleaned thoroughly
- The silicone layer gives it an upper hand over the plastic breast pumps
- Comes from one of the best flagships – Philips
Cons
- Works very loudly
- The handle doesn’t have the swivel mechanism with an unadjustable grip hence the operation could be laborious and tiring.
#6. Willow Wearable Breast Pump
For the moms who are super frustrated already with any and every kind of breast pump, let this one save your fortune. Simply wear it under your bra – no fuss, no labor, the simple and easiest way of expressing breast milk. If you have to work and move a lot and do not have the time to sit at a place to express milk, try this Willow Wearable Breast Pump. However, there is a trade-off, since it is a hands-free operation, setting this up can be complex and cumbersome. These are the best breast pumps for working moms.
Pros
- Great for working moms
- Perfect for mothers who need to use breast pump publicly
- Minimal milk leakage
- Hands-free operation
- Not at all fussy
Cons
- Complex to set up and begin using
- Small storage bags
#7. Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump
Are you tired of using manual breast pumps that offer horrible handles and swivels? If yes, then try this one because the handle and swivel of this manual breast pump is a distinguishing part of the pump and gives ultimate comfort of operation to the moms. This is one of the most versatile and easy to use breast pumps. You can use it while being in multiple positions. There is no mess of cleaning the motor or tube because it doesn’t have any. You could easily assemble, disassemble and clean the parts. This is quite affordable and portable at the same time.
Pros
- Comfortable and easy to use
- Mess-free cleaning
- Affordable
- Portable
- The great extent of control
Cons
- Suction power becomes diminished after some time
- Not suitable for extensive use
#8. Bella Baby Double Electric Breast Pump
A tech-savvy breast pump equipped with a highly functional HD Touches Sensitive display screen which will inform you about all the details of your current lactating session. For moms who want to relax and control their lactation with a one-touch operation, this is a great choice. It is a closed system breast pump that maintains hygiene. It is an electric pump but offers strong suction even at low battery power. It is portable and is one of the best breast pumps for twin moms.
Pros
- Portable
- Strong and durable
- Easy to operate
- Affordable
- One-touch operation
Cons
- Makes noise
- Not very compact
#9. Medela Freestyle Flex
This is a lightweight, easily portable, and compact breast pump. It is perfect for moms who keep on moving and have a lot of work to do. The digital display and timer options make it super convenient to use. The Medela Freestyle Flex is highly compatible with nursing bras to make things convenient for you. There is a memory function to remind you of the lactation schedule.
Pros
- Compact
- Easy to use
- Hands-free operation
- Portable
- Comes with a digital display and multiple control options
Cons
- The motor is weak and cannot run on a low battery
- Very loud operation
#10. Evenflo Deluxe Advanced
This one is a highly customizable breast pump. You get plenty of options to select the suction and speed of operation. The breast pump comes with three original flanges. It is a closed system breast pump ensuring hygiene. The design is quite ergonomic with angled flanges eliminating the need to lean while pumping the milk. It is a double electric and lightweight breast pump. The ergonomic design makes it the best breast pump for large breasts.
Pros
- Affordable
- Portable
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
- Ergonomic
- Versatile
Cons
- Not compatible with standard Nursing bras
Breast Pumps- Best Brands
- Medela
- Spectra
- Haakaa
All three brands manufacture efficient breast pumps. There are numerous varieties of breast pumps from each brand with particular specifications associated with respective models. You can choose the one that best suits your needs. Affordable breast pumps from these brands are one of the best investments that any new mother could make.
Reasons to Have a Breast Pump
Here are the top 4 reasons why you should invest in a breast pump:-
- If you always want to ensure a ready supply of expressed milk.
- If you have to stay away from the baby for a long time and want to feed your baby with breast milk.
- If you have some problem with physically feeding your baby. You are suffering from severe nipple engorgement or you are physically ill. Under these circumstances, a breast pump is of particular help.
- If you have an intrinsic problem of low milk supply and have to initiate milk supply for adequately feeding your newborn baby.
Types of Breast Pumps
For the new mothers who do not have any prior idea regarding breast pumps, here is a glance into the types of breast pumps:-
Hospital Grade Breast Pumps
These are the strongest types of breast pumps. They have heavy-duty motors and are extremely efficient. It offers a substantially high suck per minute quotient. This type of breast pump is bulky in all respects. They are expensive but are worth their price. They can suck out milk quite efficiently and quickly and are better for heavy-duty use. They are not portable.
Wearable Breast Pumps
This is the ultimate portable and easy-to-use type of breast pump. You can wear them under your bra and they are super convenient to use. The form of the breast pump is like a cup and it will directly fit over your breast without any hassles. You can pump out milk practically anywhere and it offers a completely hands-free operation. This type of breast pump is very much in trend as it is completely relevant for the modern lifestyle of moms.
Electric Breast Pumps
This one runs on electricity. Electric breast pumps are also portable and easy to use. Some of the electrical breast pumps are being modified to run on rechargeable batteries. So you can pump without tethering to any outlet. The operation is not at all cumbersome. Electric breast pumps usually come equipped with a cooler and storage. It is of two types – single pumps and double pumps.
Manual Breast Pumps
This is not a very popular type though it is the first type of breast pump in the line of evolution. In this type, you need to pump the milk out by pressing manually with your hand. These look like a bottle. They are not at all convenient if you are in a hurry or you need to use them daily. They are good for occasional use. There are usually two types of a manual breast pump – the one you need to operate with one hand and the other needs to be operated with one hand.
Components of a Breast Pump
Before you know about the best breast pumps, let us have a look at the components of a breast pump. A breast pump is usually made of 3 components. The first component is called a flange or a beast shield. It is the part that covers your breast by acting as a cup. There are various sizes of flanges available and many models come in multiple sizes for the user to have a customized experience. The second component is a bag or a collector in which the milk gets filled. This is the storage component. You can choose the variety which has the storage capacity according to your need. The third component is the driving force that is either a motor or electricity. However, the third component is absent for the manual breast pumps.
Operating System of the Breast Pump
Closed System of Breast Pumps
The closed system breast pumps have got special appendages that will restrict the overflow of milk from peaking inside the pump system by a physical barrier. So, there is zero fuss and the breast pump remains clean and hygienic. There has to be airflow in any breast pump for imitating the vacuum environment that shall facilitate milk flow but a closed system breast pump keeps the airflow as minimum as possible.
Open System of Breast Pumps
Open system breast pumps do not have this barrier and there is a possibility of milk spillage. Thus, this system of breast pumps may not seem to be very hygienic and in a true sense is a bit convenient. There will be super mess and fuss if the milk leaks into the pump system.
Do many people still have a confusion about what is the correct time for them to use a breast pump?
Doctors suggest starting breast pumping after a month or four weeks after the baby is born. You can use a breast pump right after your child is born if you are having difficulty in feeding the baby or the baby has been kept in a neonatal intensive care unit.
Usually, in the beginning, doctors suggest alternating the pumping session with a normal breastfeeding session to let the things be more adaptable both for the mother and the child. Pediatrics from across the world suggest that you can practically use a breast pump all across the breastfeeding tenure that is still six months until your little one becomes adapted to eating solid food. But things can vary according to the mother’s lifestyle, the comfort of the baby, and of course based on personal preferences.
Buying Guide – Features to Look for While Buying Breast Pump
With a huge variety of breast pumps flooding the market, it is indeed challenging to choose the one perfect for you. Here the key factors that you should consider while buying yourself a breast pump:-
Manual or Electric?
The manual ones are cheaper and are best for occasional use. If you are in a hurry or a mess as most new mothers always are, this can be a cumbersome princess for expressing the milk out. You have to constantly create a vacuum for the milk to flow in the bottle.
Electric breast pumps are more expensive than manual ones but they are easy to handle, portable, and are the call of the hour for new mothers. You do not have to do any manual pressing, the electrically driven motor does the sucking for you. The electric breast pumps also imitate the natural sucking motion of the kid to initiate the reflex.
Single or Double – Which is the Best Option for Me?
Double breast pumps draw out milk simultaneously from both of your boobs whereas the single one from one boob at a time. It depends on your personal choice which one you are more comfortable with. Busy mothers prefer to go for the double breast pump because it draws out milk more quickly and efficiently. However, if you have leisure time and prefer not to make both your breasts work tediously at a time, you can go for the single pump.
You need to keep one very important thing in mind while using a breast pump. The best breast pump for you depends a lot on how comfortable you are when you are using it during your lactation journey. A breast pump is an artificial device and not natural at all. You simply cannot expect that things will turn out to be natural and convenient. In the beginning, you are bound to face problems, you will feel uncomfortable and irritated. But slowly things will fall into place.
Hand-Free Operation
It is better to go for the breast pumps which come with the hand-free operation mode. These are super easy to use, extremely convenient and are not at all cumbersome. You can keep your hands free and do any other work while the device pumps out milk. They also work faster so it is a great alternative for working mothers.
Other secondary factors to look for while buying a breast pump are:-
- Cost
- Sound while operation
- Light weightedness and portability of the pump
Conclusion
With too many options and the negative side of each pump, do not be taken away by the myth that there is no breast pump perfect for you. There is always something that suits you the best. All you have to do is scrounge a bit. While purchasing a breast pump, keep in mind to pay priority to the factor that is most important for you. It could be portability for some moms, for some it could be the budget, for many it could be the swiftness of action. But do not forget to look for the versatility of the device. Remember that pumping breast milk does not obey any law of time. So, go for the one which allows decent operation in almost every situation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: My baby is facing difficulty in sucking milk directly from my breast. What should I do?
A: It is nothing abnormal. Many babies face a severe problem because they cannot initiate suckling. Hence, they cannot suckle the milk and often remain hungry. If this is the case, as a mother you need to quickly identify the problem and start using a hospital; grade breast pump. Initially, it might be a little inconvenient but the scenario will change over time.
Q: I am facing difficulty to initiate the milk supply. What can I do?
A: Babies often have latching difficulties and hence the suckling reflex does not get initiated. So the mother’s body fails to initiate an uninterrupted milk supply. You can use a breast pump to help yourself initiate lactation because the suckling effect of the breast pumps usually initiate the natural suckling reflex of the baby. If conditions do not improve, consult a lactation specialist.
Q: Generally, I breastfeed my baby naturally but for times of need and exceptional occasions can I use a breast pump?
A: Yes. You can. If you have already established the habit of breastfeeding and want to shift to the occasional use of breast pumps, a single electric breast pump or a manual breast pump can be a good choice for you. The breast milk will be stored and anyone else can give the stored milk to your child while you are out for work.
Q: I am planning to join the office right after postpartum. Will a breast pump be a good choice?
A: Yes. It will be a good option if you want to use a breast pump. If you want your kid to adapt to expressed milk right from the beginning, choose an electric double breast pump. It will serve your purpose well.
Q: I am tired of cumbersome manual breast pumps? What can I use instead?
A: Manual breast pumps can be super cumbersome to use and indeed very irritating. If you are pained by using a manual breast pump, resort to a wearable breast pump. You can easily fit it inside your bra and it is super easy and convenient to use Wearable breast pumps that work in hands-free operation mode.
