Choosing the ideal breast pump you can get your hands on can be a chore, especially if you’ve never had the ability to shop for one before. With the help of this guide, new and veteran mothers will have the ability to pick the perfect pump to use on a daily basis either in the comfort of their home or while they’re on the go.
Best Breast Pump Reviews
Comparison Chart
Breast Pump Breastfeeding Pump With Large LCD Screen, Double/Single Electric Breast Pump for Breast Milk Suction and Breast Massager
1. Spectra Baby S2 Plus
Breast pumps have come a long way since they were first designed and now there are more compact and easy to use models on the market such as the Spectra Baby S2 Plus. Designed by mothers for mothers, this unit is all-inclusive, offers plenty of customizable features, and helps to make pumping easier than it has ever been before.
Product Highlights
When you’re searching for the ideal breast pump, it’s important to take a look at the highlights of each unit. When it comes to the Spectra Baby S2 Plus, some of its best features include:
Closed system pumping
Instead of having to worry about cleaning all of the tubing in your pump, the closed system in the Spectra Baby S2 Plus helps to prevent mold, bacteria, and mildew from entering the milk once it is pumped from your breasts. The closed system stops airflow between the milk and the tubing as it is being pumped, giving your baby the cleanest food possible.
Fully customizable settings
Not every mother is built the same and as such, the Spectra Baby S2 Plus comes with customizable settings based on your comfort level and the amount of milk you’re producing.
BPA- and DEHP-free materials
To better protect your baby from harmful chemicals and byproducts, all parts of the Spectra Baby S2 Plus are constructed using BPA and DEHP free materials.
What’s to like about the Spectra Baby S2 Plus
There are plenty of phenomenal benefits to using the Spectra Baby S2 Plus, including:
Encourages double pumping
Instead of focusing on one breast at a time which can easily make it much more difficult to pump all of your milk, the Spectra Baby S2 Plus comes with all of the accessories you need to double pump including two tubes, two breast shields, two valves, and two bottles.
Natural feeling pump
In comparison to other breast pumps that have the tendency to pull and tug on your breasts, the Spectra Baby S2 Plus offers a gentle suckling motion which is quite similar to the natural feeling of feeding your baby directly from your breast.
Quiet and night time settings
You’ll love the fact that the Spectra Baby S2 Plus is incredibly quiet, making it easy to pump in the nursery as your baby is asleep at night or while they’re napping during the day. The pump also comes with a great nighttime setting that has a night light instead of having to turn the lights on in the room.
What’s not to like about the Spectra Baby S2 Plus
There are a couple of concerns to have with the Spectra Baby S2 Plus, such as:
Doesn’t use batteries
If you’re intending on pumping on the go, you’re going to need to either invest in a car adapter or own a vehicle with an outlet, as this particular pump does not take batteries.
Tubing stretches easily
While using the Spectra Baby S2 Plus you have to be particularly careful with the tubing as it can easily stretch from mishandling and it will not return to its original shape, forcing you to have to hold the tubing in place while pumping.
Dual pump suction isn’t as strong
Unfortunately, for mothers who want to use this pump on the dual-pumping setting, the suction isn’t as strong as it is on the single pump setting.
PROS
- Small and compact
- Soft and gentle pumping
- Helps to stimulate milk flow
CONS
- Doesn’t use batteries
- Tubing can be stretched
- Dual pumping suction isn’t strong
2. Elfinbaby Breast Pump
The Elfinbaby Breast Pump is a strong competitor when it comes to finding the ideal device to stimulate your milk flow in an effort to feed your baby. It comes in a small and compact design that is easy to bring with you absolutely anywhere and it has quite a few features that expecting mothers will find to be interesting and useful.
Product Highlights
There are quite a few great features included in the Elfinbaby Breast Pump, such as:
Adjustable settings
Similar to the previous model on this list, the Elfinbaby Breast Pump also offers adjustable settings to help make it easier to stimulate milk and pump enough for your baby to enjoy. With the combination of its massage and express phase pumping options, there are nine different settings to choose from.
LCD screen
With the help of the LCD screen you’ll be able to keep track of the level of pumping you’re using, how long you’ve been pumping for, and other important metrics to help you get the most out of your pumping experience.
Anti-back flow pumping
In an effort to prevent your baby’s milk from being contaminated due to back flow, this unit offers an anti-back flow design to give your baby the cleanest and healthiest milk possible.
Massaging breast cushions
To help stimulate even more milk, be sure to use the massaging breast cushions which mimic the feeling of your baby’s mouth.
What’s to like about the Elfinbaby Breast Pump
With so many great features to choose from, there’s undoubtedly a variety of advantages you’ll experience from using the Elfinbaby Breast Pump.
Phenomenal night settings
If you’re the type of mom that prefers to pump while your baby is asleep, you’ll love the night settings that give you the perfect amount of light to pump effectively without waking up your baby.
Extremely comfortable breast cups
For mothers who are concerned about sensitive nipples or breasts while pumping, you can be assured that the Elfinbaby Breast Pump cups are incredibly soft and gentle.
Easy to wash
Above all else, you’ll spend far less time cleaning this breast pump than you would spend on other pumps. As it is designed with a closed system, it prevents having to clean the pump as thoroughly as you would with other brands.
What’s not to like about the Elfinbaby Breast Pump
Faulty seals
The most frustrating issue with the Elfinbaby Breast Pump is that the seals have the tendency not to fit the lids properly on the bottles and the pump itself. You have to be extremely careful when tipping the bottles or pump as your milk could spill everywhere.
Short pumping tubes
If there’s one thing that should be changed about the Elfinbaby Breast Pump it’s how short the tubes are that connect to the pumps. You’ll have to keep yourself from moving around while pumping, forcing you to have to stay stationary until you’re done.
PROS
- Easy to use
- Night time lighting settings
- Low noise operation
CONS
- Faulty seals and lids
- Short tubes
- Not easy to use while multitasking
3. Haakaa Manual Breast Pump
If you’re the type of mom who is more interested in manual devices rather than automatic ones, the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump may be exactly what you’ve been looking for. Instead of having to fool around with mechanical settings, a manual pump gives you the freedom of pumping absolutely anywhere with ease.
Product Highlights
Some of the most interesting highlights of the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump include:
BPA, PVC, and phthalate free
In order to make sure your baby has access to the cleanest and healthiest milk possible, the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump is entirely free of any harmful chemicals or byproducts.
Manual pumping
In comparison to automatic models, the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump gives you the ability to manually get milk out of your breast. This can be a far more moving experience for first-time mothers who have always relied on automatic machines to do the work for them.
Lightweight and compact
The main purpose of this breast pump is to make it easier to travel and feed your baby at the same time. Due to its lightweight and small size, you can easily throw the pump into your purse and get milk at any given time.
What’s to like about the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump
A couple of great features of the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump include:
Helps to build a supply
If you’ve always overproduced milk, this could be the ideal tool to have at your disposal as you can easily use it to build a supply of milk that you can freeze.
Sturdy design
Instead of having to worry about a manual pump that is going to fall apart after a few uses, you’ll be glad to know that the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump is incredibly sturdy and easy to use. Its gentle suction helps to produce more milk than you might have originally thought and in a far more comfortable way.
What’s not to like about the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump
There are a few issues with the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump to think about, such as:
Doesn’t come with a lid
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use this manual pump to store your milk as well as it does not come with a lid. However, you can purchase a lid separately but it may be better to store your milk in separate bottles while you’re on the go.
Measurements are off
Another large issue with the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump is the fact that its measurements are quite inaccurate and this may be a large concern for mothers who closely monitor how much their babies are eating.
Collects pet hair
If you’re in a home with pets, you can guarantee that this breast pump will cling to absolutely any type of pet hair in your home, forcing you to continually sterilize the bottle so it’s always ready to use.
PROS
- Soft and gentle pumping
- Helps with passive pumping
- Easy to carry on trips
CONS
- Collects dust and hair
- Inaccurate measurements
- Does not come with a lid
Buyer’s Guide
There are hundreds of different breast pumps on the market that you can choose from, but if you’re a first-time mother trying to find the right one might seem impossible. Even with guidance from friends and family members, you’re going to need to find a design that works for you and your baby. With that being said, be sure to pay close attention to these features in order to get the best pump you can find.
Features
If there’s one thing that you should look for when you’re buying necessary baby items it’s a pump with plenty of features designed to make it easier to extract milk and to get a lot of milk to keep your baby full. As a first-time mom, you might not know what a breast pump should come with, and although there are brands with a bunch of extra features that you might not need, these are essential features to look out for.
Dual pumping capabilities
Above all else, you should always find a breast pump that gives you the ability to work two of your breasts at once. This helps to produce the most amount of milk in a single sitting and helps to alleviate breast discomfort. Ideally, your pump should come with two of everything including bottles, breast shields, back flow protectors, tubes, and multiple flanges.
Adjustable pumping functions
Every person is made different and as such, you’re going to want to make sure that you choose a breast pump that you can customize for optimal comfort. Ideally, you’ll want to be able to choose from different pumping functions to help alleviate any discomfort as a result of engorged breasts.
Night pumping mode
Another great feature that you should look for is a night pumping mode. This helps you to pump while your baby is asleep, giving you access to a low night light that is still bright enough to help you maneuver the pump without disturbing your baby.
Color
Choosing the color of your breast pump is entirely up to you but the best way to choose an ideal color is to think of what your nursery and your diaper bag look like. Remember, you’ll most likely either have your pump displayed in your nursery or you’ll be pulling out of a diaper bag during the day so choosing a color that compliments both can be great. It’s also important to choose a color that is different from any other mothers that you’re frequently around as you won’t want to have your pumps mixed up.
Set Includes
There are a few essential components that your desired breast pump should have, including:
Breast shields
In order to make sure that pumping is the most comfortable experience possible, your chosen pump should also come with breast shields that are not only soft to the touch but also able to create a custom fit to your breasts. You’re going to want a material that emulates the feel of your baby’s mouth versus hard plastic.
Bottles
To make pumping even easier without having to buy additional accessories, your pump should come with bottles that fit perfectly to the flanges so you don’t have to worry about spills or leaks. This way, you don’t have to transfer your milk from one container to another, which helps to preserve the purity of the milk for the health of your baby.
Long tubes
If you’re the type of mom who likes to multitask, having long tubes attached to your pump can give you the freedom you need to move around without the worry of breast shields falling off or tubes detaching from the pump itself.
Type
When you first start looking into breast pumps, you’ll find that there are three main types to choose from such as, electric personal use, hospital grade, and manual. Each has their own benefits based on your lifestyle and your expectations of pumping milk.
Electric personal use
Ideal for moms who have to pump more than once a day, electric personal use models are great if you’re unable to nurse naturally. They are recommended for moms who have to spend some time away from their babies, such as if they’re returning to work. The majority of these models come with adjustable suction levels, different cycling times, and allow you to pump both breasts at once.
Hospital grade
If you’ve been noticing that you’re experiencing issues with producing milk, you’re not alone, and there are plenty of devices specifically designed for you such as hospital grade breast pumps. These models have a special cycle known as “suck and release” that helps to draw milk out of your breasts similar to how a baby would which helps to encourage your body to produce more milk. However, these models are much more expensive than electric personal use ones but are essential for women who can’t naturally breastfeed.
Manual
For moms who are constantly on the go but spend limited amounts of time away from their babies, manual pumps can be a great tool to have. In comparison to electric models, with a manual pump, you’ll be responsible for massaging your breasts to encourage the production of milk. Ideally, the women that are best suited for manual pumps are those who only need a little amount of milk for a short period of time and they are incredibly useful to carry around as they typically weigh less than two pounds.
Power
Power is an important feature to look out for in breast pumps, especially if you’re someone who has been dealing with the difficulty of engorged and sensitive breasts. The more power a device has, the more likely it is to draw milk out of your breasts, however, the repetitive suction can become uncomfortable after a long period of time. Your best bet is to find a device that emulates the same pattern as your baby, gently helping milk be released without consistent pressure.
Material
The vast majority of breast pumps are made out of the same materials, but if there’s one thing to look out for it is synthetic chemicals. In the past, plastics were hazardous to the health of your baby but today, you can easily find pumps that are BPA free, helping to create healthier and more enjoyable milk for your baby.
In terms of material, you’re also going to want to find a plastic that is easy to sanitize and keep clean to ensure that your milk stays as pure as possible. The last thing you’ll want is a pump with accessories that cannot be exposed to high levels of heat for fear of melting, as you’ll never truly sanitize them appropriately.
Best Breast Pump FAQs
What happens to your breasts after breast feeding?
There’s always a time when parents decide that it’s time to stop breastfeeding, which leads them to ask, what happens to my breasts after breastfeeding is finished? You certainly won’t lose your bond with your child but your breasts will change in a few ways, such as going through phagocytosis.
Phagocytosis happens when there are dead and dying cells and your body removes them by absorbing them, or “eating” them. When you stop breastfeeding, your epithelial cells will start to break down and die, becoming absorbed by your body.
One thing that certainly doesn’t happen to breasts after you stop breastfeeding is sagging; in fact, there’s no evidence to support that breastfeeding contributes to sagging, it’s pregnancy that causes your breasts to droop.
What is a hospital-grade breast pump?
As mentioned, hospital grade breast pumps are a phenomenal device of choice for women who are unable to produce a sufficient amount of milk on their own. They operate similarly to traditional electric pumps; however, they are a little more intense as they encourage the production of milk in women who are having difficulties. With a very specific suction pattern similar to your baby’s mouth, they are designed to encourage easier pumping sessions.
What to look for in a breast pump?
Looking for a breast pump can be a chore, especially if you don’t know what to look for. However, there are a few essential things that you should make sure your chosen pump has, such as dual pumping capabilities, night pumping features, a gentle suction pattern, customizable suction settings, and additional accessories that you might need (bottles, extra tubes, carrying case, etc.).
What type of breasts do I have?
Knowing the type of breasts you have can help you to choose the right pump, especially when it comes to breast shields. You’re going to want to make sure that you choose the ideal model that can create a tailored fit to your specific breast type.
Asymmetrical
One breast is larger than the other and differences in size may be relatively unnoticeable or quite noticeable.
Bell
Heavier breasts that are thinner at the top but heavier at the bottom.
East/West
Breasts that have a slope in them to where nipples may point in opposite directions.
Side Set
Women who have a sufficient gap in between both of their breasts.
Round
Breasts that are equal in fullness and may resemble surgically enhanced breasts.
What to do with breast pump when done?
After you’ve finished pumping, the first thing you’re going to need to do is sufficiently sanitize the pump to prepare it for your next session. Depending on the model you choose, you may either have to hand wash it or you can throw it into a sanitizer which helps to get rid of germs with steam.
If you are ending your breastfeeding journey until you have another child, there are plenty of things that you can do with your pump but the best idea is to safely keep it in the event that you decide to have another child. Ensure that you properly sanitize and package the pump, and store it in a dry and cool place so it will be ready to use in the future. If you’ve finished having children, there’s no reason as to why you can’t donate it to a women’s shelter or lend it to a friend or family member.
Conclusion
Now that it’s time to choose the ideal breast pump for everyday use, you’re going to want to take the Elfinbaby Breast Pump into consideration. There are plenty of reasons as to why every mother should get their hands on this unit ranging from the fact that it offers the perfect amount of suction to its great nighttime pumping features.
Ideal suction
Even if you have particularly sensitive breasts and nipples, the Elfinbaby Breast Pump is easy to use, gentle, and soft, similar to the feeling of a manual breast pump but with more effective suction.
Nighttime settings
With the help of the low night light and backlit LCD display, you’ll find that pumping while your baby is asleep has never been easier.
Low-noise operation
Another great stealthy feature of this pump is that it barely makes any noise while you’re using it, which is ideal for mothers who want to discreetly pump throughout the day. As it’s lightweight and relatively portable, especially when compared to other breast pumps on the market, you’ll absolutely fall in love with how great it works.
At the end of the day, choosing the right breast pump is all based on your personal preferences, however, with the help of this guide, choosing the ideal one is easier than ever before.
No matter if you’re a first-time mother or if it’s your fourth time around, having the best equipment can help make raising and nourishing your child far simpler than you imagined.