Breast-feeding takes work and dedication to make it work, but there are many products that can help to make the experience a more pleasant one for bonding with your baby. Even exclusively nursing mothers can benefit from a breast pump at some point. These allow you to express milk to give to your baby in a bottle. There are several different kinds to choose from, but having a poor quality pump could hinder your supply if you’re not exclusively breast-feeding. Different pumps vary greatly in price range. Many insurance providers do cover the cost of a pump so be sure to check with your health insurance carrier. We’ll take a look at the most popular breast pump choices that moms preferred to help make breast-feeding work.
Reasons A Mother May Choose To Pump
While exclusively breast-feeding is ideal, some mothers are not able to. There are many different reasons a mother may choose to pump. These are just a few common reasons:
- Returning to work
- Difficulty getting baby to latch-on
- To let others share in feeding the baby
- Provide milk when mom can’t always be around to nurse
Hospital Grade Pumps
A hospital grade pump is the next best thing to nursing. These pumps are designed to have a stronger vacuum/suction force similar to baby’s suckling actions while nursing to effectively express milk. Many mothers are given the option of using one in the hospital for their babies for a number of reasons. These pumps are the most expensive breast pump choices. The hospital where you had your baby will most likely offer a breast pump to rent for at-home use; however if you consider pumping over the course of 12 months that can really add up. Here are some popular choices for pumping at home.
Ameda Elite Electric Breast Pump
4.8 out of 5 stars
This pump is actually the only one that protects expressed breast milk from bacteria. The hospital grade pump is designed for use by multiple users, so the collection kit (which is sold separately) is designed to prevent milk from backing up in the tubing and the motor. This pump features a piston-driven microprocessor technology to provide effective performance that allows the user to control the level of suction and speed per their comfort level. See the reviews
Spectra Baby USA S2 Hospital Grade Double/Single Pump
4.8 out of 5 stars
The Spectra breast pump features all the qualities a hospital grade pump should have including powerful, yet comfortable performance and a closed system for hygienic purposes. It also has additional benefits like a built-in night light and timer with a super quiet motor that makes pumping easy and stress-free around a sleeping baby. It uses a 2-phase technology that mimics baby’s nursing pattern and adjustable controls for the user’s comfort. The pump can also be used in single or double mode. See the reviews
Medela Symphony Breast Pump
4.6 out of 5 stars
Medela is a leading brand in breast-feeding products. Their Symphony pump is designed with the top quality performance you can expect from a hospital grade pump. It’s easy to use with a one-knob control. The double electric breast pump features a quiet operation yet effectively withdraws the equivalent amount of milk as baby in half the time. It features a dual-phase technology that stimulates let-down reflex and expression mode. All parts are BPA-free. See the reviews
Double Electric Breast Pumps
Personal electric breast pumps provide similar benefits of the larger hospital-grade models but are more affordable. These pumps are still very effective for expressing milk and aid in maintaining an adequate supply. Double electric pumps are ideal for those who plan to pump on a daily basis for better efficiency.
Medela Pump In Style Advanced Breast Pump
4.2 out of 5 stars
This is one of the best selling double electric breast pump brands of mothers and even celebrities. Like all of Medela’s pump models, the Pump-in-Style Advanced features the dual-phase technology that stimulates let-down and converts into an expression mode as a baby does while nursing. It comes in a convenient tote for carrying with all the accessories and also comes with a battery pack for pumping on the go. All the parts are BPA free and includes a freezer pack to keep expressed milk cold. See the reviews
Spectra 9 Advanced Double Electric Breast Pump
4.3 out of 5 stars
This is one of the smallest design double electric pumps I have seen which offers compact convenience for breast-feeding moms on the go. The pump features an LCD screen to see your control adjustments for vacuum/suction and cycle speed. It includes a rechargeable battery that is built-in and a carrying case making it an ideal portable pump for frequent trips. See the reviews
Philips Avent Double Electric Comfort Breast Pump
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Philips Avent pump features unique comfort breast shields that minimizes mom having to lean over while pumping for better expressing. It offers 3 different levels of expression modes for mom’s preference. The pump includes the Philips Avent Natural bottles which you pump directly into and the natural shape nipples so you can feed expressed milk to baby instantly after pumping. See reviews
Manual Breast Pumps
Single and manual breast pumps are the most economical choice in pumps. They take longer as they are designed to pump one breast at a time. These would be ideal for those who only need to pump occasionally or on one side in cases where baby only nursed on one side or to relieve clogged ducts.
Philips Avent Manual Comfort Breast Pump
4.2 out of 5 stars
Featuring the same comfort shields as their double electric, the Philips Avent manual pump offers more comfort while pumping with a design to minimize leaning forward. The unique comfort cushion is designed to massage the breast while pumping to stimulate the let-down reflex for more milk. The ergonomic handle offers more comfort while pumping manually and is very user-friendly. See the reviews
Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump
4.0 out of 5 stars
Medela has two single pumps, the Swing and Harmony. The Harmony is the manual version and actually tops the single electric pump as for best selling. It features a SoftFit Shield that helps to massage the breast for stimulating let-down while manually pumping. You control the rate of the vacuum/suction with the ergonomically shaped swivel handle designed for better flexibility. It can be used with the included expression bottles or fits most standard baby bottles and Medela freezer bags for less parts to wash. It’s also very reasonably priced. See reviews
Ameda One Hand Breast Pump
3.9 out of 5 stars
This manual pump is by far one of the most compact designs in breast pumps. You can simply fit it in the diaper bag with the included expression bottle or any standard baby bottle to pump directly into. The one-handed design of the pump allows you to control the rate of vacuum/suction for efficient pumping while being able to multitask at the same time. A simple design makes it very user-friendly and easy to clean. See the reviews
If you’re looking for a pump that suits your needs check out any of these breast pump choices. Also be sure to check out my breast pump review to see how I weighed in on different types of pumps that I’ve tried. A decent pump can help make breast feeding work to provide you baby with long-term nutrition.
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