Best Breast Pump (A Complete Review)

In this article we will look into the best breast pumps there is available for soon to be mothers and mothers like.

Finding the best breast pump for the expecting momma’s out there can be very confusing, and exciting as there are many choices out there. Let’s check out the recommendations of the expert moms who’ve probably tried them all.

Best Breast Pump

The overall best breast pump to date is the Medela Pump in Style Advanced, winner of 2020 What To Expect Award. So far, this is the most reasonably-priced automatic breast pump, and it made number one for a variety of good reasons. This double electric pump is designed to mimic the baby’s natural sucking motion, which is as taboo as it sounds.

According to Medela research, babies sucking motion are of two steps. First is the stimulation, which is the faster sucking process to let the milk flow, and the second part is the expression part when the milk is already flowing and the baby is kind of just drinking leisurely.

This electric breast pump hailed as the best one in the market currently, mimics the baby’s pattern of sucking milk by stimulation and expression to help you produce more milk in less time. Made in the USA, this breastpump is sold with a sleek, discreet easy-to carry- tote and a portable battery pack that comes handy wherever you go.

Out of the box, it looks durable and well-made. This open system, which we will discuss in detail later, means there is no barrier between the milk collection and pump parts, is harder to sterilize. This pump is also impressively quiet which is a huge plus when pumping at home while the baby is asleep or keeping it discreet outside or at work.

Overall, the pumping system was comfortable yet strong and the flexibility of the settings allows you to choose what works best with your body. The new Medela Pump in Style is available at less than $200, which is a pretty good deal since it includes bottles, shields, ice pack, battery pack and simply everything else you need to get started.

Do you need a breast pump?

Exclusive breastfeeding mothers would not really need a breast pump if the baby is directly latching with her. That means round the clock, the mother and baby are together or at least during times of feeding.

However, for most mothers who need to work, and still want to continue on breastfeeding, a breast pump will be her breast friend. Even if you are not working, there will be times when you would need to feed your baby through the bottle with frozen breastmilk.

Whether it’s a medical emergency, a family event or simply a day to do errands yourself, you can’t be attached to your baby 24/7. If you want to continue breastfeeding, yet your baby won’t latch properly, you can still give breast milk by pumping or “exclusive pumping”.

You get to choose how you want to feed your baby. And no matter what your choice is, fed will always be best for the baby.

Types of breast pumps

There are many types of breast pumps available for the expecting and nursing mother out there. Before checking out other pumps in the market, let’s familiarize ourselves first with what is really a breast pump and the many types to choose from.

There are four types of breast pumps:

Double-electric breast pumps.

These are electric powered pumps that lets you pump at the same time for both breasts. Best breast pump if speed is important to you, which is probably to all breastfeeding moms.

Single-electric breast pumps.

This has the same feature as the double-electric breastpump except that it’s a single piece or you can only pump one breast at a time, which can be time consuming. This is however less costly than the double-electric.

Battery-operated breast pumps.

This is the kind of slower pump that runs through batteries pretty quickly. The only advantage of this one is its portable and easy to bring when traveling or commuting to work. This can also be a good back up pump in case of power failure at your house.

Rechargeable breast pumps.

This kind will let you recharge the batteries of the pump before using it. Some brands will let you recharge for an hour or two for the same portable use of 4-5 hours. A great pump to use for that on-the-go mama who can’t stay at one place for a long while.

Manual breast pumps.

These are the most common and affordable, lightweight and portable kind. However, this can be physically tasking as your hands will do the pumping manually. You might not get much milk as expected. Some moms testifies that manual breast pump is better for them as they can control the suction than using electric ones.

Closed system vs open system breast pumps

There are more things to consider when buying breast pumps. We’ll check out the different kinds of breast pump system and how they function. A closed system or an open system will make a difference on your general usage of pumps.

Basically, a closed system breast pump is one that includes a barrier so that overflow milk will not seep into the pump system. It’s not completely closed though as some air needs to flow in and out for the vacuuming action to function. This is the best pump to have if you share pumps or you want to give it away once you’re done.

Open system, as the name implies, does not have this kind of barrier. There’s a high chance that some milk would have been caught in the pumping system or some hidden parts.

Second hand pumps are common in the market, due to the price of the brand new pumps. When choosing second hand pumps, it is best to choose a closed system to ensure that no milk residue is left behind in the breast pump.

Be wary of choosing a second hand pump if you are trying to save on costs. Many moms have buy and sell groups that cater to this kind of transaction. Make sure that the pump is checked and thoroughly cleaned before purchasing it.

Factors to consider when choosing breast pump:

Cost – if you have a budget, buy a reasonably priced pump which can last you longer than cheaper brands. A good priced pump may have the functionality that you will need and you don’t need to replace it often. It may even have good service maintenance if it fails. Whatever the cost of the pump, for sure it will still be cheaper than buying tons of formula.

Milk volume – you will need a pump that is suited to your milk production. If you are pumping round the clock, you would need a sturdier type of pump or at least a hospital grade one. These are designed to handle multiple pumping sessions without breaking down.

SIngle or double – if time is of the essence especially if you have a newborn. If you want to spend less time pumping, try the double electric one that would enable you to pump both breasts at the same time.

Portability – Moms who plan to go back to work after childbirth, may consider using the portable type of pump. This will ensure convenience when pumping while working or traveling. Moms who stay at home would not be so keen on the portability.

Ease of cleaning – another consideration to make is how easy cleaning of breast pump parts will be. Some breast pumps are complicated with too many parts, which can be very daunting to a pumping mom. Not to mention time consuming to wash each time. Choose one that can ease your cleaning and pumping time to a minimum.

Adjustable suction – The amount of suction may be different for each woman, Some may like stronger ones, while some the gentler suction. Whatever you choose it should mimic the sucking force of your baby to produce optimum milk output.

Power source – it is important that power back up of your pump is available especially if you pump on schedule. The best breast pump to date which is the Medela Pump in Style Advanced has a battery pack that will allow you to pump even when there is power failure.

Conclusion:

The best breast pump up to date that received last years’ award is the Medela Pump in Style advanced, winner of 2020 What to Expect award. In choosing your pump, it is best to consider the many factors that we have listed to assist you in your decision.

Checking reviews and testimonies of many moms who use breast pumps may help you decide on which one could be better suited for you. Whatever works for other moms though may not be suitable for you. Find your breast friend pump. It will definitely ease your breastfeeding journey.

FAQ’s on “Best Breast Pump”:

Which breast pump brand is the best?

Overall best breast pump brand currently is the Medela Pump in Style Advanced. This is the most reasonably priced breast pump at the market. This double electric breast pump is designed to mimic baby’s sucking motion which is efficient at pumping out milk.

How do I choose a breast pump?

There are a lot to consider when buying a pump such as the cost, milk volume, single or double function, portability, ease of cleaning, adjustable suction, and power source. If you have determined those, it will be easier for you to choose the best breast pump for your lifestyle.

What are the disadvantages of a breast pump?

Some disadvantages of a breast pump is it is an additional expense. Some mothers may even have to buy two or a back up pump. There may also be concern on storage as the pumps may take up lots of space.And fewer immune system benefits. It is said that when the milk is pumped, it loses its immune system benefits.

Can pumping damage breast tissue?

Yes, if the pump is done incorrectly or uses strong suction all the time. The strong suction level may cause pain and eventually damage the breast tissues over time. It is advisable to use the pump with little to no pain at all when pumping.

Do you have to wash the breast pump after each use?

Use a wash basin or bottle brush when cleaning parts of your breast pump, rinse them well and allow them to dry before using them again. It should be completely washed every few use so remove bacteria that may be harboring in the parts already.