Finding the right electric breast pump can be a challenge. The market is awash with so many brands. Some of these pumps may not be good enough to meet your needs. What another mom finds to be comfortable doesn’t necessarily mean it will be suitable for you.
A pump can be a daily fixture of life for several pumps. As such, you need to consider several things when you are shopping for one. Our guide will give you an in-depth breast review to help you choose the best electric breast pump. We will also help you understand the features you should look out for when you are in the market for a suitable breast pump.
Qualities of an Excellent Electric Breast Pump
- Efficiency — a right electric breast pump should come with guaranteed excellent performance. It should extract milk from your breast most efficiently and comfortably. It should not require a lot of effort or energy from you for the device to work.
- Comfort — some breast pumps inflict pain on the mother during the pumping process. A good breast pump should work with painless suction. It should not hurt at all to make the pumping process a painful affair. You need to go for the right electric breast pump that guarantees an easy suction process.
- Adjustability — an excellent electric breast pump should come with a suitable adjustable suction that allows different frequency and strength in the course of pumping. The best breast pump should extract breast milk per suction. It should also operate at a high rate. However, it should allow for adjustability if the mother prefers a lighter or level suction. You should go for a brand that has adjustable suction levels.
- Minimal Noise Level — you should go for a breast pump that operates quietly. Such a breast pump will allow you to pump anywhere, even within the vicinity of other people. You can conveniently pump at work, home, or while on the go. A quiet breast pump will also enable you to pump in the same room where your child is sleeping. Besides, you can pump when the baby is feeding on the other breast as it won’t distract him or her.
- Price — you should go for a breast pump that comes with guaranteed performance but at affordable prices. A breast pump is vital in several ways. However, you will use the product only for a few months. You need to invest in a high-quality product, but which doesn’t burden you financially. Consider quality products that are priced reasonably.
- Versatile Fit — your breasts vary from one woman to another. The electric breast pump you choose should provide the necessary accessories to make it fit with different sizes, breasts, and nipples. Therefore, you should go for a breast pump that is adaptable and versatile.
- Replacement Parts — some parts of the breast pumps can break. When buying one, go for the brand that comes with replacement parts. You should also invest in a breast pump that has a quality warranty and whose replacement parts are readily available in the market.
- Maintenance — the best electric breast pump should be easy to clean and maintain. Breast pumps need to be cleaned often to guarantee the safety of your young one. The many parts involved make cleaning a challenging task. When shopping for one, go for a device that has a reputation for being easy to clean and maintain. Such a product prevents bacteria buildup.
- Easy Installation Process — a suitable electric breast pump should be easy to assemble and disassemble. Avoid complicated breast pumps that are complex to assemble. You can also consider buying breast pumps that are shipped pre-assembled if you want to avoid the frustration that comes with assembling one.
Factors to Consider When Buying an Electric Breast Pump
- Single vs. Dual Pumping
You should consider whether to go for a double or single pumping breast pump. A single pump electric breast pump is suitable for extraction when the baby is feeding on one breast. On the other hand, the double breast pump is ideal for pumping if you are nursing twins. They are also suitable for a busy mom who wants to extract milk quickly while on the go. If you are a busy mother, then a double electric breast pump is the most appropriate one for you.
- Hands-Free Pump
There are newer brands of pumps that allow you to pump hands-free. Such pumps come with no tubing or wires. There are very exceptional pumps that would enable you to wear them under your shirt.
- Weights
It is wise to have a very lightweight pump if you will be traveling out of home often. A portable pump makes traveling to and from work easy and convenient.
- BPA and Phthalate Content
You should buy BPA free breast milk that guarantees your baby is fed only on clean milk. You need to research a lot about the safety of the breast pump before you make your purchase.
- Number of Phases
You need to go for a suitable breast pump that is designed to mimic natural breastfeeding as much as possible. Not all breast pumps in the market mimic the natural breastfeeding process. Some do the job better than others. Typically, most breast pumps feature between three and four extraction phases. The more the phases, the better the breast pump at mimicking natural breastfeeding.
- Portability
A suitable electric breast pump should be portable. It should come with a small, compact, and lightweight design. Such a breast pump is ideal for a mother who travels a lot. A portable breast pump should not present any packing challenges. It should also be easy to disassemble and assemble.
- Maintenance
A suitable breast pump should be easy to maintain and clean. Breast pumps require maintenance and cleaning. This will guarantee that the product is reliable, safe, and efficient. Breast pumps need to be cleaned often to ensure the safety of your young one. The many parts involved make cleaning a challenging task. When shopping for one, go for a device that has a reputation for being easy to clean and maintain. Such a product prevents bacteria buildup.
- Bottle Compatibility
In case you are planning on using certain bottles to collect or store your breastmilk, then you must confirm that the electric breast pump you intend to buy is compatible with the bottles you want to use. Some breast pumps will only work with the bottles shipped with the product. Before you buy one, you should double-check everything to confirm its compatibility.
The Best Electric Breast Pumps to Buy
1. [amazon link=”B00DBKFFJM” title=”Spectra Baby S1″]
This is arguably one of the most powerful breast pumps in the market today. It is a hospital-grade electric pump that comes with guaranteed efficiency. It is very portable and travel-friendly, making a top choice product for a mom who travels a lot. Besides, it comes with a built-in battery making it ideal for pumping on the go.
It is a super-efficient quality breast pump that operates with minimal noise. The device will allow you to adjust the settings to fit your preferences for the optimization of the milk flow. The pump will also allow you to change the speed and suction power using the many adjustable settings located on the device. You can also use the massage feature to speed up and make the pumping process as comfortable as possible.
With this pump, you can extract milk conveniently at night time. Thanks to the night light and time that comes with the device.
You can use the S1 as a single or double pump. This means that you can choose to express from one breast at a time or form both. Besides, the S1 features a closed system that guarantees the safety of milk for your baby. A closed system pump is a pump that is sealed off from milk by a barrier. It is also known as an overflow protection pump. Most hospitals mostly recommend the pump. It is the most hygienic pump because the barrier prevents milk from getting in contact with the machine. When milk gets into the machine, it becomes a challenge to sterilize the small tubes and other small parts of the device. This particular type of machine is priced higher than the open system pumps.
2. [amazon link=”B0013O9RX8″ title=”Medela Freestyle”]
[amazon link=”B0013O9RX8″ title=”Medela Freestyle”] comes with rechargeable batteries, which will enable you to pump anywhere and at any time. The device is very light and portable. It is suitable for a mother who travels a lot.
The Easy Expression bustier will enable you to pump hands-free. This will allow you to engage in other activities during the pumping process. You can play with your loved one while you express it. The pump also comes with two sizes of breast flanges, which allow you to use either a single or double pump.
The device’s double pumps will enable you to extract more milk faster. It also features a variety of operating modes for better customization. It also features a built-in battery that makes the pumping process possible and convenient if you are spending your day out in the field with no power. The device is also designed to reduce pain and make the whole pumping process as comfortable as possible.
3. [amazon link=”B078VN62J9″ title=”SOMEX Cornetto Electric Single Breast Pump”]
The device is designed to come with adjustable suction speeds to make the pumping process very convenient for the mothers who have just delivered. If you are breastfeeding naturally more often, then you can adjust the speed levels to 3-6. If you are intensely experiencing breast pain during the pumping process, then the machine allows you to adjust the speed levels to 7-9.
The device is also effortless to use. It features dependable suctions. Besides, the device is made to be compatible with most cups.
The breast pump is suitable for mothers who spend most of their time traveling because it is very portable. You can take it to your workplace because it is not bulky. The pumping process for this device is very discreet to enable you to pump even in public places. It also operates with a minimal noise level to allow you to extract milk in the same room where the baby is sleeping.
This pump comes with three main modes: the auto, massage, and expression modes. The suction mode comes with nine levels that have been designed to imitate the natural breastfeeding patterns of a baby. It also features an inbuilt rechargeable battery, USB cable, and port for charging. The device also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
4. [amazon link=”B07CZZN1VX” title=”Bellababy Double Electric Breast Pump”]
This breast pump features a closed system. A closed system pump is a pump that is sealed off from milk by a barrier. It is also known as an overflow protection pump. Most hospitals recommend the use of the pump. It is the most hygienic pump because the barrier prevents milk from getting in contact with the machine. When milk gets into the machine, it becomes a challenge to sterilize the small tubes and other small parts of the device. This particular type of device is priced higher than the open system pumps.
The device is also shipped with milk storage bags. With this breast pump, you can quickly express your breastmilk into the storage bags. A single purchase comes with ten bags for a trial period.
The [amazon link=”B07CZZN1VX” title=”Bellababy Double Electric Breast Pump”] is highly portable. The device is very lightweight. It is also designed to be less bulky. You can conveniently take the device in all your travels. The milk storage bags will also enable you to store the milk for later use conveniently.
The device’s double pumps will enable you to extract more milk faster. It also features a variety of operating modes for better customization. It also features a built-in battery that makes the pumping process possible and convenient if you are spending your day out in the field with no power. The device is also designed to reduce pain and make the whole pumping process as comfortable as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the appropriate time to use an electric breast pump?
The right time to pump will depend on several factors. It will also differ from one mother to another. You can start pumping right after the baby is born. This will help initiate breastfeeding. It will also help encourage enough milk supplies.
It is advisable to start pumping early if, for some reason, you won’t be able to nurse the baby from the time they are born. If your baby is born premature or has special needs that prevent you from direct nursing, then start breasts pumping early enough.
You can also wait for at least one week before you start pumping. In the early days after your baby has been born, it might be a challenge getting enough time to pump.
Nutritional experts also advise that it is better to hold off bottle feeding for a while until after breastfeeding is well established.
It is also advisable to go back and forth between breastfeeding and bottle feeding in the early days once the baby has been born. When the baby is 4 to 6 weeks old, you can adopt more bottle feeding. At this time, breastfeeding will be well established, and you will have enough time between feeding sessions to pump extra milk, which you will store for future use.
How often should I use an electric breast pump?
You should pump in between nursing sessions if you aim at building up a milk supply. If you are pumping while at work to replace the feedings you are missing, then you need to try pumping on the same schedule as your baby’s feeding at home. This will help align your pumping process with your baby’s demand, which happens every three to four hours.
You should spend at least 15 to 20 minutes on the pump if you hope to get enough milk supply. Don’t stop pumping until the milk starts slowing down, and your breasts feel well-drained out. Ensure to clean the breast flanges once you are through with the pumping process.
How do I clean an electric breast pump?
It is essential to clean the breast pump after every use. This will prevent the germs from multiplying. Once you are through with your pumping, ensure to wash all the parts that come into contact with your breast or breastmilk.
Wash the parts with liquid soap and hot water, and you should scrub them with a cleaning brush. After that, rinse the parts under clean running water. You should let the parts dry in an open area.
An electric breast pump works quietly and efficiently to enable you to express milk comfortably. If you are looking for an excellent electric breast pump, then use the tips we have provided today to make the right choice.