The availability of breastfeeding pumps on the market are numerous and making the right choice can be overwhelming for any mom. Plus, let’s face it, you have enough to prepare and research before the arrival of your little one. Whether you are always on the go or more of a stay at home mom, these breastfeeding pump reviews should make your decisions a bit easier and hopefully, a lot less stressful.
Right now you may even be asking yourself, “Do I even need a breastfeeding pump?” If you are planning on breastfeeding, you may, at some point need to increase your milk supply, leave baby for a few hours, or help relieve engorgement when baby doesn’t nurse often enough. You don’t need a complicated breastfeeding pump, a simple manual handheld pump may be all you need to make life just a little easier but having some sort of pump on hand can be a lifesaver for a breastfeeding mother.
TIP: Be sure to check any available breastfeeding pump reviews for yourself so you know how they work.
Find the Perfect Breastfeeding Pumps for Your Mom Style & Needs
Things you might want to consider when you are selecting and researching breastfeeding pumps and looking at the breastfeeding reviews below are:
- Do you want to build a freezer stash?
- Will you need to go back to work or leave your little one when they might need a bottle?
- Do you want to drink alcohol while you are breastfeeding?
- Do you want to be able to have a night out, or even run simple errands without the baby?
- Do you have a plan in place to deal with breast leakage?
If you answered yes to any of these questions you will probably need some form of breastfeeding pump. Unanticipated events such as trouble latching, nipple confusion, or medical reasons can all potentially prevent you from breastfeeding for a short time. A breast pump would be a necessity during this time and can allow you to keep up your milk supply and your little one’s tummy full and healthy.
Read More: Breastfeeding Basics for the Back to Work Mom
The Always on the Go Mom: Willow Pump
The Willow Pump is probably one of the most convenient breastfeeding pumps around but you definitely pay for the convenience factor. If you are a mom that never sits down or can’t get away from work for a pumping session then this breastfeeding pump is perfect for you. It is a portable, hands-free, wearable breast pump that slips into the cups of your bra and quietly pumps.
It can be used in any position, in fact, the website brags by using it in some upside down yoga positions. It is a truly versatile pump, but one that you pay the price for not only on the front end but during its lifespan as well. Although its bags are spill proof you can only use bags made by Willow and since they are sealed in the pump there is no option to transfer milk or use just a little and reseal the bag. Once you open it you better be prepared to use all of it. For many moms pausing their day to pump is just not an option, but don’t let that deter you from breastfeeding because the Willow can definitely fit into any schedule and can quickly prove it is worth the investment.
The Working Mom: Medela Freestyle
If the Willow piqued your interest but made your wallet scream then the Medela Freestyle might be right up your alley. At $300 it has some of the same features as the Willow. It is a double breastfeeding pump that has a rechargeable battery and can be easily clipped onto your pants for portability. Although not the quietest pump, it makes up for that by having minimal parts to wash on the go and assisting pump sessions with a memory function.
If your wallet is still screaming a little bit, fear not because chances are if your insurance covers breastfeeding pumps that will cover at least a portion of the costs of this one. The Medela breastfeeding pumps are found at almost any retail store, but can also be ordered online and delivered by the next day. Medela also makes storing milk simple as you can pump into bottles (Medela’s own and other brands such as Evenflo if you prefer glass bottles), or into storage bags directly.
The High-tech Mom: Medela Sonata
If you are a mom that wants the best of the best and portability isn’t a huge issue then consider the Medela Sonata. The hospital grade breastfeeding pump is the top of the line, and has a rechargeable battery and sleek design. It is large and bulky, but makes up for its size in performance and Bluetooth capability to connect to an app on your phone.
This app allows you to not only track pumping sessions but breastfeeding as well and offers answers to all your breastfeeding questions. To encourage ease and portability it is also extremely quiet and comes with minimum pump parts to make cleaning easier.
Read More: 7 Ways to Make Time for Yourself When Exclusively Breastfeeding
The Budget-Conscious Mom: Medela Pump In Style Advanced
This pump is probably the most popular pump on the market and its parts are the easiest to access. Pricing for the Medela Pump In Style Advanced starts at $180 but is usually covered in full by most insurance companies. With this breastfeeding pump, the motor/control system is located in a bag to make traveling easier. Many breastfeeding reviews say this is super convenient and helpful.
It usually needs to be used with an electrical outlet, but has the option of being powered by eight AA batteries. So although you probably wouldn’t want to always run it on batteries due to the cost, it doesn’t tie you to the plug. According to breastfeeding reviews, this pump is not the quietest but definitely gets the job done without all the bells and whistles that the other breastfeeding pumps we have explored offer.
The Kiinde System
All the Medela pumps come with bottles to pump into which allow you to then transfer the breastmilk into storage bags. If you are also looking for a bottle system then the Kiinde system definitely takes the hassle out of breastfeeding and bottle feeding. The Kiinde system comes with adapters for pretty much any pump that allows you to pump directly into their Twist Bags. These bags can then be stored in the freezer. When your little one is ready to enjoy you take the bag and slip it into their “case” and pop the nipple on the bag. It is truly innovative and amazing.
You save more milk by decreasing the number of transfers from bottle to bag back to the bottle and you save so many dishes because all you have to wash are your pump parts and the nipple for the bottle. Although the storage bags are a little pricier than other brands, you do save on water, soap, and mom energy which makes it worth it. If you decide to pump then this system is definitely one to consider. If you are interested in trying the Kiinde system you can get the start-up kit for free from Kiinde.
The Minimalist Mom: Lansinoh Manual Pump
If you are a stay at home mom or don’t think a battery operated or electric breast pump is needed to suite your lifestyle then the Lansinoh Manual Pump is great for those emergency situations. At $25 it’s almost silly not to get it for all those times you are so engorged you just need a little relief or you just want a shower without being a milk factory for baby. This manual pump features an adjustable letdown and expression mode, and is entirely portable and easy to use.
Just remember that it is manual, meaning that you will have to operate it with your hand which can get tiring and you can only use it on one breast at a time. There are also a few pieces to wash after pumping. There are many manual pumps out there if this one isn’t quite your style and all operate the same so the learning curve is non-existent and they are all easy to use.
Read More: How the Ugly Side of Breastfeeding Made Me Appreciate It Even More
The Must-Have: Haaka
Many moms describe this as a game changer and that is putting it mildly. This is a hands-free, non-electric breast pump, that is not manual. How does that even work you ask? Unlike other breastfeeding pumps, this pump suctions to your breast and catches any letdown or leakage you may have. Many moms put the Haaka opposite the side they are nursing their little one on and the results are amazing. Not only does this help keep your milk supply up but it saves all that liquid gold that might otherwise be lost.
Some moms use this exclusively to stock their freezer stash. This gadget starts at $13 and has many model variations. Older models do not have the suction base which makes it a little top heavy. They have since fixed this problem by adding the suction base and many ways to seal the top to keep bacteria out and the milk from spilling. If you walk away having gained nothing from this post, consider at least this pump.
[td_smart_list_end]
Regardless of how or how long you intend to breastfeed your baby at least one of these breastfeeding pumps will be beneficial during your breastfeeding journey. Although at times breastfeeding can be challenging there is no reason to make it more difficult on yourself. These breastfeeding reviews for pumping can hopefully make it easy, convenient and nutritious for your little one and carry you through your breastfeeding journey for as long as you choose.
WANT TO READ MORE?
Does breastfeeding in public have you feeling a bit nervous and shy? We may have a solution for you.
