Comfortable fit: The breast cup fits over your breast inside the pump funnel. It must fit well for optimal milk drainage as well as comfort. Some pumps come with more than one cup, so you can try different sizes to find the perfect fit. Our overall experience with this pump was positive, starting with its strong suction, which produced a good amount of milk in our first pumping session. In fact, the pump is so strong that we didn’t need to attempt anything past level one. Noise level: Electric breast pumps tend to be pretty noisy, which can be impractical if you're expressing while your baby is asleep nearby, when you're at work or if you just want to hear what's on the telly. Whereas manual pumps are much quieter, and some make no noise at all. If a breast pump is difficult to use, chances are you won't use it often. While there will be a learning curve with every pump, some are steeper than others and may take some trial and error before you get the hang of them.

Willow Go Wearable Electric Breast Pump: Although this pump has a strong suction for its price point, it’s very loud and felt quite heavy for a wearable breast pump. Unfortunately, we found out the hard way that breast milk can leak from the pump if you bend over while wearing it.To determine which breast pumps we should test and the specific qualities we should pay attention to, we consulted with Certified Lactation Consultant Deborah Erin Guerriero, RN, BSN, IBCLC. We also spoke with Brianna Jonsson, a Certified Lactation Educator Counselor and mom of four children who has breastfed for eight years, about the benefits of using a breast pump and how doing so can be helpful. We also relied on the expertise of our team of knowledgeable parenting editors who have breastfed their children and have years of experience researching breast pumps and other baby gear. Like our mum testers, you will have your own individual needs when choosing a breast pump. However, there are some things you may want to consider when making your choice: Finding the best breast pump for you can be difficult; unlike most baby products, you cannot go and try one out for hygiene reasons. So, our mum testers have tried all of the pumps in this article. We have also included the best pumps, as voted by real-life mums. What are the different types of breast pump? When shopping for a breast pump, you should pay attention to the type, suction level, and how basic or advanced its features are. You should also decide if you want a pump that’s portable and quiet—if you plan to use it at work, for example. If you have health insurance, we recommend researching the type of pumps covered by your plan so you can take advantage of this benefit. The Spectra S2 Plus is hands down the best breast pump we've ever used. It's our top choice because it's easy to use, has a strong suction level, and its massage and expression modes are customizable to each user. It also has single and double-pumping capabilities and offers a closed system for a truly hygienic experience.

While The Pump is cutting edge, it did have a bit of a learning curve. It was especially challenging for us to figure out how to use the battery, connect the posts, and determine our flange size, and it took us 20 minutes to set up on our first successful pump. Also, the tubes must be replaced daily due to hygiene reasons, which can be costly over time. That said, we firmly believe that after a few more iterations, The Pump will be poised to challenge the breast pump marketplace.Spectra Synergy Gold Breast Pump: Our lactation consultant recommended this pump to us, and we found it to be solid and dependable. However, the bottle-to-flange size ratio is uneven, which causes them to tip as you collect more milk. It’s also quite large and doesn’t come with a carrying case, rendering it challenging to transport. The manual pump is very simple and user friendly. It’s rechargeable for cordless pumping and has multiple size suction cups for different sized breasts. The suction cups also have hospital grade suction while also being comfortable in use. The breast pump has three different modes that mimic a baby’s natural feeding patterns. This is also a very durable pump. In our use we haven’t run into any issues with parts breaking off, becoming damaged, or wearing out.

Another significant difference is that the Stride has a suction level of 300 mmHg, which stands for millimeters of mercury and is the standard unit of measurement for pressure in medicine. Despite having a robust motor, the Stride is very quiet, and we would definitely wear it during a Zoom call.

What are the different types of breast pump?

These are the most powerful and effective pumps. They are available in a wide range of price points and have varying styles and features. Electric breast pumps are a great option for parents who plan to pump often or exclusively. Ease of use: You can control all the variables – such as the suction level and the speed at which the pump extracts milk from your breast – via the control panel. Setting up this breast pump is fairly simple when following along the assembly instructions included. The instructions are super clear and each side only has three parts to assemble and clean. We actually thought there’d be more parts to it, and were pleasantly surprised at how streamlined the entire process is. Once everything is put together, you snap the breast shield onto the cups and once you hear the resounding snap sound you know it’s secure and ready to use. After, connect the tubing to the tops of the cups and the other end to the motor unit and voila! These pumps are operated by squeezing them with your hand to create a pressure that extracts milk. Manual pumps are fairly simple and straightforward to use and are much less expensive than other pumps. Avoid sharing your breast pump with anyone, as they have been designed for single users. Does breast pumping have any side effects?