How to Choose the Right Breast Pump For You

So many designs, so many options, here's how to navigate them.

EBM stands for expressed breast milk; to express milk, you’ll need a breast pump. Expressing is an art unto itself. For some mums, it’s a necessity. For others, a way of aiding routine or to gain a bit of independence. For others, it comes into play when transitioning back to work. For some, it’s used as a dream feed, so mum can get more shut-eye whilst their partner does the feed. Breastmilk from a boob, or a bottle, greets our children with their specific needs, and can fight pathogens and diseases. It really is quite amazing.

Breast pumps have come a long way, and like advances in sleep devices, there is much to filter through. Feeling overwhelmed? Before you even hit search, ask yourself these five questions to determine your pumping needs.

Question 1. Do I need a breast pump before giving birth?

A breast pump is not essential. You may choose to formula feed or exclusively breastfeed. The need for pumping has a lot to do with our birth, your milk supply, your kid, and your lifestyle. For example, if you’re a small business owner and need to go back to run the show three months postpartum, then probably, yes. If you have plans on being social and doing some dinner dates (with multiple glasses of wine), then yes. If you are a go-with-flow kind of person with lots of leave and an open invitation for possibilities, then maybe something to park until you meet your baby. Do baby your way and tune into what works for you.

Question 2 . Is pumping painful?

This depends on the tenderness of your breasts and nipples. For most, there is little to no pain. The correct fit goes a long way to minimising pain, so ensure you're follow the nipple measuring guides and use the correct flange size with your pump. The DUE Lots of Letdown is also an excellent option for those who hate pumping. It is a single piece of silicone that lightly sucks on the opposite boob while you feed to catch the excess milky goodness or ‘let down’. So less of an extractor and more of a softly motivating catcher.

Question 3. What’s the difference between manual and electric?

Manual pumps are designed to complement mums who are full-time breastfeeding but pump on occasions, for occasions. Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pumpis a great option for our casual pumpers. It’s affordable, portable (small enough to fit in your handbag) and silent. As the name implies, it’s manual, so it’s slower and more arduous when extracting milk; however, if you are not using it much, it’s not a burden. Good to have on hand for the occasional weekend away, engorgement, or should you hit a bump in your breastfeeding journey.

Question 4. Which ones are wearable?

Many modern electric breast pumps are now wearable, but some are better at being more discreet than others. A good wearable pump can fit snugly in your bra for discreet expression (think at your desk or even out to lunch). This device is super worthwhile for mums who are on the go or for those who are planning to breastfeed often whether while back at work or just needing to do other stuff (like chase after an older sibling) while pumping.

Question 5. Double or single?

Double pumps mean less fuss, (as you can express both breasts simultaneously). Double pumps can yield at least 18% more milk and the biggest win is that it cuts expressing time in half. Worth the investment if you’re pumping regularly. The Minbie Hospital Grade Pink Breast Pump is a quieter breast pump, intuitive to use and extra fast at extracting milk. This is the Rolls-Royce of pumps and one for those who use their pump multiple times a day. Worthy of the investment. As time equals more sleep, which, as a new parent, is priceless.

Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump

Manual breast pumps are perfect for those who only pump occasionally and predominantly breastfeed their baby. This one is great for new mums returning to work (but still have full boobs at lunch) or for times you head for date night. It’s small enough for your handbag and there is no need for batteries or cables. Simply pop over your breast and the handle will mimic your baby’s sucking. To fully benefit from the handle's functionality, first use the short side at a fast pace to stimulate milk flow. After you see breast milk flowing, use the long side of the handle to extract your milk.

Who is it for?

People who primarily breastfeed and want to express occasionally.

Features:

No need for batteries or charging stations
2- phase expression technology helps you mimic your baby’s natural sucking rhythm.
Easy to clean
Compact, light and portable
Silent and discreet
Holds up to 150ml of milk
Dishwasher safe

Youha The ONE Double Electric Breast Pump - Starter Pack

A stand-alone, hospital-grade breast pump comes with everything you need for your pumping journey. Youha is a brand constantly raved about by ‘been there done that mums’, and its compact design and touch screen make it intuitive to use. Many mums love this one claiming it's quieter than other pumps. It's quick and efficient and the best part is it’s battery-powered and portable (great for mums hoping to return to work).

Who is it for?

Those who need to express multiple times a day.

Features

Battery-powered for portable
Sleek and compact design
Extremely quiet and convenient operation
Easy-to-use touchscreen
Efficient and effective breastmilk expression
Ideal for use at home or the office
Compatible with the Youha ONE Express Cups

Medela Solo Single Electric Breast Pump

A medical grade single pump is great to have on hand if you want to pump daily but not exclusively. This pump will ensure you drain your breast completely and is quick and efficient at extracting milk with various levels of pumping vacuum. It is small and lightweight, relatively quiet for minimal disruption to the day-to-day. It does need a power point, so you can’t express hands-free with this one and can only be used one breast at a time.

Who is it for?

For those who pump for dream feeds or once a day.

Features

Medela 2-Phase Expression® technology mimics babies’ sucking for a more natural pumping experience
Closed system prevents breast milk from entering the tubing.
Compact, portable and easy to use
Dishwasher safe
Medical grade
Holds up to 150ml of milk

Medela Flex Electric Swing

The new and improved double single electric breast pump by Medela. This one is for if you are mixed feeding (boob and bottle) going back to work, heading out for a weekend away, or helping to increase your milk. A lightweight and compact design is simple to clean and even easier to use. There is a 4-button intuitive interface and 9 pre-programmed settings. The newer pump style has a built-in rechargeable battery (think 6 sessions of pumping) and can charge faster using a USB type C port. Signature to Medela it has a 2-Phase Expression® technology that mimics your baby's natural sucking rhythm1, 2 and the PersonalFit Flex™ breast shield for increased comfort. The thing we love most is that it’s noticeably quieter than the previous generation because we know that the sound of pumping is something that a new mother will never forget.

Who is it for?

For those who pump for dream feeds or once a day.

Features

Medela 2-Phase Expression® technology mimics babies’ sucking for a more natural pumping experience
Closed system prevents breast milk from entering the tubing.
Compact, portable and easy to use
Dishwasher safe
Medical grade
Double pump means half the time to pump
Holds up to 150ml of milk per bottle

Youha Embody Wearable Breast Pump

A pump that slips into your bra and can be worn anywhere, literally! Pumping sure can a be a drainer (excuse the pun,) no-one enjoys being hooked up to a power socket socket. Enter the Youha Embody Wearable Breast Pump, a gadget that fits in your bra and works whilst driving, in office, cooking dinner - wherever and whenever. Think full flexibility and hand-free freedom. The Youha Embody is a wearable cord-free breastpump. You charge it via a USB cable, put it in your bra, press the power button and get on with your day. We love how comfortable it is to wear, it fits snugly onto the breast and the soft silicone cups protect the nipple, with no painful pulling. The Embody is super efficient and gets the job done without the need for cords, tubes and dangling bottles. Depending on your supply, the pumping can take 5-20 minutes, but you wouldn’t know it. The pumping is quiet so you’ll have to listen closely to hear a soft extracting sound. Once you’re finished, simply pour out the milk into a milk bag, remove the electric device from the silicone cup, sterilise the cup and repeat. The Youha Embody comes with two cups that hold 150ml each, one for each breast, a tailored travel bag to keep everything together, as well as access to the My Youha app which you can use to control remotely and track your breast milk. There are two sizes available 24 and 28. These are the size guide for Breast Shield Convertors and it important to make sure you're using the correct size shield/flange when pumping for optimum output and comfort. If they are too big or too small you can always invest in a converter set which we sell here.