Making baby decisions isn’t an easy task. There are several considerations to make of which reaching individual choices can be right or wrong. For moms who are still breastfeeding their babies, the issue of demand and supply comes to play.
Moms must keep up with the milk supply to meet the request of the child. In this case, what a mother need is a breast pump. In this article, we shall be reviewing the best breast pump for new moms.
A breast pump can either be an electrical or manually operated device that extracts milk from a lactating mother or allows mothers to express milk for storage purposes. The extracted milk can be refrigerated to be fed to the baby via a bottle at a later time as long as the breast milk doesn’t exceed the two days maximum.
When you are not available to breastfeed your baby, your partner, a relative or a caregiver can administer the refrigerated breast milk to the baby whenever the need arises. With several breast pumps available in the market, it is increasingly difficult to choose as to which one is the best or better than the other.
That is because you are continually looking for the one that will be a perfect fit for your breast. Choosing the right one is a plus, ideal and can serve you for a lifetime. Breast pumping allows moms to keep up with the milk supply even when the mother isn’t available or separated from the baby to breastfeed.
Pumps collect breast milk and freezes or store it for future purposes. So whether you are late for home or traveling or have busy schedules, breast pumps will always make sure breast milk is available for the baby.
The trouble associated with the choice of breast pumps is that not all of them is right for a lactating mother even if it’s the perfect fit for another lactating mother. So a friend or a neighbor might recommend a capable breast pump she uses or used but might turn out to be not so good for you.
If you are in the market for a breast pump, decide the volume of milk you want to be pumping, how adjustable the suction is and how portable it is if you are the type that would like to take it to work. Breastfeeding your baby exclusively isn’t enough; you need a breast pump to stand for you in times when you are caught up in an emergency.
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Breastfeeding VS Pumping
Many women opt for exclusive breastfeeding but aren’t entirely enough. Why? That’s because you may not be available to breastfeed your baby. Imagine yourself as a working-class mom, and you have twins to breastfeed? Unfortunately, you can take both to work. So, in this case, you need a breast pump.
On the other hand, there are a variety of reasons why some women opt for breast pumping. One of those reasons is that using a breast pump helps to increase the supply of milk, something that normal breastfeeding wouldn’t do. For moms with swollen breast or clogged milk duct, using a pump will clear and reduce it.
Electric Breast Pump
An electric breast pump is a type of breast pump that is operated with power. This type of breast pumps are the most common and allows you to adjust the speed and suction of the pump to express more milk. There is the double electric breast pump and the single electric breast pump, but the double electric breast pump empties both breasts at the same time and is more effective than the single.
The double is particularly useful to moms who want to pump more milk in a short period. They come with multiple expression mode features, timer, and other features. They can be plugged to an electric power source or run on batteries.
Manual Breast Pump
Unlike the electric, this type of breast pump doesn’t require any form of electrical power source and depend significantly on your ability to generate suction manually using your hands to squeeze a lever because it doesn’t have a motor. Suction power is limited, which means that expressing milk is in reduced quantity.
Electric vs. Manual Breast Pump
For moms, choosing a breast pump depends on whether you are going for the electric or manual breast pump. When it comes to efficiency, electric breast pumps are better than the manual. For moms primarily working-class moms who want to pump milk in large quantities in a given time or wants to pump every day, the electric is the best option.
Manual breast pumps lack a motor, which makes the suction power reduced, time-consuming, and inefficient. It is more suitable for women who don’t want to pump every day. However, they are cheaper, produces less noise and more portable, which makes them an excellent option for travel purposes if you are likely not to pump often. Electric breast pumps can be costly, but overall, they are efficient.
Do you need a breast pump as a new mom?
Needing a breast pump is dependent on the type of mom. Not all new moms need or use a breast pump. Some moms decide to breastfeed their baby after birth exclusively. If you are the working-class mom and not a sit-at-home mom, exclusively breastfeeding your baby can be difficult.
Making out time to breastfeed your baby won’t be easy and will always distract you from working. For moms who want to make ends meet, you must get a breast pump to make up for your unavailability to breastfeed your baby.
Sometimes while you are not at work, an emergency may spring up at a time when you remembered you hadn’t breastfed your baby. In situations like this, there is a need to have a refrigerated or stored milk beforehand for your baby to feed. In this case, the services of a breast pump are needed.
3 Best Electric Breast Pump For New Moms
1. BabySteps Independent Double Electric Breast Pump
This innovative double electric breast pump has stimulation and expression features. This 2-phased model breast pump, which is capable of emulating natural suckling action has 9 levels of suction mode that can be adjusted to suit to mom’s comfort. You can control the suction modes separately on each side of the breast as you wish.
This means that if you want one part of your breast to be expressing milk more than the other, you adjust it as such. With this powerful pump, you can increase your milk production and save time for more critical tasks.
BabySteps independent double electric breast pump is a BPA-Free closed system with Anti-back flow that ensures milk is hygienic, safe for the baby, and separated from the air. Performance is maximized as well. The soft breast pads that come attached to it is designed to fit the shape of your breast comfortably to prevent milk from leaking out of your breasts and ensure milk outflow.
Apart from its efficiency, BabySteps independent double electric breast pump has a simple design which makes it lightweight and produces almost no sound. Weighing about only 0.9 pounds, it is perfect for busy moms or moms who travel a lot and provides convenience.
Features
Portable and Noiseless, only weighing about 0.9 pounds. It has an adjustable 9 level suction modes capable of regulating how milk is produced separately. Stimulation and expression, which are the 2-phase models, is capable of emulating a baby’s natural suckling action for comfort and efficiency. For more convenience, it comes with a soft pad that ensures increased performance and prevents milk leakage.
The breast pump is a closed system and BPA-Free, which makes it safe and hygienic for the baby. Closed system provides Anti-back flow that ensures milk is clean, safe for the baby, and separated from the air.
Efficient in performance: BabySteps independent double electric breast pump has a simple design that allows for powerful pump pressure. Milk production is enhanced, and the pump saves time.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Lightweight in design
- Produces quite sound
- Portable
- BPA-Free
- Milk production can be regulated with the 9 level suction modes
- Time-efficient.
Cons
- Sometimes, it’s difficult to adjust the suction levels.
2. Bellababy Double Electric Breast Feeding Pumps
Bellababy is another double electric breast pump designed for moms who want to pump daily while ensuring maximum comfort and safety.
This double electric breast pump includes four different modes that can be adjusted to suit moms to massage and stimulate breast; Massage and stimulation – for massaging and stimulating nipples gently, continuous sucking – continues to suck breasts to empty it as soon as possible, frequency conversion sucking – sucks breast with a converted frequency and normal sucking mode – that sucks breast in a regular frequency mode. These four different modes can be adjusted according to the levels (1 – 6).
Also, Bellababy allows mothers to adjust the pump with nine levels of suction power for comfort. Breast pump produces less noise, so your chances of disturbing the house or your sleeping baby are reduced. It is portable, which makes it convenient for outdoor use or travel.
Bellababy double electric breast pump can work on batteries. It also works on USB cable power adapter, which means you can use a power bank or a laptop to charge it and build backup power. You can connect an adapter(DC 5V,1~2A) then plug in to use. In cases where your phone is out of power, the breast pump could serve as an emergency power source to charge it.
With a sizeable in-built battery, the Bellababy can be used anywhere for a long time without plugging it. It comes with milk storage bag adapters, which allows you to express breast milk directly to the storage bags with the help of the storage bag adapters.
Features
The breast pump is a closed system with four different modes and nine suction levels
Less noise, efficient performance.
High definition LCD screen. You can view suction levels, time, the working mode, and battery status vividly. The touch panel is sensitive, and clicking is made easy and convenient.
Comes with two pieces of milk storage bag adapters that allow expression of milk directly to the storage bags with the help of the adapters. 10 pieces of storage bags are included in the package.
Portable and lightweight, weighing less than a pound Large in-built long-lasting battery. Serve as an alternative source of power for phones during an emergency. Excellent and convenient for travel.
Pros
- Great suction power
- Portable and lightweight
- Easy to assemble and use
- Good for outdoor use
- Long-lasting battery
- Double electric breast pump expresses milk in large quantities and comfortable for moms. Milk is also hygienic for baby to breastfeed.
Cons
- There is no power adapter included in the package
3. Medela Pump in Style Advanced with On the Go Tote, Double Electric Breast Pump
Medela is a sustainable company that has been in existence for more than two decades. Medela has never failed to manufacture suitable electric and manual breast pumps for moms. Medela Pump in style advanced double electric breast pump is one of those products that is designed to bring comfort and offer convenience to breast pumping moms.
It has a stylish microfiber bag with a built-in pump that holds everything you need to express. It features built-in bottle holders to prevent milk spillage, and a tubing storage pocket to keep organized between pumping sessions. It also comes with a removable cooler bag, four breast milk bottles, contoured ice pack, and a battery pack.
Medela Pump in Style Advanced double electric breast pump is certified BPA-Free, which means breast milk is safe for baby and pump is safe for moms. Convenient microfiber bag with all accessories means that double electric breast pump is ideal for travels or transporting.
All the necessary equipment inside the bag ensures that you get to pumping right away. 2-Phase Expression technology with one-touch letdown button and integrated motor unit ensures that milk is pumped in a matter of seconds while pumping at the maximum.
Features
A double electric breast pump that is designed for moms who wants to pump daily. The 2-Phase Expression technology with one-touch letdown button and integrated motor unit ensures that milk is pumped efficiently in lesser time and increase milk flow.
Portable and conveniently built with all the accessories compact. Whether you are traveling or going to work, carrying the tote bag won’t be a burden
Customizable settings with adjustable single knob and vacuum. Letdown button and personal fit breast shield sizes allow moms to control and adjust settings to maximize her pumping experience ensure comfort.
Convenient with stylish microfiber bag with a built-in pump that holds everything you need to express. It features a removable cooler bag, four breast milk bottles to store and cool milk, contoured ice pack, and a battery pack.
Pros
- Convenient with all the accessories in one bag
- Powerful suction feature
- Easy to clean
Cons
- More expensive than other breast pumps in the market
- Not so portable, making it quite difficult to carry about.
3 Best Manual Breast Pump For New Moms
1. Lansinoh Single Manual Breast Pump with Stimulation and Expression Modes
If you are looking for a moderately priced manual breast pump that won’t require you breaking the bank and will offer you quality services, lansinoh is the right choice and fits the above description. For moms who want to express occasionally, this manual breast pump suits your needs.
Having founded by a breastfeeding mom, the lansinoh manual breast pump is designed to provide convenient pumping, absolute comfort, and safety for moms and babies at an affordable price. With the 2-phase feature (Stimulation and Expression), this manual breast pump ensures moms get the best performance of pumping.
The simulation mode lets you get started about setting your breast to express milk, allowing more suction similar to a baby’s suction movement. This mode is done by setting the stem in the notch of the handle and then, squeezing the handle. After the letdown and once milk begins to flow, switch to the expression mode is comfortable, which offers slower cycles with more suction to efficiently pump breastmilk.
Moving from stimulation to expression or expression to stimulation is made easy by notching the same stem of the breast pump. The handle of the pump is designed to switch between the stimulation and expression modes easily.
Lansinoh offers moms the opportunity to express milk anywhere because of its compact size manually. It also doesn’t require electricity, which makes it ideal for travels.
The express handles are designed for comfort during pumping to reduce hand fatigue. Lansinoh manual breast pump features two flange sizes, standard (25mm) and large (30.5mm) included to ensure suction and pumping comfort, milk collection bottles, lansinoh milk storage bags and natural wave nipple cap and collar, all for ideal suction, storage of milk and feeding the baby.
Manual breast pumps save time and reduce breastmilk transfer by storing milk in the same storage bottle that is used for pumping.
Features
Lightweight and portable manual breast pump with a comfortable and easy-express handle to reduce hand fatigue. A breast pump can be carried quickly and conveniently in any bag and make an excellent travel companion.
This 2-phase stimulation and expression mode pump features two flange sizes, standard (25mm) and large (30.5mm) included to ensure suction and pumping comfort, milk collection bottles, lansinoh milk storage bags and natural wave nipple cap and collar, all for ideal suction, storage of milk and feeding the baby.
Lansinoh breast pumps are hygienic and allow you to pump directly into pre-sterilized Lansinoh breastmilk storage bags included in the package for convenience and safety. This saves milk from spilling and saves time. Powerful manual breast pump for moms who wants to express breast milk occasionally.
Pros
- Perfect for traveling moms
- Easy to clean
- Easy to use
- Value for money
- The pump is hygienic and gentle on breasts.
Cons
- The pump is a little noisy
- Suction power may not be too high for moms with engorged breasts who want to express milk.
2. Medela, Harmony Manual Breast Pump
Medela harmony manual breast pump is easy to use and portable for anyone who tends ongoing on a long-distance with it. It fits into your bag conveniently. Unlike most manual breast pumps, the medela harmony doesn’t produce any noise, so you don’t need to worry about disturbing your neighbor next door or disturbing your colleagues at your workplace.
You can also decide to be discreet with this manual pump. This pump includes a 24 mm breast shield for breast protection. This doesn’t mean other medela breast shields units will not fit as well on your breasts. This means you’ll be able to set it up in the most comfortable way for your body.
Medela harmony manual pump is also a low budget pump. As far as safety is concerned, this manual breast pump is BPA-Free, which means any part of milk touches is safe ad hygienic for breastfeeding.
Features
Easy and convenient for mothers who pump occasionally. The handle is topnotch and enhances comfort
Easy to use and you can adjust the suction levels for more optimal performance and flow of breastmilk. With the stimulation and expression phases, you can control how milk flows and create a slower sucking cycle.
Medela harmony manual pump is uniquely designed to pump milk in less time. It mimics a baby’s natural sucking rhythm for maximum comfort.
The pump includes; (1) PersonalFit, 24mm breast shield for improved comfort, (2) 150 ml breastmilk bottles with lid, bottle stand, (1) valve and (2) membranes, and a breastfeeding information guide.
Pros
- Quiet and essential to moms who value discretion
- Portable
- Easy to use
- Affordable
Cons
- Over time, the manual pump loses its suction power
- Not suitable for women who don’t have engorged breasts or huge milk supply
- Handles can be tiring as pumping deepens and can be disappointing.
3. Haakaa Manual Breast Pump
Sometimes, it’s impossible to breastfeed a baby on one breast without letting down some on the other one. Well, that extra milk won’t be a waste if you have the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump at your side.
This manual breast pump is easily the most portable breast pump out there and one of the most effective. Expressing milk is hands-free, and it’s easy to suction. All you need to do is place silicone vessel and attach it to the free side of your other breast during your letdown.
This vessel will collect the extra milk that has released from the free breast, and you can empty into a BPA-Free storage bag. This will save the milk that would have been wasted. The best thing is you don’t have put in extra effort to collect milk as it will dropping freely on the silicone vessel. The pump does the work.
Features
The Haakaa silicone manual breast pump lets you express milk in a natural suction without putting any effort! Just squeeze, attach the silicone to your breast, and make it pump. It is inexpensive, easy to use and clean
The haakaa breast pump doesn’t require any cords, or batteries to operate.
Sterilization is accessible by merely sterilizing pump in boiling water in 2-3 minutes.
Breast Pump is lightweight, portable, and easily fit into any bag. It allows you to express milk discreetly and quickly anywhere you are.
Breast pump flange is designed to fit all kinds of breasts irrespective of size. They are made with soft silicone that is gentle and comfortable on sensitive skin.
BPA-Free, Phthalate, PVC free, and FDA approved for maximum safety.
Pros
- Easy to use and clean
- Easily affordable and effective
- Lightweight and portable. Makes it an ideal companion for travel
- Quiet
- It is BPA-Free which makes it safe for moms and babies
- Easy to sterilize.
Cons
- Usually comes as a single unit
- Doesn’t pump enough milk which means it can’t empty breast
- Silicone is light and knocks over quickly.
Final Thoughts
In terms of efficiency ad performance, electric breast pumps are much better than the manual breast pumps. However, this doesn’t mean that manual breast pumps aren’t suitable. They both serve different purposes for moms.
While electric pumps are more suitable for moms who want to express milk daily, manual breast pumps are for occasional pumping. Before purchase, ensure breast pumps are BPA-Free, and FDA approved and suits your needs.
So far, we have reviewed the best electric breast pumps, and best manual breast pumps out there according to our research. Purchasing any of them is taking the right step in the right direction.