Picking Your Pump: Top 5 Questions

Finding a pump that works best for you is a big decision! Answering each question below will guide you toward whether you need a manual pump, standard pump, high-performing pump, or wearable pump. 

Direct breastfeeding is when your baby nurses from your breasts with regularity and you may or may not also pump. Direct breastfeeders who also pump may need a variety of pump types - manual, standard, high-performing, or wearable - based on other factors discussed below. 

Exclusive pumping is when no direct breastfeeding happens. You only pump and your baby is fed pumped breast milk from a bottle. If you plan to exclusively pump, the optmial breast pump will be a high-performing pump. 

Regular Separation

Regular separation from your baby includes activities like going back to work or school. For regular separation, you will need a high-performing pump. If you have a long commute and want to pump during the commute, you will want a high-performing pump that also has a battery pack or rechargeable battery. If your job or school doesn’t allow a pumping break, wearable pumps will allow continuous, discrete pumping when there is regular separation.

Occasional Separation

Occasional separation from your baby includes activities that take less than three hours at a time, like a doctor’s appointment or yoga class. For occasional separation, you may find that you rarely need to pump. If you do want to pump to leave milk for your baby, a manual or standard pump will work well for most moms.

Having the appropriate flange/breastshield size can impact your pumping comfort and effectiveness. All breast pumps come with one to four pairs of flanges in different sizes to allow you to try to find the best fit. For the most part, flange size doesn’t need to be figured out prior to buying a pump. 

It’s best to measure your nipples two weeks postpartum to figure out the size you will need ongoing. At that time, you can purchase flanges in many additional sizes if the pump you purchased does not have the correct size flange for you. Flange inserts are also available for purchase for some pumps. Inserts can adjust the flange size for the best fit. 

If you need help with flanges or inserts, Aeroflow lactation consultants are experts who can help you find the perfect flange fit to get pumping off to the best start!

Regular strength pumps will work well for most moms. 

Hospital strength pumps are labeled as such by the manufacturer and don’t have set guidelines. Because of this, the term “hospital strength” is sometimes misleading. While the suction might be stronger, stronger doesn’t always mean you will be able to express more milk. For some moms, stronger suction can be uncomfortable. 

Regular and hospital strength pumps both have similar features and are single-user pumps (meaning only one mom should use them for hygienic reasons).

Hospital grade pumps are multi-user pumps, meaning that they are used in the hospital or rented postpartum and repeatedly used by different moms. Each mom will get a pump kit that is all hers with her own flanges, bottles and tubes, but the machine is built to be used by many users. For a small percentage of moms who struggle with low milk supply, trying a hospital grade pump can help improve their supply. Insurance will only cover this pump as a rental with a letter of medical necessity, so it won’t be available on the Aeroflow website. It’s best to wait to see if you need this pump after your baby is born and use it while collaborating with a lactation consultant.

High-performing pumps come with an independent cycle and vacuum feature that has separate adjustments for cycle (speed) and vacuum (suction). Cycle is a term used to describe the number of “sucks” the pump applies to the nipple per minute. Vacuum is the term used to describe the suction applied with each cycle. Pumps with this feature can be completely tailored to your needs for an adequate milk supply when separated from your baby. Most exclusively-pumping moms and many moms who pump while working full-time prefer a pump that has these separate adjustments. This creates a large number of setting combinations that can be customized to your preference. 

The manual, standard and wearable pumps do not have a separate adjustment for both cycle and vacuum. They will typically have just one control or one adjustment that will increase and decrease the cycle and vacuum in unison. 

Each insurance company has different pumps that they will fully cover and some that require an additional out-of-pocket expense. The extra fee will be designated as an “upgrade fee” on the Aeroflow website, if applicable.

Manual Pumps are great for occasional pumping. Because they do not require electricity to operate, they are helpful as a back-up during power outages or anytime when it is inconvenient to bring your electric pump with you. To purchase manual pumps, you can use cash, your HSA (Health Savings Account), or FSA (Flexible Spending Account).

Motif Manual Silicone, Haakaa Silicone, or Medela Silicone

• Passive milk collection containers that attach to your breast usually while your baby is breastfeeding or you are pumping from your other breast
• Creates a continuous gentle suction to remove excess milk
• Effective at relieving engorgement and collecting excess milk
• Lightweight and portable

Medela Harmony Manual, Lansinoh Manual, or Philips Avent Manual

• Active milk collection using your hands to press and release the pump to remove milk
• Two-phase modes of letdown and expression allow you to control the pressure and speed of milk removal
• Effective at relieving engorgement and removing milk for occasional pumping
• Lightweight and portable

Standard Pumps are best for occasional pumping but also appropriate for regular pumping and exclusive pumping. These pumps will need to be plugged into an outlet or can be taken on-the-go with either the use of AA batteries or an internal rechargeable battery. Due to their compact size, they do not have the feature of an independent cycle and vacuum. All standard pumps have auto letdown and expression modes meant to mimic a baby's quick suckles at the start of a nursing session and slower, deeper suctions as milk starts to flow. 

Medela Pump in Style with Maxflow

• Flange sizes available between 21mm-30mm
• 1.2 lbs (no screen, timer or night light)
• External battery pack option that uses 8 AA batteries (for occasional use only. Pump works best when plugged into an outlet)
• Milk volume tracking through app; stats added manually
• 1 year manufacturer warranty

Lansinoh Smartpump 3.0

• Flange sizes available between 21mm-36mm
• 2 lbs, backlit LCD screen, and timer
• Internal rechargeable battery
• Milk volume tracking through app; stats added manually
• 1 year manufacturer warranty

Zomee Z2

• Flange sizes available between 15mm-32mm
• 2.4 lbs, backlit LCD screen, timer, and nightlight
• Internal rechargeable battery
• 2 year manufacturer warranty

Philips Avent (Corded or Rechargeable)

• Soft silicone flange for up to 30mm
• 1.8 lbs, backlit screen
• Internal rechargeable battery
• 2 year manufacturer warranty

Motif Duo

• Flange sizes available between 19mm-32mm
• 0.6 lbs, backlit LCD screen, and timer
• Internal rechargeable battery
• 2 year manufacturer warranty

High-Performing Pumps are high-quality and highly effective for regular and exclusive pumping. Some of these pumps can only be used while plugged into an outlet, and others will come with an internal rechargeable battery. They have the feature of an independent cycle and vacuum. All high performing pumps have letdown and expression modes meant to mimic a baby's quick suckles at the start of a nursing session and slower, deeper suctions as milk starts to flow. 

Motif Luna

• AC power adapter, no battery option
• Flange sizes available between 16mm-32mm
• 2 lbs, backlit LCD screen, timer and night light
• 2 year manufacturer warranty

Spectra S2

• AC power adapter, no battery option
• Flange sizes available between 20mm-32mm
• 3 lbs, LCD screen, timer and night light
• 2 year manufacturer warranty 

Motif Luna with Battery

• Internal rechargeable battery
• Flange sizes available between 16mm-32mm
• 2 lbs, backlit LCD screen, timer and night light
• 2 year manufacturer warranty

Spectra S1

• Internal rechargeable battery 
• Flange sizes available between 20mm-32mm
• 3 lbs, LCD screen, timer and night light
• 2 year manufacturer warranty

Wearable Pumps are great for occasional pumping or as a second pump and portable option to complement a high-performance pump used by moms who regularly or exclusively pump. 

Wearable pumps are designed to be worn inside the bra for concealed and nearly silent pumping. Some come with collection cups and tubes that will fit under your bra and shirt with a motor that will rest in your pocket or on your waistband. Others are tubeless, self-contained units (cups with motors) that fit inside the bra. 

All wearable pumps have letdown and expression modes meant to mimic a baby's quick suckles at the start of a nursing session and slower, deeper suctions as milk starts to flow. All wearable pumps have internal rechargeable batteries so they only need to be plugged in while charging. None have an independent cycle and vacuum.

Willow Go

• Milk volume tracking and timer through app; stats added manually
• Free of tubing
• Flange sizes available between 15mm-27mm
• 0.8 lbs
• 1 year manufacturer warranty

Motif Aura

• Milk volume tracking and timer through app; stats added manually
• Free of tubing
• Flange sizes available between 21mm-28mm
• 0.48 lbs, backlit LCD screen
• 2 year manufacturer warranty

Elvie

• Milk volume tracking and timer through app; stats added automatically
• Free of tubing
• Flange sizes available between 21mm-28mm
• 0.45 lbs
• 2 year manufacturer warranty

Willow Gen 3

• Milk volume tracking and timer through app; stats added automatically
• Free of tubing
• Flange sizes available between 15mm-27mm
• 0.8 lbs
• 1 year limited manufacturer warranty

Pro-tip: If you are pumping regularly in more than one place or if you heavily rely on pumping to feed your baby, having a second pump or back up pump is a great idea. Insurance will not cover more than one pump per pregnancy so you will need to pay for your second pump out-of-pocket.

If you are still undecided, please contact your Aeroflow Breast Pump Specialist to help you determine the best pump for you based on your health insurance coverage. 

If you have lactation or flange questions regarding your pump, your insurance may cover an appointment with an Aeroflow lactation consultant who can help you figure out the best pump for your breastfeeding goals. 

References

Eglash, A., Simon, L., and The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. (2017).  ABM clinical protocol #8: Human milk storage information for home use for full-term infants, revised 2017. Breastfeeding Medicine, 12(7): 390-395.

Elvie. (2023). Insurance breast pumps. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.elvie.com/en-us/insurance-pumps. 

Hatch, A. (2023, April 11). Breast pump features workshop.  Aeroflow Breastpumps, Asheville, NC. https://aeroflowbreastpumps.com/.

Medela. (2023).  Breastfeeding.  Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.medela.us/breastfeeding.  

Motif Medical. (n.d.). Breast pumps. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://motifmedical.com/breast-pumps. 

Spectra. (n.d.). Portable breast pumps. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.spectrababyusa.com/. 

U.S. Department of Labor. (2022). Fair Labors Safety Act protections to pump at work.  Retrieved April 14, 2023, from https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pump-at-work#:~:text=The%20law%20includes%20the%20PUMP,the%20other%20information%20provided%20below.

Willow. (2023). Willow: Hands free and wearable pumps.  Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.onewillow.com/. 

Zomee. (2023). Zomee wearable breast pump. Retrieved April 18, 2023, from https://www.zomee.com.