What You Need to Know About Your Pump Before You Buy

If you’ve never used a breast pump before and don’t have clue about how to choose one, then this is the place to be. We’ve compiled all the information that you need to know about breast pumps so that you can make an informed decision when you choose one.

When you are trying to choose a breast pump, remember it is an essential item that will ensure the health and well-being of your child. Even the most expensive breast pumps are more affordable than the cost of formula feeding for a year.

The goal is to select a pump that will very closely mimic your baby’s suckling. The more similar your pump is to your baby the more comfortable pumping will be for you and the more successful you will be at expressing milk.

Main Criteria on Which Pumps Are Judged

Effectiveness – A pump’s effectiveness is generally based on how often the pump cycles. A nursing baby sucks approximately 45 to 55 times each minute. The closer a pump is to this range the more effective it will be at drawing milk from the breast.

Pumps with cycling rates lower than 25 are likely to be ineffective at expressing milk. When a pump has a cycling rate this low the cycles tend to be longer and can cause nipple and breast pain since they are suctioned and pulled for long stretches of time. Auto-cycling pumps tend to be more effective than pumps that require the user to manually adjust cycling during a pumping session.

A pump’s suction or vacuum strength will also determine its effectiveness. The average suction strength of the breast pumps available today range from 0 mm Hg to 250 mm Hg. A pump with a vacuum above 250 mm Hg could cause severe pain.

Durability – Not all breast pumps are created equally. Some have durable motors that are designed for frequent, daily pumping while others have smaller motors, which are only recommended for occasional pumping. Because of these differences in durability, how often you plan to pump is an important factor when it comes to choosing your pump.

If you use a pump more often than its recommended purpose, you may wear out the motor prematurely and shorten the pump’s lifespan.

Type of Pumping – There are three types of pumping actions including single, double alternating and double simultaneous.

Single pumps allow you to pump one breast at a time and are appropriate for occasional pumping. Occasional pumping refers to pumping once a day. This type of pump is usually suitable for a stay-at-home mom or a mom who works part-time.

Double alternating pumps stimulate both breasts but at alternating times. When suction is created on one side, it is released on the other. While alternating pumping offer more stimulation than single pumping, these pumps are still not as efficient at pumping as double simultaneous pumps.

Double simultaneous pumps stimulate both breasts at the same time, and offer the most superior pumping available. When using a double simultaneous pump, most moms are able to cut their overall pumping time in half and increase their milk production.

Comfort Level – The breast shields that are used with a pump will have an affect on how comfortable it is to use. Some pumps come with an included one-size fits all type of breast shield, which can be uncomfortable for moms with larger breasts and/or nipples and can hinder their milk output.

A pump’s cycling also affects its comfort level. Auto-cycling pumps are usually more comfortable for pumping moms as well since manual cycling often results in the suction lasting too long.

Motor Noise Level – Although the noise level of the pump motor may not be the most important aspect of the pump, it may be a feature that you are concerned about especially if discretion is important to you. For some mothers, a noisy pump motor can be a distraction while pumping.
In general, larger motors tend to be quieter while smaller motors are louder.

Power Options – While an AC adapter is often the most reliable power source, it may not be the most convenient option in all situations. When choosing a pump, consider where you will be pumping. Will there be times when an electrical outlet is not available? Do you travel often? If so, then you may need to choose a pump that offers a car adapter and/or the ability to run your pump on batteries as alternatives.

Portability –The portability of the pump can be a major factor in your decision if you will be pumping often since you will need to take the pump with you wherever you are going. The pump’s portability can be determined by the weight, power options and carry bag option.

Cleaning and Safety Concerns Regarding Breast Pumps

Daily cleaning – Thoroughly cleaning your breast pump’s washable parts after use is an important step in keeping your baby healthy. All parts that are exposed to breastmilk or your breast should be washed in hot soapy water, rinsed and air-dried after each use.

Sterilizing – Most breast pump manufacturers recommend sterilizing all the washable parts of your breast pump once a day. There are several sterilization methods available including boiling parts on the stove, sterilizing in a dishwasher that reaches 140 degrees, using a microwave sterilizer or an electric sterilizer.

Used breast pumps – Borrowing or buying a used breast pump is not recommended because breast pumps are considered personal hygiene items. Several potential health risks associated with using a previously used breast pump. Some of these risks include the presence of cytomegalovirus (CMV), hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) or other viruses on the pump parts that were exposed to the previous mother’s breastmilk.

If you are considering borrowing or buying a used breast pump, you should be aware that not all pump parts can be washed and sterilized. The best way to avoid these potential risks is to only use a new, unused personal breast pump. Although personal use breast pumps are not safe to share, hospital grade rental pumps are approved for multiple users as long as each mother uses her own collection kit.

How Do the Major Pump Brands Measure Up to One Another?

Best Pumps – The top rated breast pump brands include Ameda, Avent and Medela. These pump brands receive the most satisfactory customer reviews across the board.

Ameda breast pumps have been a trusted name in hospitals and with lactation consultants for more than 50 years. The Ameda was the first manufacturer to introduce a closed collection system to consumers. The patented HygieniKit is the only collection system approved by the FDA to preserve the purity of expressed milk.

Avent is one of the most popular infant feeding brands in the country. For over 10 years, Avent has had the most popular manual breast pump, the Isis. The popularity of the Isis led Avent to develop the Isis iQ series of electric breast pumps.

Medela has been a major manufacturer of breast pumps in the U.S. for more than 20 years. While Medela has built up their reputation with hospitals and lactation consultants, their popularity with consumers has begun to dwindle since they have failed to adopt closed system collection for their pumps and have restricted online retailers from selling them below retail prices.

Worst Pumps – Evenflo, Gerber and First Years are amongst the brands of pumps with the poorest customer reviews. These pumps often fall short of customers’ needs and expectations – express milk inefficiently and often cause nipple pain. Pumps from these brands tend to be the cheapest options available, and they have less than adequate manufacturer’s warranties.

Other Available Pumps – Dr. Brown’s, Lansinoh, Playtex and Whisper Wear are lesser-known breast pump brands on the market.

Dr. Brown’s is a popular manufacturer of infant feeding bottles, which are designed to mimic breastfeeding. The Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow breast pumps were introduced in 2006. The pumps use pulsating massage and nipple compression to give mothers a pumping experience that feels more comfortable and natural.

Lansinoh was founded by a breastfeeding mother more than 20 years ago to provide other breastfeeding mothers with pure lanolin. Since then Lansinoh has begun to offer other breastfeeding products including a double electric breast pump (which is very similar to the Ameda Purely Yours) and a manual breast pump.

Playtex has manufactured infant feeding products since 1960. Playtex worked closely with Dr. William Sears M.D., well-known pediatric specialist and author, to develop their line of breast pumps. The Playtex breast pumps all use dual action massage and suction to mimic a baby’s natural nursing more closely.

Whisper Wear introduced the first hands free breast pump to the market about 4 years ago. While the hands free concept strives to provide moms with the utmost in convenience, the pump design fails to perform efficiently.

Bailey Medical is a lesser-known pump brand that has been on the market for the past 20 years. Bailey Medical offers a reasonably priced double electric pump, the Nurture III, which has been approved safe for multiple users by the FDA.

Open System vs. Closed System – What’s the difference?

Recently there has been a lot of discussion over whether closed system breast pumps are really better than open system breast pumps. The basic difference between the two types of pump is that closed system pumps have a diaphragm that separates the pump’s tubing from the collection bottle and breast cup.

A closed system’s diaphragm acts as a barrier, which protects expressed milk from outside air that is being drawn through the pump’s tubes, and it prevents milk from leaking into the tubing. Since this barrier is in place, closed system pumps are considered more hygienic because expressed milk is never exposed to the pump tubing or motor, and the tubing never requires washing or sterilizing.

If you use an open system pump, there is no barrier in between the tubes and milk collection so there is a chance that milk will leak into the pump’s tubing. Most moms see this an more of an inconvenience than anything since you have to then wash, sterilize and air dry the tubes before pumping again. However, some moms say small amounts of milk can get into the pump tubing without you noticing because mold was found in their tubes, but they had not had a milk leak.

If mold is in the tubes then you may have other problems because that means the air going through the pump has been exposed to the mold – the same air that is exposed to the pump motor and your expressed milk. Most pump manufacturers are now switching to a closed system design to prevent these potential problems.

Once you have determined which type of breast pump will be best suited for your pumping needs, you can begin to compare the different models that you are interested by looking at the Breast Pump Specs that we have compiled and read Breast Pump Reviews written by other pumping moms.