Valves, membranes, flanges – no we’re not talking science, we’re talking breast pumps. With so many options in the market, buying a breast pump can be a tall order, especially when not all pumps will fit you like a glove, and there’s no such thing as a test-run. P.s. most of these pumps don’t come cheap.
Whether it is you’re trying to stockpile a freezer full of milk in preparation for going back to work, or a new exclusively-pumping mama cause baby just won’t latch well, here’s a list of the top eight breast pumps in the market so you won’t have to pore through the spec sheet.
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Bless the folks at Hegen. They heard your prayers and decided to make a pair of portable breast pumps that don’t have deafening loud motors or take up your entire night stand. Meet the Hegen PCTO™ Double Electric Breast Pump (SoftSqround™).
Choose between 5 modes: single, double, manual, massage, and pump and massage.
Image credit: Hegen
Don’t judge a book by its cover. This small but mighty machine has 36 expression modes so you can find one that resembles your baby’s suckling motion. With flanges made of Hegen’s soft silicone, a pumping session will leave you feeling comfortable and less like a cow being milked.
The pump consists of parts that are easy to clean and put together. One of which is a massager which helps knead out knotts, relieve soreness, and stimulate milk production.
Power supply: Rechargeable battery
Tubing: Yes
Low-noise night mode: Yes
Price: $495
Get the Hegen PCTO™ Double Electric Breast Pump (SoftSqround™)
Image credit: Spectra
Those who’ve rented breast pumps from hospitals after delivering will be familiar with the Spectra S1+’s powerful suction. Pulling its weight as a hospital-grade pump, this double electric pump has almost 200 positive reviews from mums online and boasts a closed system backflow protector that prevents the pesky problem of milk being sucked up the tubing to the motor.
Its solid body also houses a rechargeable battery that will easily grant you three-hours of wireless pumping on the go. You’ll also be able to tailor the speed and suction settings to a T, and switch to let down mode with a touch of a button.
Bonus feature: the built-in bottle holder on the pump body will prevent your freshly pumped breast milk from spilling all over the place when you’re busy disconnecting the pump parts.
Power supply: Lasts up to three hours on a charge. Rechargeable battery.
Tubing: Yes
Low-noise night mode: Yes
Price: From $275
Get the Spectra S1+ Double Electric Breast Pump
Image credit: @mumdreams.kz
Having customisable suction strength is something most mums look for in a breast pump, but fiddling around with the “+” button just to get your preferred setting can get real tiresome especially if you’re in a hurry.
Solving this problem is the Medela Freestyle Double Electric Breast Pump that has a memory function that stores your preferred suction settings every time you pump. This way, all you need to do is plug and press start.
Not only is it pocket-sized and clippable, this 370g pump has a two-phase expression technology known to mimic your baby’s natural sucking rhythm and optimise milk expression to give you 18% more milk on average.
Power supply: Rechargeable battery
Tubing: Yes
Low-noise night mode: No
Price: $549
Get the Medela Freestyle Double Electric Breast Pump
Image credit: @taramdx
If a painful latch and blistered nipples are what drove you to the pump life, then you’ll like the Philips Avent Double Electric Breast Pump and its cushioned flanges. Not just designed for comfort, the soft cushioned sides of the flange are also able to warm up to relieve clogged milk ducts and massage your breasts to stimulate the release of milk.
Also featuring a closed system, the pump also is designed to allow you to lean back while pumping, a luxury that most other pumps don’t afford due to backflow of milk. Noise-wise, this pump is on the quieter side, so you won’t need to worry about waking the baby if you’re pumping in the same room!
Power supply: Battery-operated
Tubing: Yes
Low-noise night mode: Yes
Price: $499
Get the Phillips Avent Double Electric Breast Pump
If you’ve ever been in desperate need to express your milk whether driving or while rushing some important work in the office, the Baby Express Be Free Wearable pump will be your dream come true.
Small enough to fit snugly in your hand, this pump is completely free of tubing so you can go hands-free. Fit it into bras with roomier cups or stretchy nursing bras and you’ll unlock the ability to do all sorts of things like chores and even walking the dog. And if you’re wondering if the small motor can contest other full-sized pumps, the reviews speak for themselves.
Power supply: Rechargeable battery
Tubing: No
Low-noise night mode: Yes
Price: $84.90
Get the Baby Express Be Free Wearable Breast Pump
Image credit: @princesssher
Big sister to the Be Free Wearable, is the Baby Express Be Mini Electric. While this pump won’t fit into the cup of your bra, you’ll still be afforded the freedom to move about with the help of a pumping bra to keep it in place. It also has nine levels for both stimulation and expression mode and three nipple correction modes to make pumping a lot easier for those with inverted nipples.
Power supply: Rechargeable battery
Tubing: No
Low-noise night mode: Yes
Price: $80.01
Get the Baby Express Be Mini Electric Breast Pump
Image credit: Carousell
Possibly the cheapest breast pump to date, the Real Bubee Double Electric pump weighs in at just 196G and costs $29.90 – portable for you to tote around in your bag. It’s also pretty impressive then that this budget options sports 18 suction modes for you to tailor it to your own preferences and it comes with universally sized flanges that work for most mothers.
It won’t run as long as the other lightweight pumps in the market but you’ll get a solid 1-2 hours’ use from it on the go, and you’ll be able to juice it up with a portable charger.
Power supply: Rechargeable battery, Power adapter, USB cable
Tubing: Yes
Low-noise night mode: Yes
Price: $32.31
Get the Real Bubee Double Electric Breast Pump
Image credit: Shopee
Even though we’re told that babies were surrounded by perpetual noise in utero, babies in real life can be woken at the drop of a pin. If you’re constantly tip-toeing around your sleeping baby, the Cimilre S6 Plus will solve your night-pumping problems.
Touting the quietest monitor of them all – this hospital-grade pump is said to produce noise that is equivalent to a whisper and has a rechargeable battery that can last four hours on a single charge. Toggle between five pump cycles and 12 expression levels to drain every last drop.
There’s also an LED night light so you won’t have to fumble with your equipment in the dark.
Power supply: Rechargeable battery
Tubing: No
Low-noise night mode: Yes
Price: $269
Get the Cimilre S6 Plus
Pumping milk can be really dreadful especially when you have to do it multiple times a day – but these pumps will help you make those sessions a lot more bearable. If you’ve yet to plunge into the world of bottling your own milk, this overview of the best pumps in the market can invest in the right one to help you stretch nature’s gift for as long as possible.
Check out our other articles on handy everyday appliances:
Original article published by Deborah Gan on 17th September 2020. Last updated by Samantha Nguyen on 12th December 2022.
Image adapted from: Spectra and The Baby Loft
This article contains partial partnership content. However, all opinions are ours.
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