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The 5 best breast pumps, according to years of testing and insight from lactation specialistsWhen you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. The evolution of breast pumps has come a long way since J.H. Hoover's original patent in 1898, and even look a bit different than the first consumer-targeted pumps marketed by Medela in 1991. But despite the endless amount of options available today, there still isn't one that's considered perfect. The quest for the ideal pump that suits both your body and situation is a trying one. As a mother of four, I'm no stranger to this unique pursuit and have tested just about every available pump in order to find a quiet, gentle unicorn that produces the most milk possible. Sadly, I'm here to say it just doesn't exist. But of the 13 models I tested for this guide, there are a few that come close. For expert input, I interviewed three lactation specialists and an OB-GYN. And since pumping is as unique as the many bodies in the world, it's important to note that what works for one person may not work best for you. All our experts said to consider your specific needs before buying. You'll also find answers to a few FAQs, and insight into how I test breast pumps, at the end of this guide. Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches health products. Here are the best breast pumps:Best wearable:
Elvie, $279.99 at
Elvie Best manual:
Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump and Flower Stopper Set, $26.53 at Amazon Best portable:
Motif Luna Double Electric Breast Pump, $206.16 at Amazon Best double electric: Spectra S1 Plus Electric Breast Pump, $239.99 at Buy Buy Baby Best hospital-grade:
Medela Symphony, $2,002.49 at Amazon Best wearable breast pumpAlex Frost/InsiderThe Elvie is completely hands-free, leakproof, and truly feels like a progressive pump of the future. Elvie makes the best wearable pump on the market, and it is a must-have for people who don't have the opportunity to stop and pump. Compared to the competition, the Elvie pump is basically leakproof if you follow the directions. The Willow, its main competitor, caused me plenty of tears over plenty of spilled milk. I spoke with my own lactation consultant Gillian Foreman, IBCLC, of Modern Breastfeeding and Education about this. She explained that this is the result of Willow's "flip to finish," a counterintuitive step. Instead, Elvie's pouring system allows you to dump the milk, which is stored right in the pump, into a bottle. The Elvie also has a unique storage system where you don't have to pour anything at all but can separate the milk compartments and store them quickly and easily. However, I found that water tends to get stuck in these during the washing and drying process. There are a few sacrifices to choosing this pump over a double electric. The biggest for me was output. I made significantly less milk with the Elvie compared to a traditional pump but made more milk with the Elvie versus the Willow. I attribute this to its gentle yet effective suction that felt much less like nips and more like a baby's mouth. Foreman adds that most clients see half of the normal output with wearable pumps. She also brings up another common concern with the Elvie pump. "You have to know what flange size you are. You can [use inserts] for smaller nipples but can't make it bigger," she said. "The biggest complaint I've seen is whether [the nipple] is in the middle, [and if not] there can be pain because it might be rubbing." With practice, rubbing wasn't a problem for me, and I ultimately achieved a comfortable pumping experience, but not necessarily for a full bottle each day. The pump is also not completely discreet. My 7-year-old calls the Elvie pumps "bionic boobs," and he's not wrong — the lights do show through clothing. Read more about the Elvie pump in our full review. Best manual breast pumpAlex Frost/InsiderThe Haakaa attaches to your breast, hands-free, providing a low-level suction while you do something else, like nurse on the other side. Traditional manual pumps use a one-handed pumping system where you squeeze a handle connected to the flange and pump to extract milk from the breast. The problem is that about 10 pumps in your hand is already tired. Haakaa seems to have solved this problem with a hands-free system that provides low-level suction. The pump catches milk that would be wasted if you are, say, feeding your baby on the other breast, while also pumping some milk. It's not a full replacement for an electric pump though. Instead, it perfectly fits the bill as a second pump for periodic use to relieve pressure when you are overfull, especially in the middle of the night when the baby is only up for nursing on one side. LaShanda Dandrich, director of facilitators and board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) with Chocolate Milk Cafe National, says there's a potentially harmful misconception that people need to use it all the time. "The Haakaa is usually recommended for families that have an oversupply and the baby feeds, and is satisfied, and latches great, but the breast still feels full after the feed," she said. She warns that overusing it can actually create an oversupply, as you are essentially teaching the breast that more milk is needed. "Just use the Haakaa until the breast feels a little softer," she recommended. The adorable silicone flower stopper serves as a leak-prevention plug, and it does its job well. Still, this product has a high spill risk because it can easily be kicked off by your nursing infant, or can detach periodically if the suction isn't fully sealed. But, despite a few spills, I couldn't live without it. Best portable breast pumpAlex Frost/InsiderAn on-the-go alternative to a full-size pump, the Motif Luna Double Electric Pump is a small, quiet, and easy option with serious milk output. If you plan to buy just one pump and your baby is exclusively breastfeeding, every ounce matters. This is why the Motif Luna made the cut, with one of the highest outputs of the pumps we tested. If you eliminate all other factors and simply need the highest output for your money, this is the most effective and economical choice. Portable pumps, smaller than traditional double electric pumps, have gotten a bad rap for being weak and disappointing, with motors that don't last through multiple children's nursing needs. "But this one, we've seen better results, and it's now offered through [most] insurances," Dandrich said "People like it, and when I work with people who have it, they have been getting good output." You can be sure you are choosing a good pump if the motor is strong but doesn't necessarily feel strong on the breasts, Dandrich explains, and the Luna fits this description. Foreman calls the pump impressive and cautions that people should choose the higher grade Luna, not the lower grade Duo, saying there is a dramatic difference. While the Luna has multiple parts including the connectors, valves, and flanges, they are all easily manageable, simple to handwash, and intuitive to reassemble. I particularly love the three levels of LED lighting on the pump for night use, very clear buttons that don't require a look back at the handbook, and a timer showing how many minutes you've been pumping. It's a quiet pump if you are looking to discreetly pump at work or on the go. Best double electric breast pumpAlex Frost/InsiderA true workhorse, the Spectra S1 Plus Electric Breast Pump features high output and a strong, lasting motor. My one true love, if I were to ever love a pump, is the Spectra S1. It has the highest output of all the portable pumps, and it doesn't die after you've had one or even two more kids. Jennifer Horne, a board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) with The Lactation Network, recommends Spectra with its closed system for hygiene reasons, meaning milk circulates through a hygienic route away from the pump mechanism. She also likes the adjustable settings for controlling suction levels and the letdown versus expression modes. With only this pump, I experience a second "letdown" or wave of milk halfway through pumping, which gives me a higher output. I believe this is due to the strong motor and a feel that most mimics my baby's nursing patterns. "Its suction levels are 'hospital-grade,'" Horne said. "It performs quietly and has a convenient night light for nighttime pumping." I prefer a pump where I'm not using the highest or lowest setting, so I have some ability to change it if I need it to be a little stronger or weaker that day. The Spectra S1 fits that requirement — its levels go up to 12, while I hung out in the 4 to 5 range most of the time. I wish the buttons said "stimulation" and "expression" versus wave symbols, but aside from this, the buttons, timer, and settings are user-friendly. I would like to see Spectra make a softer rimmed flange, similar to Medela's Personal Fit Flex technology that features a rubber ring instead of hard plastic. This would make the Spectra the ultimate pump. Like the Motif, the Spectra has the same traditional pump parts that are easy to clean, put together, and troubleshoot. While this pump is similar to its competitor, Medela Pump in Style, and both are almost universally offered through insurance, the Medela didn't offer a timer or time log, and you can't increase the speed, only the suction. Best hospital-grade breast pumpAmazonRenting a hospital-grade Medela Symphony might be worth it for serious output, our experts say. The only perk of being stuck in a hospital with a sick newborn was meeting the Medela Symphony. Recommended by our experts as the best hospital-grade pump, this product is the holy grail of pumps and is typically accessed by the regular consumer through a rental program at your local hospital. Horne explains that hospital-grade pumps are multi-user and specifically designed to bring in and maintain milk supply. "These pumps are often recommended in the hospital if your baby is premature or having other breastfeeding difficulties early on," she said. "They are also recommended if you are exclusively pumping, had previous breast surgery, have conditions that may affect milk supply, or are inducing lactation." As an experienced pumper, I was most excited to see 50% more milk than usual from one of my shortest pumping sessions ever. In just about 10 minutes, not my usual 20 to 25, I produced that extra milk without any extra strain or discomfort. Foreman credits the Symphony's piston motor system this pump uses, which she says is a different type from others. There are cons to these systems, mainly that they have to be plugged in and you have to go through the red tape of collaborating with insurance to rent one unless you are willing to shell out thousands of dollars to own one. Another downside to the Symphony is that there aren't many customizable settings, though some might find this beneficial — sometimes too many buttons don't play nice with just a few hours of sleep. I found it nice to just have "on," "up," and "letdown" buttons, but others may want more features. Dandrich recommended the Symphony for those who have a low supply in the first few weeks of their baby's life and for NICU parents. Though you hopefully will never need one, it's great to know such an efficient pump is available at many hospitals if you are stuck there in an emergency by yourself or with your baby. What else I testedAlex Frost/InsiderWhat else I recommend
What I don't recommend
How I test breast pumpsTo eliminate variability in output, I tested each pump at the same time every day and for the same amount of time, between 20 and 25 minutes. Below is the criteria I used to evaluate each pump:
FAQsAre breast pumps covered by insurance?Yes, many breast pumps are covered by insurance and legislation requires insurance companies to cover all breastfeeding-related services for the duration of breastfeeding, Dr. Betsy Greenleaf, DO, an obstetrician, women's health expert, and advisor at Ph-D Feminine Health, told Insider. Foreman added that you may not yet see insurers covering new hands-free pumps such as the Elvie, though some might give you the option to pay for just part of one with an upgrade fee. One of our picks, the Spectra S1 pump, is widely covered by many insurers, as is the Medela Pump in Style. Is pumping bad for your breasts?No, it is not bad for your breasts. According to Dr. Betsy Greenleaf, pumping and breastfeeding may lower the risk of breast cancer, especially if breastfed for at least a year. Sometimes, with improper use, pumping might result in a breast injury, which around 15% of breastfeeders have experienced. Foreman has seen injuries happen as a result of overpumping. People turn up pumps thinking they'll get more output and create damage from pumping too high when it's painful, she says. Be sure that you have the correct flange size or shape to prevent injury. The nipple shouldn't run against the cylinder or pull in too much of the areola, Foreman says. Long-term, pumping doesn't increase sagging or drooping in the breasts, which Foreman says is just part of hormonal changes as you age. Is it OK to just pump and not breastfeed?Yes, this is called "exclusive pumping." People may choose to exclusively pump for a number of reasons, including feeling touched out, work or school conflicts, painful latching, and dysphoric milk ejection reflex (D-MER). Foreman recommended finding support groups online for exclusive pumpers as it can be a challenging journey. Between pumping, cleaning parts, storing milk, warming up bottles, and feeding the baby, exclusive pumping takes more time. If this is your route, Greenleaf said you can still bond with your baby effectively, and it won't impair your ability to do so, especially since you might be a bit more well-rested when others can help with feeding sessions. Does breast milk lose nutrients when pumped?This is a possibility, yes. Babies are more efficient at extracting the fatty "hindmilk" that pumping can sometimes inefficiently produce. Hindmilk is "a key element for growth, hormone production, and brain development," Greenleaf says. Additionally, our skin has bacteria that can be potentially transferred to the milk more easily with pumping than breastfeeding, so she suggests following breastmilk handling guidelines. Finally, Greenleaf said that time, refrigeration, and freezing can decrease antioxidant immune factors and fat content of pumped milk. Expert sources
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Alex Frost Freelance Reporter Alexandra Frost is a Cincinnati-based freelance journalist and content marketing writer, focusing on health andwellness, parenting, real estate, education, and lifestyle. She has been published in Glamour, Today's Parent,Reader's Digest, Parents, Women's Health, and Business Insider. She is a journalism teacher, proud wife toan assistant principal, and mom of three rambunctious sons under age 5. To read more of her work or toconnect, check out her website. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Read more Read less Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals. You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here. Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at . LoadingSomething is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. More... What is the most highly rated breast pump?The Best Breast Pumps, According To Moms Who Have Tried Them. Best Breast Pump Overall: Spectra S1 Plus.. Most Versatile Breast Pump: Medela Pump In Style With Max Flow.. Best Portable Breast Pump: Medela Freestyle Flex.. [PAID] ... . Best Wearable Breast Pump: Elvie Double Electric.. Should you get breast pump through insurance?If you have health insurance coverage, we do not recommend adding a breast pump to your registry as they can be very expensive. Because the Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies to cover the cost of a breast pump, you should absolutely take advantage of this benefit.
Is Spectra or Medela better?I 100% recommend the Spectra over the Medela. Having used both (and a number of other pumps) if you have a choice go for the Spectra. Overall, it has better features and is more efficient.
How soon can you get a breast pump through insurance?Q: Do I have to wait until the baby arrives to order my breast pump? A: Nope, you can order your pump anytime during your pregnancy (or up to one year after), and Edgepark will hold onto it until the date your insurance plan says you can have it. Once your pump ships, you should get it within 1-2 days.
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