Breast Pumps - Styles

• Manual / Hand Breast Pumps

  These types of breast pumps are typically used for one breast at a time and are considerably less expensive to purchase than the electric/battery-operated style of breast pump. They are great for providing the occasional bottle of breast milk. This type is also convenient when you’re out and about with your baby and have uncomfortable, full breasts but do not want to carry a large electric breast pump. A manual/hand pump can be used to stimulate breasts for increasing milk supply; it’s easily concealed, discreet, and convenient.

• Disadvantages:

  You can only pump up to approximately 25 times per minute (the physical limitation of your hand before it becomes fatigued) -- and it can take 20 minutes of continual breast pumping to drain one breast. Your hand often tires before you can effectively drain the breast!
• Many women who have previously “given up” on breast pumping have done so after depending on a manual/hand breast pump. We do not recommend this type of pump if you plan to pump very often. They may be cumbersome to use and some women have had difficulty pumping a significant quantity of milk.

• Single Electric Pumps

  Some women find these breast pumps to be more convenient than hand pumps. A single electric breast pump cycles more rapidly – up to 35 times per minute. They can be electric, battery-powered or both. Single electric breast pumps take 10-20 minutes to drain one breast effectively. These pumps vary in efficiency. Keep in mind that it usually takes twice as much time to drain both sides using a single electric breast pump than it does when using a double electric pump.

• Self-Cycling Breast Pumps

  These breast pumps allow the user to control the level of suction. They can be very effective at draining the breasts but you need to use caution while breast pumping so you do not damage your breasts. They can be used to pump on one side or both sides simultaneously.

• Double Electric Retail Breast Pumps

  Double electric pumps can cycle up to 64 times per minute, cutting your pumping time in half. Most moms are able to effectively drain both breasts within 10-20 minutes. There are two types:
  1. The first is designed for “Occasional Use” and is just that – it is for providing an occasional bottle of breast milk. They are not as expensive as those designed for “Full-Time Use.”
  2. The second is designed for “Full-Time Use.” These are also called professional breast pumps (e.g., Pump in Style™, Purely Yours™, etc.) They are typically more efficient and effective in maintaining or increasing milk supply than a single electric pump. They have more durable motors but not as durable as rental/hospital grade rental pumps.
• The double electric retail pump is considered a “single-user” pump because it cannot be effectively sterilized; hospitals and certified lactation consultants are not legally able to rent these to multiple women for this reason. However, with that said, there is currently an aftermarket for both purchasing and selling these pumps online as mentioned previously. If you choose to purchase a used pump, we recommend you purchase a new milk collection kit. This kit is what “connects” the pump to the mom and contains parts such as tubing, breast shields, collection bottles, etc.

• Rental Breast Pumps Rental

  Rental pumps have very durable motors and are designed: 1) To bring in a mom’s milk supply (help it start flowing); 2) For moms who are pumping exclusively (e.g., moms of premature babies who cannot breastfeed effectively, moms who are separated from their babies moms who choose not to or are otherwise unable to breastfeed and would still like to provide breast milk for their babies, etc.); 3) For more frequent, long-term pumping. The main differences between a rental/hospital grade pump and a professional double electric pump are the durability of the motor, the price, and the fact that a rental/hospital grade pump can be sterilized for multiple users, unlike the professional double electric retail pumps which are considered single-user pumps (designed for only one person’s use.)

• Next...

Breast pumps are available for purchase through local nursing/baby stores, pharmacies, hospital gift shops, some lactation consultants, as well as on-line.