Breast pumps are great tools to help you feed your baby breastmilk without actually being with your baby. Whether you pump because you are at work, or you pump so that your partner can give your baby a bottle to bond more with your infant, pumping breast milk has many advantages for both you and baby. Finding a breast pump that is both efficient and effective is key to helping you navigate pumping breast milk, and the right breast pump should help increase milk supply and lactation.
Medela and Spectra, two leading breast pump manufacturers, both produce personal breast pumps that should help you produce and pump breast milk to nourish your infant. Both brands produce top-of-the-line personal breast pumps that quietly and efficiently help you pump, but there are some key differences.
Medela first introduced personal breast pumps in 1996 and has been a market leader ever since. Widely available, Medela breast pumps are sometimes covered by your insurance and are an excellent choice for new and experienced parents. If you want to view quality breast pumps from other brands, check out these top picks from the staff at BestReviews.
There are a number of reasons why parents have trusted Medela for more than 20 years. Medela’s personal breast pumps are highly portable, meaning they are easy to take to the office or pack in a suitcase. Most Medela breast pumps are double breast pumps, meaning you can quickly pump both breasts and move on with your day. They are easy to set up and use and allow you to adjust the pumping speed to what works for you. If a piece of your pump gets damaged or broken, it is easy to find replacement parts so you aren't in a bind. Lastly, Medela breast pumps are quiet.
Although Medela breast pumps are an excellent choice for parents, they do have a few drawbacks. First, some Medela breast pumps are open system pumps, meaning these breast pumps are single-user only and should not be shared because there is a high chance for cross-contamination.
Some users complain that Medela’s highly portable breast pumps cycle through batteries quickly and they are consistently buying more. Medela breast pumps also have a shorter warranty lifespan than other breast pumps on the market. Lastly, some users complain that, although the Medela breast pumps aren’t terribly loud, they are a bit too loud to use in the same room as a sleeping baby or in a public space where you are wanting to be discreet.
Medela Pump In Style with MaxFlow: available at Amazon and Buy Buy Baby
This double electric closed system breast pump is comfortable to use multiple times per day and comes with a carrying case for pumping away from home.
Medela Freestyle Flex Breast Pump: available at Amazon and Buy Buy Baby
Weighing less than one pound, this double-breast pump comes with a USB-chargeable battery and is perfect for an on-the-go lifestyle.
Debuted in 2011, Spectra breast pumps are top-quality pumps available at a reasonable cost. Some Spectra breast pumps may be covered by your insurance, so be sure and explore that option to save on your bottom line. For top double breast pumps from other brands, check out this article from BestReviews.
Spectra breast pumps are a favorite with parents, and for good reason. Spectra breast pumps offer a number of top features that make these breast pumps an excellent choice for your pumping needs. First, Spectra breast pumps are whisper-quiet. This feature will come in handy if you are pumping in the same room as a sleeping baby or slumbering spouse. Spectra breast pumps are also designed for maximum comfort, and you can customize the speed with which you pump to minimize painful sensations.
Some Spectra breast pumps even feature night lights and timers on their breast pump displays, providing bonus features that can prove invaluable in those early weeks and months of pumping. Spectra breast pumps also come with two-year warranties, meaning that you are covered if something goes wrong with your pump for quite a while. And because Spectra breast pumps are closed system breast pumps, it is also possible to share these breast pumps with others — although be sure to purchase new, sterile parts for the machine before using a preowned Spectra breast pump.
Spectra breast pumps tend to be a bit more cumbersome than other models, and if you are looking to be on the go with your breast pump frequently, you may find that other models suit your needs more. It is also harder to come by extra parts for your Spectra if one of the pump’s pieces should become lost or damaged.
Spectra S1 Plus Premier Portable Double Electric Breast Pump: available at Amazon and Buy Buy Baby
Portable and rechargeable, this Spectra breast pumps offers 12 suction levels and 5 levels of cycle speed, as well as 5 massage levels for maximum comfort while pumping.
Spectra S2 Plus Premier Double Electric Breast Pump: available at Amazon and Buy Buy Baby
Weighing on two and a half pounds, this double electric breast pump is both quiet and discreet. All the parts of the machine that come in contact with breast milk are BPA-free.
Both Medela and Spectra breast pumps are top of the line, and you really can't go wrong with either brand. While Medela's breast pumps are slightly more portable, the Spectra breast pump is the winner here because of how customizable the settings are. Being able to control the speed with which you pump as well as the suction and massage settings will enable you to be as comfortable as possible while nursing, whether you are pumping at home or elsewhere. Stephanie Jarrett is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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