Considerations: Choosing a Pump

With an ever-increasing number of pump options out there, it can be overwhelming to choose one! Here are a few things to consider when making this choice!

1. Do you need a pump?

Not every nursing parent needs a pump. In fact, even those parents who will express their milk (rather than feed their baby "straight from the tap") don't always need a pump. If you're planning to induce lactation, return to work, or exclusively pump then purchasing a pump in advance is probably good idea. If you want the option of expressing your milk if something doesn't work out (for example, if your baby doesn't latch on right at birth), consider hand expression! Research shows that hand expressing instead of pumping in the earliest days after birth is associated with making more milk in future weeks and months!

2. Manual or electric?

For infrequent expression, or in situations where you may not have the space and power for an electric pump, a manual pump can be really convenient. If you will be nursing most of the time but want to option of expressing for the occasional time away, a manual pump works well. If you are going to be returning to work or otherwise pumping multiple times a day, you'll probably want an electric pump so you're freed up to do other things while pumping. That said, some parents who have both a manual and an electric find that they express more milk for one or the other.

3. Single or double?

The most common use of a single pump (only pumping one side at a time) is to express milk on one side while the baby nurses on the other. Double pumps can be used as single pumps. Single pumps are less expensive.

4. Power Options

Electric pumps have a few options for powering these days. Some must be plugged in to a standard wall outlet, while others use batteries or a rechargeable battery pack. Many companies have adapters available to plug a pump into your car's lighter jack as well. Consider how and where you'll pump. If you have a job that requires you to turn your car into a mobile office, battery or car adapters are going to be important for you.

5. Availability of replacement parts

Breast pumps have parts that regularly need replacement. They also have parts that can easily be misplaced, left at home/work, or destroyed by the family pet (or preschooler!).

One solution to this is always having replacement tubing, valves, and membranes on hand. If planning ahead in this manner is not your style or strong suit, you might consider a brand of pump whose replacement parts are available locally to you. Stop in to your local super stores and drug stores and take note of what parts are available for which pumps.

6. Current reviews and experiences from parents

I encourage you to start getting into parent and lactation support groups while you're expecting, and the ever-changing world of pumps is one good reason to do this! Pump companies change their line up and features offered frequently. Sometimes a change can impact how comfortable or how efficient the pump is. New companies are springing up with very different designs and methods for removing milk.

I do my best to keep up, but I generally do this by listening to parents who are currently pumping! Look for groups (in person or on Facebook) like Breastfeeding USA or La Leche League. Ask around about local parenting or lactation support groups (again, online or in person) as well as the less local ones.

7. Other features

Current pumps have so many different potential features that I can't cover them all here, but I'll mention a few.

• 2-phase expression: This essentially means mimicking the short, quick sucks by a baby at the beginning of a feeding followed by longer, deeper sucks after milk begins flowing. Though you can do this with essentially any pump, some switch from the first phase to the second automatically and/or with the push of a button rather than requiring you to change settings.

• App connectedness: just like with any app-connected device, sometimes the connection goes awry or the information or features you want aren't actually available in the app. Having a log of how much milk is in your freezer (and how old it may be), how much you've pumped day-to-day, and how many wet and dirty diapers your baby has had for the past week can be really valuable. It can also be done with pen and paper, or with an app that isn't associated with or connected to your pump. While some parents may find these helpful - or simply fun and interesting - they can also be a source of unnecessary worry.

• Closed system and multi-user pumps: These pumps tend to be more expensive, but they're able to be shared and the motors tend to last longer. Some companies provide these pumps and require employees to only bring their own pump kit to work. These are also the type of pumps that hospitals have available and that are rented out by hospitals and lactation consultants. These are the only type of pump meant to be used by multiple people.