The Best Breast Pumps for 2023: Moms Weigh In

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Spectra, Medela, Lansinoh — Which breast pump rules them all? Here’s the scoop on the best breast pumps from moms who’ve used them.

a collage of some of the best breast pumps

  • Best all-around breast pump:Spectra S1 Plus Electric Breast Pump
  • Best natural suction breast pump:Haakaa Silicone Manual Breast Pump
  • Best manual breast pump:Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump
  • Best cordless breast pump:Willow Wearable Breast Pump
  • Most discreet electric breast pump: Elvie Stride Breast Pump
  • Most comfortable manual breast pump:Philips Avent Manual Breast Pump
  • Best portable breast pump:Medela Pump in Style with MaxFlow
  • Best hospital-grade breast pump:Medela Symphony Double Electric Breast Pump
  • Best lightweight breast pump:Medela Freestyle Flex Double Electric Breast Pump
  • Best budget breast pump:Lansinoh Signature Pro Double Electric Breast Pump

Many parents don’t need a breast pump, but if you find you need one, and it’s now time to decide on a breast pump, you might be feeling overwhelmed.

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We get it! Decision making can be stressful, especially in the final stretch of pregnancy or the early months of parenting. So to offer you a bit of a breather, we’ve compiled a list of 10 of the best breast pumps on the market (and descriptions of why they might be the right match for you).

A breast pump is considered a medical device, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines it as a device that helps a lactating person maintain or increase their milk supply.

Breast pumps can be manual or electric, and they can be single expression (pumping one breast at a time) or double expression (pumping both breasts at the same time). They can also be deemed closed or open system.

Breast pump glossary

Closed system breast pump: A closed system breast pump uses a barrier between the different parts of the breast pump, such as the valve, breast shield, flanges, and connectors. These pieces (which can be a pain to clean) prevent liquid, be it the breast milk itself or the moisture from the heat of the pumping parent’s body, from affecting the electric motor. It also helps to maintain a more hygienic environment for the milk.

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Open system breast pump: Open system breast pumps don’t have this separation between the pump parts and the motor, which may cause milk to get into the motor if you use an electric pump. The milk is at greater risk of contamination with an open system.

Electric breast pump: Electric breast pumps are connected to an electronic device that creates suction. This type of breast pump is ideal for parents who pump frequently and need to express a significant amount of milk at a given time.

Manual breast pump: A manual breast pump requires you to manually remove milk from your breasts. They are more affordable.

Double pump: A double breast pump allows you to pump from both breasts simultaneously, which is the most efficient way, especially if your goal is to create an excess milk supply or if you’re pumping instead of nursing.

Single pump: A single breast pump only allows you to pump from one breast at a time, which may come in handy if you plan on pumping from one side while your baby nurses from the other.

Hospital-grade pump: These offer a higher level of suction and are more efficient than some of their less innovative competitors. Many major breast-pump brands offer hospital-grade models.

Wearable breast pump: A wearable breast pump, also known as a cordless or wireless breast pump, is a type of breast pump that you can wear in your bra and that doesn’t require being connected to cords.

Hand expression: This is the process of manually extracting milk from your breasts without a pump. You can do this by forming the letter “c” with your hand around one breast and gently squeezing from the outer breasts towards the nipple. Though not a popular way to pump, it’s certainly an option when you need it.

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