How to Choose a Breast Pump

By Ali Weatherford in consultation with Kristen Rosin, BS, IBCLC, RLC

For some families, a breast pump is an absolutely necessity. But even when it’s not, most families end up benefiting from having a breast pump at least occasionally. Either way, choosing a breast pump can be really overwhelming! There are not only dozens of brand names to sort through, but also so many different types and styles and price points. And most people reading this have never had to shop for this particular item before so might not even know where to start.  

Insurance Benefits

We recommend starting with your health insurance benefits. They should cover a standard double electric pump. This is what most parents need in most situations. The good quality pumps usually range in price from $150-$400, so it’s great savings to get this through insurance. Your insurance company will likely give you a few good options and will ask you to get a prescription for the pump from your health care provider. This is to show that you are actually receiving health care for pregnancy and therefore really do need a pump. 

Third Party DMEs

Insurance companies can sometimes make it difficult or confusing to get your pump, or even just hard to communicate with at all. You can instead choose to work with a third party company that can advocate for you. Some examples are Aeroflow, Motif Medical, and Baby List. These are Durable Medical Equipment companies (DMEs). They sell the products, and also work with the insurance companies to receive payment for the product and get you the pump you want with less hassle. Working with a DME can be a great way to make the process easier for you. They will need the prescription from your doctor, but the rest of the process can be really hands off for you from there. 

Pump Types

The type of pump you need depends on so many things, and it can be hard to know what will work best for you until you actually start pumping. The most commonly used pump types are the double electric plugin pump, the manual or hand pump, and the wearable pump. 

Double Electric Pumps

As a general rule, our IBCLCs recommend that you get the standard plug-in pump from your insurance company. These are what work best for most people under normal circumstances. They plugin to the wall, and have a flange for each breast so you can pump from both at the same time. They tend to be the most powerful, consistent, and efficient. 

Manual or Hand Pumps

These pumps work really well for some people and might end up being all they ever need. Or some people like to have one of these as a supplement to their electric pump to use when they just need a quick pumping session or to relieve some minor engorgment. It is literally a simple device that creates suction when you press a lever or trigger manually.  Because they are inexpensive and compact, it can be easy to have these on hand as another pumping option. They tend to be easier to put together, use, and clean. But they might not be the best for someone who needs to do a lot of pumping, because it can take longer to get the amount of milk you need and can be physically tiring for your hands.

Wearable Pumps

Wearable pumps are definitely a big trend right now and they’ve come a long way. They can be very effective, and allow you to pump cordlessly while you’re busy doing other things. If you need to be discreet, some of them are very low profile and can be worn inside a bra and shirt so it might even be hard to tell that you’re pumping. These are great. However, they don’t tend to offer the most consistent results. If you really depend on pumping, most people benefit from having the plug in type of electric pump. The motors tend to be a little more powerful, or at least work at a more consistent level since they’re plugged in to a power source instead of a battery pack which loses some of its power as it’s being used. A lot of people like to have a wearable pump as a supplement to their plugin pump so they can use it in certain situations, but not rely on it completely. They can be on the expensive side though. 

What About Hospital Grade Pumps?

There are a lot of pumps on the shelves that are marketed as “hospital-grade” or “hospital-strength”. Be careful with those. They are most often not the same as an actual hospital-grade pump. If the pump costs much less than $2,000 it is very likely not at the same level as the pumps you will find in a hospital. A true hospital-grade pump is multi-user, meaning it’s a closed system and safe to use even if other people have used it before. Nothing that touches your body or milk is used again, and the body parts and milk can not make contact with any other pump parts. A true hospital-grade pump is more powerful than other pumps. It’s designed to work in a clinical setting when special breastfeeding support is needed to increase milk supply or replace direct breastfeeding such as when a baby is in the NICU. And finally, a true hospital-grade pump lasts longer. It is a very high quality piece of equipment which can be used for multiple breastfeeding lifespans. Most standard pumps will wear out after you’ve used it for one or maybe two babies, but a hospital-grade pump is designed for very long term use. 

Used Pumps

Getting a used pump can be very tempting. You might see them listed at great prices, but in general, we advise against using second-hand pumps. If the pump is a closed-system or multi-user unit like a hospital-grade pump, it might be safe enough. But even then, it’s important to get it from a reliable source. It likely won’t be under warranty, and it can be hard to tell how it was used before, or how long it will last. Especially if you are getting a closed-system pump from a friend or family member and you know its history, it might be worth a try. 

Choosing a Pump Brand

Our IBCLCs usually recommend that you select a well-known, reputable brand that specializes specifically on manufacturing breast pumps rather than a brand primarily known for something else like bottles. Insurance companies also usually cover the purchase of those more tried and tested and reliable brands. You might also hear good recommendations from family and friends who have some experience using a pump.  

Pumping Protocol

Beware of any source that tells you that you MUST follow a particular protocol for pumping. Some sources will say you should never pump in the first few weeks after your baby is born because your baby might develop a bottle preference or you will negatively affect your milk supply. Others will say you have to start pumping right away if you want to have enough stored milk for going back to work or so you can have a good milk supply, or so your baby can get used to drinking from a bottle. 

Our lactation consultants would likely say that any of these things might be true, but it completely depends on the parent and the baby. In general, as long as things are progressing normally, it’s probably best not to start pumping right away. It can be a little stressful, cause extra work and burden for you, and for not much benefit if any.

However, sometimes it’s a necessary intervention. If a baby is in the NICU or separated from the parent for any reason, pumping from the very beginning can protect the breastfeeding journey. If a parent is experiencing a lot of stress from lack of sleep and needs to allow someone else to take a night feed every once in a while, pumping to fill those bottles and protect your milk supply can be very helpful. If you are struggling with direct breastfeeding, have a baby who is not gaining weight well, or have a true low milk supply issue, pumping can be a therapeutic intervention that many lactation consultants will prescribe. It can make the difference between breastfeeding and not breastfeeding. And finally, if your plan is to exclusively pump, you’ll need to start right away. 

Pumping is not for everyone, but it can definitely be helpful in a lot of situations. We hope that families can know that feeding your baby is a very individualized and nuanced thing. You might want or need for pumping to be part of it, but you might not. It’s not an absolute necessity, but it can be a very important piece of the plan for many families. Having a good pump and plan can make you very successful whatever you decide. A lactation consultant can help you get it figured out and give you clarity and great advice.