5 Things You Must Consider When Buying A Breast Pump

I knew the benefits of breastfeeding my child, and I was determined to breastfeed for at least the first year. One of the first things I had to consider was what type of breast pump to buy, and I realized that I must consider several things.

There are various brands in the market, and prices differ from $13 to $400. With the huge gap in prices, I had to ask. Will a pricier breast pump always work better? Why are there so many different types of breast pumps in the market? If you intend to breastfeed your baby, these are the things that you need to know and consider.

Having the correct breast pump flange size is essential. First, measure your nipple, then buy a breast pump that has the compatible flange size. An electric breast pump will save you time and energy than a manual breast pump, but always have one silicone breast pump to collect leaks.

If you get the wrong pump, you will be wasting money, and it will be painful and frustrating to pump. Let’s go through all the things you must consider in length so you can avoid frustration.

How to choose the right flange of a breast pump

The flange is a part of the breast pump that connects your breast (nipple and areola) to the pump and the bottle or any other milk collection devices. It consists of the breast shield covering the breast and the narrow part called the ‘flange’ that forms a tunnel for the milk to travel down to the collection device.

When purchasing a breast pump, it usually comes in the standard size of 24mm. As the flange is the part where you insert your nipple through, it should be compatible with the mother’s nipple size. The sizes vary from 21mm (US 5 cents coin), 24mm, 27mm, 30mm, and 36mm. Some other brands even have smaller or bigger sizes made available.

1. Why is it important to have the correct flange size?

Here are a few reasons why getting the correct flange size is so important.

  1. The wrong size can cause soreness and injury to your nipple or areola, such as cuts or bleeding.
  2. The soreness and injury caused will affect the amount of milk you produce, Which may affect your decision to continue on the breastfeeding journey due to the pain.
  3. If milk is not expressed correctly, it can cause blocked milk ducts.
  4. When the breast is not emptied correctly, it may result in mastitis (swollen breast with lump and fever may occur. When this happens, you may need to see a doctor)
  5. Not much milk is expressed as the flange may be too big, thus not creating a proper suction flow.

2. How do I know if my breast pump flange is the right size for me?

Here is how you can tell if you have the right-sized flange.

  1. You are not experiencing pain in your nipple or areola when pumping.
  2. Only your nipple should be inside the tunnel of the flange.
  3. You will feel that your milk is emptied properly in your breast, without residue.
  4. Your nipple should not turn white/ pale when pumping.
  5. Your nipple is at the center of the flange and it is able to move freely while being pumped.
  6. Your nipple should not be rubbing against the sides of the tunnel of the flange.

3. How to measure your nipple size

The shape and size vary from mother to mother. It even varies at different stages of your pregnancy and breastfeeding journey.

Types of Nipple Description Effects on Breast Pump
Inverted NippleThe nipple is formed inward against the areola. Do not come out even after doing the ‘pinch test’ by gently pressing the areola right behind the nipple.  It does not necessarily affect the amount of milk being expressed, but it may be hard to gauge the size of the flange without the nipple sitting inside the flange.

You may wear the Nipple Former during your pregnancy (about week 32 onwards) for a couple of hours to help draw out the nipple.
Flat NippleThe nipple is formed flat against the areola, do not come out even after doing the ‘pinch test’ by gently pressing the areola right behind the nipple.The effects are the same as the inverted nipple. Get the Nipple Former during your pregnancy (about week 32 onwards) for a couple of hours to help draw out the nipple.
Protruding NippleThe nipple is formed outward, and this is most common among women.It’s a lot easier to measure the size of your nipple and make a more informed decision before purchasing a breast pump.

Now that we understand the type of nipples, now it is time to measure your nipple size. First of all, the flange size is in millimeters, so you need to measure in millimeters as well. This needs to be done for both nipples for a better fit, as some mothers have different-sized nipples. Do also try to make sure that you are not in a place that’s too cold, as your nipple may shrink a little when exposed to the cold breeze.

A gentle reminder that 1 centimeter equals 10 millimeters.

Use a ruler or a fabric measuring tape, lay it across your nipple to measure the diameter of your nipple. In simpler terms, while standing in front of the mirror, looking straight at it, measure the circle of the nipple, from left to right. With the measurement, allow for some buffer by adding 3-4 millimeters to the measurement as your nipple will expand a little during a pumping session. It is also common to increase in sizes after few months of pumping, therefore do check when you feel discomfort while pumping.

Nipple SizeRecommended Flange Size
17mm + some buffer21mm
20mm + some buffer24mm
26mm + some buffer30mm
33mm + some buffer36mm

If you’re still unsure, there’s an easier way. Purchase this ruler, then choose the hole closest to your nipple size. Your entire nipple must fit inside the circle. The number in millimeters will tell you your nipple size.

Going on this breastfeeding journey with your baby is not easy. Not only may you be physically tired (waking up middle of the night to pump or latch your baby), but you are mentally affected too after the lack of sleep.

When your breast produces milk, it will feel as hard as a rock if not expressed on time. The pain can be unbearable sometimes, and the only way to relieve it is by latching your baby, pumping it out by hand, or using a breast pump. Our breast produces milk based on the demand and frequency of feeding on our baby. It usually becomes full in 2 hourly gaps for the first 3-6 months after your baby is born, as that is the frequency of their feeding time.

You also need to plan ahead of time to return to work after your maternity leave ends. You will need to prepare a sufficient amount of frozen breastmilk for your babies to be fed by others while you are away.

Types of breast pumps and which is the best for you

1. Manual vs Electric breastpump

Cost-wise, a manual breast pump will be cheaper compared to an electric breast pump. It is also relatively quiet without the motor’s noise, and it is handy for occasional use.

However, it may not be desirable for mothers who need to pump frequently as you will need to keep pumping the handle with your own hands, thus tiring out quickly.

An electric breast pump will save you the hassle of pumping with your own hands as the motor does it for you and is more efficient to empty the breast.

I’ve tried both types of pumps, and I highly recommend getting an electric breast pump as it saves you so much time and energy that you can go about your work while the breast pump pumps for you. I use the Spectra 9 Plus. It is cheap and does the job nicely.

2. Electric breastpump – Single vs Double breastpump

A single electric breast pump is ideal for mothers who want a backup plan and use it once in a while. Or has babies who prefer to latch on one side of the breast can pump and empty the other side of the breast using the single electric breast pump. If you’re a mother who stays at home most of the time but might need to leave the house once in a while, the single pump might be a good option.

A double electric breast pump would be able to express milk from both breasts simultaneously. It is suitable for mothers who are stocking up breastmilk for their babies. It works fast and efficiently. This might be better for you if you’re a working mother as you need to pump quickly at work. I use a double pump, as shown earlier.

3. Handsfree / Wearable breastpump

These pumps are a more discrete breast pump where working mothers can wear underneath their shirts. It frees your hands to do things like typing and even driving. It is usually wireless too, which makes it number 1 in terms of the level of discrete. If you’re a mother who spends a lot of time driving and being on the road, wants a more discrete and quiet pumping device, or can move around freely, then this is a good option.

4. Silicone breast pump

This pump is the cheapest and easiest breast pump to use. All you need to do is gently press on the opening and position it at your breast. Then release your hand, and it will gently form a suction on your breast. This creates a vacuum and allows your breastmilk to flow out and be collected. It is suitable for mothers whose breastmilk just kicked in.

While feeding on one side of your breast, you can use the silicone breast pump for the other side as a collection cup. You will waste not a drop of breastmilk. This reason is why I highly recommend all mothers to get one silicone breast pump. It has saved me so much milk during feeding time; no more waste through leaks!

They are cheap too, and you can get them from Amazon here. If you clicked on my link, it’d bring you to the one with the proper stand and cap so that it won’t topple and spill all the milk. Believe me that can happen if you don’t get the one with the stand. It also comes with a cover to keep stuff like dust out of it. If you produce a lot of milk, get the 5.4 Fl Oz option; if not, a smaller one will do.

Throughout my breastfeeding experience, this Hakka silicone breast pump is my only companion that has always been there. Every other pump I can live without for certain occasions, but not this one. It’s just so good!

5. Hospital Grade breastpump

This pump has the strongest suction and is the most durable breast pump. The FDA designed and approved it to be safe for multiple users as the designs come with barriers that prevent cross-contamination. It is usually larger and heavier, which makes it less transportable compared to other breast pumps.

This pump is meant for mothers who have premature or sick babies in the Pediatric ICU and often frequent the hospital.

Is it necessary to buy or own a breast pump?

I own the Spectra 9 Plus breast pump, and together with the Hakka Silicone breast pump, it has been invaluable. But is it essential? This is what my friend Cherish shared with me.

When she had her firstborn, she bought a popular breast pump brand but was disappointed as it could not pump out any milk. Back then, she did not know about flange sizes and nipple sizes. She has even borrowed another breast pump, a different brand, and it did not pump out much milk as well.

After all the stress and mental breakdowns, she decided to fully direct-latch-only for her baby. Her baby works as her breast pump. It worked well for her as she’s a stay-at-home mother. Even when she had her second baby, she used no breast pump as her baby was fed on demand, from breast to mouth.

She says that it helped to save her time and money as there was no need to:

  1. Wake up every few hours to pump to keep the supply of breastmilk.
  2. Wash and sanitize the breastpump parts and bottles after every pumping session.
  3. Ensure there is enough freezer space to store the breastmilk properly, or purchase a separate freezer unit to store the breastmilk.

Cherish has two healthy, beautiful girls today, and they were all fed through direct latching, no pumps. The only tool she used was the Hakka silicone breast pump to collect leaks. If you’re considering going without a breast pump, you can definitely do it.

That said, there are a few reasons or scenarios where you might need a breast pump, especially if you want to continue on the breastfeeding journey after maternity leave:

  1. If you are a working mother that intents to go back to the workforce.
  2. If you want your baby to be fed by others and enjoy the same type of bonding session during feeding time (it also frees you up to do something else while your baby is fed by someone else).
  3. If your baby is cared for by others.
  4. If your baby is a premie baby, as a premie baby has to be in Pediatric ICU care for some time and be cared mostly by nurses.

Popular breast pump myths that are not true

1. Expensive and popular brands are the best.

Going straight for the expensive and popular brand just because of their brand name might be a wrong move for some. It is better to know what your needs are and go based on that.

For example, if you can stay with your baby throughout the day daily (stay-at-home-mum or working-from-home-mum), you might only need a silicon breast pump to help you collect some of the excess milk from the other breast.

Knowing your nipple size and whether that particular brand has the size that fits you is also vital. Some brands do not allow you to use other brand’s flange inserts.

I have also heard other mothers complain about expensive brands and praise the cheaper and common brands. As for myself, I own a common brand, the Spectra breast pump, and I’m happy with it.

2. You must have a breast pump if you want to breastfeed.

This is not true because if you can be with your baby at all times, you can breastfeed directly. Why is there a need to have a pump? My friend Cherish went through 2 babies without a pump. You probably only need a breast pump is if you cannot be with your baby all the time, then you will need the breast pump to release the built-up milk and store it for later use.

If your baby drinks less than what you produce, then having a pump may be helpful. In this case, I’ll recommend you get the silicone breast pump I mentioned earlier because your milk production will soon be reduced to match your baby’s needs.

3. You shouldn’t use a borrowed or second-hand breast pump

As long as the breast pump is washed and sanitized and the parts are all in good condition, there’s no reason why you cannot use a second-hand breast pump. Having a new baby means increased expenses to many families, and a second-hand breast pump can help reduce your costs.

If a borrowed or second-hand breast pump is what you can afford at the moment, don’t be shy or feel bad about it because you’re not depriving your baby of anything. You can use the extra cash for more essential things like diapers.

It is also a good idea to borrow a breast pump and try it out to see if it’s suitable for you.

4. It is painful to pump

If you get the correct breast pump flange size, it will not be painful to pump. If you’re having pain, it’s usually because the flange size is too small. Change to a bigger one because a wrong flange size is the number one culprit to cause pain. Powerful suction from the pump can also cause pain, but most electric pumps have options for you to adjust the suction power, so you can reduce the intensity until you’re used to it.

5. You need a pump if you have larger breast

This myth stems from the idea that a larger breast produces more milk than your baby can drink. Hence it would be best if you had the breast pump to express the extra milk. This is not true.

The amount of milk you produce is related to the mammary glands in the breast and not the size of the breast. The amount of milk you produce is also related to the demand, where the more it is sucked on / pumped (demand), the more milk it will produce (supply). So for most people, if there’s not enough demand, you will not produce excessive amounts of milk.

The correct flange size will also directly affect the amount of milk supply, as explained earlier. If the flange size is too large, you will not pump much, thus signaling your brain that you don’t need that much milk and reducing your milk supply.

It is cheaper to breastfeed and pump than feed formula milk

Breast pumps can be expensive, and your upfront cost will be higher than feeding infant formula, but it is cheaper in the long term. Let’s make a comparison between breastfeeding + purchasing the necessary equipment versus feeding formula milk and see how much you can save.

Breastfeeding Cost

These are the items that you may need when it comes to breastfeeding. Note that some are optional, so you don’t have to buy everything.

ItemPrice in USDRemarksOne-Time or Recurring
Breast pump (Spectra S1 Plus Electric Breastpump)$189.00 –One-Time
Breast pad (Lansinoh Stay Dry Disposable Nursing Pads for Breastfeeding, 200 pads)$24.99Optional, it helps to absorb leaks. Some moms require a minimum of 4 pads a day, which means you’re going to need 8 boxes a year.Recurring
Milk bottles (Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic Baby Bottle, Slow Flow Breast-Like Nipple, Heat-Sensing Technology, BPA-Free – 5 Ounce) $30.35 You may need at least 4 bottles. The bottles can last you a long time, but you will need to change the teats every 3 months. Refer to this article for more info.One-Time
Bottle teats (Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic Baby Bottle Nipple Replacement)$8.99Since you need to replace the teats every 3 months, you should factor in the cost here. You’re going to need an extra 12 teats if you don’t include the one that came with the bottle.Recurring
Mini freezer (Midea MRC04M3AWW Single Door Chest Freezer)$186.90You do not need this if you already have a freezer at home with space to spare.One-Time
Breastmilk storage bags (Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags, 100 count)$13.88  You’ll need these if you need to store milk in the freezer. Do not reuse them, always use new storage bags. Assuming 100 will last you for 3 months, you’ll need to buy 4 of these. My baby direct latches, so 100 lasted me for more than a year.Recurring
Milk bottle sterilizer and dryer (Papablic 4-in-1 UV Light Sanitizer)$149.95 Although UV sanitizers are more expensive, I highly recommend you go for them. It’s much easier to use, and you can sterilize parts that can’t withstand high temperatures and, more importantly, their toys. Your kids will bite their toys, and you’ll need to make sure they are clean, get a UV sanitizer.One-Time
Milk bottle warmer (New Tommee Tippee 3 in 1 Advanced Bottle & Pouch Warmer)$42.98Optional, but very handy when you need to warm up the milk from the freezer or when you’re traveling.One-Time
Nursing cover for breastfeeding (Baby Nursing Cover & Nursing Poncho)$12.99Very handy when you need to breastfeed in a public space. Don’t spend too much on this.One-Time
Detergent for bottle washing (Babyganics foaming dish & bottle soap, pump bottle, fragrance-free, 32oz, 2 pack)$19.62Optional. Personally? I use my regular dish detergent to wash the bottles, but some mothers prefer to use dedicated detergents. We’ll assume you need 3 of these in a year.Recurring

If we assume the worst-case scenario where you have to purchase everything, and following my estimated recurring cost per year, it will cost you the following:

  1. Total cost of one-time purchases: $612.17
  2. Total cost for recurring purchases: $368.24

Infant Formula Feeding Cost

Infant formula is not the only thing you’ll need. Here are some of the extras you may need to purchase too.

ItemPrice in USD Remarks One-Time or Recurring
Milk powder for infant (Happy Baby Organics Infant Formula, Milk Based Powder with Iron Stage 1, 21 Ounce (Pack of 4)$119.96Generally, you’ll need to make a purchase every month.Recurring
Hot water flask (e.g., Stanley Classic Vacuum Insulated Wide Mouth Bottle)$30.39You’re going to need a flask unless you want to boil water during every feed.One-Time
Milk bottles (Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic Baby Bottle, Slow Flow Breast-Like Nipple, Heat-Sensing Technology, BPA-Free – 5 Ounce)$30.35You may need at least 4 bottles. The bottles can last you a long time, but you will need to change the teats every 3 months. Refer to this article for more info.One-Time
Bottle teats (Tommee Tippee Advanced Anti-Colic Baby Bottle Nipple Replacement) $8.99 Since you need to replace the teats every 3 months, you should factor in the cost here. You’re going to need an extra 12 teats if you don’t include the one that came with the bottle. Recurring
Milk bottle sterilizer and dryer (Papablic 4-in-1 UV Light Sanitizer)$149.95Although UV sanitizers are more expensive, I highly recommend you go for them. It’s much easier to use, and you can sterilize parts that can’t withstand high temperatures and, more importantly, their toys. Your kids will bite their toys, and you’ll need to make sure they are clean, get a UV sanitizer.One-Time
Milk bottle warmer (New Tommee Tippee 3 in 1 Advanced Bottle & Pouch Warmer) $42.98 Optional, but very handy when you’re traveling.One-Time
Formula milk storage container (NCVI Baby Formula Dispenser with Scoop)$ 9.89Optional, but very handy when you’re traveling.One-Time
Detergent for bottle washing (Babyganics foaming dish & bottle soap, pump bottle, fragrance-free, 32oz, 2 pack)$ 19.62Optional. Personally? I use my regular dish detergent to wash the bottles, but some mothers prefer to use dedicated detergents. We’ll assume you need 3 of these in a year. Recurring

If we assume the worst-case scenario where you have to purchase everything, and following my estimated recurring cost per year, it will cost you the following:

  1. Total cost of one-time purchases: $263.96
  2. Total cost of monthly purchases: $1552.32

Cost Comparison

Let’s make some calculations based on estimates mentioned earlier.

CostBreastfeedingInfant Formula
One-time Cost$612.17$263.96
Recurring Cost$368.24$1552.32
Total Cost for the 1st Year$980.41$1816.28
Total Cost for the 2nd Year$368.24$1552.32

That is the amount that you’ll need to spend for the first two years. We typically breastfeed for two years, and you’ll be saving a whopping $1184.08 on infant formula for the second year if you breastfeed. If you have more children, you’ll save even more!

So, although the breast pump may cost you some money upfront, you will save so much more in the long run. That said, not everyone can breastfeed, so choose whichever method is suitable. I hope this has been helpful!

J&E

James & Esther have been married for three years, have a baby boy named Nathan. Esther has a diploma in early childhood education and has been taking care of babies and toddlers since her early teens. She was a kindergarten and school teacher for many years, but today, she is a full-time mom taking care of Nathan at home while furthering her studies in early childhood education.

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