Which breast pump is better to choose: manual or electric, rating of popular models

Women often experience discomfort during lactation. Especially often in mothers, the lactation period is the first time after childbirth that causes anxiety. Excess milk, lactostasis, nipple cracks - all this overshadows the joy of maternity. To alleviate the condition of a woman, a breast pump can be used. We determine the rating of breast pumps recognized as the best on the market according to Yandex.Market.

Types of breast pumps

All devices for expressing milk are divided into electric and manual (mechanical). The principle of operation of each of them is already clear from the name: a mechanical one requires physical effort, and an electrical device is connected to the network. There is still a middle ground between these two species, they will be discussed below.

Mechanical

Mechanical breast pumps have the following classification:

1. Pump-action - consists of a transparent funnel horn to which a rubber balloon is attached. The principle of operation of the pump device is simple: the free edge of the funnel must be applied to the chest, then squeeze and expand the balloon with rhythmic movements. These models are the easiest to use, their performance is low, but the low price justifies many shortcomings.
   

   Pump Breast Pump

2. Pear. To some extent, this manual breast pump resembles a pump, but there is an important difference between them - the apparatus with the pear has a bottle in its kit to collect sterile breast milk. Also here the cylinder is attached not close to the horn, but through a small rubber hose. This option is also budget, but more productive and convenient than the previous one.
   

   With pear

3. Syringe - consists of two plastic cylindrical containers, one of which is superimposed on the nipple, and the other works in a similar way to the syringe: it moves the milk to flow back and forth.
   

   Syringe pump

4. The piston unit is an advanced syringe model.It is more convenient than a syringe due to the simplified design. To express milk, you need to tightly attach the funnel to the nipple and begin to rhythmically press the lever. The piston unit is highly efficient, requires little effort, but costs more than other types of manual breast pumps.

Piston

Electric breast pumps

Network-powered milk decanters do not have as many assortments as manual ones.

The principle of operation of all electric drafts is approximately the same. This is a good assistant who does all the work himself, mother can only install the funnel of the device to the chest, then press the “start” button to start the process. In some models, an additional display backlight is built in, settings for expressing intensity are available.

Electric milk pump with display Calypso Ardo

As a separate subspecies of electric milk pumps, electronic ones stand out. They appeared recently, but have already managed to get the recognition of many mothers. Electronic breast pumps are more technologically advanced than electric ones due to the integrated innovative microprocessor. They have a digital display, mode settings and the ability to save these settings for future use. Clinical breast pumps used in maternity hospitals are electronic.

Medela electronic device

Be careful! Not the most conscientious manufacturers can give out ordinary electric devices for electronic ones. These definitions are similar to each other, but mean slightly different products, their price will also differ.

Which breast pump is better: manual or electric

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of manual and electric breast pumps.

Manual ones have the following advantages:

• settings for expressing intensity;
• ease of disassembly / assembly;
• no need to change batteries or look for a source of connection to the mains;
• a mechanical device will not break even after prolonged intensive use, since there is nothing to break;
• low price in comparison with electric milk pumps.

And now for the disadvantages:

• physical effort is required when expressing;
• low productivity.

Pluses of electric breast pumps:

• -Mom can relax during pumping;
• - thanks to good performance, the "front" and "back" milk are expressed.

No matter how good the electrical apparatuses, they also have disadvantages:

• risk of breakage (like any electrical appliance, it can suddenly break);
• dependence on sockets or batteries;
• noisy;
• high price.

Mechanical or electric breast pump: which one is better? It all depends on what kind of requirement the mother herself makes to the device. Not everyone will like the electric milk pump, which is also noisy. Mechanical also has specific characteristics: it requires the application of physical effort, and pumping with it takes longer.

Universal breast pumps

The universal model can work both from a network or batteries, and without an energy source. That is, if for some reason there is no access to electricity or the batteries “sit down”, the universal breast pump can be used as an ordinary mechanical one. Such a device costs slightly higher than the electric one, but its advantages are obvious.

Rating of the best milk expressing machines

Having determined the desired type of breast pump (manual or electric), you can consider specific models. For convenience, we will make a rating of the best manual and electrical devices according to Yandex.Market.

The best manual breast pumps

Pigeon 16733

Price - 1349 p.

Pigeon 16733

Pigeon 16733 piston unit heads the top 5 hand-held devices for expressing milk. The set includes a funnel made of silicone, a 160 ml bottle with a lid, a stand. According to reviews, it is convenient to use, the funnel does not slide off the chest, and is suitable even for sensitive nipples.

Ardo amaryll start

Price - 1840 p.

Ardo amaryll start

The Ardo Amaryll Start manual piston breast pump is second in the list of popular mechanical milk pumping devices. Included is a funnel, a 150-ml plastic bottle, a stand for it.

A special shape of the silicone nozzle imitates the baby's sucking movements, which makes the process as natural as possible, and also allows you to express a large volume of milk.

Chicco Wellbeing 05740.10

Price - 2689 p.

Chicco Wellbeing 05740.10

The complete set of this model is the simplest: a plastic bottle with a volume of 150 ml, stand, massage silicone funnel, which is suitable for sensitive nipples, in the presence of cracks or other damage.

Philips AVENT Natural SCF330 / 22

Price - 1500 p.

Philips AVENT Natural SCF330 / 22

A novelty of a well-known manufacturer is a convenient and easy-to-use device for expressing milk in an individually adjustable mode. The set includes a silicone funnel with massage effect, a 125 ml plastic bottle, a slow-flow nipple (for newborns), a lid, breast pads. This breast pump is good because it takes up little space, it is very convenient to take with you.

Medela Harmony Basic

Price - 1130 p.

Medela Harmony Basic

Closes the five best devices from Medela with a piston system for pumping milk. It includes a massage funnel, a 150 ml plastic bottle, a lid, a bottle stand. Additionally, a diaphragm valve and a spare diaphragm are included.

The breast pump operates on a two-phase principle: first, milk is called, and then direct pumping. This allows you to express milk without injuring your breast.

Best electric breast pumps

Philips Avent ISIS IQ "UNO"

Price - 7080 p.

Philips Avent ISIS IQ "UNO"

The best breast pump among electric models - Philips Avent ISIS IQ “UNO”. It does not cause uncomfortable and painful sensations, it will help to cope with lactostasis and a large amount of milk during the formation of lactation. The efficiency of the apparatus is increased due to the possibility of adjusting the intensity of expressing milk. Moms can customize the breast pump for themselves, taking into account the characteristics of the breast and lactation.

The device operates both from the mains and from batteries. The package includes a silicone funnel, a plastic bottle with a lid, stand, nipple. This breast pump can also be used in manual mode, but the pumping efficiency will be slightly lower.

Medela Mini Electric

Price - 3140 p.

Medela Mini Electric

This is a good premium device from a popular manufacturer. Quite powerful, allows to express not only “front”, but also “back” milk.

In the kit there is only a 150 ml bottle, a lid and a stand for it. You will have to buy an additional pacifier and breast pads, which is not very convenient. The device works both from a network and from rechargeable batteries.

Maman LS-AE1

Price - 2375 p.

Maman LS-AE1

The best electric breast pump in its price segment and the third in the ranking of the best by customer reviews. Expression control is available, the set includes massage silicone funnels, a plastic bottle with a lid and a stand. Works from a network.

Pigeon Pro 16738

Price - 10809 p.

Pigeon Pro 16738

Functional electric breast pump, powered by mains and battery. The built-in display allows you to configure the pumping mode (a total of 28 modes), as well as save settings. It has a two-phase decantation system.

The kit has everything you need: silicone funnels, a plastic bottle with a lid and a stand, a nipple for a bottle.

Canpol Babies EasyStart 12/201

Price - 3290 p.

Canpol Babies EasyStart 12/201

High-quality, inexpensive, no-frills electric breast pump. Powered by mains and batteries, standard equipment: funnel, bottle with lid and stand, nipple. It has 6 pumping modes, no display.

To summarize

Every mother should understand that experimentally you can determine the breast pump that will be better than the others. This is due to the fact that all women are individual, each has its own characteristics of the anatomy of the breast. Before buying, it is important to determine why a breast pump is needed. So, if a woman only needs to occasionally use the device, an ordinary manual breast pump will do.It makes sense to spend money on an expensive electronic device if regular volumetric pumping of milk is planned.

Rent a breast pump

Modern mothers have the opportunity to rent a breast pump. This will be an excellent solution in most cases, because often this device is used only in the initial period of lactation. The cost of renting an electric milk pump per month is approximately 10% of the cost of the apparatus itself.

It is better to choose a good electric breast pump right at the rental point, since the cost of renting a mechanical and electric breast pump is not much different. On average, for a month of using an electric milk pump, you will have to pay from 500 to 1000 r.