Choosing the right type of breast pump is very important, but it's often confusing to know which one to buy. This guide will help you learn about the different types of pumps available and which one is best for you. Please see a lactation consultant or healthcare professional if you need help with your specific situation.

• Why Use a Breast Pump?
• Things to Consider Before Buying a Breast Pump
• Guide to Ameda & Medela Breast Pumps
• Which Ameda or Medela Breast Pump is Right for Me?
• The Risks of Using a Second-Hand Pump


Why Use a Breast Pump?

Although breastfeeding is the optimal way to remove breast milk, there are times when this may not be possible or problems arise which interfere with breastfeeding. Common reasons for using a breast pump include:

Increasing milk supply
Frequent use of a breast pump, in addition to breastfeeding where possible, can be used to stimulate milk production and increase milk supply. Breast pumps can also help in re-establishing milk supply, particularly if used within several weeks of weaning. Because pumping closely simulates a baby's suckling, they have even been used to induce milk supply for adoptive mothers.

Maintaining milk supply when unable to breastfeed due to problems or pain
Sometime breastfeeding may not be possible for a variety of reasons or is very painful (eg illness, medication, suckling difficulties, cracked nipples, mastitis etc). Using a breast pump enables you to maintain an adequate milk supply and provide breast milk for baby until nursing can be properly re-established. If you’ve been advised not to breastfeed due to contra-breastfeeding medications or breast milk transmitted diseases, using a breast pump helps keep your milk supply adequate (by ‘pumping and dumping’) until you can safely nurse again.

Providing breast milk when away at feeding time
Whether you’re working, enjoying a night out or catching up on sleep, using a breast pump means you can still provide important breast milk for your baby even when you're not around. Expressed milk can be stored in the fridge and freezer, allowing you to prepare in advance for other caregivers to feed baby. Be sure to use products specifically designed to retain breast milk nutritional properties and made with safe materials for storing breast milk. Many mums like to freeze breast milk for emergency situations or stockpile before returning to work. Some pumps are designed for working mums in mind: fast double pumping, quiet operation, discreet carry bags and insulated storage compartments.

Oversupply or weaning
If your milk supply outpaces demand, painful engorgement can occur. This is common during the first week after birth, after 'growth spurts' or when weaning. Discomfort can be relieved by removing a small amount of breast milk with a breast pump. This also helps prevent blocked milk ducts and mastitis.

Flat/inverted nipples and let-down problems
A breast pump can help draw out flat or inverted nipples prior to breastfeeding. Using a pump immediately before, or during, breastfeeding can also help with stimulating the let-down reflex.

Uncertain about continuing breastfeeding
If you’ve encountered challenges with breastfeeding and plan to stop, please seek the advice of a lactation consultant before making your final decision. Many problems can be overcome with the right help and support. If you have made the decision to stop breastfeeding, consider using a breast pump before weaning altogether. This ensures your baby will still receive your all-important ‘liquid gold’ for as long as possible. It also gives you options: a surprising number of mums stop breastfeeding and start weaning, only to have a sudden change of heart (perhaps those sore nipples have healed!) Using a breast pump keeps your body producing milk so re-starting breastfeeding is much easier compared to re-establishing a milk supply after weaning.

Convenience and personal choice
For a variety of reasons, some mums choose to combine breastfeeding and bottle feeding, or prefer not to breastfeed at all. Despite what formula manufacturers want us to believe, nothing is as good for your baby as breast milk. Using a breast pump means baby can still receive all the unique benefits of breast milk regardless of your decision. Nature has given you the ultimate food source for baby so why not use it? If you are planning to combine breastfeeding and bottle feeding, we recommend that breastfeeding is well established before introducing a teat. Nipple confusion in young babies is a common problem and can interfere with breastfeeding. Alternatives to bottle feeding, such as baby cups, can be found in our Special Feeding Aids section.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Breast Pump

Here are some useful tips on what to look for in a pump:

Manual vs electric
Is speed important to you? Breast pumps are available in manual (hand operated) or electric (mains and/or battery powered). Manual pumps are cheaper and suitable for occasional use but are slower to use. Electric pumps cost more but are faster and more efficient when pumping more often.

Frequency of use
Will you be pumping occasionally or regularly, short-term or long-term? Different pumps are designed for different usage demands and needs. Purchasing the wrong type of breast pump can make pumping more difficult and less effective. Using a manual pump regularly is time consuming and places undue stress on nipples and wrists. Likewise with using a standard electric pump when a high performance is more suited to your needs: standard electric pump motors and parts are not designed for regular use over long periods of time.

Pumping time
How many hours a week do you think you'll be pumping? It quickly adds up! Electric pumps are faster to use than manual pumps. Double electric pumps let you pump both breasts at a time, cutting your pumping time in half. Hands-free pumping bras give you the ability to do other things when you pump as your hands are free.

Suction and speed control
Do you want the flexibility to adjust suction strength and speed? Fully adjustable settings allow you to find the exact levels you need for maximum milk expression. Using a pump with limited or fixed settings may mean pumping takes longer and less milk is expressed.

Quality versus price
Like most things, you get what you pay for. Buying a cheap brand usually means a less effective design and lower performance. Poorly designed pumps cause many mums to stop pumping because it just isn't working for them: pumping can be slow, uncomfortable and result in low milk expression. If effective and comfortable breast pumping is important to you, look for a high quality pump that does the job well.
 
BPA Free
BPA (Bisphenol A) is a hormone-disrupting chemical found in polycarbonate plastic that may have the potential to cause health problems. The long-term effects of BPA exposure are not known. Many pump brands still use BPA despite the questionable health risks. All pumps we stock are BPA Free.

Hassle-free operation & support
The last thing you need when trying to use your breast pump is a headache. Ensure the pump you are purchasing has a local support number with proper assistance, not just a call centre. All the pumps we offer for sale come with manuals (which can also be viewed online) and have Australian toll free numbers for breast pump help and advice.

Cleaning options
Most pumps are relatively easy to take apart for cleaning and to re-assemble. Washing in hot soapy water followed by hot water rinsing and air drying is now considered sufficient for single user breast pumps. Occasional boiling is also recommended. However, if you prefer to clean in a dishwasher, plug-in steriliser or by microwave steaming, check if the brand you are considering buying allows for this. Incorrect cleaning can cause irreversible damage. Ameda and Medela breast pumps and parts can be cleaned by boiling, plug-in steriliser and top rack dishwasher. Medela pumps can also be safely microwave steam sterilised with Quick Clean Microwave Bags.

Availability of spare parts
Are spare parts readily available? If your breast pump fails and your brand does not offer spare parts, your pump is useless. Make sure your brand stocks common spare parts. Ameda and Medela have a wide variety of replacement parts for virtually every pump component including tubing, membranes, valves, breast shields, connectors and power packs.

Availability of accessories
Most brands, aside from Ameda and Medela, do not provide a wide variety of breast pump accessories. We stock Ameda’s and Medela’s comprehensive range of breast pump accessories including custom breast shields and inserts for different nipple sizes and added comfort, milk storage bags and bottles that attach onto pumps for easy milk collection and storage, microwave-safe steam cleaner bags and more.

Portability
Can the pump be easily transported? If you will be pumping at work or away from home, look for a lightweight, portable pump which includes on-the-go accessories such as insulated cooler bag to transport breast milk and pump carry bag. 

Warranty
Does the pump come with a warranty? If so, check how the claims process works. Some companies have lengthy claims processes which can leave you without a pump for weeks. At Nursing Angel, we handle all warranty claims for you to ensure they are speedily resolved. Because we are breast pump specialists, we are aware of common issues and are able to troubleshoot many problems with you over the phone.


Guide to Ameda & Medela Breast Pumps

We have chosen to only stock Ameda and Medela breast pump, the world leaders in pump research and technology. Both brands are the preferred choice of hospitals and offer high quality retail breast pumps for single mum use.
 
Below is a summary of the breast pump models available from Ameda and Medela (note we have not included discontinued models that are still available at some retailers):

Manual Pumps:
Suitable for occasional use. Manual pumps are lightweight, portable and less expensive than electric pumps. Operated by hand, they are designed for single pumping only and are slower to use than electric models.
Ameda One-Handed Manual : Ergonomically designed with an easy one handed operation.
Medela Harmony Manual : Easy hand operated lever; includes gently massaging SoftFit Breast Shield

Standard Performance Retail Pumps:
Generally suitable for occasional use only (eg several times a week) as the motor is not designed to withstand regular usage. Standard electric pumps are widely available with many brands on the market. They offer mid-range power and standard control settings. Faster and easier to use than manual pumps. Single pumping models pump one breast at a time while double pumps also allow for dual pumping to cut pumping time in half. Mains powered with optional battery power. Medela pumps are BPA Free, unlike many other standard electric pump brands.
Medela Mini Electric : Quality mid-range pump with an award-winning design

High Performance Retail Pumps:
High performance electric pumps are suitable for all usage types including regular daily use (note: a hospital grade hire pump should be used for premature/sick babies or hospitalised mums unless advised otherwise by a lactation consultant or health care professional). Powerful electric pumps offer a level of performance only second to hospital grade pumps. Ameda and Medela are the only companies that make breast pumps of this level and all models are BPA Free. Mains powered with the option of battery power. Ameda also have a car power adaptor available.
Medela Swing : Single electric pump with 2-Phase Expression for maximum milk flow
Ameda Purely Yours : Double electric pump with a unique patented system to ensure milk purity
Ameda Purely Yours with Carry All: The Ameda Purely Yours as above with useful extras including breast pump carry bag, milk collection and storage bottles, and an insulated cooler bag for safely transporting breast milk; ideal for working, travelling and active mums
Medela Freestyle : Double electric pump with 2-Phase Expression for maximum milk flow; very small and portable with useful extras including hands-free pumping accessories; ideal for working, travelling and active mums

Hospital-Grade Pumps:
Used by hospitals and available for rental, hospital grade pumps are the most powerful type of pump available. They are suitable for use when recommended by a lactation consultant or health care professional. These are multi-user pumps and you will need to purchase a single-use sterile kit in order to use.

Ameda Elite & Medela Symphony : Hospital grade breast pumps available for hire; double pumping with flexibility for single pumping.


Which Ameda or Medela Breast Pump is Right for Me?

Different breast pump models are designed for different levels of use and situations so it is important to choose the right pump for your particular needs.

We recommend the following pumps, ordered from lowest to highest cost. Please read the section above for an overview of the pump models listed.

Occasional Use:
eg. missed feeding, evening out, stimulating let-down, engorgement, weaning, flat or inverted nipples, oversupply
Manual: Medela Harmony Manual  Ameda One-Handed Manual
Standard electric: Medela Mini Electric
Powerful electric: Medela Swing  Ameda Purely Yours

Regular Use (short-term):
eg. short-term daily use, sore nipples, working part-time, latching on problems, stockpiling breast milk for freezing, increasing milk supply, breast infections
Standard electric: Medela Mini Electric* 
Powerful electric: Medela Swing  Ameda Purely Yours  Ameda Purely Yours with Carry All  Medela Freestyle
* suitable for occasional use  only (eg several times a week); not recommended for increasing milk supply or breast infections


Regular Use (long-term):
eg. long-term daily use, working full-time, exclusively pumping
Powerful electric: Medela Swing  Ameda Purely Yours  Ameda Purely Yours with Carry All  Medela Freestyle

Medical Reasons
eg. premature or sick baby, hospitalised mum, initiating milk supply
Hospital grade hire models: Ameda Elite  Medela Symphony


The Risks of Using a Second-Hand Pump

Are you considering buying a second-hand breast pump or borrowing one from a friend? Click here to read what our Lactation Consultant says about the risks of using a second-hand breast pump.