Best Electric Breast Pumps in The UK – 2021 Reviews

Electric Pumps: 2021 Buyer’s Guide

Best Electric Breast Pumps 2020 UK: There is no denying the fact that breastmilk is indeed best for your baby. It is the purest form of nutrition and a dose of immunity that you give the baby right from their birth. Every little munchkin comes into the world with a natural sense of sucking milk and nurturing themselves. While feeding on the breast is the best way, not always can you be available to feed directly. Such instances call for pumping or expressing breastmilk that can then be fed with a spoon or a bottle.

Apart from urgent unavailability, there may be other reasons for pumping breastmilk. These include inverted nipples or other latching issues, tongue tie in the baby, premature babies that cannot suck properly, sore nipples, long working hours, change of caregiver etc.

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A breast pump ensures that whatever be the case, the mother’s milk will always be available for the baby. You may be a working mother who needs to pass on the feeding responsibilities to someone else or someone who just needs expressed milk for stepping out for a while. The type of breast pump you need will depend on your availability, the reason for pumping, the frequency of pumping, your baby’s requirements etc. Here is the list of best electric breast pumps of 2020 in the UK.

Electric Breast Pump Reviews

Here is how you can choose the perfect electric breast pump for your needs:

In order to zero down on the perfect breast pump, you need to make sure of the frequency with which you will be pumping. Whether you need to pump occasionally, once daily or multiple times a day. Occasionally pumping mums can do with manual breast pumps, whereas those who need to be expressed milk every day will need electric pumps. Electric breast pumps are fast as well as lets you pump hands free. It also offers more milk output for the lesser hassle.

A single breast pump is ideal if you plan to pump only a few times a week, but if you want to pump multiple times a day, you must opt for a double breast pump. A double breast pump pumps from both breasts at a time. Either way, electric breast pumps are a good option that lets you build a stash and fulfil the nutrition needs of your little joy in an efficient and convenient way.

The coveted features of good electric breast pumps are:

• Superior suction and strength
• Faster pumping output
• Easy cleaning and assembling
• Low level of noise
• A good quality build material

It may be a little overwhelming for you to find the right breast pump out of numerous options available in the market. I have assembled a list of best electric pumps above based on my experience as well as that of mums i have worked in close association with. I have also considered the reviews of several other women. These have been judged and rated based on pumping convenience, ease of setup, portability etc.

As a new parent, you will already be overwhelmed with the entire idea of feeding, burping, sleeplessness and coming to the realisation that there is a little life that completely depends on you. Choosing new products with the sheer abundance on the market shelves and online will again be a great deal When it comes to choosing a breast pump, you will have a plethora of options coming up when you search online but not all breast pumps are the some and not everything suits everyone.

While choosing a breast pump, it is quintessential that it mimics the motion of your baby sucking onto your breast. This is precisely what will set apart an effective and comfortable breast pump from just any commercial product out there. An ineffective pump will not only be a waste of money but may also have you doubt your breastmilk supply or cause discomfort to your nipples.

The first step in choosing a breast pump is determining the kind of pump you need:

Manual breast pump: In a manual breast pump, once the suction is created, you need to keep pumping a rubber ball or a tong style pump. The output is usually less and slow in a manual pump. It is ideal, if you need to pump only few times a week and do not need to build a stash. These are cheaper but not very convenient for more than occasional use

Electric breast pump: An electric breast pump comes with a motor that helps pump milk from your breasts. Depending upon the electric breast pump type, the output is fairly high and the time taken is less. It is ideal for mothers that want to pump more frequently and also several times a day. These pumps use technology to perfectly imitate the baby’s natural sucking movement. There are battery operated pumps too and they are better for mobility for situations such as travelling or when you need to pump at work. There are also pumps that have both electric as well as battery operation functionalities.

If we look at the natural breastfeeding process, the beginning of the session usually involves short and fast sucking movements that offer stimulation to the let-down reflex. As soon as the milk flow starts, the sucking movements become slower and stronger to take in a high volume of milk. Looking for a breast pump that imitates these movements will offer a more natural way to pump and will be more effective

Single and double breast pumps: The confusion doesn’t end at choosing between manual, battery operated and electric pumps. There is a further choice of single or double breast pump. Here too, the pumping frequency is a deciding factor. A single pump is perfect for pumping every day but if you have a medical condition that requires pumping round the clock or if you return to work, a double electric pump is a more convenient choice.

The output volume for a double electric breast pump is nearly 18% higher than the single pump for the same amount of time that you spend expressing separately.

Choosing a breast pump that works for your individual needs and lifestyle:

Every lactation journey is unique and there is no one formula approach that suits all. The ideal breast pump for you is also determined by the stage of lactation you are at, the baby’s needs and how serious you are about expressing and feeding.

Here are some scenarios in which you may need to express milk:

• The baby doesn’t latch properly and every feed needs to be expressed and offered: Some babies find it difficult to latch and suck for several reasons such as premature birth, special needs, low birth weight etc. Some medical treatments also require the newborn to stay separately from the mother. In some cases, the mother’s health or anaesthesia recovery doesn’t allow for early breastfeeding. In such cases where a newborn is involved and the supply is not yet established, a hospital grade pump is ideal. You can use it at the hospital or rent it out. It will help establish the initial supply.
• Problems initiating a milk supply: Early breastfeeding days are full of confusion regarding the supply. Many times, the milk takes time to start flowing properly. Hospital grade pumps are a great rescue in such situations too. A lactation consultant will usually recommend one based on the situation.
• You are an exclusively breastfeeding mum and need to pump sometimes for heading out: Manual pumps are good for such occasional pumping sessions when you can be gone for little time while a caregiver can offer pumped milk to the baby.
• You need to return to work and still want the baby to have breastmilk: Such situations require regular pumping several times of the day and will also require you to carry the pump to and from office. A lightweight double electric pump is ideal to achieve this.

Here are some other parameters that you need to weigh your pump on:

While buying a pump based on a friend’s recommendation may seem like a good idea, you both may have different requirements from your pump. Everyone has different lactation obstacles and one thing doesn’t work for all. Here are some factors to be considered while choosing one.

Price: A new baby is a flood of expense that often weigh the parents down. While you need to stick to an expected price bracket, a very cheap pump may mean disappointment. If a pump you buy doesn’t work, you will have to buy another one and that is again a waste of money and effort. Most insurances cover pump costs and if not investing in a pump is still cheaper than those packs of formula milk.

Milk flow: We all have different flow style of breast milk. If you have a heavy flow, you will need a pump that works with heavy usage and high volumes.  Each pump is designed differently. While some are meant only for occasional use, some are heavy duty for multiple sessions a day.

Usage: Consider your usage and pumping frequency. Buy a single or double pump based on your requirement.

Ease of carrying: Resuming work, a few weeks after childbirth needs a portable pump that you can use at home and at work during breaks. If travelling constitutes a major chunk of your year, a portable pump is quintessential. One the other hand, if you are a stay at home pumping mom, portability may be lower on your list of concerns.

Ease of cleaning: Easy cleaning and assembly are some important parameters to consider while choosing a pump. Complicated tubing and mechanism may put you off completely from the entire pumping process.

Adjustable suction: The same suction is not sufficient for all women. Adjustable suction lets you customise it if you need more or less suction than normal.

Power options: It is a good idea to opt for a pump that has both batteries and electric source in order to make provisions for a situation when the power is out or you are travelling. You may also want to look for car adapters to pump in the car.