Thread: "Breast Pumps, the good, the bad, and the ugly?"
Do not underestimate the power of a manual pump! I use a Medela Harmony. I bought an electric double pump on FB Marketplace for $100 (Medela Freestyle) but I MUCH prefer the manual. Reasons being: - I control the pace and pressure (with each pump) and can press on certain parts of my breasts to release more milk - I feel like I can get more milk in a shorter amount of time (by pressing down on the pump halfway for a longer expression, versus the short bursts of an electric) - it’s oddly satisfying to express the milk yourself, like popping a pimple (sorry if that analogy grosses you out) - it’s super portable and quiet so you can use it next to a sleeping baby - I find it really easy to “take a little off the top” if I overslept and my breasts are too engorged for my baby to latch - lastly, it makes me feel less like a factory-farmed cow (and more like a cow that is being lovingly milked by a farmer) Thanks for listening to my TED Talk
r/newbornsu/oh_darling89· Dec 2024· ⬆ 45👍 Recommends
Thread: "Best breast pumps?"
I love my Spectra v2 (the blue portable one, not the pink that has to be plugged into the wall). I also have the Medela Harmony hand pump, which is great for when I’m traveling, my last pump of the night, or when I just want to get a quick pump out. I also just ordered the Momcozy M5, but it hasn’t arrived yet, so I can’t speak to the quality.
r/NewParentsu/mommadizzy· Dec 2025· ⬆ 29👍 Recommends
Thread: "best and most affordable breast pump."
One, do not pump until you have baby unless directed by a doctor. It can cause contractions and put you into preterm labor. Two, if you're in the US, your insurance will cover a breastpump. Go to Aeroflow Breastpump's website. Three. Spectra is the best, there's some minor differences between the pink and blue one. Besides that, Motif Luna and Medela Pump in Style are good. For manual, I love the Medela Harmony but honestly they're all similar. Four, what's life after baby is born looking like from here? Are you staying home? Working/school? If you're staying home you may find it easier to just nurse and not bother with pumping, but having a pump on hand isn't a bad idea regardless. If you're working, depending on the job, you may want wearables which would change the pump options. You said you're okay with a wallplug so I assume that's probably not an issue right now. I wish you luck!
r/BabyBumpsu/questionsaboutrel521· Oct 2024· ⬆ 13😐 Mixed
Thread: "Hands free breast pumps"
I hated it! There’s many pumps that are “portable” but not “wearable” like Baby Buddha and ones like that, where there is tubing but the pump itself is like a small remote, and for me, that was the best of both worlds - good suction and easy to move around with. When I was truly on the go, I preferred bringing a manual pump with me (the Medela Harmony) - that way I wasn’t at the whims of needing a ton of equipment or setup, I could just throw it in my purse.
r/BabyBumpsu/Late-Elderberry5021· Oct 2024· ⬆ 11👍 Recommends
Thread: "Hands free breast pumps"
I know this sounds crazy but a manual hand pump (like the harmony) can fully drain a breast in about 5 minutes. Meaning you could fully drain both breasts in 10 if you needed to do both. A hands free pump isn’t going to drain you and will take like 20-30 minutes to get a decent amount. I LOVED my hand pumps so much. Also getting correctly sized flanges is paramount to successful pumping and I don’t think it’s easy to find different flange sizes for hands free (except for maybe willow). A harmony costs about $20, and extra flange sizes are available on Amazon.
r/newbornsu/berngrade· Dec 2024· ⬆ 8👍 Recommends
Thread: "Best breast pumps?"
See what your insurance will cover!! I got a Spectra S2 free with insurance and it works great. After I was comfortable with that and felt I had a well established supply, I also bought a Medela Harmony hand pump (life saver, wish I would’ve had this from the get go for when I got really engorged) as well as a wearable called TSRETE double wearable breast pump from Amazon (cheaper than a lot of the popular options and works so well!)
r/Mommitu/tr3sleches· Aug 2024· ⬆ 7😐 Mixed
Thread: "Are portable breast pumps worth it? "
The hakaa is only supposed to be used for letdowns and catching leaking milk, not for pumping lmfao. User error for sure! Google Medela Harmony; that’s an actual manual pump. You don’t squeeze anything, you manually pump by using the lever.
Thread: "Breast Pumps, the good, the bad, and the ugly?"
I second this! I have the spectra which is great and all but also a pain in the ass. In the middle of the night it’s much easier using my handheld lansiloh pump.
r/newbornsu/Ready_Nebula_2148· Dec 2024· ⬆ 5👍 Recommends
Thread: "Best breast pumps?"
I have the wall plug spectra (pink) and it works really well but is inconvenient because I'm tethered one spot while pumping. Also rec a pumping bra if you haven't though about that.
r/breastfeedingu/ToBriOrNotToBree· Mar 2026· ⬆ 5👍 Recommends
Thread: "What are the best breast pumps on the market currently?"
The Spectra S1 works well, but also want to recommend a manual pump (like the Medela Harmony) as a backup/good travel option. I've been reaching for that more frequently lately because it's surprisingly efficient (I've been able to get the same volume in half the time), plus easier to set up and fewer parts to clean.
Thread: "Breast Pumps, the good, the bad, and the ugly?"
Bought both manual and electric too and ended up preferring the manual one. Works better, in less time and my time is precious with a baby. Do not waste your money or at least try it first. Listen to this ted talk, this is the way.
Thread: "Breast Pumps, the good, the bad, and the ugly?"
Oh my gosh, I just got a Medela harmony and love it!! I'm on my second kid and used the spectra pink a lot with my first, and occasionally the elvie stride. I've only used the spectra (got a blue one too) once in 6 weeks because the hand pump is SO convenient and good. It's seriously so much less effort and almost addictive 😂 highly recommend.
r/breastfeedingu/bon18· Jul 2025· ⬆ 3👍 Recommends
Thread: "Breast Pumps, the good, the bad, and the ugly?"
Agreed, and through this process, I learned to hand express, which is now my only method.
Thread: "Breast Pumps, the good, the bad, and the ugly?"
Spectra s1 is great and was a good place to start to get the hang of pumping. Lots of settings, though, but I found some pump setting plans on Pinterest that have worked well for me! I also have the Elvie Stride, and it took some getting used to, but it's becoming my go-to because I don't have to worry about changing into a pumping bra/bralette/tank. I breastfeed directly from the boob most of the time and only pump like once a day, so this has been convenient to just slide into my bra. The spectra parts are easier to clean, but Elvie is easier to wear (once you get the hang of it). In my experience (6 wks of experience lol), the pumping bras/bralettes even in small sizes are too big for my small boobs to pump with a standard pump comfortably without it breaking seal and leaking. I have to lean forward slightly, and that kills my back. I also have the Medela Harmony manual pump. I hate it. I also have the Haakaa. I hate it. Personally, I don't have time to only pump one boob at a time, and the Haakaa was no comfortable to me. I will say - I only chose these pumps because I got them Second hand. I have great insurance that would have covered either option, but friends were lining up to give their pumps away, and I felt that was less wasteful overall to just try theirs out.
r/newbornsu/Curious-Compote88· Dec 2024· ⬆ 2😐 Mixed
Thread: "Best breast pumps?"
I was thinking about getting the medela harmony hand pump but I use 20mm flanges and that one comes with 24. I couldn't find different flanges for it, do you know if they sell smaller flanges for it?
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Every unique parent mention from our pipeline, sorted by upvotes. Quotes are lightly trimmed for length, never for meaning.
Thread: "Breast Pumps, the good, the bad, and the ugly?"
Do not underestimate the power of a manual pump! I use a Medela Harmony. I bought an electric double pump on FB Marketplace for $100 (Medela Freestyle) but I MUCH prefer the manual. Reasons being: - I control the pace and pressure (with each pump) and can press on certain parts of my breasts to release more milk - I feel like I can get more milk in a shorter amount of time (by pressing down on the pump halfway for a longer expression, versus the short bursts of an electric) - it’s oddly satisfying to express the milk yourself, like popping a pimple (sorry if that analogy grosses you out) - it’s super portable and quiet so you can use it next to a sleeping baby - I find it really easy to “take a little off the top” if I overslept and my breasts are too engorged for my baby to latch - lastly, it makes me feel less like a factory-farmed cow (and more like a cow that is being lovingly milked by a farmer) Thanks for listening to my TED Talk
Thread: "Best breast pumps?"
I love my Spectra v2 (the blue portable one, not the pink that has to be plugged into the wall). I also have the Medela Harmony hand pump, which is great for when I’m traveling, my last pump of the night, or when I just want to get a quick pump out. I also just ordered the Momcozy M5, but it hasn’t arrived yet, so I can’t speak to the quality.
Thread: "best and most affordable breast pump."
One, do not pump until you have baby unless directed by a doctor. It can cause contractions and put you into preterm labor. Two, if you're in the US, your insurance will cover a breastpump. Go to Aeroflow Breastpump's website. Three. Spectra is the best, there's some minor differences between the pink and blue one. Besides that, Motif Luna and Medela Pump in Style are good. For manual, I love the Medela Harmony but honestly they're all similar. Four, what's life after baby is born looking like from here? Are you staying home? Working/school? If you're staying home you may find it easier to just nurse and not bother with pumping, but having a pump on hand isn't a bad idea regardless. If you're working, depending on the job, you may want wearables which would change the pump options. You said you're okay with a wallplug so I assume that's probably not an issue right now. I wish you luck!
Thread: "Hands free breast pumps"
I hated it! There’s many pumps that are “portable” but not “wearable” like Baby Buddha and ones like that, where there is tubing but the pump itself is like a small remote, and for me, that was the best of both worlds - good suction and easy to move around with. When I was truly on the go, I preferred bringing a manual pump with me (the Medela Harmony) - that way I wasn’t at the whims of needing a ton of equipment or setup, I could just throw it in my purse.
Thread: "Hands free breast pumps"
I know this sounds crazy but a manual hand pump (like the harmony) can fully drain a breast in about 5 minutes. Meaning you could fully drain both breasts in 10 if you needed to do both. A hands free pump isn’t going to drain you and will take like 20-30 minutes to get a decent amount. I LOVED my hand pumps so much. Also getting correctly sized flanges is paramount to successful pumping and I don’t think it’s easy to find different flange sizes for hands free (except for maybe willow). A harmony costs about $20, and extra flange sizes are available on Amazon.
Thread: "Best breast pumps?"
See what your insurance will cover!! I got a Spectra S2 free with insurance and it works great. After I was comfortable with that and felt I had a well established supply, I also bought a Medela Harmony hand pump (life saver, wish I would’ve had this from the get go for when I got really engorged) as well as a wearable called TSRETE double wearable breast pump from Amazon (cheaper than a lot of the popular options and works so well!)
Thread: "Are portable breast pumps worth it? "
The hakaa is only supposed to be used for letdowns and catching leaking milk, not for pumping lmfao. User error for sure! Google Medela Harmony; that’s an actual manual pump. You don’t squeeze anything, you manually pump by using the lever.
Thread: "Breast Pumps, the good, the bad, and the ugly?"
I second this! I have the spectra which is great and all but also a pain in the ass. In the middle of the night it’s much easier using my handheld lansiloh pump.
Thread: "Best breast pumps?"
I have the wall plug spectra (pink) and it works really well but is inconvenient because I'm tethered one spot while pumping. Also rec a pumping bra if you haven't though about that.
Thread: "What are the best breast pumps on the market currently?"
The Spectra S1 works well, but also want to recommend a manual pump (like the Medela Harmony) as a backup/good travel option. I've been reaching for that more frequently lately because it's surprisingly efficient (I've been able to get the same volume in half the time), plus easier to set up and fewer parts to clean.
Thread: "Breast Pumps, the good, the bad, and the ugly?"
Bought both manual and electric too and ended up preferring the manual one. Works better, in less time and my time is precious with a baby. Do not waste your money or at least try it first. Listen to this ted talk, this is the way.
Thread: "Breast Pumps, the good, the bad, and the ugly?"
Oh my gosh, I just got a Medela harmony and love it!! I'm on my second kid and used the spectra pink a lot with my first, and occasionally the elvie stride. I've only used the spectra (got a blue one too) once in 6 weeks because the hand pump is SO convenient and good. It's seriously so much less effort and almost addictive 😂 highly recommend.
Thread: "Breast Pumps, the good, the bad, and the ugly?"
Agreed, and through this process, I learned to hand express, which is now my only method.
Thread: "Breast Pumps, the good, the bad, and the ugly?"
Spectra s1 is great and was a good place to start to get the hang of pumping. Lots of settings, though, but I found some pump setting plans on Pinterest that have worked well for me! I also have the Elvie Stride, and it took some getting used to, but it's becoming my go-to because I don't have to worry about changing into a pumping bra/bralette/tank. I breastfeed directly from the boob most of the time and only pump like once a day, so this has been convenient to just slide into my bra. The spectra parts are easier to clean, but Elvie is easier to wear (once you get the hang of it). In my experience (6 wks of experience lol), the pumping bras/bralettes even in small sizes are too big for my small boobs to pump with a standard pump comfortably without it breaking seal and leaking. I have to lean forward slightly, and that kills my back. I also have the Medela Harmony manual pump. I hate it. I also have the Haakaa. I hate it. Personally, I don't have time to only pump one boob at a time, and the Haakaa was no comfortable to me. I will say - I only chose these pumps because I got them Second hand. I have great insurance that would have covered either option, but friends were lining up to give their pumps away, and I felt that was less wasteful overall to just try theirs out.
Thread: "Best breast pumps?"
I was thinking about getting the medela harmony hand pump but I use 20mm flanges and that one comes with 24. I couldn't find different flanges for it, do you know if they sell smaller flanges for it?
Thread: "Breast Pumps, the good, the bad, and the ugly?"
Sounds odd that something manual is less effort than something automated. Why is that?
Thread: "Breast Pumps, the good, the bad, and the ugly?"
Thank you for your Ted Talk! Most informative!
Thread: "Breast Pumps, the good, the bad, and the ugly?"
Agree to all of this for all the same reasons