The Best Breast Pumps for Working Moms

Last Updated on February 14, 2020

In the United States, new working mothers are entitled to just twelve weeks unpaid maternity leave though many don’t take anywhere near this much time due to the financial pressures not getting paid puts on family life (new babies are expensive!). In fact, most moms take an average of just ten weeks off after having a new baby before returning to work, meaning that unless they plan on putting their baby on formula milk, they’ll need a breast pump and hands-free pumping bra to make sure their baby is well fed and they have a steady milk supply.

Which, though, is the best breast pump for you if you’re a working mom? Do you need a single breast pump or a double electric one? Here, we share the best breast pumo for working moms think fit the bill, looking at price, size, ease of use, features (such as noise levels) and how comfortable they are to use. First, though, we look at just what a breast pump does, the different types available and the factors you should consider before deciding which one to buy.

What Does a Portable Breast Pump Do?

Simply put, a breast pump is used to express milk from your breasts into a bottle, allowing your baby to be fed breast milk rather than formula while you’re at work (though you can just as easily use it when you’re enjoying date night or sharing feeding responsibilities with your partner, which many new parents want to do). Also, breast pumps promote heavier milk flow and allow storing milk in a bag so these cooler bags can be stored in the fridge even for months while you are providing enough milk for your little one.

Pumps, as the name suggests, use suction to draw out your milk into the bottle. This can feel strange, and some new moms find using a pump difficult, though – as with most things – this does get easier with time. Thankfully, however, there is a range of different models on the market and some of them are Medela Freestyle Breast Pump, Avent Manual or Electric Pump, Medela Symphony, Medela Harmony, and Pump in Style.

This means that, if one doesn’t work, another probably will and is why we’ve looked on five which have different features, allowing you to compare different options.

Different types of breast pumps

There are three different types of breast pumps available for new moms:

1. Electric Pump

A double electric breast pump allows you to change the speed and suction level of the pump based on how much milk you want to express.

Electric pumps can run from the mains or from a lithium-ion battery and come in single or double pumping models, meaning you can express milk from both breasts at the same time. Double electric pumps may be the best option for working moms who need to pump regularly and quickly, though they can be somewhat cumbersome. They come with a flange made of food-grade silicone, that allows a smoothness and protection on your nipple while expressing milk. Want to know more – check out our top five list here.

2. Hospital-grade Pump

These are also electric and are, in all honesty, the best of the bunch in many ways because of how quickly they can pump milk. However, they are also the most expensive, coming in at several hundred dollars in most cases; if you need to, you can rent a hospital-grade breast pump. Because of the costs of these types of pumps, they are not always the best option; especially if they need to be taken to work where there’s a risk they might be damaged or lost. You can read more about hospital grade breast pumps here.

Read Also: Best Hospital Grade Breast Pumps: Which One You’ll Love The Most

3. Manual Pump

These require moms to use a hand or foot pump to draw out the milk. The strength used determines the speed and suction level. Unlike electric pumps, manual ones tend to be quieter and easier to carry, which could make them a good option if you commute on public transport, though it can take longer to express the amount of milk you need. Plus, usually, they don’t come with additional pump parts like extra flanges, milk storage bags, breast shields and more. For more on manual breast pumps, visit our list of eight of the best.

What to look for in a breast pump

There are a lot of different breast pumps on the market, and not all of them will be right for each working mom.  There are, however, certain things you should look for when deciding which one you might want to buy including:

• Type: The type of pump you choose will depend on what you are using it for – occasional use, for example, might be best served by a manual pump while everyday use (especially at work) probably needs an electric pump.
• Strength: The stronger the pump is, the quicker it will be to express the amount of milk you need.
• Portability: If you’re using the pump at work, you will need one you can use in different situations – electric pumps that run off the mains, for example, won’t work if you don’t have access to a socket.
• Noise: Not all breast pumps are quiet, which is probably something you want if you are using one at work. By their nature, electric pumps are going to be louder than manual ones.  However, even here, there can be significant differences in noise levels.
• Weight: Pumps can be heavy, something you won’t necessarily want if you have to carry your pump to/from work, meaning lightweight ones will probably be a better option.

It’s also worth thinking about what comes with your pump too as this could save you money (even if the initial price seems more expensive); look for pumps that include spare parts, a cooler or a pump bag.

The best breast pumps for working moms – Our top 5 picks

1. BabySteps Independent Double Electric Breast Pump

General specifications:

The BabySteps Independent Double Electric Breast Pump is an incredibly quiet machine perfectly designed for use at home or at work (as long as you have access to a power socket).

It is lightweight, coming in at under one pound, making it easy to carry, and designed to make it simple to use. It has two phases (simulation and expression) which mimics your babies suckling and – because it is a double pump – allows you to express milk quickly. The pump itself is BFA free, and FDA approved meaning you can feel safe using it around your baby.

Notable features:

• Incredibly light
• Single or double pump use and ability to control suction (9 levels), including on left or right breast only
• Breast shield with a cushion insert for comfort
• Closed system pump
• Cushion Insert for breast shield for comfort while pumping
• Two Milk Collection Bottles with anti-colic slow flow nipples and tops
• Two phases which automatically switch

Pros and cons:

2. Spectra Baby USA – S1 Plus Premier Rechargeable Electric Breast Pump

General specifications

The Spectra S1 double breast pump is one that receives consistently good reviews and is known as a leader in the market.  However, as a hospital grade pump, it is also very expensive meaning it may be out of the reach of many working moms.

If you can afford it, you’ll get a great looking machine that has a closed system, stopping bacteria getting into your breast milk and is nice and portable.  Plus, it comes with a rechargeable battery pack, meaning you can use it anywhere.

Notable features:

• Can be used as a single or dual pump
• Two phases (simulation and expression)
• 12 different suction levels
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• LED display
• Night light
• Auto shut-off

Pros and cons:

It’s also worth mentioning that, if this is a little out of your price range, there is an S2 version in which is the same apart from it isn’t rechargeable. You can find out more here.

Read Also:

• Spectra S2 Breast Pump Review: Everything You Need To Know
• Spectra S1 vs Spectra S2: What’s the Difference, Which is Best?
• One IS Better: Spectra S1 vs Medela Freestyle: Which is Better

3. Medela Sonata Smart Double Electric Breast Pump

General specifications

While the Medela Sonata Smart Double Breast Pump  doesn’t have as high a rating as the Spectra S1, more than one mommy blogger recommends this pump, meaning it has ended up on our list of the five best.

Another hospital grade pump, this one is a bit of a beast at 8.1 pounds, meaning it isn’t that portable, but it makes up for this with the number of additional features including two pumping rhythms and two phases, making it easier to express milk. You can also personalize the Medela Sonata breast pump through the MyMedla app and the touch screen display. This pump also works perfectly well with a pumping bra, and it can easily be stored in a tote bag for keeping it clean.

Notable features:

• Hospital grade pump that responds to the environment
• Whisper quiet operation
• 2 pumping rhythms and 2 phases
• SMART technology with links to a MyMedela app that allows you to customize the pump
• Touch screen display
• Responsive Pump Technology adjusts the pump to the environment and your body for consistent suction
• Air-leak alert
• Timer (adjustable)
• Rechargeable battery

Read Also:

• Medela Symphony Breast pump vs Medela Pump-in-Style Advanced Breast Pump
• Medela Symphony Breast Pump Review
• The Medela Pump in Style Advanced Breast Pump Review

Pros and cons:

4. Babytec Electric Breast Pump

General specifications:

For those who don’t have a Medela-sized budget, the Babytec Double or Single Pump is a great option. Made of BPA-free material, making it safe to use with your baby, it is easy to put together and break apart in order to keep it clean.  It comes with a touch screen display and eight suction levels as well as three phases – massage, stimulation or expression, all of which can be set using memory mode meaning you don’t need to keep selecting them each time you use the pump.

Notable features:

• Quiet pump
• 8 levels of suction strength
• 3 phases/modes: massage, stimulation, expression
• Memory function
• USB charging
• LED touch screen
• Anti-backflow design

Pros and cons:

5. Bumblebee Manual Breast Pump

General specifications

For first-time moms or any other time in fact, who are on a tight budget or aren’t comfortable with the idea of electric breast pumps, the Bumblebee Manual Breast Pump is a great choice. Being a manual breast pump, it’s incredibly light and easy to use, though fairly small (collecting only 4 ounces of milk in a bottle). With no cables and no need to charge, you can use it anywhere. However, as with any manual model, there are no bells, whistles, modes or suction levels – everything is down to the power used by the mom herself.

Notable features:

• Light and easy to use
• Made with food-grade silicone: BPA, PVC, and Phthalate free
• Comes with 1 breast pump, 1 stopper, 1 dust cover lid, and a luxury pouch

Pros and cons:

Final thoughts on the best breast pumps for working moms

With the five breast pumps we’ve picked here, we’ve tried to choose ones that will fit into every budget and the different ways working moms work. Some, for example, will be office-based and have their own offices with easy access to sockets to plug in their breast pumps and the ability to close the door and lower the blinds so they can express milk easily and without much disruption.

Other moms won’t be so lucky. They may work in an open-plan office, for example, or on a shop floor, meaning privacy isn’t as easy to come by, and a portable breast pump with a rechargeable battery or a manual model will be better options.

However, if we had to choose, we would probably go for one of the rechargeable electric models with a dual pump (but able to work as a single pump if needed). That’s because, while we are focusing on finding the best breast pump for working moms, you might not just use the pump in the office, so it needs to be flexible. Moms might want to use it while traveling, for example, or if they are going out and need to leave milk for the babysitter to use to feed their baby. Alternatively, as we mentioned earlier, they might want to share feeding responsibilities with their partner and they can store their milk in storage bags and use them later.

This narrows our choice down to three: the Spectra S1, Medela Sonata, and Babytec Electric Pump. Of these, the Medela has the lowest overall user rating. So, while it gets good reviews on parenting sites, we aren’t sure it is the one we want to recommend. Plus, it’s heavy, meaning it won’t work that well for moms who want to take their breast pump into the office or when they go to meetings.

The S1 is heavy too, though not as much as the Medela Sonata. However, this doesn’t seem to put people who use it off, and it gets excellent reviews on both parenting sites and general review sites. The S1 is a breast pump that you know will last and does the job. Our main problem with it is the cost; at over $300 it is probably out of the reach of many of our readers.

Which leaves us with the Babytec Electric Pump. And, while this one doesn’t have as many features as the S1 or Sonata, it does have enough to meet the needs of most working moms. Plus, it’s incredibly light, easy to use and easy to charge and it’s very affordable, with the single pump model starting at just $39.99. Taking all this into account, it means it’s our top pick for the best breast pump for working moms, though in all honesty, you won’t go far wrong with any of our recommendations.

Recommended Reads:

• Madenal Double/Single Electric Breast Pump vs. Bellema E3 Double/Single Electric Breast Pump
• The Best Time To Breast Pump: According to the Professionals
• Willow Breast Pump Review [July 2019] – Is This Cord-Free Pump Worth It?
• Dr. Brown’s vs Philips Avent Bottles [2020]
• Medela Symphony Breast Pump vs Medela Pump-in-Style Advanced [2019 UPDATE]
• Lansinoh vs Medela Breast Pump [2020]: Which Brand is Better?