In this technological age, everything has become new and improved from the first, most basic design. And so it is with breast pumps. Even the basic manual breast pump has developed into the first manual that naturally stimulates milk flow that is much like breastfeeding – the avent isis manual breast pump. Its unique design has been applauded by not only women, but health professionals, as well. It was proven to be as effective as a hospital-grade electric breast pump in clinical trials conducted by the Institute of Child Health in London, UK. Pediatricians and infant nutrition specialists found that the avent isis pumped the same amount of breast milk as the hospital-grade electric breast pump in the same amount of time. Although this may sound unbelievable, it was probably due to the fact that the avent isis breast pump could pump much more comfortably than the hospital-grade electric.

All of the philips avent breast pumps have the same patented Let-down Massage Cushion. These cushions are made of a soft silicone, and they have five petal sections that stimulate the let-down reflex with their gentle massage. With light pressure on the fingertip handle, you can easily adjust the level of suction at any time to mimic your baby’s suckling pattern. This results in more milk in less time, and more comfortably.

Technology at philips avent has taken the manual breast pump, plugged it in and has given it a memory. The avent isis now has an iQ, which offers you a greater choice in faster, more effortless expressing. This electric breast pump gives you control over speed, vacuum and rhythm. Once you’ve dialed in the combination of the speed, vacuum and rhythm that’s most like your baby, the iQ learns and remembers each setting and continues at your personal pumping rhythm. Once you’ve found that rhythm, just squeeze the handle and press the control button – the pump will automatically continue. You can choose either the Single or the Twin Electronic Breast Pump. These electric breast pumps can run on battery power, too.

Sometimes when technology improves things, things can become way too complicated. But not with any avent isis breast pump. Although they’re technologically improved, they’re still simple, convenient and easy to use.

For a new mom, nothing means as much as loving and caring for her baby. An ameda breast pump helps you do this, and has been helping for more than 60 years. Ameda’s mission is to help breastfeeding moms, because they know how much that matters to you, and to the health and safety of your baby.

No matter your need, you’ll find an ameda breast pump that will fill that need. If you need to regularly and efficiently pump every day, you may need a hospital-grade pump. The Elite Electric Breast Pump is durable and efficient, allowing moms to independently adjust both the suction strength and cycle speed. When you adjust these to reflect how your baby feeds, you’ll yield the greatest breast milk production in comfort. Since this electric breast pump is piston-driven, it’s an efficient system that’s easy to operate. Weighing only 6 pounds, it’s compact and lightweight, so it’s convenient to carry. Not only is it easy to clean, it’s compatible with any of Ameda’s HygieniKit Milk Collection Systems.

Speaking of milk collection, you might enjoy the Ameda Dual HygieniKit Milk Collection System with Accessories. It’s a great value because everything you need to successfully express and collect breast milk is included. This electric breast pump has an exclusive system that is so unique that it’s patented. The silicone diaphragm prevents fluids from entering its tubing – there’s no tedious cleanup! It’s sterile, pre-assembled and ready for you to use, and is easy to clean and reassemble. Not only do you get a handy tote to carry it all, this kit comes with the Cool ‘N Carry storage system with three cooling elements, six four-oz. bottles with lids and its own insulated carrying case. If you prefer, we also have a Single HygieniKit Milk Collection System available. Although it doesn’t come with the accessories of the Dual, it does come with the One-Hand Pump Handle Assembly, which converts the HygieniKit into a One-Hand Breast Pump.

The Nurture III Double Electric Breast Pump is yet another compact pump designed for frequent and long-term use. It has five settings of suction for you to control. Or use it as a single breast pump if you prefer. It’s quiet, efficient and comfortable, and can produce from 15 to 30 cycles per minute.

The Ameda One-Hand Manual Breast Pump is compact, ergonomically designed and easy to use. In fact, it’s earned the High Design-Innovation Quality from Design Zentum Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany. You have the option of pumping directly into any standard baby bottle or into a freezer bag. Even though it’s a manual, you can vary the way you express by how you operate the handle.

Now all you have to do is choose which ameda breast pump is right for you!

When you return to work after having a baby, you’re going to need a breast pump that you can easily transport, is convenient to use and will efficiently express breastmilk. After all, you may have to pump several times a day (every three to four hours is recommended), you’ll want to be able to pump any where and at any time, and maybe for many months. The medela pump in style advanced not only fits all of these requirements, it does so in style.

This medela pump is an efficient double electric pump, meaning that it can pump both breasts at the same time. For added convenience, since electricity might not always be available, the pump also can run on eight AA batteries. And when you go to our medela breast pump accessories link, you can purchase the low-cost car adapter, so you’ll have that option as well.

The medela pump in style advanced features 2-Phase Expression Technology that is very similar to how your baby breastfeeds. Clinical studies have shown mothers will produce more breastmilk more quickly when the breastpump mimics how their baby feeds. Babies usually start with a fast and light suckling rhythm, similar to the Stimulation Phase of the breastpump, until you achieve let-down. Then baby switches to a slower and deeper rhythm, like the Expression Phase of the breastpump. The breastpump uses more vacuum during this Expression Phase, so your milk flows faster. And you have control because you can adjust the speed and vacuum.

However, if you’re in a stressful, demanding job, you may not always feel relaxed enough to pump. To create a comfortable environment that’s conducive to pumping, keeping a photo of baby close to you, hold a piece of clothing or blanket that has baby’s scent, listen to music, and/or eat a meal or a healthy snack. (Yes, we know you’re used to multi-tasking!) And don’t forget to wear clothing that makes it convenient to pumping when you’re working.

Included with this breastpump are the breastpump motor unit and the cooler carrier, which are conveniently removable, four collection cups and lids, plus all the valves and membranes that the pump requires. And you have three stylish options for how you’d like to transport the medela pump. If you’re a mass- transit commuter, you may like the backpack model. Or you can choose the convenience of the Shoulder Bag. The Metro Bag, made of stain-resistant nylon, has an adjustable handle, is reversible and comes with a working pad so that, no matter where you are, you’ll have a clean place to pump. Whichever style you choose, you’ll have lots of room for storage. And all parts that come into contact with your breastmilk are BPA-free and DEHP-free. The medela pump in style advanced provides you with comfort, convenience, safety and style – what more could you need?

We all like options. And the Ameda purely yours breast pump will give you lots of them. And simplicity. As a new mom, you have enough to do, so you need items to operate simply and easily. Here’s some information that will help you decide which of the Purely Yours breast pump options is best for you:

The Purely Yours Breast Pump with Backpack is for the mom who has to return to work or is always on the go, with the added convenience of light-weight portability. This particular option includes: The ameda purely yours breast pump – it only weighs one pound! This pump is driven by pistons for durable reliability and hospital-grade technology, plus it has all the user-friendly features that mom’s need. You can adjust both the cycle and suction, whichever is most comfortable for you. Since it’s a double electric breast pump, it’s quick, easy and efficient, because we know you need to do everything you can to save time. The breast pump’s unique design doesn’t allow milk to get into the tubing, which is another great time saver.

Also included with the breast pump backpack design is the Ameda HygieniKit Milk Collection System, which is, of course, free of BPA. It has a patented design that uses a silicone diaphragm so that breastmilk won’t enter the tubing. Not having to clean the tubing is another great time saver. The HygieniKit is preassembled as well as sterile, so you’re good to go. And, after cleaning, is easy to reassemble. Bonus – it fits all of the Ameda electric breast pumps. Also included with the backpack is the Cool ‘N Carry Tote. This tote includes three cooling elements, a Milk Storage Guide magnet to remind you of the precautions that will keep your breastmilk safe and sanitary, and six 4-ounce bottles with lids, so you can store your breastmilk in whatever size your baby eats at one sitting. Your breast pump operates three different ways: With an electrical adapter, a 12-volt car adapter (each are included in the backpack) and it can also run on AA batteries! Some of the great accessories that are included are two cotton breast pads, as well as a Manual Breast Pump handle assembly, which can convert one the breast pumps in case of emergency. Last, but certainly not least, is the backpack itself. Not only is it light-weight, but it’s made of long-lasting microfibers.

Another slightly different option you could choose is the ameda purely yours breast pump with carry all tote. You get the same great double electric breast pump, HygieniKit Milk Collection System, and the Cool ‘N Carry Tote with three cooling elements and Milk Storage Guide magnet. This tote is a shoulder bag, which is also light-weight and made from microfibers.

Perhaps you’ll be staying at home and don’t need all the totes and milk storage items. If that’s the case, you can purchase the ameda purely yours breastpump separately. You also have the option of ordering separate breastfeeding accessories. Perhaps you’ll want to purchase a comfortgel pad, which provides cool relief for sore nipples, or Lansinoh Lanolin, if your nipples are cracked. Nipple shields, breast shells, and custom breast flanges and inserts are also available, as well as different types of nursing pads, freezer bags and additional milk collection bottles. And, if you happen to loose any of your adapters, they can also be purchased separately. Actually, maybe we’ve given you so many options you’ll have a hard time choosing!

You’ve been breastfeeding your baby since she was born. But you need to return to work soon, and you know that your baby needs your breastmilk for as long as possible. You also know you need to depend on your new breastpump frequently and for as long as possible. And, since your job is demanding, you need a pump that’s reliable and efficient. Medela pumps have a breastpump solution with you in mind, called the medela pump in style. Since you’re an on-the-go working mom, you also need convenience and portability.

The Pump In Style Advanced Breast pump is an electric breast pump which was designed based on research and proven in hospitals. Each “PIS” Breast pump has 2-Phase Expression Technology which produces more milk in a less amount of time when it’s operating at Maximum Comfort Vacuum, and was designed to replicate a baby’s natural suckling. The two phases consist of the Stimulation phase, which has a slight but quick suckling action that begins the flow of milk (also called let-down), and the Expression phase, when a slower vacuum is created to efficiently, but gently, express more milk faster. And you can adjust the speed and vacuum so that the breastpump feels most like your baby. You can use the medela pump in style as a single pump or as a double pump. It used to be that you could only get this kind of technology in a hospital-grade pump, but it’s now available in this breastpump that’s used for personal purposes.

The Pump In Style Advanced Breastpump has many other advantages. A Battery Pak is included so that you’re able to pump anywhere; all you need are eight AA batteries. And you can be assured that all the pump’s parts that come into contact with your breastmilk are free from both BPA and DEHP. Other items included in the medela pump in style are a cooler carrier, 4 collection containers (each with lids), two 24mm PersonalFit Breastshields, a Breastfeeding Information Guide (aren’t you surprised at how much there is to learn about breastfeeding?), two valves, four membranes and a cooling element (see medela.com for important information on breastmilk storage under the “Pumping” section).

As the name implies, you have stylish ways to carry your new breastpump. When you choose the Backpack 2008, you’re ready for you mass transit commute. If you choose the Shoulder Bag 2008, just throw it over your shoulder and off you go. Or maybe you’ll want the Metro Bag 2008 that has adjustable straps. It includes a work surface so you always have a clean area to pump with, and mesh bags to hold all your accessories. And the cooler carrier that comes with the Metro Bag keeps your breastmilk cool for 12 hours. Instead of the 24mm breastshields, the Metro Bag comes with two Softfit Breastshields. The motor unit is removable from this messenger-style bag, so you can use it long after you’ve finished breastfeeding. This roomy bag will hold all your essentials, and is not only durable, but stain-resistant, easy-to-clean nylon. And it’s reversible! After all, just because we’ve had a baby doesn’t mean we can’t still be stylish!

You’re here, reading this article because you’re looking for information to help you make a breast pump comparison, am I right? Instead of telling you to get this breast pump or that one, I’ll give you some general guidelines that may surprise you but will help you find the right pump for your needs.

Price means nothing – just because an electric breast pump is $200 more than a manual breast pump, it doesn’t mean that it will work better for you. Same thing goes for those breast milk pumps that have advanced computer technology to pump exactly like your baby is SUPPOSED to feed, etc. But then again, some women may need such a thing, and there is certainly a place for it. Don’t be swayed by vanity, and go with the pump that feels right instinctively.

Reviews are important – we’re working to include more and more reviews, including video reviews of all the breast pumps out there, but we encourage you to seek out as many reviews as you can by real people. No, it won’t ensure that the breast pump any particular person is reviewing is the right one for you, but it will help give you a feeling of how they work, how they sound, function, their size, and a host of other aesthetic items that you can’t experience otherwise until you buy a breast pump.

Company hype about this function or this feature is NOT important – obviously, our website, just like all the brands of breast milk pumps, are interested in selling you the most profitable items to us. But if you purchase a pump or a breast pump accessory that’s not right for you, all that will happen is that you’ll lose trust in us and get pissed off, and we DON’T WANT THAT. So again, listen to your feelings, your instincts, reviews that you find appealing, and watch how you’re filtering information you’re receiving.

Above all, know thyself – what this means is – will you be pumping often? will you be pumping on the go? at work? at home exclusively? do you think you’ll feel embarrassed or shy about pumping? do you need a silent pump or does it not matter if it makes some noise? do you hate carrying heavy things? are you lazy and don’t want to figure out a pump with many parts and have to spend a lot of time cleaning? are you nervous about your ability to produce milk and you want all the help you can get?

Although these are general tips and advice to help you make a breast pump comparison, we hope it helps you to figure out what’s best. Sometimes the most obvious, plain and simple advice is the best. Good luck and a toast to successful pumping and breastfeeding!

Wow – I can’t believe that some new-age, so-called feminists, Judith Warner and Hanna Rosin, who have an article in the New York Times, no less, have written a disparaging attack against breastfeeding moms and breast milk pumps in general. Of course we’re going to speak out against this, as it goes against everything this website is for – mainly helping women feed their babies nature’s number one anti-sickness, nutritious, life-giving, nourishing substance ever known to man (and un-copy-able as well by scientists!).

It’s sad that the only thing that some people can do is portray the negative aspects of breast pumps and breastfeeding, calling the process grotesque – which is laughable, given that the word MAMMAL means containing mammary glands, whose sole purpose are to nourish babies by producing breastmilk. Have you ever seen other mammals breastfeeding? I have, and they aren’t using formula – they’re using the ONLY thing nature provides – breastmilk.

By the way, I have a trivia question: “How has humankind survived for the past 100,000 or even million years by the way?” What did babies eat for nourishment? Uhhhhh……. BREASTMILK. Was there formula around since before 1900 even? Whatever have mothers been doing for the past one hundred thousand or more years? I’ll give you zero guesses – breastfeeding.

And now some agitated people want to call breastpumps into question, saying they’re helping to enslave modern women and make them feel bad about feeding their children? Wow. That’s simply crazy to me. Beyond crazy. Here I was, all this time, thinking that breastpumps, especially electric breast pumps and hospital grade breast pumps were there to help more moms breastfeed their children, especially ones that had problems doing so, but I guess it’s all just a conspiracy to enslave them.

Again, all I can say is wow.

What makes any given Medela breast pump special? It is the two phase expression emulation of any of the Medela pumps that does it, with the exception of any manual breastpumps they make. What is two phase expression? Well, scientists over at Medela seem to have studied the way real babies breastfeed, and they’ve learned that babies don’t simply start suckling at the breast with evenly-timed sucks. There are 2 phases to a baby’s nursing pattern, called the let-down and the expression phases.

The let down phase is the first phase of nursing – this is where your baby will take quick, small sucks at the breast, immediately after latching on to the breast. This may continue for about 1-2 minutes, while your baby stimulates your body and your breasts to begin filling with breastmilk. The amazing thing is that this let down phase is critical to help enable a mother’s body to produce breastmilk during the 2nd expression phase.

The expression phase is the 2nd phase of breastfeeding, and this is where your baby will slow down their sucking pattern and go into a slower, more rhythmic pattern that will dominate how they feed for the next 5, 10, 15, or 20 minutes. It is in this phase that your baby has summoned the milk from your body and it begins flowing fast out of the nipples and into their mouth. Clever kids, huh?

So instead of simply creating a powerful breast pump that will suck your nipples right off your body, as long as it’s electric, a Medela breast pump will give you the most milk in the least time because the pump actually copies how real babies breastfeed more accurately than any other pumps out there that I’ve seen. And I think that this is the coolest thing to come to breastfeeding and breastpumps in a long time.

The Symphony Breast Pump By Medela is the first breast pump to simulate a baby’s two phase feeding process. This Medela Pump is natural, comfortable and efficient and hospital grade. It was designed by Peter Hartmann world renowned professor at the University of Western Australia, and it includes automatic and manual switching based on what a mother needs.

All the pumping programs are stored on a program card, and so this allows further pumping programs to be implemented in the future by getting rid of alternate cards as research evolves. There is only one knob so it is really simple to use for any mom. This knob combines the vacuum level and the cycles per minute in the expression phase. Moms can switch between single and double pumping by adding or removing the second pump collection set, so this could really speed up the pumping process if you were in a hurry.

The Symphony Breast Pump by Medela comes with a membrane that separates the pump collection set from the pump mechanism and protects the machine from overflow and backing up of breastmilk into the pump itself or the other parts of the machine. There is an LCD Display that shows the pumping phase, vacuum level, battery status and handling and service information. Another great feature with this pump is that it is so quiet you will barely notice it running. Maybe that’s why it’s called the symphony, because it will be music to your ears to not hear the waah waah of a normal breast pump pumping away!

You can get this pump in both the standard and rechargeable battery version. Research shows that a babies feeding is not a single continuous action. Breastfeeding babies actually use a two-phase approach which they suck rapidly to induce milk let-down (which is called stimulation). The second phase is when the milk is slowly flowing (which is called expression). This breast pump has fantastic results because it is so closely related to that two-phase system that real babies use to breastfeed. The pump is proven to feel most like a baby and get more milk in less time, and it is proven to achieve faster milk ejection and faster milk flow.

All the parts for this breast pump are completely BPA and DEHP free. If you wish you can even rent this pump instead of buying it. The Symphony by Medela is truly the closet pump to nature and will give you all the benefits and efficiency you want from a breast pump. The pump does all the work for you and makes it so easy for mom to use.

There are different models of Medela Pumps on the market. If you are traditional you may want to choose the manual version, because with these small pumps you can produce the suction yourself by squeezing the bulb or lever or by manipulating a cylinder. Actually, there are many designs for manual pumps. Cylinder styles usually allow you to control the pressure and minimize your discomfort, and some of these models can be used with one hand which makes them easier to use. These pumps are less expensive than other models and don’t need an electrical source or batteries. They are compact and can fit in a purse or bag, and if you are a stay at home mom these are good. They are also good for pumping on the go. Make sure you look for a one that fits your hand comfortably!

On the other hand… a manual breast pump may not be for you, so you can opt for an electric breast pump instead. These pumps are widely available and come with AA or C batteries, and you can also plug them into an outlet. All of the Medela pumps line are also small and can fit neatly away in a backpack or travel case. These units are usually quiet and are slow and methodical on the suction. The nice thing with the electronic pump is you can pump anywhere anytime and they are reasonably priced. This is a good option if you need to be away from your baby now and then for a few hours. A couple of the best models are the Medela Swing and the Pump In Style Advanced.

Finally, there is the hospital grade pump, the Medela Lactina. These pumps are powerful and can are more bulky at 6 to 11 pounds. They are manufactured to use in hospitals and for breast pump rentals. They have sensitive controls that allow you to regulate the suction, intensity and pressure of the milk flow. Some have a pumping action that is identical to your own baby’s way of suckling. These pumps can cut down on session time 50% with a dual pump. You can rent these units from hospitals, medical supplies, drugstores, retail stores and lactation specialists. Hospital grade pumps are fast and efficient and light compared to midweight units. This is the pump to use or rent if your baby can’t latch on and you’re not sure how often you will use it but you want a good one in case. It is good if you plan to pump for less than three months or you have to dramatically increase your milk supply.