What are the different types of pumps?
As moms ourselves, we know that starting your search for the ideal breast pump can feel a bit overwhelming. So, since you don’t live and breathe breast pumps like we do, let’s start with the basics.
Breast pump types are determined by two primary factors: power source and capacity.
Power Source
Pumps can be either manual or electric.
With a manual pump, you provide the power which can be tiring and less efficient. However, these pumps are much more portable and still usable in a power outage. We suggest having a manual pump as a supplement or back up to an electric pump.
Electric pumps are either plug-in or battery powered. Both require a functioning electrical outlet to power a table top unit or a charging base. Electric models yield better results in less time but are inherently less portable.
Capacity
Manual pumps have the most limited capacity as you can only pump one of the girls at a time into a single storage container.
Electric pumps can work on either one or both of the girls at a time. A single pump version is a bit more portable and possibly battery powered while a double pump requires a bit more gear but takes half the time and allows you to express more milk.
So that’s it for now. You’ve taken your first steps to understanding the basic types of pumps available. Figuring out which pump works best for you is the next step so when you’re ready, we’re here to help.
