Breast Pump Category Comparison: Personal Breast Pump, Professional Breast Pump, Hospital Grade Breast Pump

It is hard to believe it has been 80 years since Swedish engineer, Einer Egnell invented the first auto-cycling mechanical breast pump.  Today, we have so many choices, but it is a little like having more television channels - so many choices make for hard decisions.

Let's break down the categories.

Personal Breast Pumps - This category includes the small breast pumps including the silicone pumps such as the Motif Silicone Breast Pump and the Haakaa breast pump.  There used to be more single pumping battery operated pumps in this category, but none were very effective so that has mostly faded away.  I would also put the dual battery operated pumps that are hands-free in this category because since they rely on a small battery, they are only as effective as the batteries are fresh.

Professional Breast Pumps - These are pumps like the Spectra Synergy Gold, S1 and S2, Ameda Mya, and Motif Luna.  These pumps work very well, but they are not considered hygienic as multi-user breast pumps, nor do they offer longevity of use for multiple births.

Hospital Grade Breast Pumps -Typically, these were the breast pumps found in hospitals that were big and bulky weighing 9-12 lbs.  They are approved by the FDA for multi-person use when each mother has their own hygienic double collection kit.  These pumps usually offer a three year warranty and can last much longer than that.  These are also able to be serviced through the manufacturer when necessary.  The down side is that they are also costly coming in at $2000-$2600 each.

Here the the newest category, I am excited to blog about today!

Portable Hospital Grade Breast Pumps - This is an exciting new category because it was cumbersome for moms to lug traditional hospital grade breast pumps to and from the hospital for premature babies. It was also costly and while rental programs for these used to be prevalent, rentals are now few and far between.  Now a mom with a preemie or who is planning on having multiple children can own a more affordable portable hospital grade breast pump.  These breast pumps are also easier on the budget for businesses with corporate lactation rooms where space may also be limited.

Let's compare Ameda Pearl and the Spectra S3 Pro portable hospital grade breast pumps.

Both pumps sell for under $900-$999.  Both offer a lithium ion rechargeable battery as well as AC power option, a backlit nightlight, auto off, 12 suction levels and a 3 year warranty.  

The Spectra S3 Pro Breast Pump follows more of the technical specs of the professional grade category of breast pumps which are indeed high quality pumps.  These type of pumps are marketed as fast speed 70 cycles per minute and high suction up to 270mm Hg.

The Ameda Pearl follows more of the clinical data on effective pumping as you can see from the chart below.  The expression mode tops out at only 48 CPM (cycles per minute) which is highly effective for long draws of milk extraction and offers a stunningly quick stimulation mode of 80-120 CPM.  I have always respected the Ameda company for staying true to what is best for moms and not just what sells.

Spectra includes one double pumping kit with their pump and includes the hard carrying case while these are sold separately for the Ameda Pearl Breast Pump, but what the Pearl lacks in freebies, it makes up for in a high quality true hospital grade breast pump.

Expressly yours,

Tanya

Medications and Breastfeeding

It is so hard to know what to take and what not to take when you are breastfeeding.  Of course there are common over the counter drugs that are well known to be safe, but what if you have a medical condition, anxiety or depression?  Can you rely on your doctor to know which drugs pass through to human milk and which ones are safe?  

The best advise we can offer is to ask your doctor what medications he would prefer to prescribe and if there is an alternative as well.  Then before you have your RX filled, research the medications of the following websites or apps:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/   

The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) is part of the United States National Library of Medicine (NLM), a branch of the National Institutes of Health. The NCBI is located in Bethesda, Maryland and was founded in 1988.  

Thomas Hale, PHD wrote Medications and Mother's Milk and updates are published frequently, but the best way to keep up to date on the information in this highly valuable resource is through an app so that you receive the most current information on medications.  You can find Hale's app for Apple and Android.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/medications-mothers-milk/id1400067173

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hltcorp.medsmilk&hl=en_US&gl=US

The Physicians Desk Reference if often used by doctors and it contains information on medications and nursing derived from package inserts from the pharmaceutical manufacturers. Almost across the board, they indicate that each medication should not be taken while pregnant or breastfeeding. The warning statements they use are designed to protect themselves from lawsuits. The information in the PDR is based on the manufacturer’s studies on the product, but not other studies that have been done. In general the manufacturers have done no studies on lactating women, and thus say that there is no information (even if studies have been done by others). Many doctors also have access to the USPDI (US Pharmacopeia Drug Information), which tends to have more accurate information about studies done on the drug and available information about transfer into milk than the PDR (Physican's Desk Reference). If your physician does not use LactMed or Thomas Hale's resources, make sure they are not just relying on the PDR.

LactMed and Thomas Hale are the foremost authorities on medication and mother's milk and heavily relied on by board certified lactation consultants and the lactation community at large.

If you have taken a medication that has decreased your milk supply, here are two resources that may help with galactagogues to increase your supply and protocols to replace supplements with breastmilk once your supply is on the rise.

https://www.lactationconnection.com/Lactation-Supplements-s/1854.htm 

https://lactconnect.blogspot.com/2019/02/getting-back-to-breastfeeding-pumping.html

Best wishes for the best health for you, your baby and your milk supply!

Tanya