Moms go through a lot during pregnancy. That’s a given. But things only get more demanding once the baby is born. If you’re expecting a new baby (or have a newborn at home already), you may have already decided to breastfeed or use formula. If you are breastfeeding, you’ll still need to express some milk yourself, and if you aren’t breastfeeding, you’ll have some milk to deal with before you stop producing. As a result, pretty much every pregnant mom will need a breast pump once the baby is born. Breast pumps mimic a baby’s natural sucking to stimulate milk production and express milk. Some are electric, and some are manual. They’re all very easy to clean and can be customized to suit your breast shape and sensitivity. Almost all of them can be used hands-free, too! Doesn’t that sound great? If it does, and you’re ready to buy, we’re here to help you find your perfect fit. Breast pumps can vary in things like price, weight, power type, ease of cleaning, milk capacity, suction levels, modes, and more. And trust us, you’ll want to think about every single aspect of a breast pump before you commit to it. It’s the only way to get the best match! This comprehensive guide will investigate the best breast pumps in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products. The Best Breast Pumps Right Now Our Top Pick for the Best Breast Pump Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Electric Breast Pump Review What We Think of the Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Electric Breast Pump We think the Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Electric Breast Pump is just about perfect for everybody. One of the standout features is its versatility. With two suction modes and ten suction levels (all automatic!), you’ll always find the right combination for your needs. Plus, with a battery that lasts through up to ten pumping sessions, you’ll be able to experiment or take things slow without worrying about it dying on you. What a relief! We’re also big fans of the user-friendliness. The three parts of the pump are all dishwasher-safe for hassle-free cleaning, and there’s even an app that lets you track your feeding schedule and milk inventory. How fun is that? Truly, the only downside to choosing this breast pump is the cost. While the price is right on par with comparable electric breast pumps, it’s still a lot more expensive than a manual option. If cost won’t be an issue for you, you’ll have nothing to dislike about this choice! All in all, the Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Electric Breast Pump has a lot working in your favour. Electric power, versatile suction settings, and easy cleaning are just a few of the highlights. What Reviewers Are Saying About the Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Electric Breast Pump Reviewers have a very high opinion of the Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Electric Breast Pump. Not only does it offer a great range of suction levels, but the two different suction modes make it perfect for every woman and every need. They have no trouble getting eight or more sessions from a single charge, and they love how easy it is to clean the parts in the dishwasher. They highly recommend this one. Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Electric Breast Pump Pros and Cons Buy If… Don’t Buy If… Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Electric Breast Pump Specifications Our Runner-Up Momcozy M6 Hands-Free Wearable Breast Pump Review What We Think of the Momcozy M6 Hands-Free Wearable Breast Pump The Momcozy M6 Hands-Free Wearable Breast Pump is an easy one to rely on, and we’ll tell you why! First, with its DoubleFit flange design, this pump offers one of the safest and comfiest fits for every breast shape. It won’t pinch, it stays in place securely, and it helps stimulate milk production! Another great design element is the seamless pouring from pump to bottle or bag. They even stand up by themselves! Another thing you’ll love about this breast pump is the versatility. Three suction modes and nine suction levels make it easy to find what works and what feels right. The battery life is another winning feature that you’ll appreciate. You can easily get through six pumping sessions without needing a recharge. How does it get any more perfect for new parents? The only feature missing from this breast pump is dishwasher-safe parts. You’ll need to hand wash or boil everything on the stovetop for a short time for effective cleaning; they can’t stand up to a dishwasher. As long as that won’t be a dealbreaker for you, and you’re prepared for the price of an electric breast pump, you’ll be very happy with this one. All in all, the Momcozy M6 Hands-Free Wearable Breast Pump has a lot to offer, and you’ll most likely be happy with it no matter what your priorities are. As long as you aren’t set on hands-free cleaning, this option will be a great fit for you. What Reviewers Are Saying About the Momcozy M6 Hands-Free Wearable Breast Pump Reviewers have lots of great things to say about the Momcozy M6 Hands-Free Wearable Breast Pump. It stands and pours a lot better than they were expecting, and they appreciate being able to use it for multiple pumping sessions without charging it in between. They’ve all been able to find great pump settings, too. They’d all choose this one again. Some people would prefer it was dishwasher-safe, though. Momcozy M6 Hands-Free Wearable Breast Pump Pros and Cons Buy If… Don’t Buy If… Momcozy M6 Hands-Free Wearable Breast Pump Specifications Our Upgrade Pick Eufy S2 Pro Wearable Breast Pump with Heated Massage Review What We Think of the Eufy S2 Pro Wearable Breast Pump with Heated Massage We are so excited to introduce you to the Eufy S2 Pro Wearable Breast Pump with Heated Massage. As its name suggests, this breast pump offers both heating levels and massage modes. What are the benefits of these additions, you might ask? It’s more comfortable to pump, you can clear clogged ducts easily, and you can speed up your milk let-down and cut your pumping time! You’ll still have three suction speeds and 10 suction levels to pick from for even more versatility. You can even set a custom routine if you want to! The good things don’t end here, though. This breast pump even has a nipple light built in so you can align everything in seconds, even in the dark during those overnight sessions! How does it get better than that? There are only a couple of reasons you might look into a different breast pump. First, this one requires hand-washing and pot-boiling for cleaning, so if dishwasher-safe parts are a priority, this is not the right choice. Second, the cost of this breast pump is significantly higher than most other electric options, so it won’t be a good fit for people shopping on a budget. Overall, the Eufy S2 Pro Wearable Breast Pump with Heated Massage has more to offer than pretty much every other breast pump you’ll find right now. Whether you need help boosting your milk production, you’re looking for a luxury experience, or you want maximum versatility, this pump is right for you. What Reviewers Are Saying About the Eufy S2 Pro Wearable Breast Pump with Heated Massage Reviewers are raving about the Eufy S2 Pro Wearable Breast Pump with Heated Massage. The extra functions make pumping a lot more comfortable and a lot faster, and all of the suction settings make it easy to customize things day to day. They love the nipple light, too. They highly recommend this one and wouldn’t change a thing about it. Eufy S2 Pro Wearable Breast Pump with Heated Massage Pros and Cons Buy If… Don’t Buy If… Eufy S2 Pro Wearable Breast Pump with Heated Massage Specifications Our Manual Pick Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump with Colostrum Collection and Feeding Kit Review What We Think of the Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump with Colostrum Collection and Feeding Kit The Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump with Colostrum Collection and Feeding Kit has more to offer than a typical breast pump. In addition to a well-designed manual pump, you’ll also get colostrum collectors and storage containers, labels, and syringes. Whether you want to collect colostrum before birth or you want to be prepared for anything that comes afterwards, this kit has you covered. The simplicity of this manual pump (and its affordability) are two more reasons we highly recommend it. Even people shopping on a budget deserve great care and convenience, and that’s what you’ll get with this pump. The dishwasher-safe parts just add the icing on the cake, don’t you think? One of the main downsides to choosing a manual pump is, of course, the lack of versatility. You won’t be able to choose different suction modes or levels. It all comes down to how you squeeze. Some people prefer simple, though, and we can’t blame them! Also keep in mind that this kit only comes with one pump, so you’ll have to do one breast at a time. Overall, the Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump with Colostrum Collection and Feeding Kit is the one we recommend most for affordability, simplicity, and preparedness. If any of those things are important to you (or all of them), this breast pump kit is the ideal choice. What Reviewers Are Saying About the Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump with Colostrum Collection and Feeding Kit Reviewers have positive things to say about the Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump with Colostrum Collection and Feeding Kit. They highly recommend it for hospital go-bags since it has everything needed to get early feedings off to a great start. They love how affordable and simple it is to use, too. They’re really glad they chose this one. Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump with Colostrum Collection and Feeding Kit Pros and Cons Buy If… Don’t Buy If… Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump with Colostrum Collection and Feeding Kit Specifications Our Alternative Manual Pick Haakaa Manual Breast Pump Review What We Think of the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump The Haakaa Manual Breast Pump will bring a lot of great things into your life. One of our favourite new experiences is a silent pumping session. That’s right, you can pump in complete silence, because it doesn’t make a peep! What a lifesaver for overstimulated new moms! We also love that it can be used hands-free. All you have to do is attach the pump and let it do the work for you. The affordability of this breast pump is another huge benefit. As one of the most inexpensive pumping options around right now, it’s perfect for almost every budget. We’re also pretty happy with the single-piece design of this breast pump. You won’t ever have to assemble or disassemble it, and since it can be cleaned in your dishwasher, you won’t even have to invest any time in that part of the chore. When it comes to shortcomings, this breast pump does have a couple of things worth mentioning. First, although it is a hands-free pump, you still won’t be able to move around or multitask while wearing it. You might lose the suction if you do. Also, the milk capacity is only 100 millilitres, so if you’re in peak production and you want to pump both breasts before filling a bag or bottle, this pump won’t quite get you there. All in all, the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump is a true standout in the manual pumping world, and we think you’ll be very happy with it. Of course, you won’t get the same versatility or security as with an electric pump, but for the price, you really can’t go wrong! What Reviewers Are Saying About the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump Reviewers are quite happy with the Haakaa Manual Breast Pump. They all agree that it’s perfect for collecting let-down, and many breastfeeding moms use this between feeds instead of an electric pump. It’s very easy to use and clean, which they appreciate. However, many women have mentioned that the suction can randomly let go sometimes, especially if they move by accident. Haakaa Manual Breast Pump Pros and Cons Buy If… Don’t Buy If… Haakaa Manual Breast Pump Specifications How to Properly Choose Your Breast Pump Price Some breast pumps will cost less than $30, and others will be priced more than 10x that much. Most people won’t need to spend more than $200 or so to get a perfect unit, though. In general, more expensive breast pumps will be electric instead of manual, will offer more suction levels, and will have more comfortable cups. Suction Levels Some breast pumps have more suction levels than others (up to 10 in comparison to one or two), and we generally recommend those more since you’ll be able to match your sensitivity level and needed strength to get the milk flowing well. Power Type Breast pumps come in both manual and electric styles. Manual pumps will, of course, be more affordable, but you’ll also miss out on some of the convenience and functionality of an automated electric pump. Manual options are also more portable and more discreet, though, so that’s some extras to consider if you pump away from home a lot. Hands-Free Operation Most of the breast pumps on the market these days are hands-free, but you can still run into versions that require you to hold the cup to your breast the entire time. While they might be a bit more affordable, you’ll also be stuck with no ability to multitask. Modes Most breast pumps will offer at least two modes (some of the manual ones might only have one). The starting mode will stimulate milk production and let down, and the second mode will pull the milk out of the breast. This design simulates the sucking action of a real baby and is the most natural option. Some pumps will offer additional modes, such as a massage function to help with let-down. Ease of Cleaning Since breast pumps need to be cleaned after every use, ease of cleaning is definitely something to consider. Some pumps go in the dishwasher, others don’t, and some are designed to disassemble to make things easier.
