Choosing a breast pump

All you need to know to choose the best breast pump for you

Manual Pumps

Quiet

Inexpensive to buy

Cost nothing to run

Put you in complete control

Easy-to-use

Good for occasional use

Cons: Some mums find it hard to maintain the suction while holding and pumping. The action of pumping can make your hands ache after a while.

Battery-operated pumps

Performance can be very good

Easy-to-use

Good for occasional use

Cons: The frequent need to change batteries can be costly. Performance can deteriorate noticeably when the batteries are running low.

Electric pumps

Quick

No need to replace batteries

Constant power supply

Easy-to-use

Good for frequent use

Cons: These are the most expensive and they can be quite noisy, depending on the model you choose.

How often you need to express milk and how much you want to spend will help you decide which is the best type of breast pump for you. Don’t forget, you can hire breast pumps from many different companies if you’d prefer to try one before you buy. Contact your local National Childbirth Trust or local hospital