Pump Review Disclaimer and Things to Keep in Mind When Deciding What Pump to Buy

Affiliate links shared

I was originally calling this little series “Pump of the Week” but I only have so many pumps I can review. We are not just using this as a little disclaimer and “things to think about” list when trying to decide what pump to buy!

Before we start, I want to go over some things. Especially for my new-to-pumping moms and my freshly postpartum moms: pumping is very personal. This is also a blog for exclusive pumping (EP) which is going to be different from nursing + pumping. Output, schedule, etc. are going to be different for moms who EP vs Moms who occasionally pump and it’s important you know that going into these reviews. But everyone is welcome here, as long as you’re kind!

Back to reviews: what might work for me might not work for you and vice versa. I think a lot of what we are missing on social media is context. Is someone an over supplier? Under supplier? How often do they pump? How many months postpartum are they? There are so many little details that aren’t shared with us because social media is a 10 second highlight reel of someone’s life. 

So before I start reviewing things, here are some things to know about me:

I am a 34 year old teen mom (if you get it you get it lol) and had my first baby at 33. He was an IVF miracle but I had a very difficult pregnancy and a very difficult postpartum. He had severe tongue and lip ties, that even after revision, still made latching so unbelievably painful due to vasospams, my only option for breastfeeding was to exclusively pump. You can more on why I EP here

I am not a CLC or any sort of licensed professional – just a mom with an internet connection and ADHD tI love being an expert in whatever the thing is I am currently doing. I exclusively pumped for 14 months and went from 8 down to 4 pumps by the time I weaned. I was an overproducer, I was a size 15mm flange, and I was a small C cup. My two main pumps I use every single day are the Baby Buddha 2.0 and Pumpables Genie Advanced. Near the end though, I was mainly just using my Baby Buddha!

I only use the Davin & Adley Amelia Bralette and the Simple Wishes Hands Free Bandeau style bra. Due to a smaller flange size, these are the only bras that I feel the most secure in. These are the only two bras I can personally speak to. But I have tried Momcozy, Love & Fit, Kindred Bravely, and some random brands on Amazon. All of which seemed to be geared toward large chested/flange sized women.

I did work with Dr Dianna, @pumpwithpurpose on Instagram, who is a CLC to learn how to use the first pump I bought. I then took a Pumping Basics course with Bethany Bourgin, @theoversupplymama on Instagram. Bethany also then saw me through my weaning journey. Working with CLCs who specialize in EP were integral in my pumping journey and something that I don’t think moms should skip! Learning how your body responds to the various settings is very important – all pumps are not created equal. Neither are boobs!

Again, it’s important to have context going into these reviews because the way I respond to a pump, you might not! And the reason some pumps work great for me is because they have a similar vacuum pattern. Also, I’m a chronic oversharer and my brain cannot function without ALL of the context.

This me just sharing my honest review and opinion on the pumps brands either send me to test out or that I personally buy. There is going to be a mix of both and I will make sure that you know which ones are which! But please know I only work with brands who are open and willing to take my honest review. My goal is to do my best to present you with the facts along with my personal thoughts so you can make the best decision for YOU as pumps, flanges, bras, etc. are all investments in you and your baby!

What To Look For When Choosing a Pump

I cannot stress this enough – pumping is super personal! Make sure you understand the difference between a primary and secondary pump. Knowing that, it’s important to note that wearables, meaning pumps that have motors attached to cups and have no tubing, should not be a primary pump. I am cautionary tale for that! I share more of that here.

There are primary pumps that hack with wearable cups via tubing but there is just nothing that beats the good old standard flange. Flanges come in all sorts of styles now though, so you’ll be able to find one that fits best.

Make sure you consider where and when you are going to pump. The first 12 weeks postpartum are so important for establishing supply if you are EPing from Day 1. Picking a strong enough pump is important! For the first 8 or so months of pumping, I was only comfortable pumping at home. I found that if I moved around too much, my output was really poor. Think about what it’s going to be like taking it to and from work if you are going back or are a working mom.

Consider your breast size – I’m on the smaller side and some wearables were just too big and uncomfortable for me. I found that a soft silicone flange worked best and I had to make sure the pump I pick would fit with it/could hack to it.

This is just a preliminary list and is just meant to make sure you understand what to look out for and might take some trial and error. It took me a few months to find the combo that worked best…which can be frustrating when you can’t return a breast pump!

If you are a veteran EP mama, is there anything you would add for new EP moms?