Lela Stratton
Medela Harmony
Lansinoh Manual
Philips Avent
Show Content
Manual Breast Pumps are truly heaven sent! Most mothers wonder how they would have survived without them. However, there are now advanced breast pumps that function with electricity. But I wouldn't really go for them.
In case you are wondering, I am also a mother and electric breast pumps will only function with a source of power. And how safe can they really be? I personally wouldn't feel secure when using them.
But that is my opinion, what about you? Breast pumps are essential especially when you have a job to go to almost every day of the week after your leave days are done. If you are a housewife, your baby is very lucky.
However, with the invention of breast pumps, all that worrying can now be a thing of the past since you can pump your breast milk manually at your own free time and store it in the fridge until your little one is need of it.
This will ensure that your baby grows as healthy as expected. There are a variety of manual breast pumps on the market that could be very confusing when getting one for yourself. Nonetheless, you are still in the right place to learn more about manual breast pumps.
Below are five manual breast pumps that I highly recommend that you go through in your hunt for the perfect one.
Best Manual Breast Pump List
1
Medela Harmony
To top our list is this manual breast pump by Medela, the first pump brand in America. For starters, it uses a research-based technology in its make and therefore comes with a patented design which will enable you as a mother to pump as much milk as possible in a short span of time.
And to ensure you are comfortable, this pump works similarly as a baby's natural nursing rhythm. What about its use? It won't give you a hard time in its use since you can control the vacuum which enables you to make any changes you see fit to the suction. This is not only for your comfort but also for the milk to flow efficiently and effectively.
You also won't get tired easily since its ergonomic swivel handle is very soft. This package includes two 150 ml breastmilk bottles that comes with a lid, a bottle stand, one valve, and two membranes.
Since you could get a little confused on how to use it, this breast pump comes with instructions for its use and a breastfeeding information guide which I am very sure will be helpful. The parts exposed to the milk are also free of BPA. It is best for low milk supply.
Pros
Cons
2
Lansinoh Manual
Is hygiene a consideration for you? Then maybe this manual breast pump by Lansinoh could just be perfect for you. This is because it lets you pump your milk into sterilized storage bags making it very convenient.
It was also designed by a breastfeeding mother with whom you can easily relate with and is light in weight for you to easily carry it around to your liking. It also comes with an ergonomic handle which makes it easy to express the milk without getting tired easily.
This breast pump comes in 2 flange sizes, that is a standard one of 25 mm and a larger one of 30.5 mm. And apart from it enabling you to pump on dual mode which is either stimulation or expression, it also comes with a NaturalWave nipple, cap, and a collar.
This makes it perfect during suction, when storing it, and when feeding the baby. It is also very easy to use and clean and is tender on your skin and hence comfortable. It is suitable for working mothers.
Pros
Cons
3
Philips Avent
This manual breast pump is good to go for your everyday use. Its exceptional design will ensure that you are in a comfortable position as you pump your milk for your baby. And if you sometimes have trouble getting some milk from your breasts, this breast pump comes with a tender, textured massage cushion that will assist you in restoring your milk flow.
In case you are a working mother or travel sometimes, this pump is ideal since it is light in weight. It is also made in such a way that will not pose any challenges as you hold it onto your breast.
In case you are worried if it's toxic, it may please you to know that it is also free of BPA. This package comes with a newborn nipple that resembles the breast to make it easy for your baby when she or he starts feeding from the bottle, a travel cover, a sealing disc for storing milk, and two pieces of breast pad sample packs. It is also very easy to assemble and clean.
Pros
Cons
4
Haakaa Silicone
This manual breast pump is not only easy to clean but also dishwasher safe. And unlike in the case of most breast pumps, you do not have to worry about the size or shape of your breasts since they are all good to go.
What about its material? It is made from food grade silicone and is therefore very soft and hence comfortable in its use. This pump is also very hygienic since the milk can be boiled and sterilized with the steam sterilizers.
And you don't have to worry about the ease of using this pump. This is because all you have to do is perform the suction and the pump will draw the milk itself. It also allows you to feed your baby on one breast as you pump on the other and thereby ensuring that some milk does not go to waste like in most cases.
It is silent and you can use it almost anywhere including the office, car ride, or even while on a plane. Does it contain any toxic substances? No, it doesn't. In fact, it is free of BPA, PVC, and phthalate making it very safe for your baby.
Pros
Cons
5
Nuk Expressive
Are you having a hard time getting a breast pump that is perfect for your large breasts? Well, maybe we just found one for you. With this pump, you won't easily get tired since its ergonomic handle has been designed in such a way to reduce fatigue.
It is also very soft on your breasts and comes with a massaging breast cushion that will enhance the milk flow since you will be more comfortable. And guess what? With this pump, you have the last say in its suction and speed.
Are you worried about its weight? You shouldn't be. This is because it only weighs 5.5 ounces and therefore very light in weight. Some pumps are difficult to assemble, however, that is not the case with this pump since it is only made up of a few parts.
And whether you prefer washing your breast pump manually or using a dishwasher, either is still good to go with this pump. This package includes a one NUK Expressive Manual Breast Pump, a 5 oz. breast milk container with a silicone nipple of size 1 for slow flow, a collar, a cap, a seal disk for storage, a container stand, and an extra silicone valve.
Pros
Cons
Things to Consider Before Purchasing the Best Manual Breast Pump
Like every coin, the use of a manual breast pump has its strengths as well as weaknesses. In this piece we will have full disclosure of both parts so that you are woke when walking into a store or clicking on that buy icon. We will talk about all sides without bias.
Since I am an optimist, we will start with the strengths of the manual breast pump.
The Price of the Manual Breast Pump
the price of a manual breast pump is significantly lower than that of a motor or electric powered one. The product offers all the things that an electric breast pump offers just not the comfort of suction since you have to do it yourself. On the bright side, the compressing bit of using a manual breast pump is good exercise for your fingers as well as the muscles on your hand.
A breast pump is a one-time purchase so in as much as we say it is a cheap commodity it might take someone who lives on a budget some little saving up. This should not worry you since thee prices cater for people from all walks of life since it is slowly becoming part and parcel of baby equipment as normal breastfeeding is slowing fading away.
The material that makes the breast pump will also affect the price of the breast pump. The stronger the material used to make it, the more costly the manual breast pump will cost since premium quality calls for premium prices right? A gold for gold situation.
Easy Portability of Manual Breast Pumps
A manual breast pump is not as bulky as an electric pump since it does not have a motor compartment. This makes it very easy for mothers to move around with their breast pumps in their bags which enables them to express milk at any particular point they are comfortable to in the course of the day as they run their errands or go about their business.
In addition to this, the point that it has few parts it is easy to even carry when it is fully assembled to make your work easier when it is time to express your milk for you loved one. This makes the product very convenient and easy to use even when you are on the go. Pretty impressive right?
Manual Breast Pumps Are Quiet
Manual breast pumps are quiet as the dead since there are no motors running. That being said if you want to express your milk in the most discreet way, this is way to go. When the breast pump is quiet, it means that you can express from any place that you feel is private enough for you to do so.
A portable milk processor is also convenient for mothers who have either excess milk as well those who have a little less milk. For those with more milk, you can express as many times as you please depending on how often the urge to breastfeed hits. Alternatively, for mothers who have less milk, they can express the few times they can and store or keep trying to express to see if there will be a change of results due to the suction stimulation.
Manual breast pumps come in handy when you have to go somewhere formal and you have an over production of milk, you can slip it into that small office bag conveniently and go about your business. Nothing beats convenience when it comes to such personal things. Oh how technology makes life easy!
Manual Breast Pumps Are Easy to Use
Nothing beats a product that you can use at easy without struggle. It makes you feel like the product is working for you and not vice-versa. Do not accept to be a tool to your tool, what I am trying to simply say is, do not work for your tool, choose one that is easy for you to use so that it can work for you as intended.
Products that are easy to use are amazing since they do not get spoilt easy. The main reason things spoil or dent is because of the use of force. When force is not applied since a product is user friendly, it tends not to distort hence serving you for a longer duration of time as compared to a technical breast pump to handle.
Breast pumps should be easy to use to enable ones partner to perform the expression at ease if the mother is not in a position to do it herself, in te even of things like sickness or even accidents since this things really do occur.
Get yourself a manual breast pump since it is the easiest way out of this expressing scene.
Manual Milk Processors Are Easy to Clean
Since the manual breast pumps have less parts, this makes it easy to wash. The main reason for saying this is because the more parts a product has to assemble has either joints, hinges or some rubber or latches. Those are all viable places for dirt to hide and for the accumulation as well as growth of bacteria.
The last thing you want is a sick infant. When a child’s health comes to case we all abide to what is dictated. Children are too precious to let something like mere negligence cause them harm and pain.
A manual breast press is also easy to wash since you can fully immerse it in water if you want to clean it manually to ensure that you have gotten to every inch for a thorough clean. You can even boil the breast press if you want to disinfect the parts to ensure that whatever your child is using is completely germ free.
The lack of a motor enables you to comfortably put your manual milk press in the dish washer and leave it till it dries for you to pick it and assemble it ready for the next use.
Manual Breast Presses Are More Comfortable Than Any Other Breast Press
When it comes to comfort, manual breast presses put to shame all other types of breast presses in the prevailing market. They are comfortable mainly because you are in control of the intensity of the suction. As you press, you know your patterns and hence perfect the art of expressing your milk.
In addition to this, manual breast pumps a have a better sitting on the breast as compared to any other breast press. The have a more fitting feel to a point that you may even forget that you still have the press on mostly if someone is doing the pressing for you. I just love how this things make life so much easier, what an era to be alive.
To top this up, a comfortable breast press will make you enjoy the process of expressing your milk for later use of your baby. It will never be an issue to express milk, you will even be doing it voluntarily when the thought pops up in your mind.
In as much as there are many merits to the use of manual breast pumps, there are also demerits that come with the package. I mean it is made by humans and humans are to err so what do you really expect? Without further ado let us discuss this demerits of manual breast pumps.
The Cons of Using Manual Breast Pumps
They Are Not Very Effective
It is among the common review that a manual breast pump is not as effective as it electric counterpart. This is due to the absence of the motor. A motor will definitely do a more effective job at creating a suction force that is continuous from the start to the end of the milk expressing process.
When one gets worn out you will definitely take a break, as you take a break you will lose all the suction force that had been created forcing you to start from scratch when expressing the next few ounces or whichever amount you produce as it varies from person to person.
A product is not effective it ends up making you use more input but you get less output which is not supposed to be the case at any particular point if you are using any sort of equipment.
They Can Be Tiring
Since you have to manually create a suction force, you may end up using a lot of energy to pump up the milk to create a continuous flow of milk being expressed at a go. If you are one of the mothers who have trouble breastfeeding, this can be quite challenging to use since your and might grow weary when you are still not in a position to express a nice continuous flow of milk.
A tiring device will make you lose the appeal to use it making it even distasteful to your eyes. We do not want to make a purchase that will be distasteful in the long run. That is a definite waste of resources. Get a machine that will not wear you out, you owe it to yourself.
They Are Slower
Machines that use human energy to power them are slower than those powered by motors since humans get tired in the process while machines do not. This makes these manual breast presses to be slower hence less effective if you were in a rush or the urge is very pressing.
A slow breast press will take up a lot of your time instead of saving you time.
Conclusion
I truly appreciate for your time and hope that the information I provided was helpful. I reviewed five manual breast pumps. However, my top pick is the Medela Harmony. Why go for it? Its ergonomic swivel handle is very tender to ensure that you are comfortable.
It is also very easy to use since you can control the vacuum and therefore make any changes you see fit on the suction. This breast pump has also been made using a research-based technology and therefore comes with a patented design that will let you pump enough milk in a very short time.
This package includes two 150 ml breastmilk bottles with a lid, a bottle stand, one valve, two membranes, instructions for its use, and a breastfeeding information guide. If it suits your needs, you should definitely go for it!
