Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. Should you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.
When I first started exclusive pumping for my oldest child, R, I was not very prepared. My sister exclusively pumped for her two children and gave me some advice based on her experience but I still had a lot of unanswered questions. Over time, I learned from trial and error and experience.
Having mastitis with two week old twins and a toddler was the final straw for nursing the twins. After I committed to exclusive pumping again, I quickly fell into a routine, got my milk supply high enough to stop supplementing with formula, and I was just more comfortable in general.
I felt more in control of my milk supply and feeding my babies when pumping rather than nursing. And that is okay.
These are my two favorite pumps for exclusive pumping out of the five pumps I have used. There are so many options out there that are great, but these are the two that worked best for me.
Spectra S1 Plus Electric Breast Pump
The Spectra S1 was my first breast pump from my first exclusive pumping journey. I used this pump for 80% of the milk I pumped for R.
Pros
- Power – the S1 is a hospital grade pump, meaning it will empty the breast more efficiently
- Rechargeable – with the S1, you do not have to be plugged into an outlet while using it.
- Battery life – the S1 has a 3 hour battery life. With 20-30 minute pumping sessions, that means you only have to charge it every 6-9 sessions.
- Light – the S1 has a night light that is so nice during those middle of the night feedings and pumping sessions.
- Settings allow for you to find your preferring speed and strength of pump.
Cons
- Bulky – when pumping, you are basically tied down to one spot. You can walk from room to room, but it is difficult to actually do anything while hooked up to this pump.
- Awkward flanges – you must have or create a pumping bra in order to use the standard flanges that come with the pump. They are awkward, stick out so are easy to bump, and do not offer much privacy. However, you can purchase CaraCups wearables separately that fit in your normal bra. I highly recommend these.
- Confusing settings – although the settings allow for a lot of flexibility to find your preferred settings, they can be beyond confusing for novice pumpers.
Momcozy S12 Pro Hands Free Breast Pump
I purchased my first Momcozy S12 when pumping for R after I returned to work. I was so tired of carrying my heavy pumping bag to the office and back home every day.
With pumping for the twins, I prefer the Momcozy over the Spectra due to the mobility it allows me to have. I can do housework, feed the babies, and chase my toddler around while I am pumping.
Pros
- Mobility – with these pumps, you are able to do a lot! I wear them while feeding the twins, playing with R, and doing housecleaning. The only thing I can’t do is lift my arms over my head or too far in front of me. Then my arms knock the cups out of alignment.
- Rechargeable – with the S12, you do not have to be plugged into an outlet while using it.
- Battery life – the S12 has a 4 hour battery life. With 20-30 minute pumping sessions, that means you only have to charge it every 8-12 sessions.
- Settings are simple and easy to figure out.
Cons
- Power – as with all completely hands free, portable pumps, you sacrifice some power and efficiency for convenience.
- Charge – each pump must be charged separately. This means you must charge them one at a time or have a mess of tangled power cords to charge them.
- Leaking – when I first started using the S12s, I had a hard time installing the flange onto the cup to get a proper seal, and I ended up covered in milk too many times to count. Over time, I learned how to assemble them correctly and quickly though.
3 versus Me 