Which one should you select?

Categories: Breastfeeding, pumping
March 24, 2025

Last updated on March 24, 2025.

When do you imagine a pump, what involves mind? There are possibilities that this just isn’t a hand pump – also often called a hand pump. If you at the moment are exploring the vsp pump options. Over 20 years ago, electric pumps will probably dominate your thoughts. While manual pumps often end within the shade to their electric counterparts, they may be extremely useful for supporting lactation travel!

What is a manual breast pump?

The hand pump, also often called a hand pump, is a non -electric, single pump used to specific milk. Using a lever or a compression grip to create suction, the “engine” pump is your hand! Hand pumps are sometimes divided into three important categories:

1. Traditional every little thing in one – It accommodates every little thing you must operate the pump and collect milk.
2. Appendix only to the handle A detachable handle that may be used from other parts or other parts from other pump models of the identical manufacturer.
3. Silicon: One -piece configuration that uses a passive and/or energetic collection of milk.

Why select a hand pump?

• Control – You may be the engine by setting the pace and suction power, depending on how briskly, slow, hard or soft you use the lever/handle. There are not any predefined options, so you can really follow your body mainly!
• Cost – With a smaller variety of parts, the manual pumps are budget -friendly, normally costing about USD 10-35.
• Without batteries/engine – You haven’t got to fret concerning the market, charging or alternative of batteries because you are an engine! No power? No problem!
• Size – Most of them are one -sided (to be used on one side of the chest as a substitute of pumping either side at the identical time) and takes up little or no space. They are small, light and simple to scrub, which makes them a fantastic selection for travel or pumping in motion.

Does Flaank Fit still matter?

Yes, absolutely! The collar size is equally necessary for hand pumps! Proper fit is the important thing to comfort and milk production.

Do manual pumps have a guarantee?

Hand and silicone pumps are sometimes classified as accessories, which implies that their reimbursement rules or warranty guarantees are frequently shorter than a typical warranty of the electrical card pump (which normally lasts 1 to 2 years). Depending on the brand, warranty for hand and silicone pumps often ranges from 14 to 90 days.

Should a hand pump be your only pump?

There isn’t any real “should”- depends upon you, your needs, lifestyle and preferences! Many parents use a manual pump as a backup of the electrical pump or for added flexibility, which makes them a fantastic tool in some situations (take into consideration power failure, battery failures or when the electrical pump just isn’t so practical).

How do you use a manual pump?

Using a manual pump can be according to the identical general pattern as the electrical pump:

• Start by stimulating the flow of milk, with fast, light clamps on the handle or pump lever. This imitates the kid’s natural rhythm.
• When the milk flows and was speculated to fail, switch to slower, stronger or longer clamp clamps.
• If it pumps double, switch the page after releasing or stopping the milk flow or each time you are ready, go to the opposite side.

Each manual model of the pump may be barely different when it comes to functioning. For example, the Medela Harmony pump holder has two levers for various pumping phases:

• Top (shorter) lever: stimulates milk to flow with shorter and faster clamps.
• Lower (prolonged) lever: has a wider angle from the pump base, helping in longer, slower pulling/clamps.

Other brands often have a single handle/lever that enables you to create each patterns.

What about silicone pumps and collection devices?

Silicone pumps and collecting devices are just like hand pumps, but work completely in another way. While they share key functions, resembling and not using a engine, without batteries and frequently cheaper, their matching and the tactic of used them may differ.

There are two important use scenarios with silicone pumps:

1. Passive milk collection – grasping dripping milk, which naturally occur without additional stimulation, resembling chest massage or sucking. This kind of collection normally occurs during care or pumping on the alternative side.
2. Active milk collection – breast control in such a way as to encourage more milk release and collecting, normally by applying sucking.

A passive collection doesn’t stimulate milk production, while an energetic collection (using sucking) can affect the provision of milk.

The Haaka shown above is an example of a silicone option that may passively collect milk or actively use suction to the breast to further remove milk, depending on the way it is about.

Does the fit matter for silicone pumps?

When it involves matching silicone pumps and collection devices, your comfort is crucial. Unlike the hand or electric pump, silicone pumps pull the tissue of the breast, envelope and nipple as a part of the suction process, and so they don’t have different sizes of the collar/cup/shield. If you feel pain when using any silicone options, contact a global lactation consultant (IBCLC) before using.

The variety of milk expressing options is always growing! The decision to make use of is deeply personal. While electric pumps remain essentially the most common, manual and silicone pumps are reasonably priced, available and are actually price trying.

Watch our video!

To get a full visual guide on the usage of a hand and silicone pump and helpful suggestions, check our video Here.