10 Best Breast Pumps in the Philippines 2022 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Pediatrician

Here are some key points to consider:

1. Select between a single and a double breast pump.
2. Manual or electric breast pump: take your pick.
3. Choose between closed-system and open-system pumps.
4. When buying electric breast pumps, take a look at its features
   
5. Make sure that you’ll get a complete set of breast pump accessories.

For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.

Express milk one breast at a time with a single breast pump since it is easier to maneuver. However, your pumping session will take a longer time. This is ideal for moms who can pump more frequently.

In a double breast pump, you can express milk from both breasts simultaneously. This cuts your pumping time into half – perfect when you have to do it while in the office. “Double pumping” also expresses milk that has higher fat and calorie content. But because this requires twice the accessories, double breast pumps may cost more.

Electric breast pumps have a motor that does the pumping for you. They require a power outlet to operate, which is more suitable for expressing milk at home. For more convenience, most electric breast pumps are also battery-operated; some have a built-in rechargeable battery pack for more portability.

Manual breast pumps, on the other hand, are the most compact and lightweight. They are also quiet, making them the perfect pump to use when your baby is sleeping. Keep in mind that it is best to express milk frequently and empty the breasts with each feeding or pumping session so that the breastmilk supply is constant and plentiful.

A closed-system pump uses a barrier that prevents milk from flowing into the machine. The milk collection kit is separated from the pump mechanism to avoid contamination by bacteria or mold. This type of pump lasts for years since not a single drop of milk reaches the motor.

While an open-system pump, though much cheaper, doesn’t have this barrier feature. The motor of the pump is open to the milk you are expressing. Take note that it will be a challenge to dismantle the pump to clean all the parts. For hygienic purposes, this type of pump should only be used by its original owner. 

Breast pumps have a variety of specifications, too, such as their weight, available pumping modes, and having a display screen. Continue scrolling as we will explain why you may want to consider these features.

Most moms prefer a lightweight breast pump, especially if they are bringing the breast pump to work every day. This also applies to moms who plan to carry their breast pump around during a trip.

Expressing milk requires so many breast pump parts, in addition to other accessories, such as milk storage bags, nursing covers, and a cooler. It is a great advantage if your breast pump comes with a spacious bag to house all of these items. 

Electric pumps have two modes that will help your pumping routine. Check if the breast pump has a Letdown/Massage mode, which imitates the first feeding phase. Here, the motor performs short and fast sucking motions to stimulate the letdown reflex, the same way a baby feeds on a breast to get the milk flowing.

The Express mode, meanwhile, replicates the actual feeding. This uses a slower sucking rhythm where you will begin to collect more milk. Most breast pumps have buttons where you can adjust the level of speed and suction of these modes. These adjustments will help you feel more comfortable while expressing milk.

Most breast pumps have a display screen that shows the mode, level of speed or suction, and the time remaining in your session. For battery-operated pumps, the display screen will include a battery indicator to notify you when it’s time to recharge or change batteries.

Meanwhile, multitasking moms will enjoy hands-free breast pumps. Recent models allow you to pump without the tricky tubing, and some can even be worn under your shirt. This way, you can bond with your baby or finish some work while expressing liquid gold. 

Always double-check if the breast pump comes with a complete set of accessories. This is also known as the breast kit or milk collection kit. Read on to know more about what's included per set.

A complete electric breast pump comes with a motor or the unit that generates a gentle vacuum to express milk. The other half of your purchase is the milk collection kit. This kit includes all the accessories or components that you will need to assemble to start expressing milk.

The breast shield or flange is a funnel-shaped piece of plastic that directly touches the breast. Its tunnel is where the nipple is pulled in so you can extract milk. Attached to the flange is the valve. The valve has an opening where the milk can drip from the flange into the milk collection bottle.

The other end of the flange is attached to the tubing. This long and clear plastic hose connects the flange to the breast pump motor. The tubing should always be dry to avoid mold growth. Some brands have a backflow protector that is attached between the flange and tubing to prevent milk from backing up into the motor.

A flange with a perfect fit makes all the difference in a successful pumping routine. Its size is measured in millimeters and is based on the diameter of your nipple tip. The easiest way to measure this is by using the coin method. 

After breastfeeding, compare your nipple tip to these coins, wherein each coin has a corresponding flange size: 10-centavo coin for 20-24mm, 25-centavo coin for 24-28mm, 1-peso coin for 28-32mm, and 5-peso coin for 32mm. These measurements may also vary if you opt to use a silicone massager, which is attached to the wide opening of a flange to help stimulate the breast. 

BPA or bisphenol-A is a harmful organic compound found in reusable plastic products. And since most breast pump parts are made of plastic, make sure that they don’t contain this harmful chemical that will contaminate the milk.

BPA in plastic products can seep easily into the breast milk. And exposure to this chemical can cause negative health issues, such as the increased risk of obesity, stunted brain development, a likelihood of having asthma, and behavioral problems in toddlers.

To give you a rundown, here are our top 5 picks for the best breast pumps you can buy online:

1. Best overall: Hegen Double Electric Breast Pump
2. Best manual breast pump: Haakaa Generation 2 Silicone Breast Pump
   
3. Best for exclusive pumping: Spectra S1 Plus Hospital-Grade Double Electric Breast Pump
   
4. Best for imitating baby’s suckling: Philips Avent Natural Single Electric Breast Pump
5. Best for travel: Wisemom Pocket Rechargable Double Electric Breast Pump

The products we introduce below were carefully curated by the mybest team, from the best-sellers of E-commerce sites like Lazada, and using the points mentioned in our detailed and thoroughly researched buying guide.

Whether you'll be feeding by direct latching or by expressed/pumped breast milk or both, it's important to remember that there is no actual, magic ingredient or tool to help increase your milk supply apart from making sure to empty your breasts regularly, whether by having your baby feed directly on your breast or by pumping. 

When you are away from your baby, your pumping schedule should try to mimic your baby's feeding schedule as much as possible. Be sure that you are able to empty both breasts after each feed and/or pumping session to make sure you are able to get both foremilk and hindmilk and to also signal to your body to continue to make more milk for your baby.

Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by Dr. Joey.

If you are separated from your baby after birth, you should start pumping early—ideally, within six hours after delivering your baby. During your baby's newborn period, continue to pump frequently (every two to three hours, for a total of 8 to 10 times per 24-hour period) for approximately 15 minutes each session, making sure to empty both breasts. Continue to do this until your milk volume increases, usually around the third or fourth day after delivery. 

After this, you should pump at least 8 times daily and express milk for approximately 2 minutes after milk flow stops to maintain an adequate supply. By 2 weeks after the birth, if you have established a good milk supply, you may be able to pump less frequently and still have an adequate milk supply.

A feeling of tugging or pressure is common, but pumping (and breastfeeding) should not hurt. Make sure that the flanges fit over your breast snugly but not too tightly near and around the nipples. For electric pumps, set the pump's suction strength to a level that's comfortable for you.

Some pump models allow you to set the cycling speed (the number of suction cycles per minute); some moms find it helpful to start with a rapid cycle speed and then slow the speed after their milk begins to flow in a steady stream.

All breast pump parts that come in contact with breast milk, such as bottles, valves, flanges/breast shields, should be cleaned thoroughly with dish cleaning liquid and warm water after each use. Sterilization of pump parts, bottles, your wash basin, and bottle brushes should be done at least once per day if your baby is less than three months, is currently ill, or was born prematurely, per CDC. 

If you wash your tubings, make sure you hang them to air dry before attaching them again to your breast pump. If condensation appears in the tubing after you have pumped, turn the pump on for a few minutes until the tubing is dry. Electrical parts should be wiped down thoroughly with a clean paper towel or a soft cloth after each use.

One of the main concerns of breastfeeding moms is how to maintain and improve their milk supply. Fortunately, several products, such as lactation cookies and malunggay capsules, are now available to help augment the production of milk. Click the links below to check out our recommended products as well as the best nursing covers and nursing bras you can get online.

Author: A. Mangulabnan

Re-editor: J. Cuizon

Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.