Electric Or Wearable? 8 Best Breast Pumps For Singapore Mums

Preparing for your baby as a first-time mum can be truly overwhelming with a ton of research to be done, information to plough through, and different things to buy and get ready before they’re finally here. #Beentheredonethat

When I was doing my research and hunting for a breast pump before giving birth, I came across different mothers recommending getting both a primary pump and a secondary wearable pump, so I got both, and even a manual pump for emergencies.

Going into it, I originally wanted to combo-feed my baby both breast milk and formula, but it turned out that my finicky baby had a strong preference for breast milk over formula. Thankfully, my primary pump has been a lifesaver in helping me to build and maintain my supply for eight months and counting now.

If you’re currently eyeballs deep in research and trying to find the best breast pump for you, read on to find out all about the best ones to consider!

What are the types of breast pumps in Singapore?

There are three main types of breast pumps: hospital-grade electric pumps, wearable hands-free pumps, and manual pumps. 

Hospital-grade electric pumps are strong, reliable and heavy-duty breast pumps meant to build and maintain your milk supply — usually used as a primary pump.

Wearable hands-free pumps and manual pumps are more portable and are used for pumping when out and about, travelling, or working — usually used as a secondary pump. (That said, wearable pumps have gotten increasingly better, and many mummies are using these as their main pumps these days.)

Hospital-grade electric pumps tend to be bulkier, making them less convenient to bring around, while wearable pumps and manual pumps can be easily used while on the go. 

Wearable pumps mostly do not have as strong suction to efficiently pull your milk out, but they are highly portable and good for emergencies or quick daytime use when out. 

What kind of breast pump is the best and how to decide which pump is right for you? 

It really depends on your needs. Some mummies purchase a hospital-grade pump and continue to use it even in the office. 

Some opt to use a wearable pump at home and when they’re out if they find it efficient enough, and others may choose the route of getting both a primary and secondary pump to conveniently switch between them as needed.

Is it good to use a breast pump? Can pumping increase milk supply?

If you’re planning to breastfeed, your breast pump will become your best friend especially in the first few months of your baby’s life. Pumping can help to increase milk supply and maintain it, and you’ll be able to measure exactly how much milk your newborn is consuming. 

As someone who started off pumping and then gradually moving to direct latching, my breast pump has been good for helping me to increase my supply whenever I felt like it was decreasing. I increased my supply by increasing my pump sessions, and it was also helpful to get a gauge of how much milk my body was producing for the baby.

When I’m away from the baby for extended periods, my breast pump is used to empty my breasts to prevent blocked milk ducts or any pain, leading to potential mastitis too.

What other considerations should I think about before choosing a breast pump?

Check the availability of pump parts and how easy it is to replace them, such as flanges and duck bill valves, for example. These should be replaced every few months so your pump can continue to work efficiently as some mummies may find that their pumps stop pulling as much milk out when the parts start to deteriorate.

Do note that your pump might not come with suitable flange sizes for you, and you might need to get the correct sized flanges in order to pump more comfortably and effectively. (According to what my lactation consultant at Thomson Medical shared, measure the diameter of your nipples, and add 2mm to each side of your nipple for the correct flange size needed.) 

Think about how you’re planning to use your pump. Will it mostly be at home or will you have to bring it around with you often? Look at reviews by other mums to get an idea of the efficiency of the pumps you’re considering. 

You might also want to consider suitable pumping bras for your pump

Best Reliable And Heavy-Duty Primary Pump

Spectra S1 Pro

Weight: 1.33kg
Modes: Massage Mode and Expression Mode
Suction Levels: 5 levels in Massage Mode, 15 levels in Expression Mode (up to 320 mmHg vacuum strength)
Battery Life: Up to 3 hours per full charge
Flange Sizes: Comes with 28mm standard breast shields/flanges included in the box

One of the best primary pumps around, the Spectra S1 Pro has been an absolute lifesaver in helping to increase and maintain my milk supply.

There are two modes to switch between, massage and expression, and you’re able to toggle the power levels for both - gradually increasing from a gentle level one to stronger massage or expression to efficiently remove the milk.

It’s rechargeable, so you don’t have to keep it plugged into the power socket and you’re able to move around while pumping if needed.

The backlit LCD and small light feature are pretty great for pumping sessions in a dark nursery at night, as well as a 30-minute automatic shutoff and a surprisingly useful bottle holder to hold your bottle after pumping - so you don’t spill any of that precious liquid gold.

The best part about the Spectra is that your pump parts can be easily and affordably replaced, from the flanges to the duck bill valves. The Spectra is also one of most popular go-to pumps many mums use!

How much: From $272.50

Best Discreet Wearable Pump With Direct-To-Storage System

Jevonbaby

Weight: 250g
Modes: Massage Mode, Expression Mode and Stimulation Mode
Suction Levels: 9 levels per mode (up to 300 mmHg vacuum strength)
Battery Life: Up to 3 hours per full charge
Flange Sizes: Comes with 28mm breast shield and 6 nipple inserts - 13mm, 15mm, 17mm, 19mm, 21mm and 24mm - included in the box

Available as a single pump, or a set of double pumps, the Jevonbaby is a newer wearable pump, known for letting pumping mums to pump more discreetly even while at work thanks to the slimmer profile, and how softly it works.

There are three modes, massage, expression, and stimulation. Massage Mode mimics a baby’s suckling to stimulate milk letdown, Expression Mode focuses on expressing milk efficiently, and Stimulation Mode combines massage and expression to get simultaneous milk flow out of sensitive nipples.

This pump is gentle and does a really decent job at milk removal. While I use it as a secondary pump, I feel it could also work well as a main pump - in fact, I started off using this first when my milk just came in!

Another thing I particularly liked about my Jevonbaby pumps, was the direct-to-storage system that lets you pump directly into most standard narrow necked milk bottles or milk storage bags. There are lesser pump parts to wash too, making the pumping experience a little more hasslefree.

Pump while stuck in a traffic jam on the way back from Johor Bahru (true story), or pump while in office, this wearable pump has made pumping while out and about very convenient for me.

How much: From $169 for a single pump

Best Lightweight Wearable Pump With Bigger Capacity

Imani i2Plus Pro Breast Pump

Weight: 156g
Modes: Massage Mode and Pump/Expression Mode
Suction Levels: 5 levels in Massage Mode and 5 levels in Pumping Mode (up to 300 mmHg vacuum strength)
Battery Life: Up to 3.5 hours per full charge
Flange Sizes: 25mm breast shield and 21mm insert included in the box - 17mm, 19mm and 28mm sizes available separately

The Imani i2Plus Pro Breast Pump is a double electric pump that comes in a modern white and pink design, and has fewer pump parts to wash. With two modes and five intensity levels, this breast pump is a popular pick among mothers looking for something simple and portable that does the job well.

It’s super lightweight, yet has good capacity up to 210ml - good for mums with a generous milk supply, so you don’t have to stop and empty your pump before continuing to pump in order to get all the milk out.

According to mummy reviewers, they shared that the suction power is already strong at just level two, and it’s a good on-the-go pump where they’re able to do chores, wash bottles and walk around the home.

Accordingly, this is recommended to be a secondary pump for those who require a stronger primary pump to clear stubborn milk ducts.

How much: From $319

Best Affordable Wearable Pump With Strong Suction

Cubble C2+ Wearable Handsfree Electrical Breast Pump

Weight: 250g
Modes: Stimulation Mode, Massage Mode, Expression Mode and Automatic Mode
Suction Levels: 12 adjustable levels per mode (unspecified vacuum strength)
Battery Life: Unspecified
Flange Sizes: Comes with 24mm silicone funnel included in the box - 13mm, 15mm, 17mm, 19mm, 21mm, 27mm inserts available separately

Cubble is a brand known for its affordable quality baby and mummy products ranging from swaddles to feeding sets, pumping bras and more. If you’ve started searching for baby necessities to purchase, chances are you’ve probably stumbled on this brand.

It’s no surprise that the Cubble C2+ Wearable Handsfree Electrical Breast Pump has been quite popular with mums, with some saying that the suction strength and milk yield is even comparable to their Spectra pumps.

With four pumping modes and 12 adjustable levels, the Cubble C2+ is a hardworking option that comes with a decent range of flange inserts available.

It operates quietly and works well at removing milk and clearing clogged ducts while being a highly portable wearable pump, making it very well priced for what it does.

How much: From $79.90 for a single pump

Best Lightweight Handsfree Pump With Companion App

Medela Swing Maxi Handsfree Electric Breast Pump

Weight: 325g for the pump motor, and 76g per collection cup
Modes: 2-Phase Expression with stimulation and expression phases
Suction levels: 9 levels (unspecified vacuum strength)
Battery life: Up to 1.5 hours per full charge
Flange sizes: Comes with 21mm and 24mm breast shields included in the box

Medela has been a household brand for pumping mums thanks to the quality and efficiency of its breast pumps. Weighing 76g per collection cup, the Medela Swing Maxi Handsfree Electric Breast Pump is one of the lightest handsfree pumps on the list - not including the weight of the pump motor.

It’s easy to clean with three washable parts and features a transparent design unlike some wearable pumps so it’s easy to ensure that your breasts and nipples are properly aligned within the tunnel for maximum comfort.

What makes the pump even better, is its ability to connect to the Medela Family app on your phone via bluetooth so that your pumping-session duration, pumping phases and vacuum levels get automatically recorded (milk volume is entered manually). This means you won’t need to download another mummy app to keep track of your pump sessions and information!

How much: From $514

Best Breast Pump With Massage Function

Hegen PCTO Double Electric Breast Pump (SoftSqround)

Modes: Double Electric Mode, Single Electric Mode, Single Electric and Massage Mode, Manual Expression Mode, Relaxation Massage Mode

Suction levels: 12 levels (up to 300 mmHg vacuum strength)
Battery life: Unspecified
Flange sizes: Comes with 22mm flanges included in the box - 15mm, 18mm, 24mm, and 27mm flanges available separately

The most interesting thing about the Hegen PCTO™ Double Electric Breast Pump is the motor that doubles as a massage device to help massage different areas around the chest in order to stimulate circulation and calm swelling or soreness.

One thing my lactation consultant taught me was to always start a pump session by first massaging the breasts in order to stimulate milk production and flow, while helping to release tension from breast engorgement.

With its kneading massage feature, it creates a gentle cupping and kneading sensation to help soothe, relax, and stimulate.

Lightweight, compact and powerful, this Hegen breast pump will be a good choice for mums planning on using Hegen bottles for their baby due to the compatibility - and it works quietly too.

How much: From $347

Best Manual Breast Pump and Milk Collector

Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump

Weight: 78.6g for the 100ml pump, 110g for the 150ml pump
Modes: NA
Suction levels: Suction is created manually by squeezing the silicone pump and can be adjusted by how much you squeeze the pump
Battery life: NA
Flange sizes: One standard flange size

The Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump is a manual pump that works by attaching it to your breast and creating suction by squeezing the pump. You can also use it as a breast milk collector to catch milk let-down on one breast if you’re pumping the other breast.

This popular manual pump is especially great thanks to its ingeniously simple design that makes it extremely easy to clean and doesn’t require you to wash multiple parts.

You don’t need to purchase additional flanges as it comes in a standard size suitable for different sizes, and the handy suction base lets you suction it onto a flat surface to avoid accidental spills.

How much: From $29.90

Best Manual Breast Pump With Strong Suction

Medela Harmony Flex Manual Breast Pump

Weight: 105g
Modes: 2-Phase expression technology - stimulation and expression phases controlled through the two sides of the ergonomic handle
Suction levels: Manually controlled by your pumping speed and pressure on the handle
Battery life: NA
Flange sizes: 2One PersonalFit Flex breast shield

A convenient manual pump that’s popular with mums for its easy to use and efficient milk pulling design, the Medela Harmony Flex Manual Breast Pump does a great job at milk removal. All you need to do is squeeze the handle to create the suction to pull the milk out of your breast.

The handle was also designed to help mimic your baby’s natural suckling rhythm as you pump. I have mummy friends who swear by the Medela Harmony, how good its suction is, and how comfortable this manual pump is too!

How much: From $65.90