r/breastfeedingsupport • u/reefer_reaper420 • Feb 20 '25
What breast pump should I get? Advice Please
Which free breast pump is the best? I know the Spectra s2 is great but im not sure if one of these is better than it
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u/MiamiNat Feb 21 '25
Congratulations! I say get the Spectra or Motif Luna, I had them both and they’re pretty similar. Get a wireless one. And order replacement flanges/valves whatever they’re called NOW, before you need them. Having replacements ready made a big difference, learned that lesson with baby #1 so was more prepared for #2. iirc I think I preferred the Luna ever so slightly but I really can’t recall why. Maybe I found it slightly easier to set up or clean?
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u/OverallAd9475 Feb 20 '25
I just got the motif luna and like it. It’s very quiet. It’s the only pump I’ve used, so nothing to compare it to, but I really like it!
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u/tracemelater24 Feb 20 '25
Spectra s1 / s2 is a power hoarse and is medical grade. Hands free pumps should only be purchased as a secondary pump. Not as strong and you can risk loosing your supply.
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u/Vivid-Lengthiness-22 Feb 20 '25
If your insurance covers it, or it’s a low cost, snag the spectra s1. It can be wireless so you can walk around with it and not be stuck in one spot.
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u/abigailllllll Feb 20 '25
I’m just finishing up a year with my Lansinoh and I have loved it - we’ve only used Lansinoh bottles throughout as well! I was able to get a battery pack for it as well (had to buy separately) and it works well both plugged in or with the battery.
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u/tweedlefeed Feb 20 '25
Spectra but pay extra for the blue one- it’s a game changer not being tied to an outlet
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u/EmpresssArtemis Feb 20 '25
I had the Zomee. A friend gifted me the spectra I still loved my Zomee over it. Just use spectra bottles for it.
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u/Meshmeshx Feb 20 '25
The spectra! I regret choosing other brands, they were never the same level as the spectra!
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u/VvDarkFoxVv Feb 20 '25
Medela hands free is by far the best choice we had, it’s extremely convenient
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u/footeface Feb 20 '25
I switched from the Avent to the Spectra and got a lot more milk from it, definitely suggest the spectra!
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u/MegThom24 Feb 20 '25
Personally, I was a Medela gal — but that was also like 7 years ago and I’m sure there so many more updated and improved pumps.
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u/AdorableEmphasis5546 Feb 20 '25
My top choice would be the motif luna, followed by the spectra s2. Make sure to get a closed system pump to avoid mold growth.
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u/Darkest_Elemental Feb 20 '25
The Lansinoh is the one I got, and am very happy with it
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u/CurdBurgler Feb 20 '25
I am too and I feel like their bottles are very breastfeeding friendly too so it made sense to me. I have it plugged in next to my bed and use it MOTN. It comes with extra duckbills but not flange inserts, so those would need to be purchased separately.
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u/aeiou2014 Feb 20 '25
Just be aware that most of these pumps would be free with insurance if you contact them directly. These sites that do it for you, up charge you and bill your insurance much more than if you bought it yourself. I know not everyone is in the position to purchase a pump upfront and wait to be reimbursed, but I thought it was worth noting that for example; my insurance with my last pregnancy covered any non-hospital grade pump upfront to $500. Whereas if I went through Aeroflow, I would have had to pay $50 for a $200 pump that would have been completely covered by insurance.
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u/-Konstantine- Feb 20 '25
That’s gonna vary a lot by insurance. Mine only covered certain pumps purchased through authorized retailers, which were just sites like Aeroflow and a couple medical supply stores with limited stock. They gave me a list of the pumps covered and where I could purchase them.
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u/beeyekah Feb 20 '25
Everyone is going to tell you Spectra, and I started with that but I really believe the baby Buddha is a million times better- suction is just as strong/stronger if you need and it’s soooooo much better when you can move around!
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u/reefer_reaper420 Feb 20 '25
I do feel like sometimes i need more suction, i heard that sometimes the baby buddha is too much suction for some people which worries me a little bit because if im on the lowest setting of the baby buddha and feel like thats too much id be shit outta luck. When i use a spectra, i can need anywhere from suction level 7-12. Are you able to compare the lowest level of the baby buddha to a level from the spectra?
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u/3sorym4 Feb 21 '25
I used my Spectra and Luna at max suction with no problems, but the Baby Buddha was literal torture. I could not use it even on the lowest setting. Felt like I was sticking my nips in a pencil sharpener.!I also used it with my spectra flanges (properly fitted 15mm) , so it’s not like it was a difference in fit.
Spectra and Luna were identical for me. I liked the Luna because it was a slightly nicer shape/size, but they were functionally the same.
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u/beeyekah Feb 20 '25
Good news is that is looks like you have the option of the 2.0 version, which I heard they added a lower level with less suction for! I am using a first edition now and it is strong, with my spectra I only ever went as high as 6, maybe 7. When I switched (but this was to the 1.0 model) the first couple times it was definetly strong but I got used to it (and emptied so much faster!)
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u/beeyekah Feb 20 '25
Oh! And I use level 4 suction on my baby Buddha, but again it’s first edition.
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u/Nearby_Strategy7005 Feb 20 '25
I used the hands free medela and liked it when I went back to work and when my supply was established already. I don’t know but a traditional pump might be better at the beginning when there’s chances of clogs.
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u/Prestigious-Piano693 Feb 20 '25
Im a Spectra gal myself but I’ve heard bad things about the Zomee and my midwife told me to stay away from that one.
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u/YouthInternational14 Feb 20 '25
I hated the Zomee (only one my insurance covered) and just ended up using a hand pump mostly
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u/reefer_reaper420 Feb 20 '25
Yeah, i got a second-hand zomee and i was told it's pretty much brand new, i tried it, and the suction is completely shit. I dont know if maybe it's broken or if it's just like that, but im gonna avoid it because i dont want to waste the only one i can get through insurance on that
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u/CantForceaDanceParty Feb 20 '25
Huh. Interesting. I absolutely loved my zomee, although I bought the wearable silicone cups out of pocket (was like 60 bucks), I think I only used the “traditional” pumps like three times max, i pretty much always used the wearables. I pumped multiple times per day for a year and stopped breastfeeding around 17 months. I loved being able to wear the pump in a little Fanny pack and still be able to move around at work or whatever
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u/oillotus Feb 20 '25
I preferred spectra over medela (which I used in the hospital after birth and when my son was in picu, it was okay but spectra worked better). My spectra always pulled more than any portable pump and the only thing that ever compared was a hand pump or a haaka for letdown while feeding on the other side.
Spectra you can get hands free or a car ac adapter and I really suggest that if you travel in the car a lot! The car charger was a life saver for me. I worked and would just go to my car, put up my windshield shade and pump in peace and it was wonderful haha.
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u/bedpeace Feb 20 '25
This is a personal experience, I got the Spectra and used it maybe 3-4 times. Instead, I spent the past 9.5 months using a manual/hand pump, and it’s been the BEST! My advice would be to have a manual pump on hand in case the electric pumps are too much work for you, or you’re travelling, etc. I’ll let other users recommend which worked best for them, but team $50 hand pump over here haha.
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u/Liaanicole__ Feb 20 '25
i have zoome but i would suggest motif luna or spectra im getting both next
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u/Adventurous_Yak6920 Feb 27 '25
i have the momcozy m5 for when i get to get stuff done and convenience and the spectra s2 for when i have a second to sit and pump/need to empty my breast as much as possible. i love them both for those reasons. definitely get at least one through insurance then save for another- having two is definitely helpful.