Wearable breast pumps: why hands-free expressing is the next big thing
Last updated 3 March 2023
2017 was a big year in the world of breast pumps. They finally took a long hard look at themselves and realised it was time to improve. Or rather that’s what John Chang realised, which led him to create the first wearable breast pump. The big difference is that the milk collection unit is curve-shaped so it can be worn inside the bra. This means hands-free, and more discreet, pumping.
Some, like the Elvie, are also wireless, tubeless and completely silent. So you could wear it in the supermarket, office or cinema and nobody would know. That woman you just saw walk down the street? She could have had 120ml of breast milk in her bra.
They are becoming more and more popular so will women all now be finally breaking free from the shackles of the standard breast pump?
It’s about time breast pumps got better
Breast pumps have been around since 1854. But not for convenience or so partners could do a few night feeds. They were used in hospitals to treat inverted nipples and for babies unable to breastfeed. It wasn’t until the 1990s that they went mainstream with a Medela electric pump designed to be used at home. And then it all stagnated. Women have been trapped by these machines, like dairy cows, slowly squeezing out breast milk drop by drop.
I hated my breast pump. I hated being tethered to it and how little milk came out and how I couldn’t use both my hands. (Although a pumping bra did help.) I had a low milk supply and hired a hospital-grade pump in an effort to produce more than just a dribble. It came in a very large heavy case that one Christmas I transported across London, Kent and Somerset while visiting family. Over the two-week period, I did not use it once. I just took a very heavy breast pump on a tour of the south and south-west. I hope it had a good time.
THE PROS AND CONS OF A WEARABLE BREAST PUMP
PROS
They are hands-free. This is a big plus. It’s really hard to get anything done with a baby and if you’re also expressing that means even less. And there are some things you do really need your hands for. Like cleaning your teeth, eating cake and shadow puppetry.
Some are silent so you could wear them anywhere. At work, the bus, a wedding. You can just carry on with your day-to-day business.
You are not attached to any kind of unit that needs to be plugged in so you really can go anywhere you want. Even if this just means the bathroom.
There are fewer parts to be cleaned and sterilised.
Some can be connected to an app, which can control suction and also keep tabs on how long you’ve been expressing and how much milk was produced.
CONS
The price. They can be more expensive. A standard double electric pump from Medela costs around £250, whereas a wearable double Elvie costs £450.
You have to remember to charge them before use.
Suction strength can’t compete with a hospital-grade pump.
THE BEST WEARABLE BREAST PUMPS TO BUY
Wearable breast pumps are becoming very popular. Until recently there were just four brands on the market: Elvie, Freemie, Pippeta and Willow (which is currently only approved for use in the USA). Now Amazon is full of cheap options made by Chinese companies. But there are also now ones by a UK company Fraupow and the American company Momcozy and most recently Tommee Tippee, MAM and breast pump experts Medela have both launched hands-free breast pumps.
Here are all your options with full details for each.
1. ELVIE PUMP
The Elvie claims to be the world’s first silent wearable breast pump.
Cost:
Around £250 for a single and around £499 for a double.
Size:
128 x 110 x 68mm and each one weighs 225g
Capacity:
150ml
Number of parts for cleaning:
5
Dishwasher safe?
Yes
Charging time:
It charges in two hours with a micro-USB. The charge lasts for around two and a half hours.
Number of suction levels:
7 with a maximum suction strength of 220mmHg.
Smart app features:
The app enables you to control the pump, monitor milk volume and record a pumping history for each breast.
Other features:
It automatically goes from Stimulation into Expression mode when it detects let-down and when the bottle is full it stops. Made from BPA-free plastic.
2. ELVIE CURVE
This has a similar design to the Elvie but has no batteries and uses natural suction rather than mechanical suction. It’s described as a more ‘gentle’ expressing experience.
Cost:
Around £34.99.
Capacity:
120ml
Number of parts:
2
Dishwasher safe?
Yes
Number of suction levels:
You can vary the suction with the valve.
3. Elvie Stride
Elvie now makes a more powerful wearable pump, which has hospital-grade suction. It differs from the original Elvie as the motor is in an external hub, which can clip onto clothing or fit in a pocket. This means that it’s not wireless but features tangle-free tubing. It’s very quiet but not as quiet as the Elvie and it is slightly bigger.
Cost:
Around £169 for a single and £299 for a double.
Size:
Each cup weighs around 150g
Capacity:
150ml
Number of parts for cleaning:
5
Dishwasher safe?
The breast shields, cup fronts, valves, and diaphragms are dishwasher safe.
Charging time:
It charges via micro-USB in around two hours. A full charge will last for nearly three hours, depending on the setting used.
Number of suction levels:
There is a stimulation and expression model with ten levels in each. The maximum suction strength is 300 mmHg (if using a single cup).
Smart app features:
Connects with the Elvie app where you can control pumping sessions, view history including volume of milk and personalise your intensity settings.
Other features:
A smaller and larger breast shield are available to buy separately.
4. PIPPETA
Launched in 2021, this hands-free pump is a lot cheaper than the Elvie and is also plastic-free.
Cost:
£69.99
Size:
145 x 67 x 56mm and weighs 235g
Capacity:
120ml
Charging:
Charges with an included USB charger. The charge lasts for 80 minutes and the full charge time is 90 minutes.
Number of suction levels:
Five with a maximum suction strength of 280-300mm Hg
Dishwasher safe?
Only some parts are dishwasher safe, so they don’t fully recommend a dishwasher.
Other features:
Made from BPA-free silicone. There is a massage and an expression mode.
5. Fraupow wearable breast pump
Made by a UK company, this is an award-winning pump with an LCD screen. It is wireless and made from food-grade silicone. The shape of the motor unit means it’s less discreet than the Elvie, for example.
Cost:
Around £79.99 - £89.99
Size:
Weighs 218g
Capacity:
180ml
Charging time:
USB-C charging and takes 2.5 hours. Battery lasts up to 90 minutes.
Number of suction levels:
It has three modes: auto/manual, massage and expression. There are 12 intensity levels of suction with a maximum of 300mmHg.
Number of parts for cleaning:
5
Dishwasher safe?
Yes, everything excluding the motor.
Other features:
It comes with a 24mm flange/shield but a 27mm one is available to buy separately. It’s also possible to buy inserts to reduce the size to 17, 19 and 21mm.
6. MOMCOZY
This is from an American brand, similar to the Fraupow and there are three versions. The V2, the M5 and the S12, although the V2 has wires.
I have covered the details of the award-winning M5 here.
Cost:
Around £179.99
Size:
Weighs 230g
Capacity:
120ml.
Number of parts for cleaning:
Five.
Dishwasher safe?
Everything apart from the motor section can go in the dishwasher and steriliser.
Charging time:
It is USB-charged and takes around 2 hours. A full charge lasts 3-4 sessions or 120 minutes.
Number of suction levels:
There is a massage and expression mode. There are nine suction levels with a maximum intensity of 270mmHg.
Other features:
Angled for painless and productive pumping. Comes with flanges in four different sizes.
7. Tommee Tippee Made for Me Wearable Breast Pump
Tommee Tippee sell a vast range of excellent baby products and they entered the wearable breast pump market in 2022. Their version is available as a single or double.
Cost:
Around £199.99 for a single and around £349 for a double.
Capacity:
150ml
Number of parts for cleaning:
7
Dishwasher safe?
Yes. All parts that are washed can go on the top rack. They can also all be sterilised by microwave, steam, UV or boiling water.
Charging time:
It charges via a USB cable. The charge time is unspecified. The charge lasts for around four hours.
Number of suction levels:
There are two modes: massage and expression. In expression mode, there are 8 suction levels.
Smart app features:
The app enables you to control and customise the pump actions. It also tracks your milk production and visualises the output.
Other features:
When the bottle is full, it automatically stops. It will also pause if you lean too far forward to prevent leaking.
There is a nipple alignment light guide. This directs you to the best place for the pump and may be useful at night.
The collection bottle easily converts into a feeding bottle.
It comes with bra adjustors and two sizes of horn: 24mm and 28mm.
8. Medela Freestyle handsfree wearable breast pump
Medela are breast pump specialists and their wearable version was also launched in 2022. It’s slightly different as it’s not wireless but this makes the collection cups smaller and the compact motor unit can be put in a pocket. It’s only available as a double but can also be used as a single.
Cost:
Around £300.
Capacity:
150ml
Size:
Weighs just 76g.
Number of parts for cleaning:
3
Dishwasher safe?
Yes. All parts that are washed can go on the top rack. They should also be sterilised by microwave or in boiling water.
Charging time:
It charges via a power adaptor. A full charge takes 2 hours.
Number of suction levels:
There are stimulation and expression modes. The expression mode is fully adjustable.
Smart app features:
It can also be connected to the Medela app to automatically record your pumping data.
Other features:
The cups have been designed to sit at a 105˚ angle, rather than the usual 90˚ angle, which research has shown is a more comfortable and productive fit.
It includes two sizes of breast shield: 21mm and 24mm.
9. Mam Move wearable breast pump
Best known for their excellent anti-colic bottles, MAM’s wearable pump is one of the more recent additions to the market.
Cost:
Around £200.
Capacity:
150ml
Size:
Weight not specified. It measures D177mm x H107mm x W245mm.
Number of parts for cleaning:
5
Dishwasher safe?
Yes. All parts that are washed can go and the dishwasher and steriliser.
Charging time:
It charges via a USB cable. A full charge takes 90 minutes and lasts around two hours.
Number of suction levels:
There are three modes: stimulation, expression and silent and each mode has five intensities.
Other features:
Comes with an anti-colic bottle.
10. FREEMIE
This is a wearable pump with a difference. It’s a milk collection unit inserted into a bra but it’s hooked up with wires to your regular breast pump. Depending on the size of the breast pump unit this can be placed in a pocket or hooked onto a belt. It is only compatible with certain pumps.
Cost:
Around £70 for two collection cups.
Size:
11cm x 7cm and 71g per cup
Capacity:
230ml
Number of parts:
7
Dishwasher safe?
No
Whether you decide to get a wearable breast pump is really going to depend on how much you use it. If your baby is fed exclusively with expressed milk, they are going to make your life a lot easier. The Elvie is the best known but it is expensive so it’s great to see some competitors which are more reasonably priced. And anything which gives a new mum her hands back is a very good thing.
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