No doubt about it – many mothers are finding breast pumps to be an essential commodity. When you plan to go back to work, and you want to practice exclusive breastfeeding, then buying an automatic breast pump might be the easiest way out.

So, what is an automatic breast pump? An automatic pump is an electric breast pump that allows quicker expression of milk from the breast. Two types of electric breast pumps exist. The first is the hospital-grade breast pumps. These pumps are large, and therefore, an excellent option for multiple users.

The second type is the personal-use breast pumps. These pumps are designed to be used by a single user. Therefore, they have some capability limitations compared to hospital-grade pumps.

An automatic breast pump utilizes a motor, which provides the power to initiate and maintain a suction force via plastic tubing to a horn-like structure that fits the nipple. This type of fitting offers more suction force, making the extraction of milk from the breast faster. Some automatic pumps allow users to pump breast milk from both breasts simultaneously. This will enable mothers to get more milk within a short time.

Compared to manual breast pumps, automatic pumps are larger. But, portable variants are available. You can quickly shove them into your shoulder bag or backpack. Note that automatic pumps can be battery operated. Such models come with built-in batteries, which you’ll need to recharge as needed. However, others use battery packs. You simply replace them once power drains. Electric versions only require plugging into a socket.

Regardless of the type of breast milk pump, it is vital to maintain hygiene, especially with pumps that allow multi-user operations. Ensure that parts of a breast pump in direct contact with milk is thoroughly sterilized – this prevents contamination.

While there are many automatic breast pumps in the market, picking any of them does not guarantee you the best result. Practically, you need to familiarise yourself with the different models in the market prior to purchasing any of them.

Look, every baby and mother have different needs – and these needs are dynamic. In the course feeding, the needs might shift drastically.  So, put in mind the following factors:

A manual vs electric pump

If you are looking for occasional expressing, then a manual breast pump might be the right option. These pumps are cheaper but will require a lot of work to get milk out of your breast. By contrast, electric p[pumps are much faster, making them a convenient option. Their motor provides enough suction to drain the milk much quicker.

Some automatic pumps using 2-Phase Expression technology mimics the natural sucking pattern of a baby – initial short, fast sucks to stimulate milk letdown. Try out Ameda automatic breast pumps. They could make your life easier.

A single vs double breast pump

Both these pumps are excellent at expressing milk. However, a single electric pump is ideal for less frequent expression. Since you’ll be expressing milk from a single breast at a time, the amount of milk per unit of time is low. 

By contrast, a double breast pump is convenient if you want to express more milk within a short time. These pumps can express 18% more milk from each breast than their single counterparts. If you are a busy mum, this might be the best pump for you. Other factors to keep in mind include weight, sound, wearable breast pumps, handsfree, and cost.