Best Breast Pumps 2025: Manual, Electric and Wearable
Lucy Woodbridge
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Breast pumps have become increasingly popular because they offer numerous benefits to mothers. Whether you’re a working mum or just need a break, breast pumps come to the rescue. Here are some reasons to consider using a breast pump:
Convenience. Breast pumps enable you to express milk, making it possible for your partner or a family member to feed your baby when you’re not available. It’s worth knowing that although pumping may seem super easy, it can be pretty taxing on the person who is expressing the milk.
Discomfort relief. If your breasts become engorged or overly full, a breast pump can help relieve discomfort by removing excess milk.
Milk storage. Expressed breast milk can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days, or in the freezer for 4-6 months, giving you some flexibility. Be mindful that to express a full feed’s worth of milk, you will need to use a hospital-grade pump.
Keep reading for the best breast pumps 2025: manual, electric and wearable!
How does pumping actually work?
To start things off, let’s look at how pumping works. Lactation (your body making milk) is triggered by two hormones – oxytocin and prolactin. When your baby suckles, your brain gets the message that milk is neded, and tells your breasts to make milk on cue. This is known as the ‘let down reflex’.
But when a pump is introduced, we need to give your brain an extra nudge so it still gets the same triggers, and lactation can occur. This isn’t always the case, but if you pump and express 10-30mls, it’s worth looking at alternative strategies to express more milk. The best way to achieve the let down reflex while pumping is to look at photos of your baby, or even smell their clothes – anything that stimulates the production of oxytocin and prolactin in your brain.
For this reason, pumping doesn’t work for everyone. It’s a bit of a myth that you can express milk and easily produce a full feed. Pumping can take a lot of work – for example, if you pump exclusively you could be expressing eight times a day for an hour at a time. That’s a full day’s work!
Which breast pump is best?
Before you decide what kind of breast pump is best for your situation, you first need to recognise exactly why it is that you want to pump in the first place.
Is it so that you can share feeds with your partner? Or so that you can store your milk and keep it for later? Maybe it’s because you’re trying to increase your milk supply? If any of these reasons apply, the hospital-grade pump is the one for you.
The hospital-grade pump is the mother of all pumps! This is the pump to use if you want to increase your milk supply, stock the freezer with milk, or express enough to share feeds with your friends and family. Buying your own hospital-grade pump is very expensive or even unachievable, so the most cost-effective way to get your hands on one is to rent it. It costs approximately £50 a month to do this and comes with new parts for you to use. The only thing to note is that this pump is not hands-free, it has to be plugged into a wall socket.
Also, if you use both pumps simultaneously or express milk between feeds, your body could get the message that more milk is required and will produce more than you need. This can lead to oversupply, engorgement or mastitis. It’s not as if that will definitely happen, but it’s good to be aware of the potential knock-on effect.
If you do get a hospital-grade pump, then I’d suggest cutting holes in a bra, popping the shields in, and putting your feet up!
You might decide to pump to relieve pressure on your breasts, or perhaps you want to pump just in case you need milk at some point in the future. You should opt for a manual, electric, or silicone breast pump in these cases.
The manual, hand-held pump is one of the cheaper options, and it’s good if you just want to have a pump to hand. It’s a little harder to use because you have to manually do all the work with one hand, BUT to help things along, you could try using the other hand to massage the breast you’re pumping from.
The electric hand-held pump is exactly the same as the manual pump, except it’s electric. With some pumps, you can clip the electric part to your clothes so you can go hands-free. These are lightweight and good for those who want to be more mobile while they pump. If you opt for one of these pumps, I’d suggest cutting 2 holes in an old bra and popping the flanges inside it so you can go hands-free.
Finally – the silicone pump. The pump suctions onto your breast and you then squeeze the base to express the milk. Silicone pumps cost about the same amount as a hand-held pump.
Can you pump milk when pregnant?
Women typically start expressing milk while they’re still pregnant – this is called colostrum harvesting. They express the milk by hand and then freeze it, so they can give it to their baby if for any reason they can’t breastfeed at birth.
But can you use a pump to express colostrum when pregnant, rather than hand-expressing? In short, no – there’s no point! Colostrum is produced in such small quantities that if you use a breast pump, the small drops would just be lost around the shield of the pump.
Instead, hand-express a little and then collect the colostrum into a syringe – yes, that really is all that comes out at first!
If you need colostrum syringes then we’ve got you covered. Visit our shop to see our selection of syringes and nipple shields.
When can you start using a breast pump?
It’s advised not to use a breast pump until your milk supply has had a chance to ‘establish’, which usually happens around the 6-8 week mark after birth.
Pumping milk can help to stimulate milk production and provide a reserve of expressed breast milk for later use. It can also mean that your breasts produce too much milk, so it’s important to have a pumping plan that aligns with your baby’s natural feeding rhythm. If you plan to return to work after maternity leave and want to continue breastfeeding, then know that you should inform your employer of this and request adequate expressing facilities at work. It’s not the law for your employer to provide pumping facilities, but it is good practice that they support you.
Best Breast Pumps 2025: Manual, Electric and Wearable
Let’s finish with a review of the hottest breast pumps on the market currently, so you can make the best choice.
Elvie Pump – Electric Breast Pump
The top line:
- Made of BPA-free plastic
- Slimline and wearable design for discreet pumping
- Smartphone app connectivity for real-time monitoring
- Gentle and powerful suction with 2 modes and 7 intensity settings
The deep dive:
Tania Boler, an advocate for women’s health, has created world-class technology to address intimate women’s issues since 2013. She invented the Elvie Pump to revolutionise the pumping experience so it can be integrated into a busy lifestyle.
The Elvie Pump enables hands-free pumping without the need to be attached to a machine. Designed to fit into your existing nursing bras, it allows you to continue with your daily activities while pumping. It automatically detects the let down reflex, and transitions between stimulation and expression modes, simplifying the pumping process. It will also sense when the bottle is full and pause pumping accordingly.
Winner of the Gold MadeForMums Awards 2022 in the Best Wearable Electric/Battery Breast Pump category, the Elvie Pump continues to stand out as an innovative solution for breastfeeding parents, even 4 years after its initial launch.
Lola&Lykke Smart Electric Breast Pump
The top line:
- Small, quiet, and mobile design
- Wireless operation for on-the-go pumping
- Hospital-grade suction for optimal performance
- Compact with only 5 parts for easy assembly
The deep dive:
If you’re trying to decide between an electric or manual breast pump, the Lola&Lykke Smart Electric Breast Pump offers an effective solution. Lola&Lykke are a company based in Finland, and are dedicated to promoting positive postnatal recovery and supporting the health and wellbeing of new mothers.
Crafted with convenience in mind, this pump is compact, discreet, and boasts a sleek design, catering to the preferences of style-conscious and on-the-go mums alike. It’s equipped with a rechargeable battery that provides up to 2 hours of continuous use, enabling you to pump without being tethered by cords or wires.
Priced at £138 – which is reasonable in comparison to similar products on the market – the Lola&Lykke Smart Electric Breast Pump gained recognition by securing the Gold award at the MadeForMums Awards 2022.
Tommee Tippee Made for Me Double Electric Wearable Breast Pump
The top line:
- Wearable freedom for convenience
- ConstantComfort technology mimics baby’s suckling sensation
- Nipple alignment light guide for positioning
The deep dive:
The Tommee Tippee brand, based in the UK, is renowned for its simple, intuitive, and user-friendly products. Its Made For Me Double Electric Breast Pump features five stimulating massage modes, nine expressing modes, MassageTec soft silicone cups, and an extra hygienic closed system to prevent milk backflow into the tubes. It offers convenience and comfort to users with up to 90 minutes of cord-free pumping per charge, and a straightforward LED display to ensure hassle-free operation.
Priced affordably at £84.99 (RRP £129.99, currently discounted), the Made For Me Double Electric Breast Pump earned recognition by securing the Silver award for the Best Electric/Battery Breast Pump at the MadeForMums Awards 2022.
Lansinoh – Manual Breast Pump
The top line:
- Ergonomic easy-express handle for comfort
- Lightweight and compact for portability
- Discreet and perfect as a backup pump
The deep dive:
For new mums seeking a good night’s sleep, the Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump stands out. Praised for its reliability and thoughtful design, this pump offers a hassle-free breastfeeding experience.
Constructed from 100% polypropylene, a safe material for storing breast milk, the pump prioritises your baby’s health by ensuring that no harmful chemicals come into contact with the milk. It comes equipped with two additional valves, a spare diaphragm, a cleaning brush, two bottles, and a pair of milk storage bags, all of which are dishwasher safe for easy maintenance.
Ameda Mya Joy Double Breast Pump
The top line:
- Hospital-strength performance with adjustable suction
- Portable and lightweight for on-the-go pumping
- Comfortable 2-phase adjustable suction modes
- Operates discreetly at less than 45 decibels
The deep dive:
Ameda is a brand trusted by hospitals and loved by mothers for over 80 years. Crafted with careful consideration, their Mya Joy PLUS pump is ergonomically designed to comfortably fit in the palm of your hand, and operates with whisper-quiet efficiency.
The pump features a long-lasting rechargeable battery, a convenient USB charging cord, and a practical wrist lanyard for added portability.
MAM Double Electric Breast Pump
The top line:
- Up to 3 hours of battery power for freedom
- Multiple settings for individual preferences
- Smart digital display with timer
- Touch screen for easy use
The deep dive:
This pump offers 9 settings for both stimulation and expression modes, allowing you to customise your experience for each breast independently. Features include a timer for tracking expressing sessions, an optional alarm, and a rechargeable battery with a lifespan of up to 3 hours.
In addition to its electric functionality, the pump can transition into a manual pump and includes 2 bottles and storage pots for added convenience. Priced at £215, this pump may be slightly more expensive compared to similar offerings from other brands. However, its versatility and portability, along with its recognition as the Gold winner at the MadeForMum Awards 2021, justify its value for money.
Nuby Wireless Breast Pump
The top line:
- Multifunctional with stimulation and expression functions
- Easy-latch bottle for smooth transition
- Compact and quiet design for convenience
- Adjustable power levels and included nipple inserts for comfort
The deep dive:
This sleek and stylish breast pump is designed to facilitate milk expression effortlessly, anytime and anywhere. Its compact and wireless design means you can comfortably pump milk while seated in any location. Whether you’re dining out, enjoying a film, or taking a coffee break during a shopping spree, simply charge the pump and you’re ready to go.
Equipped with 3 expression settings, this pump ensures that your breast milk flows smoothly and efficiently. The detachable bottle collects the expressed milk, ready to feed your little one or store for later use.
Medela Freestyle Hands-Free Double Electric Breast Pump
The top line:
- Hands-free operation for multitasking
- Anatomically designed cups for maximum milk flow
- Ultralight and discreet for comfortable use
- Connects to the Medela Family app for tracking
The deep dive:
Madela is a Swiss brand that has been around since the 1960s, and it has become synonymous with breast pumping. Engineered to allow users to continue with their daily activities while expressing milk, this lightweight device is completely hands-free, with machine-washable cups that seamlessly integrate into your bra. Additionally, it is equipped with connectivity to the Medela family app, enabling users to track their pumping habits effortlessly.
Priced at £299, the Medela Freestyle occupies the higher end of the hands-free breast pump market.
Lansinoh – Smartpump 2.0 Double Electric Breast Pump
The top line:
- Quiet and adjustable hospital-strength suction
- ComfortFit Breast Cushions for a comfortable fit
- Ultra-quiet for discreet pumping
- Connects to the Lansinoh Baby 2.0 app for tracking
The deep dive:
This pump is remarkably quiet, while maintaining adjustable hospital-strength suction levels. It seamlessly integrates with the Lansinoh Baby 2.0 app via Bluetooth, which automatically tracks your pumping sessions, eliminating the need for manual tracking and ensuring you never miss a session.
Philips Avent Double Electric Breast Pump
The top line:
- Natural motion Technology for faster milk flow
- Closed expression system for easy cleaning
- Adapts to your nipple for quick milk flow
- Comfortable expressing position and quiet motor
The deep dive:
The expertise and quality associated with the Philips brand are evident in the sleek design and smooth operation of their electric single breast pump. Its silicone shield ensures a comfortable expressing experience, allowing users to pump while sitting upright rather than leaning forward slightly.
While priced towards the upper end of the spectrum, it remains more affordable than premium options such as the Tommee Tippee Made For Me Single Electric Breast Pump (approximately £135) and the Medela Swing Flex Electric Pump (approximately £140).
Making the right call
Ultimately, finding the right pump for you should be based on your lifestyle, preferences, and breastfeeding goals. By understanding how each type of pump works and considering your specific needs, you can make an informed decision that supports your breastfeeding journey.
Remember to always seek 121 support from your local infant feeding group or lactation consultant if you’re struggling with breast or bottle feeding.
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article
Become a
Ready to take control of your pregnancy, birth, and postnatal experience? The Butterbean Membership offers everything you need:
- Evidence-based resources tailored to your needs.
- Support that evolves with you - from pregnancy to postnatal life.
- Confidence, clarity, and a sense of calm through every stage.
Start your 7-day free trial!