Manual vs Electric Breast Pumps - what’s the difference?

Choosing the best breast pump that fits your lifestyle is the first step to a successful breast milk feeding journey. There are two types of breast pump for expressing milk, but which one is right for you? It will mostly depend on how much milk you need to express and how much time you have to pump.

What is the difference between a manual and electric breast pump?

The difference between these two types of pumps is pretty simple - a manual breast pump is operated by hand, while the electric breast pump uses an electric-powered motor which will make it pump automatically.

A manual breast pump requires the mum to squeeze the handle over and over in order to create suction and express milk, which means you would be doing a lot of the work yourself. You can only express from one breast at a time, but it is easy to use anywhere and is normally very compact to carry in a bag.

With an electric breast pump you just need to choose the pumping mode of your preference, hold it on the breast, and it will do all the work for you. For being motor-operated it can express milk much faster than a manual pump.

The cost is also a big difference to consider, as manual pumps are much more affordable than the electric ones.

Why choose a manual breast pump?

Even though the manual breast pump is not as efficient as the electric breast pump, it might be enough for you if you don’t need to express milk frequently. For example, if you are rarely away from your baby and will just offer a bottle occasionally, you can easily opt for a manual pump and save a few dollars. It is cheaper, compact, quiet, and because you won’t need a power outlet nearby, you will be able to pump anywhere.

The Pigeon Manual Breast Pump has an ergonomic handle that reduces hand fatigue and requires minimal effort on the act of pressing, making pumping comfortable and easy to use.

Why choose an electric breast pump?

Electric breast pumps are usually more suitable for mums who need to express milk with frequency - like if you want to share feedings with your partner, or if you’re back to work and will spend hours away from your baby - or for mums whose babies won’t latch on on the breast or mums who are unable to breastfeed for some reason.

Although it’s more expensive than a manual breast pump, it is worth the investment if you need to express large amounts of milk. Electric breast pumps can be double, allowing you to pump from both breasts at the same time and getting more milk in less time.

The Pigeon GoMini Double Electric Breast Pump is compact and light to carry around and you can adjust the pressure by choosing between the stimulation level and 5 different levels in the expressing mode.

Now that you know the differences between the two types of pumps for expressing milk, the most important thing to consider when choosing the best breast pump for you is understanding what you need as a breastfeeding mum - how often do you need to express, how much milk do you need to express, and how much time do you need to express.