Spectra S2 Double Electric Breast Pump

After using several well-known brands of breast pumps, I’ve found the decision regarding which one is best for you is really dependent on mama’s situation. Are you a stay-at-home mom? How often are you away from home? Do you work full-time? Part-time? Etc., etc. … Each pump has pros and cons, particularly regarding portability, affordability and efficiency. Personally, I am a SAHM now, but will be returning to work at some point. Therefore, the above are all real concerns of mine.

The Spectra S2 Double Electric Breast Pump was intriguing from the moment I opened it. All parts were packaged neatly and separated based on use. The manual is straightforward and very easy to read. It includes instructions for pumping, cleaning the equipment and storing breast milk, as well as brief descriptions about the display and usage. Assembly is both illustrated in a flowchart and briefly described. There is a hose to insert into the main unit with a bottle and breast shield that attaches to the other end for collection. It took just about one minute to assemble, and there were no tools required. A nice feature is the back-flow protector, which attaches between the hose and collection bottle to prevent 100 percent of back-flow into the pump unit. This closed system is key because moisture that reaches the unit could be a potential hygiene hazard.

I feel the major selling points of this pump are its portability and compact style. For the working mom or mom-on-the-go, this is a lifesaver! And it doesn’t need to be plugged in while being used—though it includes wall adapters should you wish to go that route. The system also comes with a black tote bag and cooler with two ice packs to keep milk cold until arriving home.

The pump is very comfortable to use and has a massage setting for milk letdown and multiple vacuum and cycle settings that can be adjusted to the user’s comfort. I was very pleased with the rate of expression and the ease of finding a setting that suits my needs. Because it’s a double pump, you’re able to express milk from both breasts simultaneously, which saves time and improves efficiency. Hooray for that! In addition, this is by far the most quiet pump I know of. It does not bother my sleeping daughter at all like the previous pumps I’ve used did. It’s a complete lifesaver in the middle of the night! The pump unit also has a night-light on the upper handle with two illumination options. Again, perfect for middle-of-the-night pumping or for quick sessions at work.

The parts are easy to clean. Prior to initial use, Spectra recommends boiling the parts in water for five minutes to sterilize. After each use, parts can be washed in warm, soapy water and rinsed clean. They can be air- or towel-dried and covered when not in use. As mentioned above, the unit comes with several adapters. One adapter has a removable prong, allowing other prongs to be attached for travel abroad. The whole unit is made up of minimal parts, all of which seem very sturdy. The system does come with spare parts in the event something is lost or broken.

Milk is pumped directly into bottle. The system includes bottle caps and nipples, which are ideal if you wish to use the milk immediately. There is no direct pump-to-storage bag collection option, so milk must be poured from the bottles into freezer bags if you wish to save it for later use. As a proponent of healthy products, I like that all of the components of the pump that come into contact with breast milk are BPA/DEHP-free.

Overall, the Spectra S2 pump is stylish, takes up very little space, and is reasonably priced. I feel that this pump is a fantastic choice for anyone, but especially for the mom who is out of the house during the day. It’s extremely easy and quick to use and very light and portable. Plus, if you ask my husband and infant, they appreciate being able to sleep through my pumping sessions at night.

Price: from $169
To buy: spectrababyusa.com