Best Breast Pump for Working Moms

If you’re in a hurry and just want to find out what the best breast pump for working moms is, I’d recommend the Medela Pump In Style Advanced Breast Pump.

As a working mom, I know how hard it can be to go from a few months of cozy maternity leave snuggled up with your newborn to jumping back into your work routine. To put it simply: it’s tough! It seems like there are so many details you need to prepare before that first Monday morning back rolls around.

It seems that way because it is that way.

If you’re a new mom, prepare yourself for the obnoxious necessity that is pumping. If this isn’t your first pregnancy, you seasoned moms already know the deal.

Either way, you’re here because you need the best breast pump that’s going to suit your on-the-move lifestyle. As a working mom, you need a pump that you can take along with you with the least amount of inconvenience.

I’m here to give you the inside scoop on what you should look for and five products that fit the mold.

Here are the breast pumps for working moms that I will be reviewing:

• Medela Freestyle Breast Pump
• Spectra Baby USA S2 Plus Premier
• Lansinoh Smartpump Double Electric Breast Pump
• Medela Pump in Style Advanced with Backpack
• Spectra Baby USA 9 Plus Pump

The Pump Features

Not all pumps are made equally. There are a few factors that are super important for working moms who need to pump in the office and when they travel as well as at home. You need the best of the best, and I’m going to show you what that looks like.

Strength

Pump strength is a key feature that your pump should have as a working mom. You have things to do; you don’t have the time to sit around for hours on end to pump. Sure, you have a lunch break, but you shouldn’t have to use up your entire hour pumping.

There are certainly pumps out there with technology that allows you to pump more milk in a lesser amount of time. Find a pump that works efficiently enough to pump what you need with the limited time you’ll have when you’re at the office.

Portability & Weight

If you plan on bringing your pump to the office or during business travel, you should find one that’s portable. These pumps will be battery operated and usually rechargeable, ensuring that you can always use it, even when you don’t have access to an outlet.

Portability also means lightweight. A huge, heavy pump is certainly not ideal for bringing in and out of the office every day. Use a pump that’s easy to carry and store.

Accessories

Like many things in a woman’s life, accessories are vital. Your pump needs a few things to really smooth out the process. Make sure your pump includes extra parts, quality pump bags, and a pump-to-feed system.

Don’t forget that a lot of accessories means a lot to carry. A lot of breast pump systems will throw in cute totes or carrying bags. I love these systems because the manufacturers understand that you need a convenient space to transport your pumping gear. Many of them are even discrete.

As a bonus tip, I highly recommend double electric pumps. These babies let you pump faster and more efficiently, and some experts even say they allow you to yield more milk than single pumps or manual pumps.

Noise

Moms that are going to have to pump in their workplace will appreciate a pump that doesn’t make too much noise. Lots of pumps are very loud, and it’s pretty obvious when they’re in use. If you feel self-conscious and would like to be a little less conspicuous while you pump in your office, you may want to prioritize the noise factor of your breast pump.

My Top Breast Pump Reviews For Working Moms

Now that you have a little more information on what makes a breast pump great for working moms, you probably feel a little more confident looking at products. Some of you may even be ready to set out on your own—the take-on-the-world mom that you are (or will be).

Just in case, for those who still need a little guidance, I’ve put together a list of my favorite breast pumps. They’re all great for working moms, or even just moms on the move a lot, and definitely meet the standards.

Medela Freestyle Breast Pump

If you want a breast pump that’s jam-packed with useful accessories and functions great on the go, you can’t go wrong with the Medela Freestyle Breast Pump.

I’m a huge fan of this pump first because it’s a double electric pump that’s awesome for daily use. Because it has two electric pumps, it works a lot fast than single or manual pumps. The two pumps have two different sized shields so you can use the ones that are most comfortable for you.

This pump is very lightweight and operates on battery power with a rechargeable feature. The digital display is simple, easy to use and see, and shows a memory function and a timer with a backlit screen.

With this set, you also get two bottles to store milk, a cooler bag with an ice pack, a battery charger, and a sleek black tote bag to carry everything in one place.

Spectra Baby USA S2 Plus Premier

The Spectra S2 is an all-inclusive breast pump package that includes everything a working mom could need for breast pumping. This cute little pink pump is small and lightweight, yet powerful and efficient.

In your package, you get the double/single pump, a power adapter, two bottles, two backflow protectors, and more.

This pump uses what they call a closed system, which uses the backflow protectors to prevent airflow between the milk you’ve already pumped and the tubing while in use. Not only does this eliminate the need for intricate cleaning, but it protects the breast milk for coming in contact with any bacteria or viruses.

This Spectra pump has a variety of suction levels and settings so you can achieve your perfect, natural flow of milk. Massage mode helps to simulate the natural sucking of a baby, while the ultra-quiet mode ensures you don’t wake your sleeping infant and makes it perfect for middle of the night use.

With an auto-timer and easy to use display, this pump may quickly become one of your favorites, too.

Lansinoh Smartpump Double Electric Breast Pump

The Lansinoh double electric breast pump is made with hospital grade quality, which is something that every mom loves to hear. This system gives you three pumping styles along with eight suction levels. I love this because it makes the system highly customizable, and every mom can find the right pattern to match their baby’s feeding habits.

Like the previous pump, this system is also a closed one, making it hygienic, clean, and convenient. It’s also made to be super comfortable. The pumps have soft rims to avoid discomfort. They can be used as single pumps or double pumps and work with breast pump bras for hands-free use.

The package includes two bottles along with lids and nipples as well as a power adapter and a convenient carrying bag to fit all your accessories. This system is small, so it will also fit in a lot of diaper bags for on the go use.

It comes with bluetooth connectivity as well. So, the pump can connect to the Lansinoh Baby App. This simplifies breastfeeding and provides useful tips and resources.

Medela Pump In Style Advanced With Backpack

There’s a reason why the Medela brand is a popular name among breastfeeding mothers: their products are good—and the Medela Pump in Style advanced double electric breast pump is no exception.

This breast pump was made specifically for moms on the go, including moms traveling back and forth from work every day. This system is enclosed in a microfiber backpack with a built-in pump motor.

The advanced technology in this pump is designed to give the best performance, using double pumps to maximize flow and produce more milk in less time. This is great for moms who only have a short break at work to pump.

Since this pump is battery operated, you can use it anywhere, even when you don’t have an outlet to plug into. The backpack not only houses the pump itself, but carries all your other accessories, like the included two pumps, two shields, two bottles, cooler, and ice pack.

Spectra Baby USA 9 Plus Pump

If you’re serious about portability, lightweight, and convenience, check out the Spectra 9 Plus Pump. This pump is pretty much the smallest pump ever; it’s about the size of a cell phone and weighs just half a pound.

With the S9, you get two wide neck bottles, two backflow protectors, two duckbill valves, two sets of tubing, and two flanges.

The bright LCD screen lets you easily see all your options of advanced massage and expression, your adjustable suction levels and cycles, and timer. It has a rechargeable battery as well as a power cord, so you can use it on the go or while you’re sitting in your office at work.

For its size, this little pump is pretty powerful. It’s a great tool for work, and even in the car. However, I would prefer to use it solely for work and travel, keeping a bigger pump for home use.

Final Thoughts

As a working mom, my biggest concern when breastfeeding was getting my pump to and from work easily and using it with no hassle. Because of these preferences, I absolutely fell in love with the design of the Medela Pump in Style Advanced.

Whoever thought of putting a breast pump directly into a stylish backpack is a genius. Not only does this make it easy to carry everything where you need it hands-free, but the backpack is even designed to look classy and professional—ready to walk into an office building. At the same time, your hands are free to carry a purse or a briefcase.

The 2-phase expression technology lets moms pump more milk in shorter amounts of time—something that the other pumps have a hard time accomplishing. The single knob controls make the operation of this pump simple instead of confusing, something that is a great plus when you’re on the go and just want to pump and be done.

I also love that you can keep everything in one place, including the provided cooler for the bottles. While floral prints and cute patterns are the first choice of many moms for carrying bags, the sleek look of this one is perfect for work.