Breast pumps are an important piece of equipment for many mothers. There are many reasons why moms decide to pump; to provide milk when she can’t be there or to help with difficulties breastfeeding. Some mothers use them to build a stockpile of milk before returning to work. Some mothers with multiple children find breast-pumping combined with breastfeeding can make things easier.

In this guide we’ll look at what sets a hospital grade breast pump apart from regular pumps as well as the cost vs a regular pump.

What does hospital grade mean?

A hospital grade breast pump is a pump that is found in hospitals. They can also be rented or bought online. The main brands are Ameda and Medela. We will be looking at two of their models later in this guide.

In general hospital grade models are bigger, quieter and more expensive than regular personal breast pumps. These pumps are often recommended to stimulate low milk supply. They are also used to provide breast milk for ill or premature babies. It is accepted that they are better at bringing in milk supply than regular pumps.

What features do they have that set them apart from regular pumps?

Hospital pumps often have strong piston driven motors that increase the efficiency of milk expression. They are also more sophisticated in their operation. They only apply the necessary pressure in short bursts, followed by longer relax phases. The fit of the pump has a large bearing on how comfortable it is. The best pumps offer a range of accessories with different nipple tunnel diameters.

What are the best hospital grade breast pumps?

We will discuss 2 models below and talk about the pros and cons compared to regular pumps.

Symphony by Medela

The Medela Symphony is a double breast pump that is proven to reduce pumping time by creating a quicker let-down and encouraging milk flow. It has been shown that the amount of milk pumped in a sitting is the equivalent of a breastfeeding baby. This makes it ideal when establishing milk supply. The Symphony is extremely quiet when compared to other pumps. It is also easy to clean. The Symphony has various size flanges and easily replaced parts. It’s straightforward to use with intuitive controls make it a dream to use. The fact that you can pump from both breasts at once is a further way to reduce the amount of time needed.

The only downside compared to regular pumps is the fact that it is rather bulky and a bit heavy. It does come with a battery pack but it’s probably not ideal for bringing along for day trips or short outings to the park.

Ameda Elite

The Ameda Elite is slightly less expensive than the Medela Symphony. It is still an effective electric pump that is used a lot in the medical profession. The Elite uses up to date technology to give a comfortable and efficient piston cycle. This works well throughout the let-down and relax phase and helps to speed up the process. This also allows you to adjust suction amounts and cycle speeds. The Ameda Elite is a popular pump with moms as it can be easily matched to their baby’s nursing patterns. The design of the pump is light and sleek, stores well and is portable. This is a serious contender for the best hospital grade breast pump. Ameda also makes the purely yours, which we look at more closely here.  It's not a hospital grade pump, but it's still of excellent quality.

Is it worth the extra cost to buy one?

The pumps mentioned above aren’t cheap to buy. But if you’re planning on breast feeding for an extended period, as is recommended, then it's a great investment and well worth it to buy a hospital grade breast pump. Having multiple children to express for makes the investment even more tolerable. The cost of renting a medical grade pump can be up to $100 per month or more. Buying a regular pump is no doubt cheaper. However if you go that way you will be missing out on more comfort, greater efficiency, durability and more advanced technology.

Once you’ve decided to pump breast milk, the choice of pump to use can be daunting with so many available. I think it’s safe to say that the hospital grade pumps are going to offer the best perform?ance. Especially if you are trying to establish your milk supply. Regular pumps do the job when breastfeeding or pumping has already been well established. Regular pumps lack the suction technology of the Medela Symphony and Ameda Elite. It is also worth noting that they are more durable, reliable and longer lasting than consumer grade pumps.