EBM stands for expressed breast milk; to express milk, you’ll need a breast pump. Expressing is an art unto itself. For some mums, it’s a necessity. For others, a way of aiding routine or to gain a bit of independence. For others, it comes into play when transitioning back to work. For some, it’s used as a dream feed, so mum can get more shut-eye whilst their partner does the feed. Breastmilk from a boob, or a bottle, greets our children with their specific needs, and can fight pathogens and diseases. It really is quite amazing.

Breast pumps have come a long way, and like advances in sleep devices, there is much to filter through. Feeling overwhelmed? Before you even hit search, ask yourself these five questions to determine your pumping needs.

Question 1. Do I need a breast pump before giving birth?

A breast pump is not essential. You may choose to formula feed or exclusively breastfeed. The need for pumping has a lot to do with our birth, your milk supply, your kid, and your ​​lifestyle. For example, if you’re a small business owner and need to go back to run the show three months postpartum, then probably yes. If you have plans on being social and doing some dinner dates (with multiple glasses of wine), then yes. If you are a go-with-flow kind of person with lots of leave and an open invitation for possibilities, then maybe something to park until you meet your baby. Do baby your way and tune into what works for you.

Question 2 . Is pumping painful?

This depends on the tenderness of your breasts and nipples. For most, there is little to no pain. The Milk Drop Breast Cushion is an ultra-soft, medical-grade silicone pad that stretches over the head of your pump to make it more comfortable and great for those experiencing tenderness. In their trials, 92% of women found pumping more comfortable using the milkdrop. The Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump is also an excellent option for those who hate pumping. It is a single piece of silicone that lightly sucks on the opposite boob while you feed to catch the excess milky goodness or ‘let down’. So less of an extractor and more of a softly motivating catcher.

Question 3. What’s the difference between manual and electric?

Manual pumps are designed to complement mums who are full-time breastfeeding but pump on occasions, for occasions. Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pumpis a great option for our casual pumpers. It’s affordable, portable (small enough to fit in your handbag) and silent. As the name implies, it’s manual, so it’s slower and more arduous when extracting milk; however, if you are not using it much, it’s not a burden. Good to have on hand for the occasional weekend away, engorgement, or should you hit a bump in your breastfeeding journey.

Question 4. Which ones are portable?

Most modern electric breast pumps are now portable, but some are better at being more discreet than others.The Youha ONE Express Cups is a hands-free attachment (compatible with the Youha The ONE Double Electric Breast Pump, but also many other portable electric breast pumps) and can fit snugly in your bra for discreet expression (think at your desk or even out to lunch). This device is super worthy for mums who are on the go or for those who are planning to breastfeed while back at work.

Question 5. Double or single?

Double pumps mean less fuss, (as you can express both breasts simultaneously). Double pumps can yield at least 18% more milk and the biggest win is that it cuts expressing time in half. Worth the investment if you’re pumping regularly. The Medela Freestyle Flex 2 Phase Double Electric Breast Pump is a quieter breast pump, intuitive to use and extra fast at extracting milk. A touch screen makes it super simple, and its patent technology allows for a longer charge time. We love the built-in rechargeable battery, so you don’t need to be hooked up to a powerpoint. This is the Rolls-Royce of pumps and one for those who use their pump multiple times a day. Worthy of the investment. As time equals more sleep, less pumping as a new parent is priceless.