You are in the right place if you’re looking for the best electric pumps and trying to decide between a hospital-grade breast pump and a regular breast pump.
In this article, I’ll explain the differences between the hospital-grade breast pump and the regular pump and show you how to get the best breast pump for free with your insurance plan.
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Pro Tip: Having both an electric and manual pump is good for
Hospital-Grade Pump Vs. Hospital-Strength Breast Pump
- Hospital Grade: a multi-user closed system rented to individuals or used by mothers in a hospital setting.
- Professional Grade: the same as hospital grade.
- Hospital Strength: is what manufacturers use to say their pump has a powerful motor and suction. This term isn’t regulated.
Personal-use pumps from major manufacturers like Spectra and Medela have great motors for individual pumping. Although the term “hospital strength” is a bit of a marketing ploy, it doesn’t necessarily mean one pump is better than the other.
Hospital Grade Breast Pump
A hospital-grade breast pump is a multi-user, closed-system breast pump used in hospital settings or rented to individuals for at-home use. Here are some things to know about hospital-grade pumps:
- Multi-User: They are designed to be used repeatedly by different mothers.
- Closed System: The milk goes straight from the breast into a collection cup. The milk does not go through the tubing or contact the pump/motor.
- Individual Accessory Kits: Lactating women share the breast pump motor, but each person is provided with their accessory kit (tubing, flanges, breast shields, backflow protectors, and any other parts that come in contact with the breast milk). Mothers cannot share pumping kits for sanitary reasons.
Pro Tip: If you have the option, always use the closed-system breast pump. Even if you don’t need a hospital-grade breast pump, closed-system pumps are easier to clean and sterilize and have less chance of contamination from mold or bacteria.
Hospital Grade Breast Pump Vs. Regular Breast Pump
Here are the similarities and differences between a hospital-grade breast pump vs. regular one:
- Closed System: Hospital-grade breast pumps are closed systems to avoid cross-contamination, but regular breast pumps (like the Spectra S1 and S2) can also be closed systems.
- Motor Strength: Hospital-grade breast pumps have a more powerful motor for faster, more efficient pumping.
Most women only need a regular strength personal breast pump to express milk successfully. - Customizability: Hospital-grade breast pumps have different wavelengths, frequencies, and ranges of suction strength that can be combined to get the most customizable pumping experience for the mother. Ameda Platinum advertises 5000 unique frequency, suction, and speed combinations to mimic a baby’s rhythm more closely.
- Power: Hospital-grade breast pumps will have longer-lasting and more powerful motors. Typically, hospital-grade pumps have more extended warranties to cover the motor. Because of the more powerful motor, you can pump milk faster with a hospital-grade breast pump.
- Milk Production: Hospital-grade pumps are sometimes recommended for moms with low milk supply because you can adjust the cycle speed and suction levels better than a personal pump to get as much milk as possible in less time per pumping session.
- Portability: Both hospital-grade and personal pumps are meant to be portable. Hospital-grade breastpumps will be bigger and heavier, so they won’t travel as easily as personal-use pumps.
- Number of Users: Hospital-grade breast pumps are rental pumps that multiple mothers use. A single user uses personal pumps. If you want a hospital-grade breast pump but don’t like getting a used one, you will have to buy the pump outright.
- Double Pumping: Double pumping means pumping milk from both breasts simultaneously. Something that both hospital-grade and regular breast pumps have working for them over manual breast pumps is the ease of use for double pumping. You can only pump on one side at a time with manual pumps. However, there are times when having a manual pump at home comes in handy.
Do You Need A Hospital Grade Breast Pump?
More than likely, no.
A hospital-grade breast pump is usually only needed for mothers who have babies with complications who can’t breastfeed properly (like a premature baby or baby with health conditions).
They can also be used for mothers who need to pump more milk than typical, such as mothers of twins, mothers with babies in the NICU, and mothers who will do exclusive pumping.
Sometimes, a hospital-grade pump is a good choice for
If you’re not sure, you should check with the doctor or lactation consultant at the hospital on whether you would be a candidate for renting a hospital-grade breast pump before you are discharged.
Renting a Hospital-Grade Breast Pump
The easiest ways to rent a hospital-grade breast pump are going to be:
- Directly from your hospital: If you are eligible, your hospital will provide the unit to you (as well as the pumping kit) before you are discharged. This is the easiest way to go about it!
- From an authorized third-party company like Aeroflow: The only hospital-grade breast pump Aeroflow offers for rental (or purchase) is the Medela Symphony. The Medela Symphony is the gold standard in hospital-grade breast pumps. Fill out their insurance form to see if you qualify.
Pro Tip: If you don’t have insurance, many hospitals will rent their breast pumps to you for a monthly fee.
The Best Hospital Grade Breast Pumps
There aren’t many hospital-grade breast pumps on the market.
Here are the best hospital-grade breast pumps available for rent:
Free Breast Pump Through Insurance
If you have health insurance, you can get a free breast pump through the Affordable Care Act. Using a company like Aeroflow (that’s who I used!) makes it a super-easy process. They do all the work (including calling your doctor and getting the prescription) for you!
Mom Tip: Don’t have insurance? There are dozens of other free
Aeroflow Process:
Around the halfway point of your pregnancy, you’ll want to set up your Aeroflow account and apply for a pump.
- Create a free account with Aeroflow.
- Input your insurance information.
- Get an email (within about 24 hours) with which models your insurance covers.
- Pick the breast pump that you want. Your insurance may require a prescription for a pump. Aeroflow will contact them directly and handle it.
- Get FREE SHIPPING for your breastpump right to your door.
That’s it! You never have to call your insurance or talk to someone on the phone.
I liked Aeroflow because they allow you to upgrade your pump (if your insurance doesn’t cover the one you want) and purchase a pumping bag and accessories (like ice packs for your collection bottles) for your pump at a discounted rate.
Final Thoughts
Most lactating women do not need a hospital-grade breast pump. Standard electric pumps like the Spectra S2 are great.
Consult with your child’s pediatrician, healthcare provider, or lactation consultant if you need a hospital-grade pump.
Whether you choose hospital-grade vs. regular, ensure your breast pump is closed-system to be the most hygienic and straightforward to clean.
