Looking for the best spectra breast pump review on the internet to help you decide which one to buy for expressing your breast milk?
You probably already know what to look for when buying a breast pump to find one that suits your needs.
If not check out our breast pump buying guide.
You may have already heard of big brands such as Medela, Philips Avent or Ameda. Well, we have a new contender in town: Spectra Baby.
The brand was set up by a registered nurse and lactation consultant looking to provide women with great performing pumps for all needs.
The brand started out in the UK and Australia and had taken them by storm, going head to head with Medela for the best breast pump awards.
We’re going to review the full range to help you decide which Spectra baby breast pump is best for you. Check out what we found.
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Spectra Breast Pump Review
1. Spectra Handy Plus
Overview
TheSpectra Handy Plus is a manual breast pump intended for infrequent use. It’s really small and lightweight and fits easily into your purse, great for traveling or if you work part-time. The handle has an ergonomic design which makes it easy and comfortable to use one-handed. The Handy Plus costs around $30.
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable
- Easy to use
- No power supply needed
- Quiet
- Powerful suction
Cons:
- Angled shield may be awkward for smaller breasts
- No option for larger/smaller breast shield sizes
Conclusion
The Handy Plus is Spectra’s best option those looking to express on the odd occasion and don’t want to shell out too much on a breast pump. You don’t expect a manual pump to perform as well as an electric pump, but the handy plus does perform highly. It has a suction pressure up to 350mmHg which is as good as high-end electric pumps. If you can keep a consistent pump rate, then you should expect to get around 3-4oz with a 20-30 minute pump. We wouldn’t recommend this pump if you’re looking to pump regularly. However it’s great for using for occasional separation with your baby, or as an emergency back up to your electric pump.
2. Spectra M1
Overview
The M1 model is a fantastic budget double breast pump for regular expressing (up to twice daily pumping). This pump is extremely lightweight at under only 14oz, and compact enough to fit into your regular handbag. With its double expression phases, it’s a direct rival to the Medela swing. It has few parts, making it easy to maintain and use, no fiddling around, just plug and go. Retail price for this pump is $199 but expect to pay around $130, anything less is a bargain.
Pros:
- Compact and lightweight
- Quiet
- Rechargeable battery or mains power supply
- Use as a single or double pump
Cons:
- Not hospital grade
- Cannot control the suction strength and speed independently
Conclusion
This is easily among the best breast pump for regular expressing because it gets so many things right. You can get this at an affordable price, and it performs well. The suction strength reaches up to 300mmHG which is very effective, combined with a suction cycle of 30-46 sucks per minute it can mimic baby well. Although it performs well, we would have like the suction strength and speed to be controlled separately as with this model they increase and decrease together.
You can use this pump as a single or a double pump depending on your needs. It’s a really easy setup. We love that it comes with a backflow valve on the breast shield to prevent milk entering the motor part. This makes sure the machine is a closed system and cannot grow mold or bacteria in the parts which cannot be seen or washed. It’s a great performing pump but don’t opt for this pump if you are expressing more than twice a day or your burn out the motor quickly. We suggest choosing one of Spectra hospital grade pumps.
3. Spectra 9 Plus
Overview
The Spectra 9 Plus is a double pump with a small portable motor. If used with an expressing bra it’s a true hand free expressing option. The motor is compact, modern design and will remind you of an early MP3 player with its easy to read LCD screen. The list price for this pump is around $275 but expect to pay around $190 or less.
Pros:
- Very portable (great for hand free expressing)
- Easy to use digital display with a nightlight
- Rechargeable
- Massage function to help your let down
- Last Use memory
Cons:
- Loud
Conclusion
The Spectra 9 plus is giving the Medela Freestyle a run for its money. It’s great to have more ‘hands-free’ options on the market. This pump is a great option for regular expression, especially if you have other children and need the freedom to move around freely when expressing.
The compact size of the motor means it’s not a hospital grade but still performs well. It’s powerful enough for pumping a few times a week but daily expressing will make the motor burn out quicker. Expect to express around 5-6oz with the double pump in use for 20 minutes. The biggest drawback with this pump is that it’s quite loud to use which is surprising considering all other Spectra models rate highly for noise.
4. Spectra Dew 350
Overview
The Spectra Dew 350 model is the first of Spectra hospital grade models suitable for expressing occasional right up to exclusive pumping. It’s quite basic but has a powerful suction ranging from 0-350mmHG. It’s compact, fairly portable and a lot cheaper than hospital grade breast pumps form other brands. The pump is available in both a pink and blue color. Expect to pay around $170 for a Spectra Dew, but it can vary up to the list price of $250.
Pros:
- Affordable hospital grade pump
- Easy to use
- Double pump
- Available in two colors
- Very Quiet
Cons:
- Suction speed not adjustable
- No massage function
Conclusion
We wanted to like the Spectra dew as ultimately it’s a hospital grade pump which is around 8 times cheaper than other brands. It’s fairly compact for how well it works. Do we have to point out that the pink version looks a bit like a giant boob, perhaps a bit of an oversight by Spectra? The suction strength is one of the most powerful of all the models. However, you cannot adjust the suction speed which is disappointing for a pump of this price. Ultimately we think the Spectra S2 performs just as well and has more features, for around the same price, or cheaper, depending on what offers are available.
5. Spectra S2
Overview
The Spectra S2 is another hospital grade, double pump, closed system model. We highly recommend this pump if you need to pump regularly (at least 3 times per day). It’s so easy to use and is great for night use, virtually noise free and a handy night light. It has a digital display which makes it easy to control both suction speed and strength. This pump cost around $165.
Pros:
- Extremely quiet
- Adjustable suction strength and speed
- Use single or double
- Massage mode to improve your let down
Cons:
- Heavy
- No battery option
Conclusion
We think the Spectra S2 is the better option when compared to the Spectra Dew 350. The max suction is slightly less at 320mmHG but still hospital grade. The adjustable suction strength and speed make it much more comfortable to use and helps you to relax while pumping. It’s quite heavy, and you won’t want to carry it around much, but it’s a sturdy workhorse with a guaranteed 1500hr motor life. All in all, this is a sound product with a good lifespan.
6. Spectra S1
Overview
The mother of all Spectra models is the S1 a hospital grade, double breast pump with a rechargeable battery. It’s perfect for frequent and exclusive pumping as it pretty much covers all bases. Undoubtedly his is the quietest breast pump on the market and is virtually silent. The list price for this pump is $370, but you’ll find it priced online for around $260 or under.
Pros:
- Effective pump with adjustable suction
- Great for night use
- Portable
- Rechargeable battery and mains power
- Quiet
Cons:
- Cheap collection bottles for the price
Conclusion
We are super impressed with the Spectra; it will see moms through most breastfeeding issues such as inverted nipples, engorgement, low milk supply, multiple or premature babies. If you need to pump a lot, then opt for this one. It’s a great piece of equipment if you can get it for under $300. The biggest drawback is that we dislike the collection bottles, the material seems cheap, and we wouldn’t recommend storing milk in them. If you buy this pump, we suggest purchasing a set of good quality baby bottle, preferably glass ones.
Spectra Breast Pump Comparison
Spectra USA Breast Pump | Handy Plus Manual | Spectra M1 | Spectra 9 Plus | Spectra Dew 350 | Spectra S2 | Spectra S1 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type of Use | ||||||
Occasional use (weekly) | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Daily | X | X | X | X | X | |
Double Pumping | X | X | X | X | X | |
Multiple Babies | X | X | X | |||
Performance Use | ||||||
Rechargeable Battery | X | X | X | |||
Digital Display | X | X | X | |||
Adjustable Suction | X | X | X | X | X | |
Adjustable speed | X | X | X | |||
Lightweight | X | X | X | |||
Massage Mode | X | X | X | X | ||
Nightlight and Timer | X | X | ||||
Medical Conditions | ||||||
Flat/ inverted nipples | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Sore nipples/ engorgement | X | X | X | X | X | |
Attachment /breast issues | X | X | X | X | X | |
Low milky supply | X | X | X | |||
Premature or ill baby | X | X | X |
Summary
The best buy Spectra pump is the Spectra 2 which scores best for features, performance, and price. A close second is the Spectra 1 which improves on the S2 with a rechargeable battery, but we don’t think it justifies a $100 difference in price. Third place has to go to the Spectra 9 Plus, apart from the noise it’s a great all-rounder and great for frequent pumping. The remaining pumps are runners-up and choice will ultimately come down to what you need from a pump, i.e. there is no point shelling out over $100 for an electric pump if a $30 manual will suffice.