This $44 Manual Breast Pump Expressed More Milk (In Less Time) Than My $300 Option

• What is it? Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump
• Why people love it: Despite its compact size, this manual breast pump can deliver the same output of electric and wearable models for a fraction of the cost. Not to mention there are fewer parts, which means you’ll spend less time cleaning.
• How much is it? $44
• Where to buy it: AmazonOpens a new window, Buy Buy BabyOpens a new window, and TargetOpens a new window

When I was pregnant with my first child in 2020, I was determined to have a positive and successful breastfeeding experience. Spooked by stories about tongue tie troubles, supply issues, mastitis pain, and the struggles to pump while working, I pored over every breastfeeding article. I spent the final months of my pregnancy researching various nursing and pumping products, adding to cart any items that promised to make the process easy and help maintain my supply. 

No product seemed more important than the breast pump. But how to choose from an overwhelming number of options? After much deliberation, I shelled out more than $300 for the wearable Elvie and requested the Spectra S1 through my insurance. Both arrived shortly before my son, Jack, was born. 

After establishing my supply with what felt like non-stop nursing in the beginning, I started pumping and offering Jack two bottles a day. 

This gave my husband the chance to bond with our son and would allow me extra time to rest — something I welcomed the transition with open arms. 

Despite the longer stretches of sleep, pumping was a time-consuming nightmare. I dreaded hooking up to a device and sitting for 30 minutes — time I could have spent doing other things. Sometimes my session would result in six ounces, which felt like a victory. Other times, I’d yield a mere two ounces, which made the whole process seem fruitless. Once a sessions ended, I would spend what felt like an eternity washing and sanitizing pump parts. I quickly started to feel that the extra shuteye wasn’t worth the added stress. 

As Jack grew and his appetite increased, I obsessed over the frozen supply I was stockpiling; worried I wasn’t pumping enough to keep up with the amount we were bottle feeding him.  The tech-forward features of the Elvie didn’t help matters. Although many moms appreciate the Elvie’s ability to track your time spent pumping, I felt like it gamified the experience; like I would be rewarded if I stayed hooked to the machine for a certain amount of time. But after 30 minutes spent pumping, the maximum time for a session, I often would only have two to three ounces; more than some, but not enough to keep up with Jack’s appetite. Minutes turned into hours, which turned into days. The time I was supposed to spend resting was slipping through my fingers. Despite the ease, efficiency, and portability both of my pumps promised, pumping felt cumbersome, time consuming, uncomfortable, and exhausting. 

When my second son was born, I switched from my $300 electric pump to a $44 manual pump. 

I breastfed Jack for 18 months, and breathed a massive sigh of relief as I packed away my pump parts. 

Fast forward to six months later when my second son, Louie, arrived. For whatever reason, maybe his strong suck or his more peaceful delivery,  I seemed to have more milk and a stronger letdown this time. Hoping to avoid the stress of maintaining a stockpile, I started using the Haakaa Ladybug CollectorOpens a new window immediately. A friend had recommended the original HaakaaOpens a new window when I was pregnant with Jack, and although it was handy he’d often kick it off, spilling any milk I’d collected. But the Ladybug Collector fit comfortably in my bra while I breastfed on the opposite side, catching all the milk that otherwise would have been wasted. Within the first few days of nursing, I already had 25 ounces of milk stashed in the freezer thanks entirely to the Ladybug.

But this only relieved some of my pumping-related anxiety. Afterall, I had a newborn and a toddler to chase around this time. I could barely prioritize feeding myself, I certainly didn’t have 30 minutes to sit prisoner while pumping or standing over my sink washing tiny parts. I struggled with the idea of dedicating all that time to something I loathed. 

It didn’t help that my breasts still felt full after nursing, forcing me to express milk for some relief. Rather than get out my electric pump, I decided to try the Medela Harmony manual breast pumpOpens a new window my sister had gifted me after Jack was born. She swore it was a more convenient option, but I dismissed her, having been swayed by the power and convenience an electric pump promised. “There is no way a $40 pump I have to operate with my hand is better or more powerful than the two top-of-the-line options I already have,” I had thought to myself. 

I expressed more milk in less time by switching to a manual breast pump and milk collector. 

With the Haakaa in place on one side and the Medela manual pump on the other side, I pumped for five minutes and had 3.5 ounces to show for it. I couldn’t believe it: In five minutes, I had expressed more than what sometimes took more than 30 minutes to produce with my electric pumps. When I was done, I had only four small pump pieces and the Haakaa to wash and sanitize; it took less than three minutes. I felt like I had discovered the ultimate hack. 

As with my Jack, I began pumping more frequently when Louie was four weeks old. But rather than unboxing my old electric friends, I stuck with my new duo: the Medela manual breast pump and the Haakaa Ladybug collector. Instead of being hooked up to a device for 30 minutes, my new routine takes less than 20 minutes: I place the Haakaa on one breast, pump on the opposite breast for six to eight minutes, switch sides and repeat. 

Not only does this program cut my pumping and washing time in half, but it has helped me produce more milk. I have nearly twice the amount of milk to show for it. In a typical pumping session, I express between six to 12 ounces easily. My freezer stash is overflowing, and I feel no stress about producing enough to keep up with the three to four bottles we’re feeding Louie daily.

While it might initially seem cumbersome to manually pump, the entire process feels so much more efficient and intuitive. 

A manual pump requires both hands, which can be inconvenient at times. But the results are worth it. 

Although everyone is different, a lactation specialist says my experience isn’t totally unique. “With an electric pump you’re relying on the pre-programmed settings that are sometimes too powerful to mimic baby’s suck,” says Ashley BlankenshipOpens a new window, a doula and certified lactation consultant. “Manual pumps also hold the suction for longer resulting in less irritation and longer flow time. I used a manual pump and recommend them to my clients because I find it to be a more comfortable and effective option.”

Rather than relying on pre-programmed pump settings, I’m able to react to my body and adjust accordingly throughout the duration of each pumping session. The pump is small enough to toss into my purse and doesn’t require an outlet to operate, which makes it great for traveling. 

Of course, using a manual pump does require both hands (one to hold the shield securely in place and one to operate the pump) and you can only pump on one side at a time, both major deterrents when I had the promise of a hands-free pump like the Elvie. But because the pumping session is so much shorter and produces so much more milk, it doesn’t feel like an inconvenience. Plus, with so many things on my to-do list, I don’t mind taking a quick 15-minute breather to watch a show or listen to a podcast. 

More than four months in, and I’m a manual pump devotee who won’t be going back to electric anytime soon. While I certainly do not love pumping, I no longer loath it, and I’ll count that as a win. 

This article originally appeared on What to Expect.