Most wearable pumps are designed to be a "secondary" pump for freedom and mobility, though some newer models (with motors up to -300mmHg) claim to be primary pumps. The honest truth: Wearable pumps are generally less powerful than hospital-grade wall pumps. Many moms use a wall pump for their morning and evening sessions (to fully empty the breast) and use the wearable pump during the day at work or while driving. If you are an exclusive pumper, we recommend keeping a wall pump for at least 1-2 sessions a day to maintain supply.

You can move around, walk, and do dishes, but you generally cannot do a full "downward dog" yoga pose or bend completely flat at the waist. Wearable pumps rely on a small hole at the top of the container to pour the milk out later; if you bend past 90 degrees, milk can sometimes flow back out of that spout. We recommend "squatting" to pick things up rather than bending over at the waist to keep the pump upright.

This is the #1 reason for pain and low milk output. Your flange size is not your bra size. You need to measure the diameter of your nipple (not the areola) in millimeters. Most wearable pumps come with a standard 24mm or 27mm flange, but many women actually need a smaller size (like 17mm, 19mm, or 21mm). If the flange is too big, it pulls too much areola in, which causes pain and pinches off milk ducts. We highly recommend buying a simple silicone nipple ruler or using a flange insert kit to get the perfect fit.

It is "whisper quiet," but not silent. It sounds like a vibrating phone on a table or a rhythmic "purring" noise. On a Zoom call, people usually cannot hear it if you have background noise cancellation on. In a quiet office room, a coworker sitting next to you might hear a faint buzzing sound, but it is much quieter than the "chug-chug-chug" of a traditional electric pump.

t depends on your chest size and clothing. Wearable pumps add significant cup volume (often making you look 2-3 cup sizes larger). If you wear a loose sweater, scarf, or hoodie, it is unnoticeable. If you wear a tight t-shirt, it will look like you have a "shelf" or very large, somewhat oddly shaped breasts. We recommend wearing a supportive nursing bra with stretchy cups and looser tops when pumping in public.

This is a big advantage of wearables compared to traditional pumps. Most wearables have only 3-5 parts to wash: the flange, the silicone valve, the diaphragm, and the collection cup. There are no long tubes to clean. However, because the motor sits right on the cup, you must ensure the parts are bone-dry before assembling, or water can get into the motor and damage it. "Fridge hacking" (putting the dirty parts in a bag in the fridge between sessions) is popular, but check CDC guidelines if you have a preemie or newborn.