Spectra S1+ Breast Pump

Loved by moms and lactation consultants worldwide, the Spectra S1 Plus soft blue electric breast pump is designed to bring confidence and comfort to every moment of the breastfeeding journey. The S1 which is portable and rechargeable, is also quiet and discreet for soothing pumping, and yet weighs only 1.4kg.

The founder, Heidi Humphries, insisted on the quietest motor available for the S1 Plus, which when in the “massage mode” simulates the natural suckling of baby. Spectra Baby spent years developing features for the S1 Plus like “backflow protection” to keep your breast milk from harmful bacteria. They thought hard about things like “adjustable suction levels” because that provides a more natural flow of milk.

Choosing the right size breast shield/flange

Using the wrong sized flange results in a painful and uncomfortable pumping experience and can make your very expensive pump produce as much milk as if you were using an $80 no-brand pump.

Breast shield sizing is more of an art than a science and depends on the diameter of your nipples (both before and after pumping) and the elasticity of your areola. The easiest and most effective way to get the right size flange is to have a Lactation Consultant watch while you pump, trying various sizes (I love Alona and she does home visits!).

The first step is to measure the diameter of your nipples when they're relaxed (not when they're contracted and hard), then buy N+2-to-3mm and N+4-to-5mm shields. Typically, your nipples won't both be the same size.

For example, if your left nipple measures 20mm in diameter, try the 22mm or 23mm shield and the 24mm or 25mm shield (for each pump brand, not all sizes will be available - eg. we don't have 25mm shields for Medela, but we do have 25mm shields for Spectra). If your right nipple measures 23mm in diameter, try a 25/26mm shield and a 27/28mm shield. If there's overlap in the shields you need to try for each breast, such as in this example, that's great. The mother in this example would only need to buy three shields: 22mm (to try for left breast), 25mm (to try for both breasts), 28mm (to try for right breast).

Once you've worked out which size fits your breast best, you can buy extras as needed. If this does your head in, contact us, tell us your nipple diameters and pump brand and we'll help you cart the correct shields.