When I first had Hunter, I was determined to breastfeed. I thought (like so many mamas out there) “my body was made to do this; how hard can it be?” Well, let me just spoil the ending of that story and tell you that I lasted about 3 weeks. My supply was low, I was feeding him around the clock and then pumping after each feeding to encourage my milk supply to increase, I wasn’t sleeping. All of that on top of just adjusting to life with a newborn and healing myself…it was just a hot mess express. After those first few weeks I made the decision that I would exclusively pump. After all, my main goal was for him to be breastfed and get my milk…and that could ultimately still happen via pumping. It was a win-win.
However, any exclusively pumping mama can tell you, it’s still no easy task. Enter in tracking baby’s
feeding/sleep schedule AND your pumping schedule, constantly washing pump parts, the need for bottles and washing those too, finding your correct flange size, pumping sprays, pumping bras…literally ALL THE THINGS that come along with the exclusively pumping journey. It was a lot to figure out.
When I first started my pumping journey, it honestly wasn’t the worst thing ever. I was committed to
the process, so I just kind of deal with it. But over time, I started to find a few downfalls.
- Pumping bras – I couldn’t seem to find the right bra that made this task more bearable. I tried a
handful of styles and fits but ultimately just didn’t ever enjoy any of them. - Flanges – the flanges on my traditional pumps were made out of a hard plastic material. Even
with flange inserts (which do help a bit), I was never super comfy. - Being tied down! – I really disliked that I was basically useless while pumping. I would have to sit
there in “time out” essentially…and all I wanted to do was be able to use that time more
usefully. - Pump parts are tedious – this one probably depends on your specific pump, but I found that
(specifically the Spectra parts) were a hassle to keep clean. - Thankfully, I found the perfect solution for me. Something that has made my life so much easier…i.e. the Hands-free breast pump (I can hear the hallelujah chorus now)!
Momcozy has quickly become one of my favorite brands! From all things maternity, postpartum,
pumping, baby, etc. – I have not been disappointed by any of their products. That being said, I wanted to do a review/ comparison of one of my favorite pumping products.
I was blessed to have been able to purchase a VERY lightly used S12 model from a mama friend. I went this route because I was a little hesitant to try a hands-free pump initially, but I am SO glad that I did because they’ve literally changed the game in terms of exclusively pumping!
I fell in love with the convenience of the S12 model and I really liked that I was able to get the same
output from my hands-free pump as I would my other traditional breast pumps (I used the Ameda Mya Joy and a S1 Spectra). Since I became so fond of the portability, convenience and how comfortable the S12 was, I had my eye on the new and improved S12 Pro version and decided that I wanted to give it a try and see how the two compared. I pulled the trigger, bought the new S12 Pro, and here’s what I found…First of all, I’ll list the actual differences in the two versions (S12Pro compared to original S12): - Double sealed flange design, snug tighter and closer to your breast
- Longer battery life – S12 fully charged for 3-4 pumping sessions, but S12 Pro fully
charged for 5-6 pumping sessions - Bionic modes match – the upgraded 3 modes (stimulation + expression + mixed)
- Charging time, S12 Pro can be fully charged in 1.5H (5V 1A), saving 50% time
- LED large panel design – clear and convenient to track the pumping time and batterypower
Ultimately, I truly enjoy using them both. I will say…I’m not sure if it’s just because it’s what I was most familiar with and/or I may be one of those mamas that’s a little more sensitive, but I do prefer the original S12 IF I had to be forced to choose. I just find that the S12 is more comfortable for me
personally – the suction seems to be a little bit weaker (although it does have higher settings and I keep mine pretty low on level 2 or 3) than the S12 Pro. The S12 Pro does actually say that it is “Hospital Grade” on the website…so maybe that has something to do with it. However, I actually get pretty much the same output from both the S12 and the S12 Pro. So, to me, they work about the same. I have had a great experience with both of these pumps!
I do love that on the S12 Pro, there are some nice features, including:
- Longer battery life (can use it more times between charging)
- The LED display will turn off after a minute or so, so there isn’t any light constantly on (this is
great for middle of the night pumps or if you just want to be more discrete) - Double-sealed container – I have not had a single issue with leaking
I find myself alternating between both models and it’s actually really nice to have two so that I can use one, and have a clean one on stand-by. It makes life a little easier!
One of the best things about this brand in general is how reasonable their prices are! You seriously get a LOT of bang for your buck. When I was originally comparing other hands-free pumps on the market, I was astonished that some were upwards of $500! No thanks. This frugal mama could never. I was so comforted by the fact that these pumps and pump accessories are actually affordable! They also frequently run sales and have discounts on their website!
One downfall to this brand (if you would consider it that) is that they cannot (yet) accept HSA/FSA
through their website, HOWEVER, if you shop their pumps through Amazon, some have been set up to accept those methods of payment. I find this to be extremely helpful for mama’s who would like to be able to use insurance in some way - Here’s the link to the S12 Pro that I got…
S12 Pro – https://amzn.to/3No52E3
All in all – after using and LOVING two of their pumps along with several other products, I don’t think you can go wrong with this brand. If you’re on the fence, I would highly recommend just giving them a try! You have a 7-day grace period if you decide that they aren’t right for you.
All in all – after using and LOVING two of their pumps along with several other products, I don’t think you can go wrong with this brand. If you’re on the fence, I would highly recommend just giving them a try! You have a 7-day grace period if you decide that they aren’t right for you.
The Abundant life 