Dr Brown Double Electric Breast Pump Reviews – Simplisse Model

Price: $350

Where to Buy: Amazon (Sale for $299.99 right now!)

What you get:

• Discreet Purse-Like Tote Bag
• Pump Motor
• Air Tubing (2)
• Collection Units (2)
• 2 Extra Collection Bottles with Storage Caps

Overall Rating: 5 out of 10

 

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 How the Simplisse Compares:

Before we get into the nitty-gritty here, I want to point out an important piece of information – This pump has actually been discontinued by the manufacturer. Now, that means no new ones are being made, but this pump is still readily available in the retail market. 

Dr Brown double electric breast pump reviews for this model are mixed at best. The Simplisse is a great pump in theory but I am not sure it stacks up in a highly competitive breast pump market.

One thing the Simplisse boasts is its Super-Soft BabyFace Flexible Breast Cups.

These soft cups are made with flexible, double layered silicone. They are said to conform to the breast and move naturally while the mother is expressing milk. Most other pumps on the market have hard plastic breast cup (also called flanges or breast shields).

The idea is to make your nipples feel like they are nestled into a cloud of comfort. There are mothers out there who are extremely sensitive and find pumping to be painful. The Simplisse is made for mothers who need extra comfort.

A drawback to the Dr Brown’s Flexible Breast Cups is that there is only one size. The idea behind this is that the flexible and soft design of the breast cups allows it to fit all mothers without the need for additional sizes.

Let’s Talk Suction

One of the most common complaints about this pump seems to center around the suction.

The figures for the power of the suction don’t seem to be readily available for comparison to other brands, however. So the best we can do is go off of what customer reviews have to say about it.

Per Dr Brown’s, the compression technology in the Simplisse mimics the suckling of a baby during breastfeeding and does not need to rely on high suction or pressure on the nipple. That may explain why you can not find the suction figures for the Simplisse.

But is the suction of the Simplisse too gentle making it ineffective?

The reviews seem to point that way. Here are just a few:

It seems the strength of the pump was sacrificed for comfort. That can become a huge problem for mothers who need to pump several times per day.

Not emptying the breast efficiently can lead to issues like clogged ducts, mastitis, and low milk supply. Not something any nursing mother wants to face.

The In’s and Out’s of the Simplisse

Some key specs of the Simplisse are:

• Compression Technology that minimizes tugging and pinching the nipple for maximum comfort.
• Super-Soft Babyface Flexible Breast Cups that conform and naturally move with the mother.
• All parts are dishwasher safe
• BPA Free
• Ability to works as a single or double pump.
• Weight of pump: 7.9-pounds
• Dimensions of pump: 20.5 x 12 x 6.7 inches
• Closed system pump

One spec that should jump off the page at you is how much this pump weighs – 7.9-pounds. That make this pump on the heavier side. The Medela Pump in Style is over 8-pounds while the Spectra S1 weighs a mere 2.4-pounds.

So it is on the heavier side. Something to think about if you need to be toting it around with you.

One feature I do like about the Simplisse is that it is a Closed system pump. That simply means that there is a barrier between the milk collection kit and the tubing so no milk can enter the pump motor. This is a nice feature.

There are a lot of parts that make up the milk collection kit, though. I can see cleaning this as quite the task. I do appreciate that they are dishwasher safe since it appears you would be up all night washing them otherwise.

Check out this video on how to assemble the collection pieces and you will see what I mean:

I have to say that the soft breast cups do look comfortable but it seems like an awful lot of pieces… 

Cons of Dr Brown’s Simplisse:

• Low Suction
• Heavy Pump
• A lot of pieces to Wash
• Pump motor is reported to be very loud
• Only one size of breast cups

Pros of Dr Brown’s Simplisse:

• Super-Soft BabyFace Flexible Breast Cups
• Less pain in nipples when pumping
• Compatible with Dr Brown’s bottles
• Toto purse is a cute accessory

Bottomline:

In the end, I do not think that the technology in the Dr Brown’s Simplisse accomplished the best of both worlds as it set out to which was to be both comfortable and efficient. 

I think for the price, I would go with efficiency. A pump like the Spectra S1 can give a mother both comfort and pump strength. I would recommend going that route instead. 

The Dr Brown’s Simplisse is not a bad pump but based on the number of reviews that complain of lack of suction, I have to conclude that it is a problem. When you are spending upwards of $300 on an item as important as a breast pump, it is best to invest in a product you know and trust will work for you. 

Have you tried the Dr Brown’s Simplisse? Leave a comment and share your experience!

Click here to read my review about the Spectra S1 so see why this pump out-shines the Simplisse in more way than one. Plus, it’s a hospital grade pump! 

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