Dual Motor Breast Pump – Spectra Synergy Gold Double Electric Pump

Description

The Spectra Synergy Gold is a dual motor breast pump. Most double pumps run both sides from one motor, so you set one suction level for both. The Synergy Gold has a motor for each side, with its own buttons, so you can run the left gentler than the right. Spectra lists up to 270 mmHg per side and 12 vacuum levels on each.

It is a plug-in pump with no battery. That makes it a pump for a fixed spot: a nursery chair, a lactation room at work, the place you pump eight times a day in the early weeks. It is a closed system, with backflow protectors that keep milk out of the tubing and motor.

Why women love it

• Each side set separately: useful when one side produces more, or is more tender, than the other.
• Full suction on both sides at once: two motors mean running both sides doesn't split the power.
• Two flange sizes in the box: 24 mm and 28 mm.
• Night light and timer: practical for 3am sessions.
• Two-year pump warranty from Spectra.

Best for

• Exclusive pumpers, and anyone pumping many times a day from the same spot
• People whose two sides produce very differently, or feel different at the same setting
• Pumping at work, where there's an outlet and a private room
• Less suited to: pumping on the move. It has no battery. Spectra sells a separate Synergy Gold Portable, and a wearable like the Momcozy Wellness 1 does a different job. It's also more than most people need if you pump now and then.

What to know before you buy

Check your insurance first. Under the Affordable Care Act, most health plans must cover a breast pump at no cost to you. It may be a rental or one you keep, and some plans need a prescription or pre-authorization. Spectra pumps are commonly offered through insurance, so call your plan before paying out of pocket.

Flange fit matters more than suction. Only 24 mm and 28 mm come in the box, and many people need a smaller size. A flange that's too big or too small can hurt and pull less milk. If pumping hurts, get measured by a lactation consultant before you turn the suction up.

One limit reviewers mention: when both motors run together, you can't set a different cycle speed on each side.

Which Spectra breast pump is best?

It depends on whether you need a battery and whether your two sides behave the same.

Motors Power Best if S1 Plus One, shared settings Battery or plug-in You want to pump anywhere in the house or on the go S2 Plus One, shared settings Plug-in only You pump in one spot and want the lowest price Synergy Gold Two, separate settings per side Plug-in only Your sides produce or feel different, or you pump exclusively

If your sides respond the same, the S1 or S2 does the job for less. The Synergy Gold earns its price when one setting for both sides isn't working for you.

Explore more

See the rest of our breast pumps and milk storage picks. For cleaning all those parts, the Momcozy D8 bottle washer is built for pump parts. And Mindy's list of breastfeeding must-haves covers the rest.

A note from Mindy on pumping

More suction is not more milk. Milk comes out when your let-down reflex fires, and a setting that hurts can work against it. Start low, raise the suction until it's firm but comfortable, then back off a step. Pain, cracking or blanched nipples usually point to flange fit or technique, not to needing a stronger pump.

If your supply is low, or one side has dropped off, talk to your provider or a lactation consultant before buying new equipment. How often and how completely you empty matters most, and some causes of low supply need a medical look.

Mindy, FNP-C

FAQs

What is a dual motor breast pump?

A double pump with a separate motor for each breast. Each side gets its own suction setting, and running both at once doesn't split the power between them. The Spectra Synergy Gold is one of the few on the market.

Is the Spectra Synergy Gold portable?

No. It runs on AC power and has to stay plugged in. Spectra sells a separate model, the Synergy Gold Portable, with a battery. If you need to pump on the move, that or a wearable pump fits better.

Can I get the Spectra Synergy Gold through insurance?

Possibly, and it's worth checking first. The Affordable Care Act requires most health plans to cover a breast pump at no cost, though plans decide which models, whether it's a rental, and whether you need a prescription. Call your insurer or a durable medical equipment supplier they work with.

Is the Spectra Synergy Gold a hospital-grade pump?

"Hospital grade" isn't an official category. The FDA says it does not recognize the term, so it tells you nothing about safety. What the FDA does distinguish is single-user pumps, like the Synergy Gold, from multiple-user pumps built to be shared safely, like the rental pumps hospitals use. Never buy or borrow a used single-user pump.

What flange sizes come with it?

24 mm and 28 mm, two of each. Many people need a smaller size, and the right fit matters more than suction for both comfort and output. A lactation consultant can measure you.