Ardo Alyssa Double Electric Breast Pump review

Tested by

First-time mum Hazelann, a former journalist and MadeForMums Editor of many years, tested the Alyssa Double Breast Pump with her newborn son, Raphael.

First impressions?

Good first impression – it was clear the double pump came with two of everything I would need to get expressing straight away.

Is the Ardo Alyssa Double Electric Breast Pump easy to assemble?

Yes. It only took 2 minutes to put together which is what you want when you’re using a pump for the first time. The longest part of setting up the pump was washing and sterilising all the separate parts before use, which took about 90 minutes.

It comes with an instruction manual which provides very clear information about how to set it up. It really is very simple and complete in seven steps.

Is the Ardo Alyssa Double Electric Breast Pump easy to use?

Incredibly easy. Once the pump is set up you;

• Place the shield on your breast
• Press power button to ‘on’ to create suction
• It automatically pumps quickly for 2 minutes and then slowly. This mimics the sucking action of a baby.
• There are buttons that increase or decrease the suction levels. The higher the level, the more suction created

I found the settings on the pump to work very well. They were responsive when touched and easy to figure out, even if you have ignored the instructions. My partner was able to figure out which button did what and he has never read an instruction manual for anything!

One Amazon reviewer found that the touchpad wasn’t always responsive which is something Exclusive Pumping reviewer, Dani, also found. When that happened, she controlled the settings via the app on her phone. Ruth, a MadeForMums Awards parent tester, also found that the buttons weren’t very sensitive and sometimes had to be pressed a few times which is what one of our experts, Zeenath Uddin, also found.

Ruth found it took her a few attempts before she felt happy using the pump. The instructions were easy to follow, it just took her a few tries to feel happy with it. She found holding both pumps and controlling the device tricky initially. But once she was able to set up the memory function, Ruth found it much easier to use.

Is the Ardo Alyssa Double Electric Breast Pump comfortable to use?

It’s comfortable enough. There are a pair of breast shields that allow for a difference in size. But as the breast shields are plastic (BPA free) they’re not as comfortable as the MAM breast pump for instance, which are made with silicone and softer on the skin.

The suction on the pump can be as soft or hard as you require it to be, so it can feel like a gentle tug or full-on sucking.

I frequently used a ‘hands-free’ bra (something I bought separately) which was great when expressing in one place, as I had my hands free to do other things. It's a shame this wasn't included in the package. However, it got much trickier and more uncomfortable if I tried to breastfeed and pump at the same time. That’s because the bottle attaches to the breast shield to collect the milk, so you’ve got a bottle hanging from your breast.

Because of this, I found I could only express or feed, not both at the same time. That wasn’t ideal as I felt like I was wasting milk when feeding one breast at a time. It also means it takes twice the time to feed and then express the other breast. Other pumps such as the Elvie Curve allow you to do both at the same time, although this a a manual rather than electric pump.

Is the Ardo Alyssa Double Electric Breast Pump effective?

Yes. For me it was very effective. I was able to get an ounce of breast milk straight away and as time went on, that increased to 2 and then 3 ounces. This was a very good amount for me considering my milk supply was low. I was only able to get less than half an ounce with the MAM breast pump.

Expressing with this pump aided my milk production and my newborn son found it easier to latch onto my breast after I expressed, as my nipples were larger from the suction.

Does the Ardo Alyssa Double Electric Breast Pump have different settings?

Yes. There are several different settings to suit different pumping needs.

The automatic power pumping feature is the first of its kind and mimics cluster feeding, which is a baby’s breastfeeding behaviour that increases milk volume by sucking more frequently at the breast. It’s a predefined, one-hour interval pumping programme. It pumps 3 times, then has 2 relaxing pauses. The duration of the expressing phases and the pauses are predefined, but you can adjust the vacuum and cycle settings to your own personal requirements.

Once you’ve found your ideal settings where your breast milk flows best and you express most successfully, you can use ‘Memory Plus’ to save your ideal expressing history. All the settings you selected during expressing in both phases, including duration, will be saved when the Ardo Alyssa is switched off. The next time you turn on it on, it will automatically start in the expressing sequence you saved and turn off after the saved duration.

The memory plus feature is something several Amazon reviewers were impressed with, contributing to it being rated 4.9 out of 5. One said “using the pump has been easy and the fact I can save the settings makes it effortless.” Alissa Pemberton, one of our MFM Awards experts, particularly liked this function as you don’t need to adjust the settings every time you turn it on.

Can you control the pump from your phone using an app?

Yes. The Ardo app is free and can be downloaded via Apple or the Google store, which is simple enough. However, you need to connect the app via the serial number or scan the QR code, both of which are on the underside of the Alyssa pump. I didn’t know this, so I wiped down the pump with a disinfectant wipe when I unboxed it, which smudged the code and serial number, so I wasn’t able to connect the app to the pump.

You can use the app to switch the pump on and off, adjust the expression vacuum powers and cycles and see the timer for your pumping session. You can also choose from one of the saved pump programs.

I personally don’t see the need for a smart phone app for a breast pump, when you can do everything via the pumping unit. But a lot of parents do like to use this feature. Over half of the Amazon reviewers liked this feature, particularly as it includes tips about using the device.

Is the Ardo Alyssa Double Electric Breast Pump portable?

The pump is fairly portable, as it doesn’t have to be connected to a power lead when pumping. However, it is also a fairly large unit (can fit in one hand) and is weighty, about a kilo. It is a little cumbersome to walk around with all the attachments and you have to carry the pump unit in one hand.

It could do with a clip on the unit or carry case to make it truly portable. Dani suggests using a cellet clip which you can easily get from somewhere like Amazon.

A lot of Amazon reviewers commented that they found it easy to use on the go. And that they liked the fact you don’t need to be near a power supply to use the pump, once it’s charged.

Is the Ardo Alyssa Double Electric Breast Pump noisy?

It’s quiet. When no one is talking or the TV isn’t on you can hear the pump, it’s like a soft buzzing. My sister was amazed by how quiet it was. Her son is 25 now, but she still remembers how noisy her pump was. It’s quiet enough to pump at night in bed and not wake anyone up.

How well does the Ardo Alyssa Double Electric Breast Pump keep its charge?

Ardo say with a fully charged battery, you can express about 8 times. However, that wasn’t my experience. It takes about 2 hours to fully charge and then they say, depending on the setting intensity, you can use it for around 2 hours.

I only managed 3 uses before the battery died. It can be charged while expressing but this increases the charging time and means it’s not portable. The best thing is to charge after every session, if your baby gives you the chance.

Is the Alyssa breast pump easy to clean?

Very. There are 3 parts to take apart which are easy to wash with warm, soapy water. I don’t have a dishwasher and so washed by hand, which was simple and quick, but it is dishwasher safe. Having used the pump daily for 2 months, there hasn’t been any clouding or staining after regular use or washing. In fact, the pump and all its parts still look and work like brand new.

How does the Ardo Alyssa Double Electric Breast Pump compare with others you’ve used?

As mentioned, I tested the Ardo Alyssa, alongside the MAM 2-in-1 single breast pump. The main difference is that the Ardo is a certified medical pump (which means it has a higher level of suction and more efficient pumping which can increase milk supply), and the MAM is not, it’s a personal pump.

Comparing these two electric pumps side by side, I can say that the Alyssa is much more powerful and expressed more milk. Both pumps are portable, but the battery life on the MAM pump is slightly longer.

Price wise they are comparative, both at the higher end of the spectrum with MAM being £140 for a single electric pump and hand pump and Ardo being £180 for a double electric pump. I personally would choose to spend £180 on a double pump rather than £140 on a single.

The MAM pump is more comfortable, due to the soft silicone breast shield. It also has a sleeker black and green design and is a quieter pump. However, all of MAM’s plus points don’t really matter to me as I could hardly get any milk when I used it.

Hanna, another MadeForMums parent reviewer from our Awards, found she was able to get more milk in one pumping session using the Alyssa pump, than she’d ever done using another pump.

What’s in the box

• 1 x Ardo Alyssa Breast Pump
• 1 x Power adapter with USB cable
• 2 x Tube and tube connector
• 2 x Breast shell insert 22mm
• 2 x Cap with liner
• 2 x Pumpset lids
• 2 x Flexible membrane pot
• 2 x Breast shell 26mm
• 2 x Lip valve
• 2 x Bottle 150ml
• 2 x Bottle stand

Do you need to buy additional accessories for the Ardo Alyssa Double Electric Breast Pump?

There aren’t any additional accessories sold by Ardo. However, I purchased a pumping bra that allowed me to go hands free when pumping. And as I mentioned above, reviewer Dani found buying a clip made the pump more portable.

Now you’ve tested it, what would you have wanted to know before purchasing the pump?

That you need the code from the underside of the pump to connect it to the app if you want to control it from your smartphone. I didn’t know that and cleaned the pump straight away which smudged the code. If I’d realised I needed the code to connect it, I would’ve got it first, before I cleaned the device.

Who would the Ardo Alyssa Double Electric Breast Pump be most useful for?

If you’re a new mum who’s having a delay in your milk coming in, or have a low milk supply like me, this pump will be good for you. I’m convinced it’s due to the pump being medical grade which really helped me.

Is the Ardo Alyssa Double Electric Breast Pump good value?

Yes. I know this pump isn’t cheap, but it’s worth it.

How does it compare to other electric breast pumps?

Where can I buy the Ardo Alyssa Double Electric Breast Pump?

Available at Ardo.

MadeForMums verdict:

A new, powerful breast pump that’s sure to be a bestseller for Ardo. The Alyssa is a reliable, hard-working, convenient unit that you’ll need if you’re serious about getting a good amount of milk when expressing. Yes, it’s heavy on the pocket, but it’s well worth it.