Fraupow Wearable breast pump review

It promises to be perfect for mums that multi-task, enabling them to get on with household chores to work tasks and even going out to do a food should, without worrying about making more time to pump milk – it can all be done at the same time. With an RRP of £89.99 it’s an affordable option compared to other wearable breast pumps, including the high-end Elvie, £269. You can see how it compares to other brands in our pick of the best breast pumps.

Tested by:

Sandy, a journalist and second-time mum form London, tested the Fraupow Wearable Pump with her newborn son, who is fed breast milk exclusively.

Where can I buy the Fraupow Wearable Breast Pump?

Available from Fraupow, Boots and John Lewis.

What were your first impressions?

Very positive. I loved the neat and compact packaging and colour scheme, which meant I could wear it under a white top without attracting too much attention. On first inspection, I loved how lightweight the mechanical part of the pump was. It was so neatly packaged and presented, and the small instructions pamphlet was very clear. As I am not very technical, I loved how few components were included in the box – as I find a lot of components and ‘chunky manuals’ quite overwhelming and time-consuming. I thought that a working pump with that few components, could only be a good thing.

How easy is the Fraupow Wearable Pump to set up?

As I have mentioned, I am not very technical – and I found this incredibly easy to set up. I found the instructions pamphlet clear – but preferred to follow the visual instructions on Fraupow’s YouTube account. I first watched the short set-up video, before doing it alongside the instructor. It arrives already assembled in the box, but I found it was incredibly easy to dismantle (for a first wash) and then reassemble ahead of its first use. After I had set it up once, it became very easy to set up again for future uses. I would describe it as intuitive in design and easy to set up and dismantle.

How does the Fraupow Wearable compare to other breast pumps you have used?

With my first child, I used the Elvie portable and wearable pump – before switching to the hospital-grade Medela pump. If you want to produce a larger volume of milk in a smaller amount of time, the hospital grade Medela is more efficient pump. You can attach a bottle to each breast and have a strong amount of suction in order to collect milk for a future feed. However, there are wires involved and the user must sit down for the duration of the pumping session – which is time-consuming and limiting. It is also a chunky machine that takes up a lot of space, which is never ideal with children around.

How does the Fraupow Wearable compare to the Elvie breast pump?

Wearable pumps – like the Elvie or the Fraupow – mean you can simply pop it in your bra and allow the mechanism to express milk whilst you get on with other tasks. The Elvie felt smaller and more discreet than the Fraupow (ie, I could put the device in my bra and have no bits sticking out). However, beyond that, I found little difference between the 2 when it came to efficiency of pumping milk on the go. In fact, I would recommend the Fraupow, over the Elvie, to any new mums looking for a wearable pump, as it is so easy to assemble, clean, is great at pumping milk – and it’s a fraction of the price of the Elvie pump.

Is the Fraupow Wearable Pump easy to use?

I found the Fraupow Wearable Pump so easy to use, when it came to assembling the device, cleaning it, and actually using it to express milk. I found it really easy to place on top of the breast and I found it easy to use the mechanism (from its massage function, or to increase or decrease the intensity of the pump). I found the Fraupow really intuitive and appreciated the simple labelling of the '+’ or ‘–' buttons. There is beauty in simplicity – especially when you just want to get the pump on, so you can get on with other things.

It was incredibly easy to use the pump on one breast and feed my child on the other. I also really liked the anti-leak design of the pump, which meant that once I was done pumping, I could simply remove the mechanical suction and pour the milk into a bag/ bottle for later use – without any spillage (something I had not experienced with other pumps).

How comfortable is the Fraupow Wearable Breast Pump?

I found the Fraupow really comfortable to use. The pump is made from lightweight, durable, BPA-free silicone materials and it is so soft against the skin, which I appreciated. In addition to this, it has an ergonomic silhouette which I found really easy to fit; I used the Fraupow with my nursing bra and hardly noticed the pump whilst wearing it. I also really liked how light the pump felt, coming in at just 218g.

How effective is the Fraupow Wearable Breast Pump at stimulating and expressing milk?

Provided the pump is at full-charge before use, it is good for stimulating and expressing milk – but only for 90 minutes, with a maximum of 180ml of milk being allowed for, before you have to charge the pump again. Its massage and suction settings are really useful for stimulating and expressing milk, and the wearer can increase or decrease the strength of the suction to 12 different intensity settings (from 20 – 300mmHg) according to comfort. Personally, I kept it on the lower end of the suction strength (1-4) in order to imitate my baby’s breastfeeding technique.

Is the Fraupow Wearable Breast Pump noisy?

Not at all. The pump is a very quiet one (especially compared to the Medela), so it is easy to wear and get on with other things and make calls whilst it is use. However, it is still audible so personally I wouldn’t be comfortable wearing it outside of the house (ie to a supermarket), but some might not be bothered by this.

Is the breast pump mains or battery powered?

The Fraupow Wearable Breast Pump comes with a 800Ah fitted battery, that can be recharged at the mains (or in your laptop) with a USB Type C charging port (also included in the box). My breast pump arrived charged, but I attached it to the mains before using it to ensure it was at full capacity. Its battery mechanism is what makes it a portable and wire-free pump.

How easy is it to clean the Fraupow Wearable Breast Pump?

The pump is extremely easy to clean – just be aware that in order to maintain its effectiveness, the removable parts need to be sterilised after every use. The good news is that it’s dishwasher safe.

Is the Fraupow Wearable Breat Pump portable?

Yes, it is portable – just make sure it’s fully charged before you head out.

Do you like the design of the Fraupow Wearable Breast Pump?

Yes, I really liked the design and overall look of the Fraupow Wearable Pump. On a practical level, I thought the pump was very cleverly designed in order to enable ease of use, but also, prevent milk-spillage – which would no doubt be appreciated by any breast pumping mum. I also found the design quite feminine and easy on the eyes (unlike some other breast pumps I’ve seen). It feels quite discreet when you need to pop it into a white bra or top.

What’s in the box?

• Motor pump with LCD display
• 1 x 24mm flange
• 1 x Duck bill valve
• 1 x Collecting cup
• 1 x Linker
• USB Charging Cable
• Bra extender

Can you buy additional accessories?

Yes. There’s a choice of different sized flanges and inserts, as well as milk storage options (bottles and bags) and reusable breast pads available on the website. Fraupow also have a Breastfeeding Bundle (£119.97), which includes the Wearable pump, a manual pump and 3 storage/feeding bottles.

Are there any other features of the Fraupow Wearable Breast Pump that you really liked?

Not necessarily a feature of the pump, but I definitely feel it’s worth mentioning that Fraupow offers users great customer service, with access to technical and practical support, including from trained midwives. I had a question about using the pump whilst breastfeeding and it was answered within a few hours via email, which I found impressive and reassuring.

Is the product value for money?

This product is great value for money. It is a fraction of the price of the Elvie portable pump (£269) and essentially offers the same service. Given its low price point, I initially did not expect much from the pump, but was pleasantly surprised upon using it.

How does the Fraupow compare to similar breast pumps?

MadeForMums verdict:

I am a big fan of this breast pump. I found it affordable, efficient and comfortable to use – all the things that I would look for in a breast pump, and so I will be using this going forward. It has really clever features like its anti-leak and anti-spill functions, which all breast pumping mums need. I also found it was a low-maintenance pump, easy to clean and use, and it took up no space – which is something always to be appreciated in a London flat.

When it's not in use, I pop the component in the bag and box it came with, for ease. I would have preferred it to have a longer battery life, but beyond that, have no complaints. I also appreciated the effort the brand has made to provide video explainers, and the service it offers users – including trained midwife and technical support for people struggling to use the device.