MAM 2 in 1 Single Electric Breast Pump review

Tested by

Hazelann is an experienced journalist, MFM editor of many years and first-time mum, who tested this pump with her newborn son Raphael. As a first-time mum with low milk production, she wanted to express to increase her supply, and to allow her partner to take over at least one night-time feed.

What were your first impressions of the MAM 2 in 1 Single Breast Pump?

I was excited to try the MAM pump as we use the fabulous MAM glass bottles. My son has never had a problem sucking from the bottle and switching to latch onto the breast.

When I unpacked the box, it was easy to see a lot of thought has gone into the style of the pump. It’s snazzy. The pump comes almost fully assembled which is good as it shows how the pump is meant to look when put together. Of course, you do have to take it apart when you clean and sterilise before first use. But seeing how it should look really helped.

How easy is it to assemble the MAM 2 in 1 Single Breast Pump?

It’s easy to do. I needed a pump that was easy to assemble and would allow me to get expressing quickly which the MAM 2 in 1 Single Breast Pump did. With a new-born, there’s little time between one feed and the next! Thankfully, it only took 5 minutes to put together.

There is a quick-look instruction manual in the box. This provides succinct, clear information about how to set the pumps up. It really is very simple with seven steps to follow for the electric pump. The manual one is even easier. It took 2 minutes and is super simple.

What did you need to do before you could start using the MAM 2 in 1 Single Breast Pump?

The electric pump requires charging before you can use it for the first time. I charged the unit for a couple of hours before I used it, which isn’t ideal if you need to use the pump immediately.

You have to wash and sterilise all the parts before use. This is by far the longest part of using the pump and took about an hour and a half.

How comfortable is the MAM 2 in 1 Single Electric Breast Pump?

Very comfortable. The breast shields for both pumps are made with super soft silicone, which is soft on the skin. That’s so important when dealing with sore breasts and cracked nipples.

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 when I was expressing. This was great when expressing in one place, as I had my hands free to do other things (like look through my phone, fold up clothes, eat).

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. That is pretty much the same as most pumps, to be fair.

For the manual pump there’s one type of suction when pumping, which is quite forceful, but certainly bearable. The most painful thing about pumping manually is the hand cramp during and after pumping. And it took me at least twice the time to get the same amount of milk as an electric pump. That was a major problem for me.

How effectively did the MAM 2 in 1 single breast pump express?

For me, not effectively at all. As I mentioned before, I had and still have low milk supply, despite trying everything! I needed a pump with powerful suction, which I didn’t get from either of the pumps.

Even after expressing for 30 minutes, I didn’t get 1/8th of an ounce of breast milk. This was frustrating as I was able to get an ounce within 5 minutes when I used the Ardo Alyssa pump. I had hoped that expressing with this pump would aid my milk production and make it easier for my son to latch onto my breast. But it didn’t.

As it’s a single electric pump, I was only able to express one breast at a time (unless I used the manual pump at the same time). This wasn’t ideal as I couldn’t capture the milk coming out of my other breast. It wasn’t a lot, but every drop counts.

How easy is the pump to use?

It’s easy. Once the pump is set up you;

• Place the shield on your breast
• Press the power button on to create suction
• Alter the suction levels to meet your needs.

The settings on the pump work very well. They’re responsive when touched and easy to figure out, even if you’ve ignored the instructions. The great thing is that all parts are interchangeable for both the manual pump and the electric pump.

Fellow MadeForMums reviewer Felicity liked that the different sized bottles and cups can be attached directly to the MAM 2 in 1 single breast pump “removing the need to pour milk between containers and avoiding making a mess.”

Does the MAM 2 in 1 Single Breast Pump have a control pad or a smartphone app?

It has a control panel but no smartphone app.

How portable is it?

The MAM 2 in 1 Single Breast pump is fairly portable as it doesn’t have to be connected to a power lead when pumping. However, it’s also a fairly large unit (can fit in one hand) and is weighty at about a kilo.

It’s a little cumbersome to walk around with all the attachments and you have to carry the pump unit in one hand. It would benefit from a clip on the unit or carry case to make it truly portable.

How noisy is the MAM 2 in 1 Single Breast Pump?

This pump is relatively quiet. It buzzes softly and can only be heard when feeding at night. I can’t hear it pumping during the day, especially when the TV is on. It’s also quiet enough to pump at night in bed and not wake anyone up.

How do you rate the charge life?

The MAM 2 in 1 Single Breast Pump takes between 2 and 3 hours to fully charge. It can then be operated for about 2 hours, depending on the pump intensity setting. MAM says with a fully charged battery, you can express for up to 5 hours, but that wasn’t my experience.

One Argos reviewer found this too and said she had to charge it more often than MAM say it needs to be charged.

I’ve only managed 4 pumps of 20-30 minutes before the battery dies. Saying that, it can be charged while expressing. However, 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.

How easy is the MAM 2 in 1 Single Breast Pump to clean?

Very. There are 3 bits to take apart which are easy to wash with warm, soapy water. It is dishwasher safe, but I don’t have one so washed by hand which was simple and quick. Having used the pump daily for a few weeks, 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 new.

In terms of sterilising, one Boots reviewer found it’s not compatible with the MAM microwave steriliser if you have both trays in.

How does it compare with other breast pumps you’ve used?

I tested the MAM 2 in 1 Single Electric Breast Pump alongside the Ardo Alyssa 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 one 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 are at the higher end of the spectrum with the 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 for a single.

The MAM pump is much more comfortable, due to the soft silicone breast shield. It also has a sleeker black and green design and a fairly quite pump. However, the MAM’s plus points don’t really work for me as I could hardly get any milk when I used the pumps.

What are the MAM 2 in 1 Single Breast Pump special features?

The MAM’s main feature is that it has the flexibility of being a manual or electric pump, which is fairly unique. This gives you the flexibility of an electric pump to use at home and a more discreet, if more laborious, manual pump to use when out and about.

I have a friend who expressed her milk upon her return to work after maternity leave. She felt more comfortable using the nearly silent manual pump at her desk during her lunch break (or any break she could get). This meant she could express and save her excess milk when she wasn’t able to breast feed during the day.

Do you need to buy additional accessories?

No. The pump comes with everything you need, although I did purchase a pumping bra that allowed me to go hands free when expressing.

One Argos reviewer found not being able to buy different sized flanges meant the pump didn’t work for her.

Who is the MAM 2 in 1 Single Breast Pump best for?

It’s best for mums who don’t have problems with their milk supply and so don’t need a higher level of suction. Because it comes with both manual and electric pumps, it’s great for mums who want to be able to express when they’re out and about, as well as doing it at home.

What’s in the box?

• 1x Breast Pump 2in1 Electric top including Funnel Cover
• 1x Rechargeable Motor Unit
• 1x Breast Pump 2in1 Adapter
• 1x Breast Pump 2in1 Manual top/Pump handle
• 1x Easy Start 130ml Bottle with Size 0 Newborn Teat
• 1x Easy Start 160ml Bottle with Size 1 Slow Flow Teat
• 2x Milk Storage Solution Pots

Is the MAM 2 in 1 Single Breast Pump good value for money?

The MAM 2 in 1 Single Breast Pump is at the higher end of the market. It’s expensive for a single electric pump, but you do get a manual pump included in the price. However, personally I’d rather pay that amount for a double breast pump so that I’m able to collect more milk.

How does the MAM 2 in 1 Single Breast Pump compare to similar breast pumps on the market?

Where can I buy the MAM 2 in 1 Single Electric Breast Pump?

It’s available from Boots, Argos and John Lewis

MadeForMums verdict:

MAM 2 in 1 Single Breast Pump is a versatile pump giving you the flexibility to choose between manual and electric. The manual pump is easy to carry around and quiet. The electric pump is portable, easy to use and would be good for mums with a good flow of milk.

The major downside for me is that the suction on the electric pump is not powerful enough for what I need. The labour that goes into expressing by hand is not worth it as it takes too long and can cause hand cramps. So I’d say this is better suited to mums with a good, established milk supply.