This pump is part of a pink limited edition range designed in support of Cancer Research UK’s breast cancer awareness campaign, which was launched in stores in July 2009. If you shop online, you’ll find it under the name “Cancer Research Mothercare manual breast pump.”
What we love
The Cancer Research Mothercare manual breast pump comes with a BPA-free bottle with a wide neck, which makes it easier to clean and fill. The instruction booklet is very good - it includes a troubleshooting section, plus hint and tips for successful expressing.
The funnel of the pump can be fitted with a soft silicone inner cushion to make expressing more comfortable and give a better fit for smaller breasts. This, along with a dial to alter the pressure level and an ergonomic handle, makes pumping easier – although I felt it was too slow going for me.
Other mums who bought this pump to express infrequently found it a good fit, easy to use and value for money. I thought it was really affordable - it's one of the most inexpensive I've tested.
What to watch out for
Both my partner and I found the Cancer Research Mothercare manual breast pump fiddly to assemble - we particularly struggled to attach the handle. As the instruction manual rightly points out, be aware that if the pump is not assembled correctly, it won’t work.
When we finally put it together, I found expressing hard work and tiring, so I increased the suction strength but my breasts felt a bit sore afterwards. Another mum with bigger breasts than mine found the funnel too narrow and quite uncomfortable.
Although easy to clean and sterilise, there are lots of bits to disassemble, some quite small.
Who is the Cancer Research Mothercare manual breast pump best for?
Mums after a portable, affordable pump for occasional expression.
Although on the slow side when it comes to expressing breast milk, the Cancer Research Mothercare manual breast pump is stylish, inexpensive and compact. It’s easy to clean, but fiddly to assemble and disassemble due to lots of little parts. While okay for occasional use, you may find it a little too tiring to use frequently.
