Annabella Pump Review
The Annabella Pump is the newest breast pump technology to hit the market. This pump aims to replicate the peristaltic movement of a baby’s tongue with a breast pump. There is nothing else on the market currently like this.
So let’s be very clear from the start of this blog, this is new and novel pump technology that we do not fully understand. It will be a long time before we truly understand this technology. Early positive or negative opinions change over time, and we won’t have more informed opinions until we see what feedback from the moms who opt to purchase the pumps say in combination with understanding who is using the pump, and how they are using it. This disclaimer is not related to anything I see with the Annabella Pump, but rather the reality of new pump technology. If you can not afford the pump, the replacement parts, and the gamble of trying new technology, this is not the pump for you.
Why is this new technology alluring?
Pumps-to-date lack the oomph of a baby with a great latch. It’s just the reality of the limitations of pump technology. A baby with an effective latch continues to outpace even an amazing pump in terms of overall performance and efficiency, but not all breastfeeding dyads can nurse. Babies have issues with latching, parents are separated, and sometimes latching just doesn’t work out.
The consumer demand for a pump that can more closely match the skills of the efficient baby is clearly there. Moms will ultimately buy this pump aiming to try to elevate their success with pumping to support their feeding goals.
Watch New Little Life and Genuine Lactation discuss the Annabella Breast Pump!
What makes this technology risky?
It’s unproven technology that may or may not perform anywhere near the claims the company makes. The tongue feature is a new approach to the demand for a better pump, but it may not deliver. And even if the tongue feature blows our minds in its success, a single-sided larger pump is out of sync with the consumer demand for more portable and wearable technology. It may prove impractical even if it is successful.
So what is the Annabella Breast Pump?
This is a small, single pump connected to a portable motor. The flange is an adjustable size for sizes 18-24 or 25-28 mm using a knob on the side of the pump. The pump is running high cycle speeds and lower-to-midrange suction. The tongue motion is created by a knobbed wheel that rotates along the bottom half of the flange setup. This function is controlled separately from the suction of the pump - it appears the speed is somewhat consistent on the tongue, but level of pressure is adjustable.
Initial Feedback on Pump
I am fortunate that there are pumping parents local to me at any given time who are happy to try out the new technology I am investigating. Their generosity with their time and feedback go a long way in helping me assess any pump or hack we are working with! The initial feedback varied by mom, but most seemed to think it was okay. None of them have had the opportunity to work with the pump for an extended period of time, so there is always a chance their responses would improve or change with time.
Tester # 1: Normal Supply 19 mm nipples
Pump got letdowns easily. Felt like pump was a bit clunky, but single pumping both sides took less time than double pumping. Milk output a little lower, but only used a few times and was consistently 70-80% of expected milk. Tongue feature had minimal impact overall.
Tester #2: Oversupply 21 mm nipples
Pump worked well - loved the cycle speeds. Took longer to pump, but got same amount of milk. Thought the tongue feature was comfortable but wasn’t convinced it was needed.
Tester #3: Normal Supply 17 mm nipples
Did not like the pump. Felt the high cycle speeds plus the tongue was too much. Had similar sensory overload response to Zomee Z2. Did not get a letdown - typically uses higher suction and much lower speeds.
Tester #4: Oversupply 15 mm nipples
Neutral response to pump. Wasn’t confident the pump was any different suction wise or performance wise to other pumps. Liked the massage of the tongue feature but also felt like it could be irritating over time. Didn’t think single pumping with a larger pump would improve experience with pumping.
Tester #5: Normal Supply 14 mm nipples
Pump felt too large even on smallest setting. Got milk as expected for a new pump. Did not see any issues with elasticity despite the pump feeling too large - size may have contributed to excess tissue movement, but that appeared to be more of a sensory issue than a pump issue.
Can You Hack the Annabella Pump?
Nope. Not even a little. The flange setup is only going to work with this motor. The motor is only going to work with this flange setup. The airtube and power supply for the flange setup are 100% inseparably integrated. This pump joins a small body of pumps for which hacks are literally impossible - Annabella Pump. Babyation Pump. Limerick Pumps. These pumps all have a design feature that renders the pump unusable with other pump setups.
Things to Note
The manual for this pump is only available online- this serves as a sort of proof for users as to what the manufacturer was advertising the pump as at the time of sale. They do offer to mail one at no expense but the manual being online allows them to quietly change things.
The lifespan of the pump is advertised as 250 hours or 12 months shelf life. This calls into question the potential durability of the pump and eliminates this as a viable option for parents who are routinely pumping.
The warranty is only 12 months which is not in line with the top industry standards of 2 years many companies are moving towards.
Overall Thoughts
We certainly need better breast pumps, and innovation is good to see! So many pumps simply lack a sense of innovation or improvement. This pump so far appears to work as the company says it will. I am not finding any inherent risks to the technology that give me pause - if you don’t like the tongue feature, you simply turn it off. The flange is a unique shape that will fit a lot of people, but the sizing issue is clearly a concern.
I do not know if the tongue feature will prove to be an improvement or not. I am not hearing anyone yet proclaiming this is the thing their pump has been missing. It does feel more like nursing a baby than a typical breast pump, but it’s still not there 100% yet. I think it’s a good step in the direction of a pump that matches nursing more closely, and I am hopeful that the future versions with wide scale feedback from users may prove to get us even closer to that goal of a better breast pump.
