Benefits about the Spectra S2 Breast Pump you will Love to Know

When it comes down to the legendary Spectra S2 Breast Pump, we thought of giving it a special feature to ensure you can find all you need to know about this amazing breast pump in one place.

Note that we are amazon affiliates, which means that we get a commission when you make a purchase using our links (at no extra cost to you). We need to tell you this.

Let’s start with what comes in the box.

Spectra S2 Parts

Spectra S2 pump motor
Power cord slide (B-A)
2 x bottle sealing disks
2 x slow flow soft teats
2 x bottle caps
2 x 24mm Breast Shields
2 x valve heads
2 x silicone valve membranes
2 x tubes
2 x bottles
2 x backflow protectors

Note: all components in contact with milk are BPA Free

Spectra 2 Hospital Strength Breast Pump

We have listed some of the characteristics that make the Spectra S2 stand out vs other breast pumps on the market.

Spectra S2 Closed System

Spectra S2 is a hospital grade closed-system pump, which means there is a physical barrier to prevent milk and moisture from entering the tube and pump motor.

That physical barrier is composed of the 2 back flow protectors that come in the kit.

Hospitals use closed-system pumps to share breast pumps among different patients safely. This is not a common feature on everyday use household breast pumps.

A very common hospital grade pump you may find at hospitals is the Medela Symphony. Any closed system breast pump can be safely shared among users without passing on germs and bacteria.

Most pumps for domestic use are open-system, meaning that they do not feature a physical barrier to prevent milk and moisture from entering the tubing and pump.

Over time, if that happens, the power suction of your pump may be compromised and some mold and grime may grow inside your pump.

Spectra S2 hospital grade breast pump is considered one of the most affordable ones for domestic use.

Spectra breast pump closed system is safer and more hygienic in the long run than other open system breast pumps. Hence, it is considered one of the best breast pump under $200.

Considering this pump is a closed system, it is a very good price.

How to use Spectra breast pump?

Spectra S2 breast pump motor features a screen which indicates the cycle you are on and the vacuum power.

There is a power button to switch the unit on and just above it the modes button. You can start with the Massage mode which will gently stimulate the breast. Use this mode for approx. 2 minutes and change to the Expression mode for consistent milk extraction.

The “+” and “-” cycle buttons can be used to increase or decrease the cycle speed of the spectra electric breast pump. You should only express at a cycle speed where you feel comfortable.

There are also “+” and “-” vacuum buttons which you can use to alter the strength of the vaccum power of the Spectra S2.

Finally, the night light has 2 levels to help you operate the spectra s2 double breast pump when it is dark.

Always start using your pump in massage/ stimulation mode. This cycle is gentle, but still short and fast to start the letdown of milk.

Once your milk has started flowing, the mode can be changed to ‘expressing’, which is slower and stronger (mimicking the way your baby draws milk from the breast).

What do Moms say about Spectra S2 breast pump?

Gentle on nipples & comfortable

A high number of users have said that this pump is very gentle on nipples and very comfortable.

If you are expressing milk 6 or more times a day, this is very important.

Spectra S2 offers different nipple sizes to fit different moms’ needs, so make sure you are using the right size for you.

This pump also features different pumping cycles (speed) and vacuum (strength) power options, hence it allows a better customization to a mother’s expressing needs and aid comfort.

Customize vacuum and cycle to suit your needs

Spectra S2 has 12 levels of vacuum (strength of suction), this enables great customisation.

Always express at a level that feels comfortable. As soon as you feel discomfort, you should turn the vacuum power down.

The cycle buttons are used to manage the speed of suction. In this pump the range goes from level 38 to 54. Always try out different combinations and choose the one that works best for you body.

Easy to clean

Spectra S2 hospital grade pump parts are quick and easy to clean and sterilize.

If you need to use a breast pump several times a day, do not underestimate how the number of components of a breast pump can consume time in washing.

If you use the Spectra S2 breast pump as a single pump, even better as you will have less parts to clean. Always remember that the tubing, back flow parts and motor unit should never be sterilized.

If you notice some moisture or milk residue in your back flow parts, just dissemble and wash each of the 3 components separately (you don’t need to clean them after each use). Also remember to re-assemble the back flow when it is dry, without any moisture.

Keep reading for full instructions on how to wash and sterilize your Spectra S2 pump.

Night light & Timer

Unlike most domestic pumps, Spectra S2 comes with a screen that shows what setting you are on and also the option to turn on a nightlight for night time expressing.

This feature is highly valuable, simple yet original value add, vs. other pumps. The screen has a timer so you can keep track of how long you’ve been expressing for.

Spectra S2 Electric Breast Pump is quieter than other pumps

Many moms have said this pump is the least noisy of all. This is important if you are expressing at night, close to your partner and/ or baby. It is also an important feature if you need to pump at work.

One of the Best Hospital grade pumps

This pump is ideal for moms that express several times a day, as it offers the option of double or single pumping.

The product comes with 2 flanges, tubes and bottles, so users have the option to use it as a single or as a Spectra double breast pump.

Double pumping is the most efficient way to express milk, as you can double the amount of milk in the same amount of time as single pumping.

This is overall a good quality pump, with a powerful motor designed to pump milk for long periods of time, hence its high durability.

Spectra S2 hospital strength breast pump reviews

Spectra S2 vs Medela

Spectra S2 breast shield

Many moms that have used the Medela brand of breast pumps have stated that the nipple shield size in the Spectra breast pump is smaller.

We cannot stress enough how important it is to use the right size of nipple shield to avoid discomfort while expressing.

Using the wrong shield size can also affect suction power, so always make sure you are using the right shield size to get the most out of your pump and prevent any injuries.

Fortunately Spectra sells other nipple shield sizes, which are not too expensive in the following sizes:

As the range is not too broad, we’ve researched some other options.

Spectra breast pump shield from other manufacturers

Maymom.com and Nenesupply offer the following products that are compatible with the Spectra S1 and S2 pumps:

Spectra breast pump flanges

One-piece flanges (nipple shields) in sizes: 15mm, 19mm, 21mm, 24mm, 25mm, 27mm, 30mm, 32mm

A flange adapter that can connect your Maymom adapter to the Spectra back flow component so you can use the Medela bottle or flange.

Spectra S2 bottles quality and stability

There have consistently been comments about the Spectra bottles quality and stability.

Although the Spectra S2 breast pump itself is a state of the art breast pump, the bottles seem to require some improvement.

Bottles compatible with Spectra pump

Spectra S2 bottles have been reported to leak as the lid does not screw well to the pump.

The easiest way you can resolve this is by washing any milk residue from the bottles and boiling them with a bit of white vinegar before screwing them to the pump.

Another issue, is that the Spectra breast pump bottles may be a bit unstable.

Thankfully, there is a way to combine a great breast pump like the Spectra with great baby bottles.

Simply use a different brand of bottle, compatible with the Spectra S2 breast pump.

These are the baby bottles that can be directly screwed onto the pump:

If you wish to use a Medela baby bottle, you will need a baby bottle baby bottle thread charger.

Some other bottles that fit Spectra S2 pump using the bottle thread charger from Maymom are: Dr. Brown’s standard neck baby bottles, Ameda baby bottles and Lifefactory bottles.

Not a pump and go breast pump

Spectra S2 breast pump can only be operated with power (it does not use batteries), hence it is not a breast pump we would recommend for moms needing to pump on the go.

In addition it is a bit heavier and bulkier than other breast pumps, such as the Medela Swing Single / Maxi.

Spectra S2 weights approx. 3 pounds (1.3 kg).

A good portable option from Spectra is the Spectra S1 Plus, which has a rechargeable battery.

Cleaning Spectra breast pump

Once you buy Spectra S2 breast pump, you will need to sterilize it before the first use.

You should only sterilize all Spectra breast pump parts that come in the kit, except the Spectra breast pump tubing and motor.

This breast pump does not require sterilization after each use. However, always wash the breast pump parts after each use.

Please note that Spectra S2 bottles will need to be sterilized after every use as they are used to store breast milk.

You should always wash and sterilize any container you use to store your breast milk.

Washing breast pump parts

We’ve heard many mothers asking ‘do i need to wash breast pump after every use?

It is important to keep the hygiene in your breast pump as well as in baby bottles and pacifiers. Everything that gets in touch with your milk or eventually goes into your baby’s mouth requires regular cleaning.

How to wash breast pump parts?

Start by washing your hands thoroughly. This may sound like a simple step, but sometimes is ignored.
In a clean container, prepare a mix of warm water and soap. Submerge your breast pump parts for a few minutes and wash them with a bottle brush.
Then rinse them with warm water, making sure there is not leftover soap on any part.
Valves, back flow protectors and any parts made of silicone should not be placed in the dishwasher as they could tear.
To dry your breast pump parts, place them over a clean dish drying rack or paper towel and let them air dry.
Once all parts are dry, store them in a closed clean container.
Wash the back flow protector only when you see some moisture or milk.
The shield and valve may need a deeper cleanse from time to time, as fat residue may accumulate. Mix one part vinegar and 3 parts of warm water and the fatty residue will loosen.
Never wash the tube. If you see moisture inside, please replace it with a new one.

How to sterilize spectra breast pump parts?

Sterilization is important before the first use.

After that, you may want to sterilize and air dry your Spectra S1 or S2 breast pump parts either once a day or at any time you see some fat residue accumulating.

Check out our guide on how to sterilize baby items below. We also recommend UV light sterilizers as they can dry your sterilized items so they are ready to use faster.