Video Review: Can a Tongue-Mimicking Breast Pump Get You More Milk?

There are a lot of things you can look for in a breast pump, but three of the most important things to consider are comfort, ease of use and, maybe most importantly, how much milk it helps express. The new Annabella Breast Pump adds a unique element to how it achieves this: it’s the first-ever pump to use advanced tongue-simulating technology—aka, it mimics a baby’s tongue.

We sent Babylist mom Bailey the Annabella Breast Pump to see how it stands up to real-life pumping, what the tongue-like suckling really feels like and what makes it different from other breast pumps. 

You can watch her video review above or keep reading for what you should know before buying or adding the Annabella Breast Pump to your Babylist registry.

What kind of breast pumps are out there?

There are three types of pumps available on the market today: traditional, wearable and manual. 

• Electric breast pumps are your traditional, primary pump. Some require a wall outlet and others have a rechargeable battery (thus are portable), so you have more flexibility in where you pump. 

• Wearable breast pumps are also electric, except these fit right in your bra, allowing you to multitask while pumping, pump on the go or pump discreetly when needed. These are good for supplementary pumping, but shouldn’t be used exclusively.

• Manual breast pumps are pumps you manually squeeze to express breast milk. They collect milk in bottles you can pop right into the fridge for storage or transfer into breast milk storage bags for freezing.

Though the Annabella is technically a traditional electric pump, there’s nothing traditional about its unique tongue simulation—it’s also the first and only pump right now that uses the wave-like suckling of a baby’s tongue to help express milk.

Annabella Double Electric Breast Pump - Double

$359.00

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How does tongue suckling work?

All breast pumps work by creating a vacuum seal of suction around the breast to encourage the release of milk. How the Annabella does this is a little different. First, it uses a breast shield with a silicone membrane that molds to your body to feel more like a baby’s latch. You can see what that looks like at the 0:58 mark in the video above. Then, the simulation of the tongue action kneads your breast like a wave, helping to make more milk.

With a real baby, this tongue motion encourages more of the secretion of the hormones prolactin and oxytocin (the hormones that signal it’s time to make milk). By mimicking this motion, the Annabella pump helps trigger those same hormones (which resulted in a 50% increase in milk production on average during clinical trials). 

What else makes the Annabella Breast Pump different

The tongue-suckling is the biggest part of what makes the Annabella Breast Pump a standout compared to other pumps, but there are a few other highlights: 

• Nine different suction levels: This helps control the intensity of the pump’s suction so you can customize it to what feels most comfortable for your body. (3:57)

• Adjustable stimulation strength: Since the tongue simulation is a separate motion to Annabella’s suction function, it has independent controls to create an even more customized experience for ideal milk output. (2:56)

• Adjustable breast shields: Most pumps come with fixed breast shields (also called flanges), but Annabella’s flexible silicone shield means it can adjust to your breast for the most secure fit. (2:20)

• Splitter to use as single or double: With this, you can pump a single breast at a time, or both. This can also be useful if your baby feeds off one side and you need to “even out” the other side. (4:06)

• Nightlight: 2 A.M. feedings are easier when you don’t have to turn on an overhead light or use your phone’s flashlight to see what you’re doing, so Annabella’s built-in nightlight is a middle-of-the-night helper. (4:17)

Stimulation vs. Expression modes

The Annabella pump has two different pumping modes: Stimulation and Expression. It automatically starts in stimulation mode to help—you guessed it—stimulate milk production the way your baby might. Once your milk releases, you can switch to expression mode by pressing the letdown button to collect it; however, the pump automatically switches to expression mode after two minutes. Though each mode is separate, they work together for optimal milk output. (3:20)

Getting the best breast shield fit

Breast shields, or flanges, are the part of a breast pump that goes over your nipple and areola to create a secure vacuum seal for milk extraction. If the flange fit is too small, it can cause friction; if it's too big, it can cause swelling. So, getting the right fit is super important to a successful pumping journey. 

Where most standard breast bumps come with funnel-shaped flanges that are fixed, the Annabella comes with a soft, silicone adjustable 18mm - 24mm shield that’s designed to fit most breasts. Their included guide can help you make sure you’ve adjusted it to your best fit. If you measure yourself and find you do need a bigger size, they offer a 25mm-28mm shield, too. (2:30) 

Another unique thing to know about Annabella’s breast shields—to accommodate the pump’s suckling motion, these breast shields also include a special “tongue” as a part of the opening to massage your breast to stimulate milk production. (2:20)

Bonus: Hands-free pumping

Hands-free breast pumps have gotten popular for allowing moms more freedom while pumping. If you’d prefer to eat, scroll TikTok or do anything else with your hands during your pumping sessions, Annabella offers a hands-free pumping bra that fits sizes XS to XXL with a velcro closure. (4:24)

Annabella Hands Free Pumping Bra: Adjustable and Detachable with Central Zip Panel Nude

$39.00

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Conclusion: Who do we recommend the Annabella Breast Pump for?

Some people really love pumping, and for others, pumping can feel a bit chore-like. Having the right gear (like a breast pump you actually want to use) can help you feel better supported for a more successful breastfeeding journey. 

While it’s hard to know what kind of pump you’ll like until you start pumping, the benefit of the Anabella is that it’s similar to what you’d experience with your baby. So, if you breastfeed and pump, the tongue-like suckling of the Annabella pump will feel like what you’re already used to.  

When it comes to comfort, Bailey said the suction felt similar to what she’s felt with other pumps, but when she activated the massaging tongue mode, it was more of a light fluttering to help stimulate milk flow. “It’s much more gentle than I imagined,” she said. “It feels like a nursing session.” 

For its unique tech, the Annabella would be considered a premier electric pump, and at $379 for the double pump or $199 for a single, it falls in line with some other high-grade pumps. But whether you’re doing a combo of nursing and pumping or pumping exclusively, having a pump that more gently stimulates milk flow can be what helps you keep your baby fed and you comfy. 

Watch the full video above to see just how it works and check Babylist Health to see if your insurance will cover Annabella. 

*In a clinical trial, the Annabella pump was shown to increase average milk expression by 50% compared to a traditional pump.

This article is sponsored by Annabella. Babylist’s free site, apps and emails are made possible by our sponsors. We limit our sponsored content to relevant partners that offer products and services we believe in and use ourselves.