The Spectra S2 breast pump is a helpful tool for busy moms because being a breastfeeding mom can be quite challenging. You would have to pump milk and store it for when you may have to leave your child with the nanny, your spouse or at the daycare.
This post talks about everything that is there to know about the spectra S2 breast pump.
Overview of the Spectra S2 Breast Pump
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The Spectra S2 breast pump is a compact device that is electronically powered to pump and draw milk from the breast. It is also helpful for moms battling low breast milk production.
The spectra S2 is a hospital-grade pump that is amazingly gentle despite its strong engine. It is also quiet, has an amazing letdown, and many expression modes. It also has multiple adjustable settings.
Spectra S2 has silicon cushion inserts that offers maximum comfort while you pump.
Cleaning is easier with this brand because it is a closed system pump. This means that there is a barrier between the milk collection kit and the pump. Apart from making cleaning easier, it is also hygienic.
It has a night light which is very helpful for night pumping sessions. It also has a timer to shut the pump off automatically after a certain period of time just in case you doze off.
The spectra S2 works by having a closed tubing system to prevent breast milk from getting in and building up and it also prevents air from sneaking in and getting trapped while you are pumping.
This helps in keeping the milk fresh and uncontaminated as possible. It has a convenient handle for carrying and weighs less than 3 pounds for moms who would love to carry it around.
How to Use The Spectra S1 and S2 Breast Pumps
If you’ve just received your spectra breast pump, be it S1 or S2, they both have the same method of use.
It can be quite confusing on knowing what to do or how to use it because there are lots of pump parts and settings.
Below is a guide on how you can assemble the spectra breast pump parts and also tips on how to set it up and use it.
Assemble the backflow protector
You will find three pieces for the backflow protector in the pack, a white silicon piece and two clear plastic pieces.
The white silicon piece should be put on the clear plastic piece and then you snap the second clear plastic piece over the other side of the white silicon piece.
This means that the white silicon piece will be inbetween the two clear plastic pieces. Then you connect the larger nub on the backflow protector into the spectra breast shield.
The smaller nub will fit into the tubbing that connects to the pump. The work of the backflow protector is to prevent any milk from flowing from the breast shield into the pump.
The plastic and silicone pieces will create a barrier between the tubing and the breast shield.
The backflow protector is also what makes it a closed system. As it prevents milk from flowing into the pump, it also keeps the pump clean and free from the growth of molds in the breast pump motor and tubing.
Connect the tubing and the pump together
The Spectra breast pump comes with two pieces of tubing in case you want to do double pumping. If you want to do single pumping, you use just one piece of tubing.
Double pumping means that you pump both breasts at the same time while single pumping means you pump just one breast.
If you want to double pump, you will have to remove the small white cap from the pump and connect one end of the tubing to the pump. Repeat this same procedure for the second piece of tubing if you are double pumping.
You need to replace the tubing if it becomes loose over time or if it disconnects from the pump during the middle of your pumping session.
Connect the other end of the tubing to the backflow protector
In this third step, you connect the other end of the pumping tubing to fit into the small nub on the spectra backflow protector.
If you are double pumping, you can go ahead and attach each tube into the backflow protector.
The backflow protector has two sides, a large nub and a small nub. If you have difficulty connecting the tubing, ensure that you are connecting the tubbing to the end with the small nub.
The tubing does not easily fit into the large nub of the backflow protector. When pumping, no milk should be seen in the spectra pump tubing, if there is milk in there, you should stop pumping immediately.
Inspect the tubbing and ensure that they are well fitted properly.
Assemble the breast shield, the duckbill valve, and the bottle
First of all, you twist the duckbill valve into the opening on the breast shield and then twist the bottle onto the breast shield. If you are double pumping, you have to repeat this step to give you two full set ups.
The duckbill valve will drive the amount of suction on your pump and it needs to be replaced usually every 2 to 4 weeks.
With frequent use, the duckbill valve will become loose and worn out due to use, washing, and sterilization of the pump parts. You will notice a gradual decline in the amount of milk you pump during each session.
Connect the breast shield to the backflow protector
Remember that one end of the backflow protector is already connected to the tubing, now, you take the other end and insert it into the spectra breast shield. Ensure it fits snugly.
If you’ve done all the steps above, all the pieces of your pump should be set up and ready for use.
Connect the power plug to the wall and the other end into the small hole on side of the spectra pump. Now, you can start pumping.
Turn it on and test your pump before you put on the flanges. You would see the white silicon in the backflow protector pulse in and out due to the air pressure from the pump.
Start the let down mode and set the cycle to 70
Turn it on by pressing the power button to start pumping. The power button is in the center and it has a circle with a hash mark on it.
Start off by pumping in let down mode. There is a button in the center with wavy lines, push it and the cycle on the digital display will read 70.
You can adjust this level of suction to your comfort. The lowest level of suction is 1 and the highest on the cycle 70 is 5.
You can start off with level 1 and increase the suction until you are uncomfortable, then you go back down by one level.
You can get a hands-free pumping bra to allow you multi-task while pumping. You won’t have to hold the breast shields and your hands will be free to massage your breasts and this can help you get more milk.
This will also save you time as a busy mom.
After the milk starts flowing, you can then switch to expression mode and set the cycle to 54
This mode is a bit slower than the pump speeds and you can increase the level of suction as the speed decreases. You can press the button with the wavy line to switch to this cycle and then press the minus or plus button to get cycle 54.
During expression mode, the level of suction can be increased all the way up to level 12 and you can start with 5 and gradually increase it until it gets a little too painful.
Then you decrease the level down by one setting until you are comfortable with it.
You stay at this speed and vacuum level until the milk stops flowing. When it stops flowing, you switch back to let down mode by pressing the button with wavy lines.
Continue pumping for 15 to 25 minutes until empty
You can go ahead and pump for 15 to 25 minutes and if the milk stops flowing, you can switch back to the letdown mode/cycle 70.
As the cycle decreases in speed, you may need to increase the vacuum level of suction to maximize the amount of milk you are able to pump.
This mimics how a baby sucks if nursing directly. Initially, a baby starts sucking at high speed and after the milk tops flowing, the speed transitions to slow and strong sucks to draw out all the milk.
When you are done pumping, you will feel empty. And when you are done pumping, ensure you reduce the level setting back to a low level like 1 or 2 before shutting off the pump.
The spectra will remember the cycle and level for your next session after the pump is turned off.
Amazing Features of Spectra S2 Breast Pump
- Hospital strength suction
- LCD screen
- Weighs just 2.5 pounds
- 270 mmHg
- Stimulates the natural suckling of a baby
- Vacuum suction up to L12
- Single or double pump capability
- Advanced expression mode settings
- Advanced massage mode settings
- 2-year manufacturer warranty on the pump
- 90 days warranty on the accessories
- BPA-free parts
- 2 level built-in light
- Super quiet when in use
The Spectra S2 Accessories Breast Pump
The spectra S2 breast pump comes with the following accessories in the pack:
- 2 spectra wide neck bottles
- 4 flanges (two 24 mm and two 28 mm)
- 2 spectra backflow protectors
- 2 spectra tubes
- 2 spectra duckbill valves
- A 12-volt AC power adapter
All parts that touch the milk are fully replaceable and free from BPA.
Pros of the Spectra S2 Breast Pump
- Closed system for better hygiene
- Quiet operation
- Option for single or double pumping
- Massage mode for stimulating letdown
- Adjustable speed and suction
- Night light for visibility in the dark
- Great and affordable price
- Powerful pump motor yet very comforting
- Portable and lightweight
Cons of the Spectra S2 Breast Pump
- Not rechargeable, the only power option is the AC adapter
- Available only in white and pink color
- One size flange
- The instruction for cycle use for beginners is limited
- Wide neck bottles are needed but you can purchase an adapter separately
Spectra S1 Vs S2 Similarities and Differences
Spectra has two popular models, the S1 and the S2 and they are nearly identical. But we will help differentiate them so that you can decide which is best for you and your baby.
Similarities
- The two breast pumps, S1 and S2 have similar features and also have comparable accessories but the main difference is the batteries.
Differences
- The spectra S1 has a rechargeable battery while the spectra S2 doesn’t have so you have to plug it into the wall for power.
- The spectra S1 is more portable but the spectra S2 isn’t
- The spectra S1 is costlier ($200) while the spectra S2 is less expensive (about $150). Check the current price for S1 here and that for S2 here
- The spectra S1 weighs more (2.42 lbs) while the spectra S2 weighs less (2 lbs)
- The S1 is colored blue and white while the S2 is colored pink and white
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About The Spectra Breast Pumps
Cycle is simply the number of times the pump will mimic the speed of a baby’s suck. The number shows the speed per minute and a higher cycle equals to a faster pumping setting while a lower cycle shows a slower pumping setting.
Both the Spectra S1 and S2 have cycles of 70, 54, 50, 46, and 38, with 70 being the highest and 38 the slowest.
With this setting, you can adjust the pumps to the level where you are comfortable the most. You can also test different settings and adjust the pump.
You will know the one that gives you the most milk after trying different settings.
You can pump until you feel empty and this should last from 15 to 25 minutes and most women have two or three letdowns during this time frame.
Pumping until fully empty will help your body to produce sufficient milk. If you are exclusively pumping or you missed a nursing session, you need to pump for at least 15 to 25 minutes.
Yes! And you have three options to do this.
You can use the all-in-one system, a special adapter, or hack Medela flanges to work with the spectra pump.
You can use this system to pump into storage bags. It will save your sanity while pumping and reduce cleaning time. This kit also comes with an adaptor to pump into storage bags.
You can also use this adapter to pump into storage bags.
If you want to double pump, you need to look for the small white cap where the tubing plugs into the pump. Remove the white cap so that you can plug the second piece of tubing into the pump.
Make sure you assemble all the pieces of the pumping set so that you can have two complete sets of pump parts.
Follow the procedures below to power-pump using either the Spectra S1 or S2 breast pumps.
Start pumping for 15 to 25 minutes or more until you feel empty
Take a 10 minutes break from pumping
Pump for 10 more minutes
Take another 10 minutes break
Pump for another 10 minutes
Repeat the process above 1 to 2 times daily for one week
At the start of each round of pumping, begin with the letdown (wavy line) button on the spectra. Pump in the letdown mode for two minutes and then switch to expression mode.
If you are more comfortable pumping in letdown mode for more than 2 minutes, you can continue using this mode until you have a letdown.
As you continue power pumping over the course of the week, you will see that the amount of milk you pump each day will increase.
Spectra S1 and S2 pumps are good and according to the user manual, they can pump for 1,500 hours. These breast pumps come with a 2-year warranty and it is advisable you check the number of hours on the pump periodically.
This button sequence can be used to figure out the hours on a spectra pump.
Power on
Massage mode
Cycle +
Vacuum –
Cycle –
Vacuum +
Massage mode
It is very important to know the hours on your pump, it will also let you know if it is working well.
Conclusion
The Spectra S2 breast pump is a great pump any mom would love. This post explains everything you need to know about this fantastic product and how to use it.
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