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This is a detailed review of Spectra 9+ breast pump.
I am intrigued with this little breast pump after I tried its big sister, Spectra S1 (read my full review here) and also the more portable version
Just to let you know, Spectra 9+ is the most portable and slimmest breast pump released by Spectra, and possibly the smallest breast pump I've ever encountered.
If you are considering to purchase this little breast pump, this review will tell you how Spectra 9 plus performs, its pros and cons, plus comparison to Spectra S1 breast pump or vs Medela Freestyle breast pump.
More...
(this post contains affiliate links)
UPDATE: Since this post was published, I've written more detailed posts about other Spectra models, as well as how to use the breast pump. Do check out the following for other Spectra posts:
- Spectra S1 breast pump review (the hospital-grade model)
- Spectra M1 breast pump review (most affordable Spectra model)
- How to use Spectra S1 breast pump (include video & general tips for pumping with Spectra)
- Top 5 Breast Pump Bags for Spectra
- Spectra S1 vs Super Genie | Which One To Choose
- Spectra S1 vs Motif Luna | Which One Is Better
- Spectra S1 vs Spectra S2 | What's The Difference
I hope this Spectra series helps you to determine which breast pump model suits your need the most plus allows you to understand how to use Spectra breast pump =).
Let's continue to the main article.
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Spectra 9 plus is the smallest double electric breast pump released by Spectra, having a comfortable yet powerful suction (for up to 300 mmHg). Here's a few specification regarding Spectra 9+.
- Breast pump type: work with AC power or runs on battery (built-in rechargeable battery)
- Single / double: can be used for single and double pumping
- Suction level: 10 different levels
- Speed adjustment: adjust with suction
- Breast shield diameter: 28 mm (other sizes can be purchased separately: 24 mm or 32 mm)
- Dimension: 11.2 cm x 7.2 cm x 4.7 cm
- Weight: 239 gram (super light!!)
- Available at: Pupsik Studio (Singapore/ Malaysia) or Amazon
Note: Spectra 9 plus is NOW AVAILABLE in Amazon.com and spectrababyusa.com.
WHAT YOU GET OUT OF BOX
This is what you get out of the box:
- Pump motor (with built-in battery)
- A pair of breast shields + duck-bill valves
- Two wide-neck Spectra bottles
- A pair of slow flow teats, bottle caps and sealing discs
- One pair of tubings
- One pair of back-flow protectors
- Power adaptor
HIGHLIGHTS OF SPECTRA 9 PLUS
1. The smallest and compact breast pump ever
This breast pump IS SO SMALL, it only measures 112 mm x 72 mm x 42 mm and weighs only 239 gram (very light!), making it very portable and a perfect travel companion.
I took its picture side by side with my Xiaomi phone (it's around the same size of iPhone 6) and look. They have pretty similar length and width! The phone is definitely slimmer here, but this is a proof that this breast pump is very small and compact.
And one more picture, Spectra 9 plus in my palm (I have a small hand, btw).
2. Strong yet gentle suction
Just like other Spectra breast pumps, Spectra S9+ has a gentle suction even in its highest setting. In its expression mode, the
"I don't feel the 'pull' like the Medela did, but surprisingly without noticing I already accumulate 50 ml of milk in just 5 minutes! This breast pump is soo comfortable...Also, my breast feels emptier after pumping with Spectra 9+."
3. 5-level adjustable massage mode and 10 adjustable suction level (in expression mode)
Being small does not mean having less feature. This little breast pump has 5 level massage mode and 10 adjustable expression mode. This is a lot more compared to Spectra M1 (another portable Spectra breast pump, but bigger in size) which only has 5 adjustable suction levels.
4. Closed-system pump
This is a closed-system breast pump, i.e. the pump motor won't be contaminated with the breast milk. This is because Spectra 9 plus has a pair of
The fact that it is a closed system pump also means that it is more hygienic, your pump motor will be more durable and it is safe to share this breast pump with other users (but please make sure each of you has your own milk collection kit, ok).
5. Pretty LED display
This is the very cool feature of Spectra 9+ breast pump. Despite being small, it is equipped with LED display that gives you a complete overview of what your breast pump is currently doing:
- if it is in massage mode or expression mode
- which suction level are you currently using
- timer
- battery indicator (both while the pump is running for expressing milk or while being recharged)
Other features of Spectra 9 plus:
- Built-in rechargeable battery (typically lasts for about 3 pumping sessions, 30 minutes each). The fact that it is super portable and has a built-in rechargeable battery makes Spectra 9+ a great option while you are travelling or pumping on the go. If you solely use this for pumping at work, the battery life is just nice to go through one day of pumping at work.
- Has both let-down mode and expression mode. So you use the massage / let-down mode first to achieve let-down, then after that you switch to expression mode to start expressing breast milk. I found the massage mode pretty effective. I got let down only after 1 minute.
- Auto shut-off after 30 minutes. This is a safety feature which is great for busy mamas that love to multitask while pumping. If you forgot to turn off the pump, this breast pump will turn off by itself after 30 minutes.
- Easily switch between single and double pumping with T-connector. Thanks to the new design of T-connector, you don't need to change tubing to switch between double and single pumping. Simply unplug the unused tubing, and you are good to go.
- Memorizes our last pump setting. If you already settled with your comfortable suction preset, Spectra S9+ is able to memorize your pumping setting for you. That means, no need to adjust suction level every time you pump. This is totally different with Medela Swing breast pump, whereby you always start at the lowest suction level every time and so manual adjustment is always needed.
THE CONS
Now, let's talk about the cons. You don't want to hear only about the good things, right. Here they are.
- This is not a heavy-duty breast pump. If you are pumping 3x a day, this pump is good for you. But if you are exclusively pumping up to 10-12x a day, you better get a hospital grade model like Spectra S1 or Spectra S2, or if you need a portable model, then Medela Freestyle.
- Speed cannot be adjusted independently. Unlike Spectra S1 / S2 that offers fully adjustable speed and suction, in Spectra 9+ the speed is auto-adjusted as you adjust the suction level. That means, the higher suction you choose, the slower is the speed. This is not really a problem for most mothers, considering most breast pumps also work like this (including the popular Medela Freestyle). But if you prefer to combine high suction and high speed, (which I know some moms do), then this breast pump can not do that for you.
- While the pump is considered quiet compared to other breast pump brands (including Medela), Spectra 9+ can get noisier over time. As a comparison, Spectra S9+ is noisier than Spectra S1, comparable to Spectra M1, but it is quieter than Medela Freestyle.
- Strong suction, but not super strong. Some mothers with super strong suction preference noticed that S9+ suction is not as powerful as Spectra S1 and M1. This is not a problem if you prefer a gentle suction but if you are used to use the higher end range of suction level of Spectra S1, then please consider this before buying.
- Limited breast shield size. Spectra only has 3 different sizes available: 24, 28, 32 mm. However, you can use Medela / Maymom breast shield / Freemie with Spectra 9+ using this following hack or use the Maymom yellow adapter to directly connect your Medela shield to Spectra breast pump. Click here to learn more.
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WHO IS THIS BREAST PUMP FOR
This breast pump is perfect for mothers who pump on the go, frequently travel and do not prefer to carry a bulky breast pump.
Is it suitable for working moms?
- Some working moms prefer to combine this breast pump with another heavy duty model, e.g. Spectra S1 to pump at home and Spectra 9+ to pump at work, or the other way around. This is perfectly fine and will ensure the breast pump will not get overused.
SPECTRA 9+ VS SPECTRA S1
Spectra S1 is a heavy duty model from Spectra that has more functionalities, such as fully independent speed and suction adjustment, but with one expense: bulky.
The table below summarizes the differences between them.
SPECTRA 9+
Light and portable
5 massage mode, 10 expression mode
Built in battery: lasts for 1.5 hours
Dimension: 11.2x7.2x4.7 cm
Weight: 239 gram
- No nightlight
- Speed cannot be adjusted independently
- Not heavy duty
SPECTRA S1
Heavy duty and hospital grade
5 massage mode, 12 expression mode
Built in battery: lasts for 3 hours
Dimension: 20 x 20 x 17 cm
Weight: 1.1 kg
- Night light
- Speed level can be adjusted independently
- Heavy duty
SPECTRA 9+ VS MEDELA FREESTYLE
Why compare Spectra 9+ and Freestyle?
Because both of them are portable and offers LED display, which fit the requirement of busy mamas pumping on the go.
SPECTRA 9+
Portable and affordable
No of suction level: 10
Let-down mode: Yes
Built in battery: lasts for 1.5 hours
Dimension: 11.2x7.2x4.7 cm
Weight: 239 gram
- Closed system
- Not heavy duty
- Price:more affordable
Medela Freestyle
Heavy duty and portable
No of suction level: 9
Let-down mode: Yes
Built in battery: lasts for 3 hours
Dimension:12 x 9 x 5.5 cm
Weight: 360 gram
- Not closed system*
- Heavy duty
- Price: more expensive
*A lot of people thought Medela Freestyle is a closed-system pump but it's actually not. Yes, your breast milk may not easily enter the tubing due to the separation layer in its exclusive Freestyle kit, but this pump is not suitable for multiple-user sharing.
Looking at the table above, overall, both Spectra 9+ and Freestyle have very similar features, with only one distinctive difference. Medela Freestyle is suitable for heavy duty pumping (I've met a lot of exclusive pumpers swore by Freestyle) while Spectra 9+ is not.
So, if you are considering whether to buy Medela Freestyle or Spectra 9+, ask yourself, how often are you going to pump every day.
If you are going for intensive pumping 10-12x a day, the answer is clear, Medela Freestyle wins for the most-portable
If you don't mind bulkiness and want to save some cost, then you may consider Spectra S1/S2.
If you are pumping less often, like 3x a day and need the portability, then Spectra S9+ is the way to go.
FINAL CONCLUSION
Spectra S9+ breast pump is an impressive breast pump with a lot of features despite its compact and slim size.
It is very recommended to have for mothers planning to pump at
Please be reminded that this is not a heavy duty model (use Spectra S1 instead), and therefore if you overuse it too much, the breast pump may wear out very quickly.
I hope this review helps you to determine whether Spectra 9+ breast pump is suitable for your need. I try my best to lay out all the pros and cons so you can have an unbiased view of Spectra 9+ breast pump.
Feel free to ask me if you have any question regarding this little pump.
If you want to learn more about this breast pump, click here to read more reviews about Spectra 9+ breast pump
If you are living in Singapore / Malaysia, you can get Spectra 9+ breast pump from Pupsik Studio.
Update: Spectra S9+ breast pump is NOW AVAILABLE
And if you are still undecided, you may want to check some of these breast pump reviews.
Juanita says
Hello I love love your blogs. You are so detailed and specific. I’m currently taking your pumping lessons. I patiently wait for my emails everyday!!
I wanted to know what would be the best breast pump for on the road? I have the spectra s1 love the suction, but HATE the vibration. So therefore I don’t want the 9+ . What breast pump would you recommend with good suction, heavy duty, and no vibration lol.
Rina says
Already answered your email ya =)
Sherene says
Hi Rina,
Can this pump draw out milk from a slow flow, low milk supply and long intervals between let down? It’s expensive, and I want to really make a good buy
Rina says
What do you mean by Low milk supply? You don’t pump enough milk for baby (I.e supplementing but want to exclusively breastfeed).
In that case, a lot of moms prefer S1, it’s hospital grade (more durable for frequent pumping). You can also adjust speed cycle independently.
For slow flow, I suggest doing hands on pumping.
Fie says
Hi Rina,
Thank you for your thorough review. I had bought an S9+ for my upcoming second baby – I had used the Freestyle for my first and I definitely get the whole “pull” thing which hurts after a while. Just wondering if there are any milk storage bags that allow me to pump directly, rather than bottles. Any recommendations? Thank you again!
Rina says
Yes, you can use Kiinde breast milk storage bags. They have the adapter that fits Spectra flange nicely.
Fie says
They’re like most storage bags – non-reusable right?
Rina says
Yes, the only difference is they have a system so that you can feed directly / pump directly into the bags. Pretty handy if you want to minimize washing lots of bottles.
Kate G says
HI Rina! I appreciate your reviews. I already have a Pump in Style that I like/works well (as far as I can tell) I’m in need of a pump as I travel for work and would like something small. When In travel 2-4x/month overnight, I’ll be pumping exclusively. What do you recommend S9 vs Freestyle?
Rina says
I’d recommend Freestyle to minimize the ‘adjustment period’ because Spectra and Medela have slightly different suckling sensation, so there’s a learning curve to switch from one to another.
If you need something with lower price point, perhaps Milk Genie would be another good candidate (it works just like Medela, very portable and quiet).
Jennifer says
Thank you!!! This post is what very very helpful and informative and exactly whatI’ve been looking for the longest time! As a first time soon to be mom I’m so confused which breast pump suits me.