Breast pumps are medical devices regulated by the FDA. Used to extract (or express) milk for breastfeeding these devices are a convenient way to breastfeed baby. Many women find breastfeeding convenient or even necessary. Women can express their breast milk and store for use when separated from their baby. Breast pumping can also be used as a supplement to breastfeeding, and some pumps are even designed to mimic the suckling of a nursing baby.

There are three main types of breast pumps: manual, battery-powered, and electric. Breast pumps extract milk from the breasts by creating a vacuum around the nipple that pulls air into the breast-shield, and apply and release suction. Each suction and release combination is called a cycle.

Many manual breast pumps use a system of two cylinders to create suction. Once the breast-shield is placed over the nipple and areola, a small cylinder-shaped tube is pumped in and out of a larger cylinder to create a vacuum that expresses milk and collects it in an attached container. Some manual pumps have a handle or lever that is squeezed to create suction and express milk from the breast. The bicycle horn pump and consists of a hollow rubber ball attached to a breast-shield and is the original design of the breast pump.

A powered breast pump uses batteries or a cord plugged into an electrical outlet to power a small motor that creates suction to extract milk from the breasts. One or more long plastic tubes connect the breast-shield to the motor, which has a dial or switch to control the suction. It is important for breastfeeding mothers that use these pumps to plan for emergency situations like power-outages or dead batteries.

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