What are the benefits of a double electric breast pump?
Using a double breast pump means that you can potentially reduce the time you spend pumping by half. Double pumping increases milk supply too, which means that a double electric is a good option for mums with low milk production and for mums with premature babies or twins.
With double pumps there is no breast milk leakage as you’ll be collecting all of your milk through both breasts at any one time. With single pumping you may lose milk from the other breast. So if you want to make sure that you save every drop, then a double pump may be the best option for you.
How easy is the Ardo Calypso Double Plus to assemble?
For a first-timer, the unpacked Calypso might look confusing when you first open the box, but our tester found it incredibly easy to assemble, with clear, easy-to-follow instructions that even a very tired new mum could understand.
There are also instruction videos and guides on Ardo’s website if you get really stuck and you can ask for help via phone, chat window, or a Skype or FaceTime appointment.
Everything you need is supplied and, despite there being a few parts, it only takes about five minutes to set up, even when referring to the guide. You should wash and sterilise the bottles though before first use.
Everything included is necessary and useful and all the parts are quick and easy to replace, which is essential if you're continually expressing.
How does it look?
For a double pump, the Ardo Calypso is surprisingly lightweight and consists of a main hub that attaches to two shields to collect the milk in bottles.
The hub itself is fairly compact (portable enough, at least) and the whole design is actually very simple, albeit not the most visually appealing – it feels a little clinical, which could be off-putting to some.
How does it work and what's it like to use day-to-day?
The digital display is clear and you can adjust the settings for both speed and suction while you’re pumping – with 64 different combinations, you’re sure to find the right setting for you.
And while that might sound complicated, it’s actually really clear exactly what all those adjustments are for and how to get them to work in the best way. The transition from single to double pump and back again is also quickly done.
The Ardo is mains or battery-operated, so once you’re pumping you’re connected to the hub and will have limited movement.
Our tester, Sam, preferred to sit still while expressing to make sure she saved every drop of milk, so this wasn’t an issue for her, but it is something to consider depending on your lifestyle and where you plan to express.
Discretion and convenience
While pumping at work shouldn’t be an issue for mums, many women do want their pump to be discreet. Sam didn’t think she would be comfortable using the Ardo Calypso at work in double mode as she felt she would be too exposed. Using it as single electric pump could be a better option here.
Another issue was that, as there are a fair few parts, it could potentially be difficult to take the pump with you when travelling or when out and about – it is a little bulky and won't fit comfortably into a small handbag.
With that said, the pump is surprisingly quiet and one of the quietest we tested (a mean feat considering its powerful performance), which does make it useful for discreet pumping or night feeds.
How safe and stable is it?
Everything was hard-wearing and hard to break, and would definitely stand up to the rigours of everyday family life. The hub even survived being accidentally pulled from the plug socket on numerous occasions.
The least stable component, according to our tester, was the bottle holder, which she found had a tendency to fall over when the bottles were empty. The holder is, however, stable when the bottles are full.
The multiple parts can be bulky to store when not in use, but a bag would help to keep everything together – the Ardo unfortunately doesn't come with one though.