Pumpables Milk Genie
Verified91 reviews
Broken pump - ZERO customer service - FRAUDULENT company - won't let me return - $300 simply gone – Background: I got the Genie for my pregnant sister. I also purchased tons of extras so she wouldn't have to stress about refills for a long time. (And partially, I bought more than strictly necessary because I wanted to support a small business - what I thought was an ethical Vietnamese cooperative "built by moms".) This is her first baby. We… Read more
don't have family who can help and guide us. I'm 7000 miles away, her whole support network is her husband. So when something breaks or goes wrong and you don't have a safety net, life gets messy. That's why we have to plan everything so carefully. Anyway, last month she received the Genie and set it up, familiarised herself with the settings, the app, etc., to be prepared. Everything seemed to work fine.
The current situation: Sister goes into labour two weeks early. Breastfeeding is not going well. Baby isn't latching properly at the hospital and she's not producing enough milk. She's crying from the extreme pain of her engorged breasts and sore, tattered nipples. The hospital pump hurts, it's way too rough. So is her child. And now baby is loosing too much weight, rapidly. She and husband don't want to use formula, so she's pushing her physical limits to make it work. Exhausted and overwhelmed, she brings baby home, excited to use the Genie and finally get lots of milk with gentle suction.
But it doesn't work. She tries everything. Her and her husband are freaking out because NOTHING is working, no troubleshooting is helping, nothing, and it's midnight over there. Baby is screaming, no wonder. It's late, they've just gotten home from the maternity ward, of course all the stores are closed, they can't buy a new pump at this point. There's no family to call to help with babysitting or driving to the store in the morning or anything. Baby still won't latch for more than a few pulls and the Genie has no suction for no apparent reason.
This is Tuesday night for her, but Wednesday 6am my time. I'm on a video call with her, trying to help. I save the number of her local milk bank in my phone, but that has to wait eight more hours. I search online forums about the Genie and painful breastfeeding and anything I can think of. It's stressful. It feels like an extreme time crunch with both her and the baby's health (and sanity) on the line. In between reading the manual and facetiming them, I try to find the Pumpables customer service number. One of the main reasons I bought the Genie and not a Spectra is because the Pumpables website boasted about their warm, personalised customer care. But there's nothing to be found except a simple online form. No phone number, no chat box. So I give my sister's contact info, figuring they'll call her ASAP. I emphasise the urgency - baby is loosing too much weight, the machine is broken, she's a new mom and baby's only 2 days old - she needs that pump to work right now. The form says they will respond within less than 24 hours. I thought, "Oh, there's no way it'll take more than 5-6 hours for them to call."
Well, it's now Thursday evening. It's been 3 DAYS without a SINGLE word from Pumpables.
Thankfully, after a long and horrible night, a friend of a friend brought her old pump to my sister early in the morning. She was so kind, she even went to Target to get nipple shields. (Yay Target! I should've bought the Spectra from you.) Now sister's getting lots of milk and baby is happy. If it weren't for this random kind stranger, who knows what would've happened. And now that broken piece of garbage Genie is sitting on a shelf. No one has contacted us, I can't get a refund, which is insane, I've wasted $300, and I've caused my poor sister a crazy amount of stress. I feel so guilty and mad at myself.
Pumpables, I'll post this review everywhere I can, from Instagram to Facebook. Hell, I'll make a Tiktok about it. You can delete my reviews, as you do with other negative ones, but I'll just repost. Your company pretends to be super friendly, "maternal" ("designed for moms by moms"), but in terms of corporate apathy and greed, you're worse than WalMart. You're no more interested in the welfare of mothers than McDonald's is interested in people's health.
STAY FAR FAR AWAY. You're better off holding a lit match to a stack of $100 bills.
The worst customer service – Pump is quite flexible. Howerver the liquid shield torn very easily. Now come the worst part. Customer service is the worst. They stop shipping parts to my location and denied any responsibility. After a few email, they stop reply and no more warranty. They also blocked me on social media took dowm review. Just go for other more reliable brand. Show details
Reviews with attachments
I love, love, love my Milk Genie! – I’m so happy I stumbled across the Milk Genie about a month into my breastfeeding journey, it has been an absolute blessing for me! I was so close to buying the Spectra portable (after trying it whilst in hospital) but at the last minute decided on the MJ after reading its reviews and realizing it was a fraction of the price. I bought the older… Read more
model new on Groupon for just over $100 and it was an absolute bargain - so portable and lightweight. I’ve been and pumped everywhere with my MJ - interstate several times, plus I took it on our 8 week tour through Europe. It’s so portable that I could literally pump anywhere. Additionally, the support offered my the Pumpables team is second to none - every time I have an issue I message them on FB and they aim to resolve it swiftly. As a result, 9 months after purchase my MJ is still going strong even though I use it 4+ times a day. Some of the small parts require regular replacement to stay effective but that’s to be expected. I’ve recommended the MJ to a few friends and they’ve been equally impressed. Thank you to the Pumpables team for such a great product and your ongoing customer support.
In-depth reviews
Good little pump, a few features could be improved – I purchased this pump for occasional expressing. I've had the pump for 6 months. It generally works well, is light-weight and easy to assemble and clean. The settings are useful and easy to use, I like having the option to increase the frequency of the pumping and the strength was more than enough for me. Overall has been good, but there have been… Read more
a few drawbacks which I will mention for others who may be considering which pump to purchase.
I haven't been able to obtain a high volume of milk, which may be due to the funnel being of incorrect size. It is good that the Milk Genie comes with 3 sizes, however, I still required a smaller size which is not possible to purchase. A hack with pumping equipment designed for alternate brands is possible, but I was reluctant to purchase more equipment in case it didn't work. The main drawback for me has been that the tubes fall out of the pump very easily - this has made double pumping quite a challenge and I am unable to pump when feeding (I get best volumes this way) as my baby now pulls it out wherever I position. The bottle doesn't screw very tightly into the other part of the pump so sometimes comes loose and the neck of the bottle is horizontal and quite wide so I can't get all of the milk out of the bottles afterwards. When I purchased the pump it wasn't clear what came with it - lovely to receive pump to bag adapters and storage bags, but I had also purchased an additional pump to bag set, which was a waste.
Pump is good, but in hindsight I would have bought a pump from a more expensive brand that I knew I could purchase different sized equipment for.
Awesome little pump – Super happy with this pump. I exclusively express for my son so I bought the Milk Genie Plus to use as my portable pump when I go out (probably use it twice a week on average). It’s so small and light. I get a similar yield with it as I do with my main pump at home (in a similar timeframe) which is great. + Lots of different settings to suit… Read more · 1
everyone. + Love that it includes 3 different flange sizes as most brands will give you one and if that doesn’t fit, you have to buy the size you need. + Option of single or double pumping. + The battery charges quickly and lasts a few hours of pumping. + Hospital-grade/closed system which is very important. + Free shipping (though I can’t say mine arrived quickly). + They often have promo codes running so have a look before buying.
My only gripes are: - The tubing is not as flexible as that of some other pumps and seems to slip off the connections quite easily, e.g. with a little knock or sudden movement, so not great fun when you have a toddler and baby around while you’re pumping. - The bottles have quite a deep lip at the top so I always lose a few mLs of breastmilk during transfer (every drop counts!). Not an issue for those who can use the supplied bottles/teats, but my son can’t for medical reasons so transferring to different bottles is inevitable for us. Luckily the pump easily fits other wide-neck varieties so I just use my Spectra bottles instead.
All in all, highly recommend to anyone looking for a pump. Also, be sure to use their Nipple Ruler https://pumpables.co/measure/ to make sure you are using the right size flange - if you are in pain when pumping, you are probably using the wrong size!
Good but can be better – I had been using a Spectra 2 and now that I'm back to work so I decided to go with the Pumpables. The first days it did not get good results. It took time to adjust and now I like it better. Still, there is a lot to improve. Pros: It is small and quiet. Which makes it perfect on the go. It is gentle and the expression mode is natural (similar to… Read more
the Spectra). The battery lasts me about 6-7 20min pumps. The parts are compatible with the Spectra. I really like the tubes. They have a connector in each side which provides a better attachment to the cap and to the pump. (a plus against Spectra).
Cons: The 21mm flange is too short. Get better results using the Spectra flanges. I'm not sure if is the size or the form but I get a more powerfull pump with the 21mm Spectra flanges. The power is not enough to double pump (There is only one vacuum level, several cycle levels). I get more milk when using the Haakka silicone pump in one breast and pumping in the other. (always use it off charge) I don't think it helps to increase the supply. It is not able to empty fully my breast for that I need the Spectra. The bottles neck should be changed, you cannot empty them fully, wasting some milk in each. So again, I use the Spectra bottles. One of the caps cracked the second day of use. It is functional but has a fissure so it will surely break soon.
Positive reviews
Great pump – While I don't have any other pumps to compare this to - I loved this pump when my son was a newborn. Easy to use, easy to clean. Travelled with it several times and I love how compact it is. Show details
Best pump out there! – After trying all the main brands in Australia I found this to be the best. It is compact, convenient and reliable. It's quite, comfortable and all parts can be cleaned. highly recommend!! Show details
Mighty little pump – I used this pump to exclusively express for my baby for 6 months, for the first two months i was using a large medela pump. The milk genie matched the large pump with the added bonus of being portable. I purchased a cheap pumping bra on eBay and walked around with this in my pocket. My daughter was a catnapper and of she woke quickly while i was… Read more
still pumping this little gem allowed me to tend to her at the same time. Its so strong and powerful for its size. I was tossing up between this and the s9 and im so glad i went with this little beast. The price point is great too. Their customer service is also amazing. My pump was showing and error but still worked exactly the same with no issues. All i did was ask what the error was on the pumpables community facebook page and within two days a brand new pump was at my door. No questions asked. Ive never dealt with such an amazimg cutomer service team. 100% recommened this pump and pumpables brand in general.
Negative reviews
pump is barely working after 2 months of light use – pump is barely working after 2 months of light use. even on level 10. should have a clip on it to make it practical so you can walk around.. Will have to look at alternate pump to meet my needs Show details
Hi Fiona, oh no! :( This sounds like your valves need… Read more
Not for me – Really disappointed. I completely agree with the review below. I had high hopes for this pump but sadly it hasn’t lived up to my expectations. The suction is ok but I find the noises the pump makes is really loud. I don’t seem to be the only one who thinks this? It makes pumping near your baby really hard as if the baby is asleep the noise will… Read more
wake her up.
There is no clip so you need to buy extra products for this to be a portable pump.
Battery life is not long. It cuts out after a couple of hours, much less than the advertised amount. Probably half the time stated.
Unfortunately I’m going to stick with my other pump.
The only positive was that shipping was fairly fast and multiple plugs are in the box.
I also had 3 emails since purchasing asking to leave a review in return for a discount code so I’m not sure how accurate these reviews are?
Hey Carmel, sorry you're disappointed. We know that's a… Read more
Low suction and loud – The pump is comfortable but the suction seems low on all settings and i can barely get an oz of milk, even when my breasts are full. Would not recommend. Show details
Hey Tiffany, the Genie Plus has great suction, so if… Read more
Recent reviews
GeniePlus - Top notch – After hiring a hospital grade pump for a couple months, I needed an affordable pump to use multiple times a day. I initially bought another brand of pump, but its minimum suction strength was too strong so was painful and yielded small amounts of milk. Pumpables Genie Plus is a compact, light weight pump that has a good range of suction strength… Read more
from super gentle to very strong. Although the pump comes with three sizes of flanges, I personally like another brand of flange, and Pumpables has fittings to allow for these to be connected so I can have a pumping experience customised to my liking. Their customer service is fantastic and informative and helped me to work this all out.
Find out how Pumpables Milk Genie compares to other Electric Breast Pumps
Know better, choose better.
Great machine and comfortable – I received Pumpables Milk Genie from my friend. Once I got it, I just cant wait to open and tried it with greatest excitement. The pump is handy, easy assembling, quick charging, quiet and comfortable. Its gentle but also powerful, perfect for mums who have flat and sore nipples like me. I used 20 minutes and pumped 110ml all together. It may be… Read more
nothing for mums with great milk supply. However, it is a lot and means a lot to me who generally pumped 50-90ml. And its effortless. At the end of pumping, I didn't feel any discomfort on my nipples! What a gift!
Now I have put my Spectra aside and focus on using your pump for days and nights.
Great pump – Comfortable pump that has a handy programming option to save your usual settings. Use daily multiple times a day and it is lasting well. Easy to transport. I just don't like the way that level 7 on the pumping mode it quite different from 6 and 8. Show details
Great machine but needs more accessories and a few tweaks to be amazing – I've only had this pump for about a week, and it is a fantastic little machine. It's really small, quiet and powerful. It gets about as much milk as the hospital grade medela one I was using after the birth of my son. I only have a few things I would like to see pumpables add to make this great. The pump needs a clip, as it's too big for most… Read more
pockets and women's clothes often don't have them, a travel case with a wet bag or wet area would be good to make it even more portable. The bottles it comes with don't let the last drops of milk out due to the severe angle, so it would be nice to have a more tapered bottle. Also the tubing pops off fairly easily, so if you knock it with your arm and it disconnects it stops working. Apart from the the display needs a dimmer as at night it's blinding.
The game changer! – I purchased 2 pumps and stumbled across the milk genie on sale. It’s amazing. It’s comfortable, portable, compact and quiet! Only downfall is there’s is no clip for portability. I express the same as the Medela , which is a lot. It’s great for on the go. Show details
So amazing! – Portable, quick charging, double pump. Superstar online support team who respond quickly and are so helpful. Absolute game change compared to the big bulky plug in pumps my friends use. Have recommended to all new mums i know. Show details
Great pump 100% recommend – Bought this pump as it was on offer on groupon and I wasn't sure at 20 weeks pregnant if I'd successfully breastfeed my baby. It's been amazing. My daughter hasn't a great latch so I'm 90% expressing all her feeds. I get 450-600mls per day using the milk genie. It's quiet, small, easy to clean and not painful to use. I prefer to use it as a single… Read more
pump as my breasts work better on different settings. I usually use it for 30 minutes X 6 times a day. Battery life is good. When on one bar the suction does decrease a bit. So glad I bought it!
Can't believe how easy it is – I bought this based on positive reviews, not disappointed! I only need to use it on levels 2-4 and I get good suction without pain. I started using it as my milk came in late and I needed all the colostrum I could get. It was a life saver for me to maintain exclusive breast feeding. I use it to fully drain my breasts now after she feeds. Powerful but gentle on my nipples. Small and portable. So easy to clean and take apart. Thank you so much Show details · 1
Best pump & customer service! – My pump recently started to die more frequently, I emailed the pumpables team asking how I would go about getting a replacement pump, I didn’t check my emails again that day expecting a couple of days to reply, the next day I open my door and have a package for me. It was a brand new pump with all the accessories. No questions asked! Due to a… Read more · 1
poor latch I sorely reply on my pump to feed my daughter, im using my pump multiple times a day. I’m blown away by how prompt these guys are. Oh and my pump has been amazing, I use to have the AVENT one but switched to Pumpables after I heard good reviews. Honestly if you’re reading this, just stop and go order the pump you will not regret it one bit at all.
It's my first electrical pump and I love it – It's easy to use and carry around. Friendly with my nipples. I use it once every day since February 2019. I like the fact that it's quite silent. Can be used near the sleeping baby without issue. The shipping was fast and reliable. I would recommend this pump to all mums. Show details · 1
Find out how Pumpables Milk Genie compares to other Electric Breast Pumps
Know better, choose better.
Excellent product – My daughter uses this with my grandchild and we absolutely love it. It’s great when we have to babysit and we have all the milk in the fridge ready to go to feed our grandchild. Show details · 1
Great portable pump – Loving it as a portable pump. Small and compact and looks great! I can use it around the house with ease. Only problem I have is that the flanges does not fit the bottles and adapter to standard neck well. It is extremely difficult to remove the adapters and put them back. Not sure if it is a defective piece. Show details · 1
The real genie to all EPM mum – It is lighter and more efficient than my previous pump. so quiet that i can pump in the taxi without the driver noticing! It's my new bff. I can fit my Avent bottle directly to it. I'm leaving my freestyle buddy at home and bringing my genie bff out with me. Show details · 1
Glad that i trust my instinct! – Express delivery, easy to use. Never faced any issues when using this wonderful breastpump. Quite hesitant at first as its quite new in the market but glad that i trust my instinct! Show details · 1
PUMPABLES SURELY THE BEST – Love how compact the machine is and it helps with my pumping session like A LOT so I do recommended for first time mother who surely need a pump. Been using it for 3 months now and love it to the max. Thanks pumpables for producing such a wonderful pump. Show details
Loving it! – I love the fact that there are 3 flange sizes included in the package. I can easily find a size that matches me, without having to purchase a different size since the default one is usually too big. The pump is petite and easy to bring around, yet huge on performance! The price point is definitely a big plus as it is very affordable. Show details
Best Milk Pump ever – Really best ever I pump milk easily and with out painful thanks to pumables Milk Genie I use it 3 times a day . Can’t travel with out it. I love it Show details
Bubble wrap box please – It works okay. I wish that it will come bubble wrapped like it’s competitor the Spectra S1 and Spectra 9+. The box came in dented and spoilt. Makes it looks cheap when I think it is a good product. Show details · 2
Excellent – Verly pleased with the the comfort of the product, happy with getting betwern 2-3 half oz depending on the times, really handy to bring while traveling small compact, highly recommend Show details
Does what it says – I’ve never used any other breast pump so although I have nothing else to compare it to i am happy with this product. I am an occasional expresser and don’t express every day. It’s small and portable, the different size breast shields is really handy and comfortable to express. It hasn’t increased my supply (which is fine I didn’t buy it to) but I… Read more
can express a full feed/bottle of around 180 ml in 15 minutes. The customer service was also good and the pump arrived quickly.
Amazing!!! Thank you!! – The pump is extremely comfortable and the customer service is excellent. Nothing to fault except maybe that the tubes disconnect quite easily from the machine but it is so easy to reconnect that it is barely worth mentioning. Thank you for creating this wonderful machine!!! Show details
This is great – Love how small and easy to use this pump is! It doesn’t make a lot of sound and I do get a decent amount of milk when I pump. The only thing I don’t love is how easily the chords pop out of the machine, that would be the only thing I’d change. Show details
Are you Returning to work and still wish to breastfeed? You need this product – Love it. I went back to work when my baby was 3month old and was worried how i would still keep my milk supply up and still manage to keep breastfeeding. Thanks to this amazing pump I am still currently using it. She is taking both breastmilk from me and a bottle thanks to pumpables. … Read more
This pump is amazing, it is very easy to use, does not make alot of sound while pumping, easy to clean and is a great size to pack in my bag and take to work. Love that it comes with other parts to fit all size women. Great pressie idea for a babyshower gift for a new mum. So glad i found this product. I would definitely recommend it to all my friends and family and to all those mums that wish to continue breastfeeding and returning to work.
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Hello Tan - we did explain this lots of times -… Read more (+1 reply)