Even though Hygeia is a lesser known brand of breast pumps, we can safely say that it’s gaining a pretty strong foothold in the market. The most important thing about their models is that they’re “green” – they’re using “No Pumps in Dumps” as the slogan and want to keep these devices out of the landfills.
Their newest model, called EnJoye LBI Breast Pump, is very interesting and deserves a more in-depth look. It’s a sturdy, durable breast pumping device, made out of BPA-free materials and featuring a convenient rechargeable battery pack. But is it worth the money?
Specifications:
- Brand – Hygeia
- Model Name – EnJoye LBI Breast Pump
- Power Source Type – AC/batteries
- Weight – 2.07 pounds
- Dimensions – 3” x 1” x 1”
- Dishwasher Safe – No
Features of Hygeia EnJoye LBI Breast Pump
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The Design
The design of this breast pump is nothing special – it’s a simple square-shaped device with a convenient handle and some simple controls. It sports a combination of gray and orange, and, in our opinion, looks pretty decent (maybe even a bit retro).
Like we said in the intro of this review, the most important thing here is the fact that this device is ecological. All parts of it are DEHP/BPA free, which means that no harmful materials were used during its manufacture and you won’t have to worry about harming your kid with dangerous chemicals.
As it weighs only a bit more than 2 pounds, the pump is very lightweight and can be easily carried around in a purse. The model comes with several accessories, and they all fit well into the included tote bag (more on that later).
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The Efficiency
This model has been registered with FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as a multi-user breast pump, which means that one can expect hospital-grade efficiency from it. And that’s exactly what we noticed during the testing – the pump is very fast, if not the fastest we have seen yet. The suction speed/cycle of this device is 50 to 80 per minute, which is, in our opinion, pretty impressive. The speed is, of course, entirely adjustable, which means that every mom will be able to find the rhythm that she deems the most comfortable (an infant sucks at around 40 to 50 times per minute).
The suction strength, on the other hand, is 50 to 240mmHg. Just like with the suction speed, users can fine-tune the strength via the (very responsive) dial control. Our testers said that they were able to pump around 7 ounces in the period of 8 minutes, which definitely puts the Hygeia EnJoye into the category of high-speed pumps. A mom can pump either just one or both of her breasts, allowing her to use the device according to her current needs.
The rechargeable battery that we mentioned is yet another great feature of this model. Sometimes, moms simply have no access to AC power – there are no power outlets around, making their electric breast pumps worthless. That’s not the case with this model! The rechargeable battery pack, which is included in the box, allows you to use this device whenever and wherever you want. This also contributes to the model’s overall portability and is yet another big plus in our book.
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The Comfort
The Hygeia EnJoye comes with just one standard breast shield (27mm), which is quite wider than the 24mm flanges of other brands. It provides enough comfort for the long pumping sessions, but it probably won’t fit all mothers. That’s where we get to the only major flaw of this model – Hygeia’s customer service is quite poor, and it’s next to impossible to find flanges of other sizes or any spare parts for this pump.
Fortunately, the Medela breast shields are fully compatible with this model, but that doesn’t justify Hygeia’s poor customer service.
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The Accessories
One thing we really liked here is the fact that this model comes with a lot of useful accessories. Along with the pump itself, you’ll be also getting a power supply (rechargeable batteries), a cooler bag (together with the ice pack), a tote bag (you can choose between the brown and the black one), a zipper tag, a PAS (Personal Accessory Set), as well as the user manual.
The user manual is very well-written and full of useful information, which means that you should have no trouble with figuring out how the pump works. It’s also worth noting that this device comes with a three-year warranty, which is among the longest in the industry. But, with a poor customer service of this company, you won’t be able to take a full advantage of it.
What’s wrong with the product?
- It’s very difficult to find spare parts
If any part of this breast pump breaks or becomes unusable in any way, moms who own it will have a tough time with finding spare parts. That’s due to the…
- Poor customer service
….which is the most significant shortcoming of this model and of the company that manufactured it. Even though Hygeia’s products have become quite popular in the last few years, they can’t expect to keep this popularity with such a weak customer service. With this pump, you simply won’t be able to take advantage of its extended warranty period.
Conclusion
As you can see in our full review, there are a lot of things to like about this pump. It sports a sturdy, durable construction, can be used anywhere due to its battery pack, and is among the fastest models that money can buy today.
The only shortcoming of this model is the manufacturer’s poor customer service, which makes finding spare parts or taking advantage of the warranty very difficult. But the pump itself is among the best battery-operated models we’ve reviewed so far – it’s certainly worth the money!
