Have you ever wondered if there is a battery pack for the Spectra S2 breast pump?
I had the same question. You may have picked the Spectra S2 because it was covered by your health insurance and you heard a lot of great reviews about this pump.
After using this pump, you might have realized that you like using this pump (many moms rave about it), but there is one (tiny) problem with it.
Pumping would be so much easier if you were not stuck in a chair, and you could multitask while pumping!
I exclusively pumped for my daughter, and I spent a lot of time pumping and figuring out the easiest ways to pump.
After I used the pump for awhile I realized that it would be so nice to be able to get up and walk around with the pump. Pumping takes up so much of your time, and there are a lot of things you need to get done when you have a newborn.
You may be wondering how you can have more freedom while pumping, and the answer is to use an external battery pack!
So, Is There A Battery Pack For The Spectra S2 Pump?
Yes, there is a battery pack for the Spectra S2 breast pump. Because the Spectra S2 pump does not come with a built-in rechargeable battery, you need to use an external battery pack. Without this external battery, you will need to plug the pump into the wall while pumping.
I tested out a few different battery packs, and found that this battery pack (link to Amazon) works the best with the Spectra S2 breast pump.
Do you feel confined by pumping when you are tied to the wall? If so, you will definitely want to see how life-changing it is to be mobile while pumping.
The BEST Rechargeable Battery Pack For the Spectra S2 Pump
When searching for a battery pack for the Spectra S2, I had several things I was looking for in a battery.
- The battery pack adapter needed to be compatible with the Spectra S2 pump
- It needed to be reliable
- It needed to make my life easier
- It needed to have multiple uses. I wanted to use the battery pack after I was finished pumping.
After buying this battery, I tested it with my pump and found that the suction was the same as when I was plugged into the wall. It was so amazing to have the freedom to walk around while pumping.
If you use this battery pack, you will feel like you got hours back into your day!
As a bonus, I also love that the battery pack has a USB port and can be used to charge my phone and tablet. This meant that it has a few other uses for when you are done pumping.
Here is the best battery pack for the Spectra S2 pump (link to Amazon).
How To Hack Your Spectra S2 With A Battery Pack
Here are the easy instructions to hack your Spectra S2 with a battery pack. This hack will make your life pumping with an S2 so much easier!
First, get your supplies together. I’ve included links to Amazon where you can find everything that you will need.
Supplies Needed:
- External battery pack
- Connector cable
- Strong velcro
- Pumping bra (if you do not already have one)
- Pump tubing (optional)
- Car adapter (optional)
1. Plug The Battery Pack Into The Wall To Charge (So It Has Full Power)
Before you begin pumping, make sure that the battery pack is fully charged.
This will make sure that your pump does not stop unexpectedly in the middle of your session!
2. Use The Connector To Connect The Battery And Your Pump.
After the battery is finished charging, you can connect it to your pump.
This battery pack comes with a dual connector so it can be charging and in use at the same time.
If you want to streamline the cords for this hack, then you can use this simple connector cable instead of the one that is included with the battery.
The simple connector cable will attach the battery and the pump together. The benefit of it is that you will not have the extra charging cable dangling while you are pumping.
(This definitely helped when my little one became more mobile and wanted to grab at my pump parts and cords.)
3. Use Strong Velcro To Attach The Battery Pack To Your Pump.
You will want to attach the battery pack to your pump so you do not need two hands to carry it around. A good place to attach the battery pack is to the flat area on the bottom (underside) of the pump.
It is important to use velcro that is strong enough to hold the weight of the battery pack.
I found that this velcro worked the best to attach the battery pack to the pump.
4. Use A Hands-free Pumping Bra To Keep Your Hands Free While Pumping
A hands-free pumping bra will allow you to have the most mobility while you are pumping.
It will allow you to pump without holding the bottles. This is key because if you are moving around your house, you will need at least one hand free to hold the pump.
Here is a link to the pumping bra that works the best with a Spectra pump.
5. Carry The Pump (By Hand Or In A Backpack)
You can carry the pump around while you are pumping, or you can put it in a backpack so your hands are free while you walk around.
When I put my pump in my backpack, I found that the standard tubing that comes with the Spectra was not long enough.
I found some very inexpensive replacement tubing. I was able to cut it to the length that worked for me.
This tubing actually ended up working better than the tubing that came with my pump. This is because it attached more snugly to the backflow protectors.
Here is a link to the pump tubing I used.
6. To Pump In the Car, Use A Car Adapter for the Spectra S2
Pumping in the car can save a lot of time. If you want to pump in the car (either as a passenger or while driving), then you may want one of these inexpensive car adapters.
This car adapter will allow you to plug the Spectra into your car and power your pump while the car is running.
This car adapter was a life-saver. If I didn’t have time to get in a full pump session before I needed to leave the house, I would just hook up and pump while we were driving.
I used it on my commute, on road trips, and on trips around town.
A lot of the time it would take 20-30 minutes to drive somewhere around town and that was the perfect amount of time for me to fit in a pumping session.
Knowing that I could pump in the car took away some of the rush and pressure when we were trying to get out of the house.
I also loved knowing that if we were out longer than we planned, I could pump in the car. Since I needed to pump every three hours, this gave me a lot of extra freedom to be out of the house longer than 2.5 or 3 hours.
Here is a link to my favorite car adapter for the Spectra S2 pump.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have had a few frequently asked questions about using a battery pack with a Spectra S2, so I’ve included the questions and answers for you below.
Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions about it!
Can You Use the Medela Battery Pack With The Spectra S2?
No, you should not use the Medela Battery Pack with the Spectra S2. This is for two main reasons.
First, the Medela battery pack is a 9 volt battery and the Spectra S2 operates on 12 volt. You could damage your pump if you use the wrong voltage because they are not compatible.
Second, the Medela battery pack is not rechargeable. It uses AA batteries to power it, and it can get expensive to replace these batteries.
This is why I recommend using this rechargeable battery for the Spectra S2.
Is There A Spectra S2 Plus Battery Pack?
Yes, there is an external battery pack that is compatible with the Spectra S2 Plus.
I understand that some of the terminology can be a little confusing if you are new to pumping or if this is the first breast pump you’ve used.
The Spectra S2 and Spectra S2 Plus are the same breast pumps.
Because they are the same pump, the same external battery pack (that I’ve linked in this article) can be used with both pumps.
What Is The Difference Between the Spectra S1 and Spectra S2 Pumps?
The main difference between the Spectra S1 and the Spectra S2 pumps is that the S1 has a built-in rechargeable battery pack and the Spectra S2 does not.
- The Spectra S2 (without a built-in battery) is the pink color pump.
- The Spectra S1 (with a built in battery) is the blue color pump.
- Other than the battery and color, they function the same.
If you have a Spectra S2 pump, then it needs to be plugged in while you are pumping unless you use an external battery pack.
If you are trying to decide if you should pick the Spectra S1 pump or the Spectra S2 pump, you have a few options.
- Option 1: Pick the Spectra S1 pump. You will not need an external battery pack if you have the S1. (Check the current price of the Spectra S1 by clicking here – link to Amazon.)
- Option 2: Select the Spectra S2 pump, and use an external battery pack like this one (link to Amazon).
For some more information, I go into a lot of depth about these two pumps in this article: the Ultimate Guide to the Spectra S1 and S2 Pumps.
In the article, I list out all the differences and similarities, and how to use the pump. If you are curious about these two pumps, be sure to read it.
Is The Spectra S2 Battery Operated?
No, the Spectra S2 is not battery operated when you buy it out of the box.
However, if you are interested in using a battery with the Spectra S2, that is also an option. You can make the Spectra S2 portable by using an external battery pack.
Is the Spectra S2 Rechargeable?
No, the pump is not rechargeable and needs to be plugged into the wall.
If you are looking for a rechargeable pump, check out the Spectra S1, or use an external battery pack for your Spectra S2 breast pump.
Does The Spectra S2 Have A Rechargeable External Battery?
Yes, there is a rechargeable external battery for the Spectra S2.
I checked out a few different batteries, and have a link for you here with the one that I recommend.
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