Nova Luxe Electric Breast Pump

Nova Luxe: a hands-free electric breast pump with wearable cups

The Nova Luxe is a hands-free electric breast pump. A small 8.8 oz cordless unit delivers suction through a thin tube to portable collection cups that sit in your nursing bra. Suction reaches up to 283 mmHg, the highest of any Hygeia pump, and you get separate controls for speed and strength.

Hands-free cups vs a fully wearable pump

"Hands-free" and "wearable" often get used as if they mean the same thing. There is a real difference.

Choose the Nova Luxe if you want the most control and don't mind a thin tube. Choose the Esprit if you want nothing outside your clothes.

Separate speed and strength controls

Most pumps link speed and suction together. Nova Luxe splits them, so you can change one without the other.

• Speed (1 to 5) changes how fast the pump cycles. Faster cycles feel like a baby's quick sucks at the start of a feed. Slower cycles feel like deeper, steadier pulls.
• Strength (1 to 10) changes how much suction each cycle uses, up to 283 mmHg.

Research supports setting suction to your "maximum comfortable vacuum." A 2011 study in the Journal of Human Lactation found that pumping at the highest level a mom found comfortable removed milk more efficiently than a lower fixed level. That is why separate controls help. You can raise strength as high as you are comfortable with and still keep a natural rhythm.

How to find your best settings

1. Start in Stimulation mode with low strength and a faster speed.
2. Once milk flows, switch to Expression mode.
3. Raise strength one level at a time until it feels strong but not painful, then step back one level.
4. Adjust speed for comfort. Many moms prefer a slower speed during expression.
5. If flow slows, switch back to Stimulation for a minute to trigger another let-down.

Pumping should never hurt. Pain, pinching, or a nipple that turns white after a session are signs to lower strength or check your flange size.

How to use the Nova Luxe, step by step

1. Choose your flange insert. The box includes 2 x 24mm inserts and 1 x 27mm flange. Your nipple should sit centered in the tunnel and move freely.
2. Wash your hands, then assemble the wearable cups, duckbill valves and backflow protectors, and connect the tubing to the pump.
3. Place the cups in a snug nursing bra with your nipple centered.
4. Clip the pump to your waistband or keep it in a pocket.
5. Follow the settings steps above.
6. Pump until your breasts feel softer. Nova Luxe shuts off on its own after 30 minutes.

The FDA notes a typical session lasts about 10 to 15 minutes per breast.

Why output can drop with hands-free cups, and how to fix it

In-bra cups depend on a good seal. If your output falls, check these before you change pumps.

• The cup is tilted. A loose bra lets it lean and break suction.
• The nipple isn't centered. Reseat the cup before you start.
• The flange is the wrong size. Sizes often change in the weeks after birth.
• A valve or backflow part isn't seated or has worn out.
• Strength is too low, or so high that it's uncomfortable and slows let-down.

One low session isn't a pattern. If output stays low for several days, talk with a lactation consultant.

What to expect in your first weeks

Every mom makes milk differently, and early sessions tend to produce small amounts. Low pump output is not always a sign of low supply. The numbers can be discouraging, so don't judge your supply by one session. Watch your baby's growth and diapers.

Hygeia moms can schedule a virtual consult with an IBCLC through our partnership with Nest Collaborative, often covered by insurance. The free Hygeia Baby app also tracks your sessions and changes over time.

Who the Nova Luxe is best for

• Moms who find standard settings uncomfortable and want finer control.
• Moms who pump at a desk and want hands-free cups with controls in easy reach.
• Moms who move between home and work and want one cordless pump for both.
• Moms who want the highest suction in the Hygeia lineup.

Other hands-free pumps that use tubing to cups include the Medela Pump In Style Hands-Free and Elvie Stride. Nova Luxe adds independent speed and strength controls and suction up to 283 mmHg.

Pumping at work with the Nova Luxe

Under the federal PUMP Act, most employees get reasonable break time and a private space that is not a bathroom to pump for up to one year after their baby's birth. Since the Nova Luxe is cordless, you can use that space without needing a plug.

The CDC says freshly pumped milk keeps at room temperature (77 °F or lower) for up to 4 hours, in the fridge for up to 4 days, and in a cooler with frozen ice packs for up to 24 hours.

Nova Luxe vs other Hygeia electric breast pumps

Battery, care and cleaning

Nova Luxe is cordless and rechargeable. A single charge powers multiple sessions, enough to get you through a full workday.

After each session, wash the cups, inserts, valves and backflow protectors. Rinse, wash in a basin used only for items that feed babies, and let the parts air-dry. The CDC recommends cleaning parts at least once a day, especially for babies under 2 months old, born prematurely, or with a weakened immune system. You don't need to wash the tubing routinely unless milk gets into it. If you see droplets, run the pump with the tubing attached until it is dry. All parts that touch milk are BPA- and phthalate-free.

Get the Nova Luxe through insurance

Under the Affordable Care Act, most health plans must cover a breast pump, either a rental or a new one you keep.

1. Fill out our 2-minute insurance form with your insurance card.
2. We check your coverage and collect your prescription.
3. We ship your Nova Luxe. Most moms pay $0, and we tell you up front about any upgrade fee.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a hands-free pump and a wearable pump?

The Nova Luxe, a hands-free pump, uses a separate motor and tubing to cups in your bra. The Esprit is a wearable pump, with the motor in the cup. Both leave your hands free.

Can I change speed without changing suction strength?

Yes. Speed (1 to 5) and strength (1 to 10) have separate controls. You can slow the rhythm and keep the same suction, or lower the suction and keep the same rhythm.

What speed and strength should I use?

Start both low. Raise strength until it feels strong but comfortable, then step back one level. Many moms like a faster let-down speed and a slower expression speed. Pumping shouldn't be painful.

Do I need a special bra for the hands-free cups?

The best nursing or pumping bra is one that fits snugly, because it holds the cups close to your breast. If your bra is too loose, the cups can angle and break the seal.

Does the Nova Luxe come with hands-free cups?

Yes. Wearable collection cups are in the box.

What flange sizes come with the Nova Luxe?

The box includes 2 x 24mm inserts and 1 x 27mm flange. Other sizes are sold separately in our flanges collection.

Is the Nova Luxe a single or double pump?

The Nova Luxe is a single pump, so you pump one breast at a time.

Is the Nova Luxe cordless, and does it shut off automatically?

Yes to both. It is rechargeable and fully cordless, and it powers off after 30 minutes as a safety feature.

Will insurance cover the Nova Luxe?

Most insurance plans cover it under the ACA, and most moms pay $0. Fill out our insurance form and we'll confirm your coverage.