01/21/2026
You’ve probably heard the term “hospital grade” when shopping for a breast pump—but what does it actually mean?
Here’s the truth: the FDA doesn’t define or use the term hospital grade. That means it can be used differently by different brands, which can make things confusing for parents.
Here’s what really matters when choosing a pump:
🔎 Multi-user pumps: Designed to be safely used by multiple people (like in hospitals or workplace lactation rooms).
🔎 Personal-use pumps: Intended for one person only. The FDA recommends not sharing personal-use pumps or buying them secondhand.
🔎 Pump specs: Instead of focusing on marketing terms, look at adjustable settings, mmHg, rechargeability, size, weight, and screen features—and how they fit your lifestyle.
At Cimilre, we intentionally use the term hospital strength rather than hospital grade to help avoid confusion between multi-user and personal-use pumps—because they are very different.
Learn more in our blog:
What “hospital grade” breast pumps really mean. FDA definitions, multi-user vs personal pumps, suction strength, and safety explained.