Breast feeding is the best for babies and mothers, as recommended by pediatricians around the world. Years ago, women are mostly home makers, leaving them without reasons not to breast feed. But nowadays, most women are climbing the corporate stairs too, where time constrains is the most used excuse to not breast feed. Breast pumping is one of the alternatives for these women to feed their infant breast milk. With so many options in the market, you have found the all in one guide to choose a breast pump to suit different lifestyle.
Various choices of brands and types catered to many different lists of wants and needs. Generally, breast pumps can be put into a few categories which are, manual, semi-electric and electric breast pumps. Out of the three, it is then divided into two more categories, which are single and double pumps. Before we look closely on the choices that we have in market, we should look into the reasons for mothers to use breast pumps. Breast pumps are recommended for those who suffer from sore nipple, engorgement, breast infection or insufficient milk.
Manual breast pumps operate without needing any power source. Manual breast pumping also means that mothers use bare hands in expressing milk. Using bare hand is rather messy as milk is being sprayed from multiple openings. Manual breast pump needs both hands to operate; one hand holding breast in place while the other pumps the milk out. This can be very tiring to do if used frequently. For occasional usage, manual breast pump is recommended. Even though the usage of manual breast pump can be tiring, manual breast pumps can be used to draw out flat or invented nipples.
Semi-electric and electric breast pumps hold the same purpose as a manual breast pumps. What makes it stand out is the time taken to express milk. The time taken is reduced by half compared to manual breast pumps. Semi-electric is powered by batteries that are usually rechargeable, while electric breast pumps rely fully on electric source. When traveling, a semi-electric breast pumps can come in handy when there is no direct power source. Some semi and electric breast pumps come with a manual breast pump too, two with the price of one.
Manual breast pumps usually comes only in single pump, while semi-electric and electric comes in either single or double pump. Double pump enables user to pump both breast at the same time. Scientific research says that pumping both breast at the same time maintain hormone excretions. Besides that, expressing milk from both breasts at the same time shortens the time taken to express milk.
Breast pumps are designed to imitate the shape of breast itself. To express milk, one just need to cup breast with the suction cap, place nipple at the middle of suction cap that is connected to the tube and starts pumping away. Cleaning a breast pump may looks very complicated, it is actually very easy, just submerged the breast pump in warm water infused with mild detergent. Any harsh chemical may cause damage to the pump and if not being cleaned thoroughly, it will damage the milk. Breast pump can be purchased at medical-supply stores, lactation consultants, drugstores, and specialty retail stores. If you are planning to rent a breast pump for short term use, some hospitals provide renting services; just ask the nurses at the hospital, you will get all the information that you need.
Rapid and harsh pumping can cause damage to breast tissue. When choosing a breast pump, find one that has control function to control the rapidity and level of suction. When baby is suckling their mother’s breast, they suckle at high rapidity at the beginning to stimulate milk producing. Then continued by suckle and swallow movement. It is good to imitate this rhythm to ensure the health of breast tissues. Bear in mind that expressed milk can be kept refrigerated up to 24 hours and frozen up to 3 to 6 months. When refrigerating the milk, keep it at the deepest end of the fridge to avoid constant temperature change.
Breast milk is no doubt the best natural formula for babies. With breast pumps being invented, no more reasons such as not having spare time or being away from babies, that can prevent breast milk being fed to babies. Mothers should be happy to breast feed too. According to scientific findings, breast feeding helps mothers to get their pre baby figure faster.
Linda Jackson owns a best breast pump blog. In her blog, she writes all brands of breast pump reviews such as Ameda breast pump reviews, Medela breast pump reviews, Avent breast pump reviews and more.
