Choosing a Breast Pump
Your breasts produce milk on the principle of supply and demand. The more breast milk your baby consumes, the more your body will need to make.
If you have gone back to work, are traveling, are having to take medication, or have another reason why you are not able to feed your baby on a consistent schedule, using a breast pump will insure your breasts continue to produce milk.
There are a few different types of breast pumps. They can be battery operated, hand operated, semi-automatic electric or self-cycling electric. Choosing the right kind of breast pump for you will help you be more comfortable when you have to use it.
Manual Hand Pumps use the strength of your hand or arm muscles to pump one breast at a time. While this can take longer than pumping both at one time, some women find it more comfortable than pumping both breasts at once. The manual pump allows you to have more control.
You can also find manual breast pumps that use leg and foot muscles to pump both breasts at the same time. If you have carpal tunnel or other problems with your hand, wrist or arm, you may want to choose a manual foot pump or an automatic one.
Battery Operated Breast Pumps are best for women who have an established milk supply and need to pump once or twice a day. The batteries are used to create suction which minimizes muscle fatigue. Most battery pumps are designed for pumping one breast at a time. They are recommended for occasional usage.
Electric pumps are more efficient than hand and battery operated pumps. They plug into an outlet and are usually designed for pumping both breasts at the same time. They are recommended for frequent usage. Today, you can also find electric pumps that come with a car charger for pumping on the go.
Hospital grade pumps are the most efficient for initiating
and maintaining milk supply. However, they can be very expensive. They can either be purchased or are available for rental.
