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Why do I need a breast pump?


Breast milk is best for the baby but breastfeeding your child requires a great deal of commitment. If you are looking for greater flexibility, a breast pump may just be the thing you need. Whether you are looking for be away from you baby for a few hours or even returning back to work, a breast pump will allow you to feed your child with your breast milk while you are away. While
formula is an option, it is clear that what is best and most natural for your baby is your own milk. While pumps do cost money, formula also costs money and quickly adds up to be much more than even the most expensive pumps. Pumping requires a commitment of time and some planning but it allows to properly nourish your child with your own milk.

Here are some reasons you may need to use a breast pump:
  • Mother and baby will be separated during feeding times
  • Mother needs to increase a low milk supply
  • Baby cannot feed because he or she is premature or sick
  • If you have an engorged breast, pumping some milk softens the breast which helps the baby latch on
  • Mother needs medication that might enter the breast milk. Mother can pump her breast milk to maintain her supply but throw out the potentially unsafe breast milk

Which breast pump is best for me?


When you are choosing a breast pump, you need to consider how often you plan on using it. If you are only going to be away from your child once in a while, then all you may need is a simple manual breast pump. They are an inexpensive option but they do take some effort and time to use. If you plan on returning to work, then you will be pumping every day and an electric model is more appropriate. Electric breast pumps are faster and require much less effort than a mechanical model. To help you make a better choice, continue reading about the differences between manual and electric breast pumps.

Note: Never purchase "bicycle horn" style manual pump. Though cheap, they can damage breast tissue and harbor bacteria in the rubber suction bulb, which is difficult to clean.

manual breast pump Manual Breast Pumps
Advantages
  • Their small size makes them convenient to pack and carry on a trip
  • Allows you to control the suction more directly since you are the one pumping
  • They are quieter than electric breast pumps
Disadvantages
  • It takes a long time to express your breast milk
  • Some women find that they are unable to empty breast fully which can lead to a lower milk supply
  • They are tiring to use. You have to provide all the power
electric breast pumpElectric Breast Pumps
Advantages
  • Pumping is quick and efficient with these electric models. If you are pumping often, it will make you experience much less bothersome
  • Most models allow for pumping both breasts at once which make things even faster
  • Electric models yield more breast milk than manual models. It will help increase your milk supply
Disadvantages
  • These models are significantly more expensive
  • They can be noisy
  • They can be heavy and cumbersome to pack and carry along with you

Electric Breast Pumps: Rent or Buy?


Consider how often you will be using the pump, how long you plan on pumping, and how much time you have to spend pumping. If you are a working mother, a hospital grade breast pump will make the job much faster (especially pumping both breasts at once) but it will cost a lot of money. These pumps can be rented for $10 to $15 a week. So if you are going to pump for 6 months and rent the breast pump, you are looking at anywhere from $260 to $380 but this is much less than $1400 they cost new. Look at the money as investment in your child's health and well-being.

The next step down for a hospital grade pump is a breast pump like the Medela "Pump in Style". These pumps average $250 dollars to purchase and do a generally good job. This level of breast pump usually comes with an AC adapter for your car and a travel bag so that you can bring all your supplies with you. Medela "Pump in Style" allows you pump both breasts at once and is much lighter than hospital grade models, but it will take longer to empty each breast. This time savings isn't trivial when you have to pump many times a day but the weight difference makes this version much more portable than a hospital grade model. You may want to rent first to see how pumping goes and then decide if you want to buy a breast pump at all.

I do not recommend battery powered breast pumps for anyone who is considering pumping with any regularity. They are usually under-powered and do a poor job.

Breastshields: Fitting your Medela breast pump


We come in all shapes and sizes and so do our breasts and nipples. A one-size fits all approach doesn't make sense and didn't work for me. Medela's "Personal Fit" system gives each woman a chance to customize the breastshield to their own breast. When pumping, the nipple should be pulled down comfortably into the shield and you should feel as though the pumped breasts are empty when you are finished. Large nipples may rub against the inside of the shield when you pump causing some discomfort (and maybe even incomplete emptying of the breast). If you are having nipple pain during pumping, or you are not able to get a letdown, it may be that a larger breast shield will help. These larger breastshields are easily available at any breast pump store.