With the advancement in technology, breast pump has evolved from being manually operated to being powered by battery and electricity. We peek into this device, which serves so much good for both the mother and child with Sam Yoong leading you along the way.
What is breast pump?A breast pump is a device used to draw out milk from mothers who are breastfeeding. It used to be in mechanical form before the electrical ones came along. Breast pumps may be used is when mothers are often away from home but still wishes to give her child breast milk. The breast milk expressed could be stored, and fed later on to the child by others, like the father.
Benefits of using breast pump
What is breast pump?A breast pump is a device used to draw out milk from mothers who are breastfeeding. It used to be in mechanical form before the electrical ones came along. Breast pumps may be used is when mothers are often away from home but still wishes to give her child breast milk. The breast milk expressed could be stored, and fed later on to the child by others, like the father.
Benefits of using breast pump
Breast pump stimulates lactation and in the process, helps mothers to recover from their pregnancy. It could help counter engorgement, an unpleasant state where the breasts are overfull. In events where the baby could not latch onto the mother’s breasts, breast pump does help a lot by first expressing milk, and later feeding the contained milk to the child.
Types of breast pump availableThere are 2 types of breast pump, one which is the manually operated and one that runs on battery/electricity.
Manual pump
These are more affordable when compared to electric pumps. They allow the mother to control how fast the pumping go, and how much pressure involved with each pumping. Mothers might feel that it closely resembles their baby’s sucking. It remains as a more affordable choice, besides being lighter, simplistic and convenient to carry around.
On the other hand, mothers might feel tired after repetitive and slow pumping. Some could not get any milk extracted, while some could not get their breast completely emptied (in accordance to the fact that emptied breasts would stimulate lactation).
Electric or battery powered pump
The electric or battery powered ones provide faster pumping although they tend to be more bulky and noisy.
The more expensive ones are of very high quality, and pumps fast. Suction level could be adjusted, and double pumping is enabled.The average-priced ones are more affordable and lighter. They have the same features as the more expensive ones, except for cycling rates (the rate at which the device pumps) which is slightly lower.
On the low end are the affordable ones, which are able to pump only a breast at a time. Pumping works at a very slow rate. Suction provided may be too strong or weak.
The electric breast pump
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Types of breast pump availableThere are 2 types of breast pump, one which is the manually operated and one that runs on battery/electricity.
Manual pump
These are more affordable when compared to electric pumps. They allow the mother to control how fast the pumping go, and how much pressure involved with each pumping. Mothers might feel that it closely resembles their baby’s sucking. It remains as a more affordable choice, besides being lighter, simplistic and convenient to carry around.
On the other hand, mothers might feel tired after repetitive and slow pumping. Some could not get any milk extracted, while some could not get their breast completely emptied (in accordance to the fact that emptied breasts would stimulate lactation).
Electric or battery powered pump
The electric or battery powered ones provide faster pumping although they tend to be more bulky and noisy.
The more expensive ones are of very high quality, and pumps fast. Suction level could be adjusted, and double pumping is enabled.The average-priced ones are more affordable and lighter. They have the same features as the more expensive ones, except for cycling rates (the rate at which the device pumps) which is slightly lower.
On the low end are the affordable ones, which are able to pump only a breast at a time. Pumping works at a very slow rate. Suction provided may be too strong or weak.
The electric breast pump
How to choose? Suction strength
Mothers would very much prefer if they could adjust on the suction that comes with each pumping. As too much suction might be painful, and too little suction might be not be as effective in drawing out milk from the breasts
Breastshield sizes available
Some pumps come equipped with one standard size of breastshield. Women with larger or smaller breasts might find this standardised breastshield not comfortable and as effective for them when drawing out milk. Not to worry though, for there are bigger and smaller breastshields to cater. For those who desire to do double pumping, have double breastshields in hand.
Durability
There are pumps which are designed for long and frequent use while the others are not meant to last as long. Choose one that will serve your purpose for as long as you would want it to be.
Quietness
Certain pumps would be operating at louder while some at softer volumes. Settle for one which you would be able to tolerate.
Power options
For pumps which run on electricity, being able to run on battery and be operated manually would be a plus point in events where there is electricity breakdown.
Portability
Mothers who travel a lot with their pump would want their device easy to carry around along with a case.
Time that a mother has available to do pumping
For mothers who are rushing most of the time, investing in a double pump would be good. Simultaneously milking both breasts at the same time would work twice as fast than pumping a breast at a time.
Having said that, a pump which has too low of a cycling rate (i.e. the rate at which pumping is done) is not good as the mother’s breast and nipple is being suctioned for too long a time.
Single, alternate or double pumping action
Single pumping action is where only a breast is being stimulated at a time. Alternate stimulate both breasts, but only one after another in series of loops. The highest grade of performance falls on double pumping action where, both of the breasts are being milked at the same time, boosting milk production and maintaining milk supply over a longer period.
Ease of assembly
After pumping, one would need to take apart the components of the breast pump for cleaning; after the components made contact with the mother’s skin and milk. The breast pump ought to be easy to assemble and taken apart when needed.
Pumping for a premature baby or when much pumping is needed
High-end breast pumps serve as solution, for the moment.
Facts at a glance
Regular and frequent expressing of milk increases milk production and maintain supply over a longer period.
Electric breast pumps are more efficient at emptying both breasts completely than manual pumps.
When pumping a breast, the mother could nurse her child on her other breast.
Milk expressed could be stored, to be fed later to the baby. In more details, do feel free to surf to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breast_pump
If you have any doubts
Feel free to refer to any lactation consultant who would guide you from head to toe; from selection of breast pump which is suitable for you, and solving problems that you may encounter when pumping, etc.
Feel free to refer to any lactation consultant who would guide you from head to toe; from selection of breast pump which is suitable for you, and solving problems that you may encounter when pumping, etc.
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