If you are a breast-feeding mother, first of all, congratulations on your decision to breast feed your baby. Breast feeding has many emotional and nutritional benefits to help your baby get the best possible start in its new life with you. Breast feeding is also a 24 hour commitment. It is very likely a breast pump will become just as important as car seats and baby wipes. There are many choices of breast pumps.



You will most likely welcome the aid of a breast pump. As with so many of the wonderful products now available for us to use it may be difficult choosing the type of breast pump that is right for you. In this article I hope to give you some tips on doing just that – choosing the best type of breast pump for you.

Some breast pumps are hand-operated. Other breast pumps run on electricity. Designs vary. There are models that attach to only one breast. Other designs let you express milk from both breasts at once.

Start by asking yourself some of the following questions to help you decide which types of breast pump are best for you.

•How often do you plan to use the breast pump? If you will be away from your baby only occasionally, a simple hand pump may be all you need. Hand pumps are generally small and inexpensive. To operate a hand pump you simply squeeze the handle to express the milk. You can choose to pump one breast while your baby nurses on the other breast. An electric pump may be your best investment if you are planning to return to work fulltime or you are planning to be away from your baby for more than a few hours a day. One of the advantages of an electric pump over the hand pump is that they stimulate the breast more effectively. The more adequate stimulation helps to empty your breasts and protect your milk supply.

•How long will it take to pump each breast? Electric breast pumps are faster than manual pumps. A double breast pump helps to stimulate milk production while cutting pumping time in half. If you will have to pump breast milk at work or in other time-crunched situations, you may want to invest in a breast pump model that allows you to pump both breasts at once.

•Is the pump easy to assemble? If the breast pump is difficult to assemble, or take apart or clean you may experience more frustration, which can reduce your enthusiasm for pumping. It is important to be able to remove parts of the breast pump that come in contact with your skin or milk for cleaning after use.

•Is the suction adjustable? Choosing a pump that allows you to control the degree of suction will make a big difference in how comfortable the breast pump is in use.

•Is the pump heavy? The weight of your breast pump may be important if you have to tote it to and from work each day. There are light-weight breast pumps you can choose. Some breast pumps come with a convenient carrying case with an insulated section for storing expressed milk.

•How noisy is the pump? If it is important to keep the noise level down while you are using the breast pump, some electric modes are quieter than others. Check out the noise level before you purchase.

•Are the breast shields the correct size? Each breast pump comes with a shield to place over your breast. Check with the individual manufacturers to see if other sizes besides the standard size are available. And if you want to pump both breasts with the breast pump at once, make sure the breast pump is equipped with two breast shields.

•Do the electric breast pumps you are considering have a backup power option? Since an electric pump needs to be plugged in, if there is not an outlet accessible, you will need a rechargeable battery pack. Check to see if the models offer adapters that run on a car's cigarette lighter.

•Where are some of the places you can purchase a breast pump? You can buy breast pumps from medical supply stores and most drug and baby stores. Some hospitals rent hospital-grade breast pumps. You will have to purchase the equipment that attaches your breast to the pump.

•What is the cost of a breast pump? At the time of this article writing, manual modes cost less than $60. Electric pumps that include a carrying case and insulated section for storing milk may cost more than $200. There is a small risk of contamination, therefore, borrowing a breast pump or buying a used breast pump is not recommended. Some health insurance plans cover the cost of buying or renting a breast pump.

If you are just not sure what the best choice in a breast pump is, a lactation consultant can help you make the best choice. A lactation consultant can also offer support as you start to use your new breast pump or if you run into trouble. Your doctor or hospital should be able to provide you with a referral to a lactation consultant. You can also find help from counselors at La Leche League and similar organizations.

Source: Mayo Clinic

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about specific medical concerns.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box. This article was written 2-2007.