Many breastfeeding mothers have to deal with pumping breast milk. There are different types of breast pumps on the market for this purpose. In addition to the differences in brand, there are also differences in how the pump works. There are manual and electric pumps available, with a big difference in ease of use and speed at which breast milk can be expressed. It is not always easy to make a choice in advance and it is therefore often recommended to wait until the breast pump is needed before purchasing. It is always possible to rent a breast pump temporarily.
Breast milk
Breast milk is the best food to give to a newborn baby. Breast milk is made in the mammary glands in the mother’s breasts. A baby can drink breast milk by sucking it directly from the breast. But it is also possible to extract breast milk from the breast with a breast pump and give it to the baby through a feeding bottle, spoon or glass.
Breast pump
A breast pump can be a useful tool for expressing milk that can later be given to the baby in a bottle. A breast pump almost always consists of a shell that can be held on the nipple and a pump with which suction can be exerted. This will create a vacuum. The nipple is stimulated and after a let-down reflex the milk will start to flow. This milk is collected in a bottle and can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer after use, or given immediately to the baby.
Which breast pumps
There are different types of breast pumps on the market, the difference being ease of use and price. The choice often depends on the frequency of use. Someone who needs the breast pump frequently will purchase one with greater ease of use, which is usually also more expensive. Someone who only pumps milk occasionally will be more likely to settle for a simple and cheaper breast pump.
manual or electric pumping
You can roughly divide breast pumps into three categories: a manual breast pump, a single electric breast pump and a double-sided electric breast pump.
Manual breast pump
This pump is, as the name suggests, operated manually. The pump on this pump is manually driven. This can be done in various ways, for example using a piston or a lever. A manual pump is labor-intensive and can therefore be tiring if you pump a lot. The advantage is that manual breast pumps are often cheaper and are less likely to break because they do not contain a motor. In addition, no electricity is required to use the pump. Manual pumps are best suited for mothers who only need to pump occasionally.
Electric breast pump, single or double sided
An electric breast pump works with a motor that drives the pump. There are many types of electric pumps. The simplest are single pumps that express one breast at a time. The vacuum is usually adjustable. Many models can also artificially induce the let-down reflex by using a faster suction cycle. The more advanced and expensive models are double-sided and can express two breasts at the same time. The advantage of this is that pumping is considerably faster and in most cases more milk can be expressed per time. The most advanced models also have more adjustment options regarding the vacuum and suction cycles. A simple electric pump can be used by mothers who only need it a few times a week, such as for a part-time job. A double-sided breast pump is more suitable for mothers who want to pump daily.
Breast pump brands
There are different brands of breast pumps on the market. The market leader among breast pumps is Medela. This does not mean that the other brands are not good. The choice of a brand is personal, there is no ‘best’ brand of breast pump. Other brands include Philips Avent, Tommee Tiptpe, Nuby, Difrax, Breastflow, Ardo, Ameda, Lansinoh, Libento and Whittlestone.
Buy or rent
The choice of the most suitable breast pump depends on all kinds of personal circumstances. Because these circumstances are often not known before the birth, it is often advised to rent a pump first instead of buying it. This way you don’t know in advance whether breastfeeding will start well. A double-sided electric pump can offer a solution when milk production starts, but it happens often enough that this is not necessary at all because the baby can initiate breastfeeding itself. Another example may be that breastfeeding is not possible due to complications, in which case a breast pump is unnecessary. There may also be circumstances that prevent you from returning to work quickly, meaning you will need to pump much less and a manual pump will suffice. In short, the right choice can often only be made after the pump is actually going to be used. In case of emergency, a breast pump can always be quickly rented. Renting a breast pump during the entire lactation period is also possible, but the costs will often be higher.
Borrow a breast pump
Breast pumps come into contact with breast milk. Traces of milk may end up in the engine and other parts that cannot be cleaned. Borrowing a used breast pump from another mother can cause diseases to be passed on. There is a risk of infection with thrush or a breast infection. This does not apply to professional breast pumps that can be rented. These are made in such a way that only the parts that are replaced with each user come into contact with the milk. It is therefore wise not to borrow a breast pump or purchase it second-hand.
