Best Breast Pumps

It is recommended that moms first establish their milk supply fully with exclusive breastfeeding before pumping, unless there is some reason why mom and baby cannot breastfeed immediately after birth…

Reasons why moms might need or want to express…

- Some moms might need to pump exclusively in the beginning if baby is very premature is ill or has sucking problems.

- Expressing milk can be used as a way to increase milk supply if it is done in-between breastfeeding sessions.

- Pumping can be used as a way of relieving engorged breasts.

- Pumping can help mom when she returns to work…read more on working and breastfeeding

- If you have a good supply of milk and only need to relieve some engorgement from time to time you might just find that hand expression of breast milk is good enough and that you don’t need a pump.

- Some moms that have adopted a baby may want to induce lactation “relactation” with a combination of breastfeeding and pumping

How to prepare for breastfeeding during pregnancy

There are so many pumps to choose from. I always suggest that a mom uses a manual pump for normal pumping, but if you have a tight schedule and are pumping large amounts, quickly then it is always best to get a good quality, electrical, double action breast pump. This will save you a lot of time and effort…also these pumps will keep your milk supply up better than a manual breast pump.

If you are pumping exclusively, then a hospital grade, double electric breast pump is best. These hospital grade breast pumps can be rented at a hospital for about $3 a day.

Good accessories to look out for that come with electric breast pumps are; car AC adapters, built-in milk coolers, travel cases and hands-free kits.

Non electric hand pumps are smaller lighter, cheaper, quieter and nice if you like to control the suction, but definitely take up a lot of time. Some moms also complain that manual pumps do not get all the milk out.

- How often will you be pumping?

- How much time are you prepared to spend on pumping?

- How much money are you prepared to spend on pumping?

- Do you need a pump that is easy to transport?

- Are the breast shields the correct size?

How much do they cost?

Moms can hire a breast pump too, breast pump rental goes for about $30 – 60 per month, but most of these pumps can pay for themselves after a month or so if you compare it to the price of formula. Breast pumps can cost between $30 and $1000, depending on make, manual or electric.

Which feature should you look for when buying a pump?

- The best breast pumps have adjustable suction control (manual and electrical)

- Efficiency ~ Does the pump allow you to pump both breasts at once “double breast pumps”? (manual and electrical)

- User-friendly ~ Easy to assemble, clean, use and it's compact.

Where else can I find a good breast pump?

- Hospital rental breast pumps

- Baby supply stores

- Retail stores

Used breast pumps

Hospital breast pumps that are hired are FDA cleared and safe because of their special parts, but it is not wise using any other secondhand pump. These used breast pumps could carry diseases.

Breast pumping tips

- Taking a warm bath before pumping can help the milk flow more freely

- Wash and dry your hands before handling your breast pump

- The breast shield should not pinch or irritate your nipple. Make sure that your nipple is in the center of the breast cup.

- Make sure your breasts are lubricated before pumping them. Lansinoh , olive oil and even your own breast milk works well for this. This will help for sore nipples. (don’t use your own milk if you suspect a thrush infection – it could make it worse)

- Have a comfortable place to pump with a pumping station already set up for you.

- Make sure that you have good back support while pumping

- Follow safe breast milk storage guidelines

- Speed on the pump should be set for comfort, as mom produces more milk when relaxed

How much milk should I be expressing when I pump?

Even with the best breast pumps, pumping can never be used as a measuring tool to see if you are producing enough milk. No pump can extract milk like your baby can.

The amount of milk that comes out is different for everyone. Sometimes mom will only need to pump for 15 minutes other moms might need to pump for a whole 40 minutes at a time.

Your breasts will only start to flow after a few minutes, this is called “let down” so try being patient.

The more milk you remove from your breasts, the more milk you will produce… read more on how breast milk production works

Best breast pumps accessories

- Hands free pumping

- Breast shields can help for milk flow and some are soothing.

- Freezer bags “gel packs” for keeping milk cold during the day

- Lanolin ointment for sore nipples

How to clean a breast pump

- Your breast pump can be stored without rinsing in a closed container in your fridge for one day.

- Each day the used breast pump parts are to be washed well with hot soapy water.

- Let them air dry on clean paper toweling

- Breast milk storage guidelines

- Working and breastfeeding

- Pumping exclusively

-  Breast massage

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