The first step in expressing breast milk for both sale and future use is to choose a Medela breast pump.
There are many types of breast pumps to consider which ranges from electric, battery operated to manually operated pumps. They have their unique advantages as well as disadvantages. Let’s take a look at each one of them:
Electric Breast Pump
This is the most powerful type. Most electric pumps allow for double pumping, which reduces pump time to half and also stimulates more milk production thus, filling containers quickly and making the pumping process even faster. The only downside is that it may produce more milk than you need if you do not plan to pump regularly, and electric pumps especially the high-grade ones tend to be more expensive than battery-operated or manual smaller pumps.
Battery-Operated Breast Pump
This type of pump is portable, wearable and can be discreetly placed under your clothes, allowing you to pump hands-free at any location with ease. It is less expensive than electric pumps and the only downside is you can burn through batteries.
Manual Breast Pump
These hand-operated pumps, are less expensive but more time-consuming than electric or battery-operated pumps. They come in different models, including a syringe pump and a trigger-operated pump. Syringe and trigger-operated pumps are simple to use, moderate in price, portable, and easy to clean.
Syringe, or piston-style, pumps allow for controlled pressure and less discomfort, while many trigger or lever-operated pumps allow for one-handed pumping.
Best Practice Tips For Effective Pumping
• As a rule, always follow the best and highly hygienic methods before and after pumping. The following tips will be helpful to you.
• Ensure your pump is absolutely clean before they touch the breast or the expressed milk. If they need cleaning be sure to follow the right procedure for cleaning your equipment. Always use hot soapy water and rinse well.
• Make yourself comfortable before you begin pumping. Sit with your shoulders relaxed and back supported. Ensure that everything you need is handy such as water, a book, or a snack, that you may want eat while pumping.
• Place the breast shield centrally over the nipple so the nipple can move in and out without rubbing against the sides.
• The nipple should be well drawn into the mouth of the flange. Pump for a period of 15 minutes in order to simulate a feed and supply if need be.
• Try breast massage or warm compresses on the breasts before pumping. Some women gently stimulate the nipple before using the pump. So, moisten the breast with clean water before placing the shield on the breast to create a seal.
• The mother should pump for good seven minutes, then stop for one minute, massage the breast and then continue pumping for another seven minutes.
• Experience by other mothers for storing your breast milk in a freezer has shown that you should use plastic sterile storage bags or other quality milk bags in place of bottles.
• Milk supply is at its optimum during the morning hours between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. So the best time to pump is right after the first morning feed of your own baby.
In order to pump effectively in a more hygienic condition, choose the best of breast pumps from medela brand for effective pumping of breast milk.
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