How to Buy a Breast Pump

One of the most challenging parts about being a new parent, is trying to remember to buy all the right products. Now, everyone knows how to buy baby clothes. But after you are done with that fun project, it is time to buy a breast pump. Here is some fun tips and information to help you when you are out buying your first breast pump. A breast pump is a mechanical device powered manually or by electricity that extracts milk form a person who is lactating. The breast pump was invented and patented by Edward Lasker. Now mechanically, a breast pump is directly analogous to a milking machine used in commercial dairy production. A misconception that is very common is that the breast pump suctions milk out of the breasts. Now, a breast pump’s job is to trigger the milk ejection response or let down as it is otherwise known. Most pumps achieve this goal by using suction to pull the nipple into the tunnel of the breast shield or flange then release, which counts as one cycle. 30 to 60 cycles per minute can be expected with better quality electric breast pumps. It is important to note that in most cases, the breast pump is not as efficient in removing milk from the breasts as the nursing baby. The expressed breast milk may be stored and later fed to a baby by bottle. Expressed milk may be kept at room temperature for up to ten hours at 66 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit or around 20 degrees Celsius, can be refrigerated for up to eight days or frozen for six months in a deep freeze, separate from a refrigerator, maintained at a temperature of 0 Degrees Fahrenheit or -18 degrees Celsius. Expressed milk may be donated to milk banks which provide human breast milk to premature infants and other high risk children whose mothers cannot provide for them. Now, you will probably ask yourself at some point if you really need a breast pump, well not all breast feeding moms need one. If you do not need to pump breast milk regularly and you have a good milk supply, you may want to learn how to hand expressed milk. Now, if you are returning to work and pumping breast milk everyday, or pumping exclusively, you need a more powerful breast pump then someone who only pumps breast milk on one side while nursing on the other. Will you have time to pump one breast at a time? Or do you need a double breast pump? Also, consider whether you will have access to electricity when you are pumping. If not, you may need a manual or battery breast pump. If you travel a lot, your breast pump should be light and portable. Now, a manual breast pump is a cheap, portable option for those who pump up to one time per day. manual breast pumps can be tiring to use though and may not be effective enough for those who pump several times a day. Manual breast pumps are reliable though, since they have no mechanical parts to break down. Avoid bicycle horn style manual pumps. Though cheap, they can damage breast tissue and harbor bacteria in the rubber suction bulb which is difficult to clean. Breast pump rental is a nice option for working mothers who only intend to breast feed short term. Powerful, hospital grade rental breast pumps are also good for new mothers who are pumping to establish a milk supply such as mom of NICU babies. Breast pump rentals may run from $30.00 to $60.00 per month. But they offer a chance to see that breastfeeding will work before committing to a large purchase and they may help those who cannot shell out $200.00 or more at one time to buy a breast pump. We hope these tips were helpful and congratulations!