When it comes to choosing the best breast pump to fit your lifestyle, there are several things to consider. How much do you plan on pumping? Are you trying to establish your milk supply? Are you trying to maintain your milk supply? Are you a working Mom who plans on going back to work? Does your baby have trouble nursing? Do you just need a couple extra bottles in the fridge for emergency situations? Do you just need some relief from engorgement. All of these questions are important when deciding which breast pump fits your lifestyle best. Let's start at the beginning.
Are you trying to establish your milk supply?
Many women have trouble with establishing their milk supply. Whether it's because their baby was born early, or because Baby has trouble nursing. Nursing continuously is obviously the best way to build your milk supply, but sometimes that's just not enough. Say for instance, your baby was born early, and your body isn't up to speed, or maybe Baby is having trouble latching on. To build your milk supply you must empty your breasts completely signaling your body that it's time to produce more. Some women can do this just by simply hand pumping after each feeding, in other words, squeezing their breasts to release the left behind milk. Other women need a bit more help. Lactation specialist often recommend the use of a hospital grade breast pump to do this. They are expensive to purchase, but most hospitals or medical supply stores are willing to rent them out monthly for anywhere between $10 to $50 dollars a month, sometimes more. Some opt to purchase a hospital grade breast pump, mainly because they intend to use it as their primary breast pump for a long period of time.
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| Medela Freestyle Breast Pump |
Are you trying to maintain your milk supply?
If you've had no trouble with establishing your milk supply but fear that once you return to work it may diminish because your time for pumping will be limited, a double electric breast pump may be the way to go. Some top of the line double electric breast pumps can work just as well as a hospital grade pumps. Allowing you to pump a lot of milk in a short period of time. These types of breast pumps are intended for those who plan on pumping frequently. If time is not so much an issue, a single electric breast pump could be more than enough to get the job done, however, keep in mind that using a single electric pump means that pumping time will double. It generally takes about 15 minutes to empty one breast, therefore using a single electric breast pump would take you about 30 minutes. The double electric pumps take only 15 minutes. If you only plan on returning to work part time, you wouldn't need quite as much milk stored up, therefore a single electric breast pump would most likely be sufficient.
Do you just need a couple extra bottles in the fridge for emergencies? Or are you looking for relief from engorgement?
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| Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump |
If this is your situation, you have a couple of choices. Number one being the manual breast pump. Using a manual pump is by no means the fastest way to express your milk, but if you only need to pump occasionally, it can be more than enough. Obviously they're hand operated, and some of the best manual breast pumps offer ergonomic handles for comfort. The best thing about a manual pump is that you're not tied to a cord so you can move around the house freely. Some women swear by their manual breast pumps, stating that they work better than any electric pump. Every women is different, some have a tough time getting any milk at all, while others can stock up their fridge in no time. Your second option would be again, a single electric breast pump. Although it's still somewhat time consuming, it's less work, and if you're only planning on pumping occasionally, a single is plenty.
One benefit to using an electric breast pump is that most are battery operational, and if the pump unit is small enough you can easily cart it around the house with you. Another option is to combine your electric pump with a Hands-Free Bustier which basically allows you to pump hands-free giving you the ability to multi-task.
In the end, using a breast pump is not for everyone, but it sure can make life easier. If you're considering purchasing a high-end hospital grade breast pump or double electric pump, I would recommend first purchasing a manual pump to see if pumping works for you. They're always nice to have in case of emergencies, plus they're easy to travel with.
Additional Reading:
Choosing the Best Breast Pump - It takes a little education, and a little bit of research to make the right decision.
