1. Pumps for Every Purpose
Breast pumping should give you relief, convenience and alternative nourishment for your baby. In comparing breast pumps, consider when and how you will use it. Manual breast pumps will work well for a car ride on the way to grandma's house. For everyday use, purchase an electric pump. Refrigeration, the available power source and job environment are also important considerations and should be thoughtfully considered before going out to buy a pump.
2. Double Duty Pump
Electric breast pumps will mimic your baby the best and give you the most milk in the least amount of time. These odd looking contraptions include a breast shield attached to a plastic tubing that pulls the milk from the breasts with suction. They come with a battery attachment to use when an outlet is not available. The best double breast pumps deposit directly into a clean bottle or storage bag. A dial on the motor controls both the suction strength and the number of pumps.
3. Schedule It In
The best time to pump is anytime that is convenient for you and your baby. The extra milk is for when you return to work, begin to lose your milk, or during a much needed trip to the movies. Most women have the most milk in the morning hours after the first feeding. Some women will pump on one side while the baby feeds on the other breast. Pumping after a feeding will help keep milk production up in some women. The more you feed your baby and pump on the side, the longer you can breast feed.
4. Pumping on the Job
Finding the time and place to pump at work is important for your child's health and your own comfort. Ask your employer if an extra office or room with a door is available to use every 4 hours. Your car is also an option if you move it to a private area or cover yourself. Most electric pumps have car adaptors available that plugs into the cigarette lighter. A last resort is a bathroom stall, using the pump battery or stringing the cord to an outlet outside the stall. Unfortunately, hand pumping will be tiring and take too much time to be effective for work.
5. Buy the Best
Do not skimp on your pump purchase. Purchase both a manual hand pump and an electric double pumping grade pump. The best manual breast pumps are the Avent Isis, Ameda Egnell Hand pump and the Medela brands. Medela makes a manual pump used on both breasts with foot instead of hand pumping. Electric breast pumps are expensive. The best breast pumps by brand are Medela Pump In Style, Medela Symphony and the Hollister Purely Yours. Accessories, including portable steam bottle cleaners, coolers with ice packs and a proper tote are also available for more convenience.
