Dear mother, in this section you will read about various types of breast
pumps. Hand expression is the best but if for some reason you can not
use this method and want to use a pump then you must have a working
knowledge of various types of breast pumps. A pump could be hand
operated, battery operated or electrical. Some battery operated pumps
have the facility for electrical connection. Deciding which breast pump
is right for you depends on how often you plan to use one and how much
time you can spare for expressing. If you work full-time and long
hours, you may need a fast working electric pump. But if you only need
to pump a few ounces manual expression or a cheaper manual pump may be
sufficient. Although pumps are faster and more efficient they are
liable to contamination if not sterilized properly; so take care of hygiene
and sterilization with any kind of pump you use.
Also remember-whether you use an electric or a hand vacuum pump you
still have to stimulate your breasts as you would if expressing by
hand. You must do this before you apply the pump to drain the milk
sinuses. When using a pump, be careful not to exert too much suction on
the nipple. Pumps can occasionally be a bit fierce and crack or split
the nipple.
To use an electric pump, you put a suction cup over your breast, turn
the machine on, and let it do the work of extracting milk into an
attached container. Manual pumps also use a suction cup, but you
extract the milk by using a squeeze mechanism or operating some other
device rather than relying on a motor powered by electricity. On an
average it takes 15 to 45 minutes to pump both breasts. Good breast
pumps mimic the sucking action of a baby and do not cause pain.
The old types of hand pumps with a rubber bulb are cheap but the bulbs
do not produce sufficient suction. They are difficult to clean and sterilize
and are not very effective. The milk which collects in them is often
contaminated. Preferably do not use such a pump.
