Electric breast pumps
Electric pumps and especially high-end ones are ideal for mums who need to express milk more than once each day. These pumps also come in different models and combine the convenience and efficiency of hospital-grade pumps and portable models thus making them ideal and popular with many breastfeeding mums. If you are normally away from your baby for long or frequently and therefore in need of expressing milk more regularly, these pumps will be a good choice.
Electric pumps are completely automatic and come with rapid cycling times, have double-pumping capabilities and have adjustable suction levels, which is designed to eliminate or reduce nipple discomfort. If you have a good milk supply, then you will find this type of breast pump to be suitable. Most of the available electric breast pumps for personal use normally mimic the baby’s sucking patterns in that they always start with short but rapid sucks thus eliciting the letdown response before shifting into a deeper and slower sucking pattern. This feature makes pumping a little bit more comfortable but does not necessarily result in the production of more milk. Some of the accessories included in these pumps include clips, storage bags, nipple ointment, and bottles.
Advantages: They are portable and can even be plugged into the car’s cigarette lighter if you have an adapter thus making it easy for you to use them on the go. They are also comfortable.
Manual breast pumps
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Manual breast milk expressing pumps are manually operated to create the suck that will help the breast to release the milk. You will need to squeeze and release the pump for the suction to be created, but this process is not hard at all. Actually, many mums prefer using manual breast pumps since they are inexpensive and also provide them with greater control over the suction pattern. Their downside however is that they can become tiresome to use and also quite time consuming.
Advantage: Manual breast pumps are portable and more affordable compared to their electric counterparts. They also offer you complete control as you express the breast milk.
When choosing the best breast pump for your personal use, it is important to note that some models allow you to express milk from both breasts at the same time. These are normally considered amazing since they help save time and maximise on the experience. Double breast pumps are also considered to be advantageous in that they help increase the milk supply through the increase in prolactin, the milk-producing hormone in the body. Although these pumps are suitable and highly recommended, it is important to point out that they are also more fiddly and might take new mothers some time before getting used to them. However, their benefits far outweigh their discomfort especially if you are a frequent pumper.
It is also important to note that there are different brands available under both the manual and electric breast pump categories and these are available at different prices. Choosing the right breast pump will be determined by your budget, usage frequency, your preferred level of convenience and time available to you for expressing the milk. The introduction of multiple brands in the market has made electric breast pumps cheaper and many can even be accessed at prices almost equal to the manual pumps. Always take your time and decide which model best works for you. After all is said and done, keeping your pump clean will be important as it helps prevent any bacteria formation which could prove harmful to your baby’s health.
