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A breast pump is
not an essential tool to breastfeeding.
Most breastfeeding mothers do not need a
breast pump. If breastfeeding is going well
and you are not separated from your infant,
there is no need for a breast pump. In need,
it is important to realise that you already
have everything you need to express your
milk: your hands! When you need to express
your milk temporarily or occasionally, hand
expression is the first choice, because
it is efficient, requires no equipment,
no expenditure and no maintenance. It is
an easily and quickly acquired skill. Before
you leave the hospital, ask a Lactation
Consultant (IBCLC) or a nurse to teach you
this simple technique. Hand expression is
actually the most efficient and least wasteful
method of expressing colostrum during the
early days, when required.
Why could you need a breast pump?
Temporary use of a breast pump could be
indicated to relieve engorgement, when breasts
are so distended that the baby is unable
to latch on, and when you are separated
from your baby for short periods on an occasional
basis.
Long-term use of a breast pump is recommended
when a mother wants to provide breastmilk
for her premature or ill infant, until breastfeeding
can be initiated or resumed. Long-term milk
expression is also indicated when mother
and baby are separated for long periods,
when the mother returns to work, to increase
milk production or induce lactation for
an adopted baby.
It is important to seek advice from
a skilled professional, such as a Certified
Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), when you are
considering the use of a breast pump.
How do I choose a breast pump?
All breast pumps are not equal. It is
important to choose a pump that is designed
specifically for your needs.
Features to look for in a safe and efficient
breast pump:
� Automatic cycling: The length of each
suction-release cycle should be pre-set,
not user-dependant. This is essential to
avoid injury to nipple and areolar tissue,
as well as to deeper breast tissue. Some
pumps have variable cycling, operating within
safe limits.
� Minimum cycling speed between 40 and 60
cycles per minute, and suction pressure
between 80 and 250 mm Hg. This is what makes
a breast pump more or less able to reproduce
the stimulation of your baby. To ensure
comfort, the breast pump should have variable
suction pressure levels.
� Easy to clean.
� All other features (single/double expression,
portability, power source, etc.) are relative
to your individual needs (use, budget, time).
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