Breast Pump

If you’re wondering how you’ll continue to feed your child as a breastfeeding mother after you have to return to work, you’ll want to learn about and shop for a breast pump. These wonderful devices were first patented in 1954 and have been used ever since to supply babies with milk when their mothers are not able to be with them.

Why use A Breast Pump?

There are a lot of different reasons to use a breast pump. Some women’s bodies slow down milk production due to a hormone imbalance. Using a breast pump can stimulate milk production and help hormones rebalance themselves.

Many breastfeeding mothers absolutely have to return to work after their maternity leave. These mothers find that using a breast pump allows them to continue breastfeeding even though they have to be away from their child a large part of the day. Some take the pump to work with them so that they can maintain their baby’s feeding schedule; this allows them to nurse their child on weekends and holidays without being short of milk or having too much at the wrong time.

Breast milk can be kept at room temperature (up to 72°F.) for up to ten hours. It’s also good for eight days in the refrigerator or six months in the freezer. Most work places have at least a small refrigerator and many employers are becoming more sensitive to nursing mothers’ needs, providing private areas for pumping and larger storage facilities. Others are offering "flex time" to allow mothers to work hours more conducive to raising their children.

Breast pumps can also be used to donate milk to milk banks.

These contributions are used to feed premature infants whose health is improved with mother’s milk and for other high risk children. Many women use a breast pump after they stop nursing their own children in order to help premature and high risk babies or those whose mothers are unable to breastfeed them. They are also a lifesaver if a mother has to be on medication that could harm her child; she simply pumps out ten days’ worth of milk before taking the medication.

Different Types Of Breast Pump

You can get a manual breast pump or an electric breast pump. Manual models have a handle that you squeeze or pull after attaching the pump to your breast. These are cheap and portable but take a lot of effort if you’ll be doing it on a regular basis. Avoid the ones with squeeze bulbs, as the bulbs can harbor bacteria that can contaminate the milk or cause an infection in the breast.

Electric models are affordable now, ideal for working women and are also portable enough to carry to the workplace. They express milk faster than the manual models and can pump both breasts at the same time. These are ideal for women who need to pump daily or at least five times per week.

There are even types of nursing bra which allow you to express breast milk hands free.

Some breastfeeding mothers don’t like the thought of using a breast pump but it’s actually a very easy and painless way to provide your baby with milk when you are unable to be with him or her.