Sometimes used to return to work while continuing to breastfeed, to relieve a engorged chest or simply to delegate the bottle of the night to dad, the breast pump can quickly become essential for a young mother. And since all women are different, it is better to know how to choose the model that best suits their needs! This guide, which we hope to be as comprehensive as possible, will help you make the right choice and find the best breast pump that will follow you throughout your baby's breastfeeding.
What is the role of a breast pump?
Some premature babies cannot suckle, others do not have the concept of sucking at birth. The mother can also be separated from her newborn for one reason or another. To avoid missing a breastfeeding, it may be wise to invest in a milk pump. The need can also be felt later, when the breasts are engorged or when mom has to be away. In all cases, the breastpump helps to ensure sufficient breast milk production to ensure serene breastfeeding.
How to choose yours?
Depending on your needs, choose a model of breastpump suited to your uses. If it perfectly meets your needs, it will quickly become a precious ally to prolong breastfeeding.
Choose between manual or electric pump
If you plan to express your milk occasionally, a manual milk pump is sufficient. If, on the other hand, you plan to use it regularly, an electric model will be more suitable for your use. Even though it is more expensive, the electric breast pump is easier and quick to handle. You will gain precious time every day to calmly continue breastfeeding and you will be able to store your bottles of milk more easily.
Choose an efficient breast pump
To be effective, an electric breast pump must have a sufficient number of cycles per minute and offer the correct pressure. This corresponds to good extraction and a well imitated suction force. All the major brands of breastpumps respect these fundamental aspects.
Prefer an easy to use milk pump
A breast pump should be pleasant to handle. Some models even have an ergonomic handle. It must also be easy to disassemble, especially for washing. Kits with storage jars or adding bottles are also very practical for storing and then giving breast milk. Certain models of electric pumps also offer the possibility of being used with batteries. You will be able to take them everywhere on a daily basis.
Best Breast Pump: The Top 5
Which pump to buy? Are you looking for the best breast pump to continue breastfeeding? Discover our top 5 pick bellow.
Product Name | DESCRIPTION | Store |
---|---|---|
Bellababy Double Electric Breast Feeding Pumps | The Bellababy electric breast pump is a double expression pump which makes it possible to pump milk twice as fast. The device is equipped with a rechargeable battery which ideal for travel. It has 2 pcs of milk storage bag adapters and 10 pcs of storage bag. Equipped with an HD Screen displaying useful information and can be operated easily thanks to a touch panel | |
Haakaa Manual Pump | The Haakaa natural feeling breast pump is a manual device designed to allow mothers to breastfeed naturally for as long as possible while respecting their skin sensitivity. Made of extra soft silicone, it offers delicate contact with the skin and controls flow regularity. This award winning device is recommended by moms, celebrities and lactation consultants. | |
Medela Harmony Breast Pump | The Medela Harmony breast pump is a simple and comfortable manual model which does not forget to display a design and colors different from what is traditionally done. Indeed, its white and yellow design as well as the small patterns it sports make it a pleasant looking device which, once the pump is removed, can quite pass for a simple bottle. Equipped with an ergonomic handle, the device can be easily used with one hand without requiring any particular effort or causing numbness of the arm or hand. | |
Spectra S1 Plus Premier Rechargeable Electric Breast Pump | The Spectra S1 Plus electric breast pump is an hospital grade that has been designed to maximize performance: Its motor is more powerful and allows dual simultaneous suction which has the advantage of producing an average of 18% more milk, promoting good breast drainage. This device also features two-cycle suction technology. At any time during the operation, the mother can modify the rhythm of expression thanks to the control box in order to find the speed and the power that suit her best | |
Lansinoh Manual Breast Pump | Practical, light and easy to use, this Lansinoh breast pump is a manual model. Its ease of use makes it easier to press successively to draw milk. Displayed without BPA, this breast pump can be dismantled and washed easily. It has different settings including a breast shield. We love the fact that it's light weight making it easy to take this manual breast pump everywhere with you. Continuing breastfeeding becomes easier thanks to this discreet kit which fits in a bag. |
The benefits of breast pump
Expressing milk is not without advantages and can in particular help young mothers to consider breastfeeding in a more serene way. Those who are faced with practical or pathological problems can thus continue to give their milk to their baby, even if “classic” breastfeeding has become impossible.
It also offers many more freedoms to mothers who can breastfeed but who cannot always be with their baby. Storage methods allow milk to be kept 48 hours in the refrigerator and 4 months in the freezer, enough to build up good reserves!
When to draw milk?
It is in the morning, after a night's sleep that the milk supply is greatest. In this context, mothers equipped with a breast pump can start by breastfeeding their child normally and can then use their device. If this routine is impossible to implement in the morning, it is advisable to express milk at a regular time during the day in order to best promote lactation. A quiet, comfortable place is an ideal place to express milk in the right conditions.
Good to know : to increase milk production with a breast pump, it is necessary to empty the breast every three hours on average and if possible, empty both breasts at the same time to activate prolactin as much as possible.
Using the breast pump
To use an electric breast pump, simply place the nipple in the center of the nipple and then adjust the ideal suction level: one that allows you to suck milk efficiently while respecting the nipple. The manual model is also easy to use: just position the silicone membrane on the breast and activate the handle associated with it to reproduce the baby's sucking movement. Again, it is of course possible to adjust the suction intensity.