What else should I consider when deciding which breast pump is best for me?
The breast pump that is right for another mother may not be the right breast pump for you
Cycles
A pump cycle is known as suction speed. This describes one full suction and release action from the breast pump. Babies can vary in their own suction frequency, but they can average around 1.28 sucks per second. A highly effective breast pump will have close to 1 to 60 cycles per minutes (which is the same as one suck per second). Less effective breast pumps may have 15-30 cycles per minute, which means it will take longer to get the same amount of milk. This slower action also means that the nipple is stretched in the breast flange for longer and can cause nipple pain.
Breast pump grade
There are different grades of breast pumps: manual, mid-range personal use, high-end personal use and hospital grade. You can see that the higher grades of breast pumps cost the most, but are the most efficient by collecting the most milk in the shortest amount of time. Higher breast pump grades give you the most "bang for your buck" and may end up being cheaper in the long run if you have to replace a lower grade pump more than once.
Adjustable suction
Not all moms will need the same suction levels to pump the most milk. You want to pump at the highest suction rate which is comfortable for you. Too low of suction will not gather all of your milk. Too high of suction will cause pain and bruising of your nipples and also not gather all of your milk.
Flange size
Moms do not all have the same nipple size. Having the wrong-sized flange can cause nipple pain, bruising or prevent you from pumping all of your milk. Some brands have a range of flange sizes to allow you to find the perfect fit.
Double pumping
A breast pump which allows you to express milk from both breasts at the same time is called a double pump. A double pump will increase the efficiency of a breast pump by:
The breast pump that is right for another mother may not be the right breast pump for you
Cycles
A pump cycle is known as suction speed. This describes one full suction and release action from the breast pump. Babies can vary in their own suction frequency, but they can average around 1.28 sucks per second. A highly effective breast pump will have close to 1 to 60 cycles per minutes (which is the same as one suck per second). Less effective breast pumps may have 15-30 cycles per minute, which means it will take longer to get the same amount of milk. This slower action also means that the nipple is stretched in the breast flange for longer and can cause nipple pain.
Breast pump grade
There are different grades of breast pumps: manual, mid-range personal use, high-end personal use and hospital grade. You can see that the higher grades of breast pumps cost the most, but are the most efficient by collecting the most milk in the shortest amount of time. Higher breast pump grades give you the most "bang for your buck" and may end up being cheaper in the long run if you have to replace a lower grade pump more than once.
Adjustable suction
Not all moms will need the same suction levels to pump the most milk. You want to pump at the highest suction rate which is comfortable for you. Too low of suction will not gather all of your milk. Too high of suction will cause pain and bruising of your nipples and also not gather all of your milk.
Flange size
Moms do not all have the same nipple size. Having the wrong-sized flange can cause nipple pain, bruising or prevent you from pumping all of your milk. Some brands have a range of flange sizes to allow you to find the perfect fit.
Double pumping
A breast pump which allows you to express milk from both breasts at the same time is called a double pump. A double pump will increase the efficiency of a breast pump by:
- Cutting expressing time in half (around 10-20 minutes compared to 20-40 minutes with a single breast pump)
- Boosting your milk producing hormones through increased stimulation
- Avoiding leaking from the "free" breast
Two-phase expression
Some electric breast pumps come with two different suction modes to mimic baby's breastfeeding behavior.
- Stimulation phase: short, fast sucks to stimulate your let down
- Expression phase: long slow sucks to express the milk when it begins to flow
Often these settings are automatic if they are available on the breast pump so you do not have to manually change the suction phase yourself. This feature can reduce the amount of time it takes to gather milk from your breast.
More breast options to consider:
Assembly
Each breast pump brand has specific parts that need to be washed and sterilized. Some brands come with more parts than others. Breast pump parts are usually not interchangeable between brands. You will want to consider what parts will need to be changed out and how frequently in order to maintain the best suction and efficiency possible (for example in some brands, filters and diaphragms need to be changed every month or two depending on how often they are used).
Portability
You may want to consider how easy it is to transport your breast pump if you travel, go to work or are completing other tasks. Some breast pumps are heavier and bulkier than others.
Power source
Electric breast pumps will require an electrical outlet to work. Many electric breast pumps have battery options to allow the breast pump to work if it is not plugged into an outlet. Research to find out how many sessions the battery option will last so you can be prepared with enough batteries or another backup option. There are often car adapters available if you are interested in pumping in your car.
Noise
If the noise form a breast pump is important to you, research reviews and YouTube videos to find one that will suit you. You should stay relaxed while pumping to help gather the most milk possible. If the noise of the breast pump is irritating, it may prevent you from pumping as much milk as you can.
Comments
Post a Comment