Expressing your milk with a breast pump can be a fast and convenient way to provide milk for your baby when you have to be away from him for more than a few hours.
We want you to know there are different types of breast pumps to consider depending on how often and how long you will be away from your baby.
Hospital grade breast pumps have several advantages. They more closely simulate the baby’s suckling action and let you pump both breasts at the same time. This means a pumping session could take only 10 to 15 minutes as opposed to 20 or 30 minutes with a smaller, single pump. Double pumping also increases your prolactin levels, which tells your body to make more milk.
If you will need to pump a lot of milk on a regular basis, the hospital grade breast pump is the way to go. It can be rented from hospitals, medical supply companies and pharmacies.
If you don’t need to pump very often, a small, handheld, battery-powered or electric pump should do the trick. Expressing your milk this way should take no longer than 30 minutes, pumping one breast at a time. To find a good quality breast pump, ask for recommendations from women who have used one successfully or ask a certified lactation consultant.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use and cleaning.
Reference:
A Mom’s Helpful Guide to Breastfeeding, p. 38, 2017.
