All About the Breast Feeding Pump

This article will provide information about the breast feeding pump.

Breast feeding has been around for as long as humans but the breast feeding pump is a relatively new invention. It was invented by a man called Edward Lasker who was German, but was more well known for his Chess playing and the books he wrote on the subject. His friends called him the "chest player".

The breast pump is directly comparable to the milking machine used on cows. Most people think that the pump sucks milk from the breast when in fact the pump is made to trigger the milk ejection response. This is done by using suction which pulls the nipple into the funnel and then releases it, this is called a cycle. The better breast pumps will perform anything from 30 to 60 cycles per minute.

As a mother you will find that expressing milk in the morning allows you to yield more milk than if you expressed it later through out the day. For this reason it makes sense to use your pump in the morning period and fill up storage containers which can then be fed to the baby using a bottle later in the day.

Probably the most common cause for using a breast feeding pump is so women can carry on breast feeding after they return to work. For example they might pump milk into storage containers in the morning, which can be given to the person looking after the baby, for use later in the day. Breast feeding pumps also allow women to increase their milk yield. By pumping more than is required for

he baby your body will produce more next time round, thinking you need it.

Any breast feeding pump will fall into one of three main categories. Manual Breast Pumps, Electric Breast Pumps and Foot-powered Breast Pumps. Each category has a description listed below.

Manual Breast Feeding Pump

These are operated by using a trigger like handle, which allows the mother to directly control the pressure and frequency of the pumping. This kind of pump is best suited for women that are only thinking of using a pump infrequently. This is because all the power used by the pump comes from the operator, which can be tiring. The upside to this style of breast pump is they are the cheapest option. However it is recommended that you avoid the "bicycle horn" style manual pump because they can cause damage to breast tissue and harbour bacteria in the rubber suction bulb which can be a little tricky to clean.

Electric Breast Feeding Pump

Powered by a small motor, the pump provides a suction which is delivered via plastic tubing and a funnel shaped cup which sits over the nipple. All parts attached to the pump can be sterilized and should be to prevent bacteria growth. Some models allow a double pump which is used for both breasts at the same time. Electric breast feeding pumps have to be the fasted method of expressing milk with a pump. If I had to give a negative point to these it would be that they are a little more expensive and slightly bigger, but they do come with carry bags. (shoulder bag or backpack).

Foot-powered Breast Pump

This type of pump uses the same tubing an electric pump would but is foot powered instead. This is easier then the hand manual option and sometimes can be more convenient than the electric one as you don't need to find a power supply.

Baby Press also runs a website on breast feeding pumps and provides information and advice on the subject. Helping parents to make the right choice. You can find it at http://www.breastfeedingpumpblog.com