Pumping Milk for your Baby

Dr. Ruth Lawrence, professor, author and researcher, serves on Breastfeeding.com's medical advisory board.  Dr. Lawrence is a professor of pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Rochester.  She is also director of the university's Breastfeeding and Human Lactation Study Center.  Dr. Lawrence has answered many of your questions on pumping and storing breastmilk.  Look for more of Dr. Lawrence's answers to your questions next week!

Dr. Lawrence is the author of "Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession," the standard medical reference book for breastfeeding.  She was one of eight doctors who helped the American Academy of Pediatrics draft its 1997 policy statement supporting breastfeeding.

What type of pump is best?

I am not returning to work, but I have a question about pumping.  I have tried to pump before so I can get Mazzie used to the bottle, but I hardly get anything when I pump.  I have an Avent Isis breast pump, do I need a better pump? 





I think the pump you are using is a hand pump.  If this is the case, you may have problem getting adequate milk. On the other hand, some women can adequately express large volumes of milk by hand, without any equipment at all!  However, if you seriously need to pump and collect milk, you should invest in a good pump.

An important part of the pump is the flange - the part that looks like a funnel and comes in contact with the breast.  Different brands of pumps have different styles of flanges.  Most of them are rigid, so the problems of changing pressure with the pump draws the breast into the flange. The soft silastin (made of silicone) pliable plastic flange is very different.  This is what we make heart valves and other artificial tissue pieces out of.  This type of flange allows the pump to create more of a milking action. Mothers who have problems with other pumps ought to think of getting a pump with a silastin flange.  The brand that holds the patent on a silastin flange is White River.  As far as electric pumps with a rigid flange, I would recommend Medela and Ameda.

Again, some women can pump more easily than others.  You really need to set yourself up to pump.  Make sure that you are relaxed and comfortable.  You need to give yourself the opportunity to letdown.  Before you apply any pump, gently stroke the breast, massage the breast, initiate letdown, and then apply this mechanical device. Playing soft music doesn't hurt, either.
 

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