Breastfeeding is the best way for infants to get their daily nutritional intake and is recommended by pediatricians. Breastfeeding can be tricky and frustrating when things don’t go as expected, or you cannot breastfeed for any reason, including a medical condition or low milk supply. These are times you may consider a breast pump. Here are some of the best features of a good breast pump:
1. Speed
You should be able to pump from one breast comfortably in less than ten minutes. That way, you’ll be more likely to use it at least three times daily for about 20-30 minutes. Therefore go for a pump that has a 2-phase expression function. This is especially important if you need to bottle feed your baby during the day from work or school since the rate of flow of the breast pump will be vital in building or maintaining your milk supply.
2. Comfort
Your breast should not hurt while using a Medela breast pump so go for something that is comfortable and can be easily held in place. It would be best if you never had to hold the breast pump with your hands; it should stay put by itself. Ensure that you get one with a closed system so there will be no risk of contamination for you or your baby.
3. Sounds and suction
Breast pumps should make sounds to let you know when your milk is coming in or when the suction is too strong or weak. Also, a pump’s suction strength should be adjustable to match the needs of each mother and baby.
4. Ease to use
A good breast pump should have everything on your daily routine needs in one baby-friendly unit. It should not be a complicated machine that will require body mechanics and verbal instructions for you to get over your fears and pain to succeed in expressing milk. You should be able to clean and assemble it quickly and wash it after each use. You should also be able to either manually or electronically activate the pump and change suction strength with a touch of a button or a simple finger movement.
5. Hygiene
It is essential to keep breast milk free from germs and contaminants while building or maintaining your milk supply with a breast pump. Therefore, it would be best to look for a breast pump that can hold up against contaminants while still being easy to clean and assemble. An easy-to-clean breast pump will make your life easier when it comes time to wash it after each use and reduce the potential risks of infection for you and your baby.
6. Durability
Breast pumps should not wear out too fast. If a breast pump lasts longer than three or four months, it is likely to be durable. Also, look for a pump with an extended warranty. A long warranty on your breast pump will protect you against expensive repairs that defects may cause in the unit or because of poor quality material used in manufacturing.
With the above features in mind, you can decide what is the best breast pump for your needs and then choose that.
