Finding the right breast pump for you is a major step towards providing your baby with nature's perfect food while you are away.
If you are thinking about breastfeeding and going back to work full time or you'd just like to be able to take a break from baby once in awhile and let someone else take over a feeding you are going to need a breast pump. Breast pumps allow you to express your milk for later use and breast milk can be stored in the freezer for up to a month or in the refrigerator for two days. If you are a working mom and can express your breast milk on the job then your baby will be able to reap all of the benefits of breastfeeding while you reap the benefits of your career. There are many different types of breast pumps and each one is suited for a particular need.
The manual breast pump is a good option for the mom who will only be expressing the occasional bottle of milk. Manual breast pumps work by holding them to your breast with one hand and manipulating a pumping handle with the other hand or moving the pump up and down to create the sucking action. Manual breast pumps are not practical for working moms because they can only express from one breast at a time and it often takes awhile to get one bottle of milk. The repetitive motion can also be hard on the hands for an extended period of time. If you are only going to be pumping occasionally then the manual pump is the most economical choice for you.
The next step up from a manual breast pump is the battery operated breast pump. Battery operated pumps do the work that your hands do when you use a manual pump. Battery operated pumps can be convenient when you are away from electricity or in your car. Battery operated pumps usually will pump only one breast at a time and need to be held up to the breast. Most battery-operated pumps are not fully automatic and you will need to control the suction with a button. If you are only going to pump once or twice a day a battery operated pump is a bit better than a manual pump and quite affordable.
If you are working full time and need to express your milk several times per day you are going to want an electric breast pump. Electric pumps are the most efficient types of breast pumps and the most expensive. You can expect to pay upwards of two to three hundred dollars for an electric pump. You may be able to rent an electric breast pump from your local hospital or medical supply shop. Some companies are now offering lactation programs to their employees that let mothers use company owned breast pumps on the job while the mother only needs to provide collection containers and breast shields. Most electric pumps allow you to express milk from both breasts at the same time so the task will be accomplished quite quickly. Some models of electric pumps have adapters that allow you to plug them into the cigarette lighter of your car for those that prefer pumping privacy on the job.
If you can't decide which pump is right for you your local La Leche League or hospital may have pumps that you can try and will be able to give you advice on your particular situation. There are so many health and economical advantages to breastfeeding your baby that more workplaces are making special accommodations to new mothers so that they can have private areas to express their milk. Finding the right pump will make a major difference in your success as a working mother.
