Written By: Debjani Arora | Updated : October 9, 2014 4:58 PM IST
While we speak a lot about the advantages of breast milk and how convenient it is for mothers to feed their babies this wonder food, we often tend to forget that even breastfeeding has its limitations. Don't agree? Think about working mums, or mums who need to strike a balance between home and other outdoor chores while taking care of a newborn. During such situations, breastfeeding can often become tiring and unmanageable, especially sans the privacy and comfort of your home. Given the societal outlook, breastfeeding in public is often considered a taboo in most Indian sects. To add to that the public apathy towards new mothers only makes the whole process more tedious.
But today's modern urban mums have a choice and a good one at that breast pumps. For mothers who need to be away from their babies, the breast pump is a boon. Though new-age mums may have heard of the pump, it still sounds like an alien object to many, with a lot of reservations attached to it, especially in terms of its usage and effectiveness. Here, we take you through a guided overview about breast pumps and how they work, to help you make an informed choice.
How does a breast pump help?
A breast pump helps a nursing mother to pump and store breast milk in order to allow the baby to enjoy the benefits of breastfeeding even when the mother is not around. This helps working mothers ensure that their babies get their due share of breastfeeding despite the distance. But its advantages are not only limited to working mums, even stay at home mothers can use a pump to store milk and ask an attendant to give a feed when needed while catching up on some me-time.
A breast pump also comes in handy if the baby can't latch well (where the child is unable to suckle or hold on to the nipples of its mother) but the mother is lactating enough to produce good quality of milk. Pumping out sufficient amount of milk can also help feed premature babies round-the-clock who might need more attention and adequate supply of breast milk. Continuous pumping can also save a new mother from the clutches of engorgement and the heaviness of breasts.
How to choose the right breast pump?
Choosing a breast pump depends on the mother's usage and needs. 'If it is for an occasional use, a manual pump will serve the purpose. But if the mother plans to go back to work and the baby is less than six months old then an electronic breast pump will be more convenient,' says Sonali Shivlani an Internationally Certified Pregnancy, Lactation and Child Nutrition Counsellor.
One important aspect to keep in mind while choosing a breast pump is to be sure to pick the phalanges or shields of the right fit for the nipples and position them correctly to avoid any discomfort or irritation. A good breast pump mimics the suckling action of the baby and doesn't cause any pain.
While using an electric breast pump, simply put on the breast phalanges over the nipple and start the machine. The milk will get collected to the container attached to it. A good electric pump might need up to 15 minutes to pump from both the breasts. If one is in a hurry, using a fully automatic dual pump will be of great help.
In case of a manual pump, the mother will have to squeeze milk with a suction pump or by pulling a plunger. A manual pump is time consuming and calls for too much effort. With a manual pump, it can take anywhere up to 45 minutes to pump from both breasts.
'While choosing a breast pump it's important that you pick one that has variable speed and suction options as this will allow the mum to regulate the same depending on her comfort and baby's suckling style,' informs Sonali.
Keep in mind that it might take a while to get accustomed to the pump. So before starting the actual storing process, some trials with the pump are necessary to get a hang of it. Start with the lowest level of suction and then increase the speed gradually. Remember, for a good let down of milk, one should try and be calm and relaxed.
Never forget to sterilise all parts of the pump (the ones that can be sterilised) after every use.
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What is the right way to store breast milk?
There are various ways in which breast milk can be stored and used for future use. Following things should be kept in mind while storing breast milk:
What is the best way to feed the baby with the collected breast milk?
Allow the milk to cool down to a temperature that is consumable by the baby. 'It is best not to use feeding bottles as this can cause nipple confusion,' says Sonali. Try using a sipper or offer feeds with a spoon. In case of bottle feeding, make sure you sterilise them correctly after every use. 'Either use commercially available steriliser or by boiling them for approximately 15 minutes. Teats would need to be boiled for just five minutes,' says Sonali.
How often can you use a breast pump in a day?
'Breast pumps can be used as many times a day as the mother wishes. However, if the mother only expresses and does not latch the baby on, eventually the milk supply will start reducing as the baby is considered more effective than any man-made model,' says Sonali. Also remember that it's a machine and one needs a break from it too. Don't be glued to the pump the entire day to make sure there is enough storage of milk. So take breaks from the pump and space out the usage throughout the day to ensure effective pumping.
What are the limitations of a breast pump?
Practical limitations: Even though it may seem like that breast pumps can solve all issues related to breastfeeding, at times one may not be able to use it at certain places. For example, if your workplace does not have a provision to give you the privacy of pumping. Also, you may not be able to store milk everywhere for later use. Totting with the entire kit everywhere can itself be very cumbersome. Many mothers also complain that using a breast pump makes them spend more time with the machine than with the baby.
Emotional limitations: 'Pumps cannot act as a substitute for the mother. However they can help in providing nutrition which is optimum for baby's overall growth and development. It cannot replace the mother-baby bonding that breastfeeding ensures,' says Sonali.
Physiological limitations: Excessive use of a breast pump can interfere with milk production too. Remember no matter how excellent the pump is, it isn't as effective as the baby's suckling which can lead to lower milk production if the baby isn't allowed to latch on.
What can you do if you aren't able to pump enough milk?
If a mother is lactating well there shouldn't be a problem in getting enough milk for storage and after use. Should there be any such troubles it is wise to check on the following:
If the right phalanges or shields are used: Most pumps come with phalanges designed for smaller nipple size. If it is smaller than what is needed, the nipples might just swell up and interfere with the let down process.
If the right setting for the pump is maintained: Milk collection can be hampered if the suction speed is too low or too high. Set at a comfortable pace. Few trials and errors will help.
If the pump is been used too soon after the feed: If the baby had a good feed and then the mother starts pumping it's unwise to expect a good let down. The body needs time, at least two hours to produce good amount of milk for the next cycle.
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