| While choosing the right breast pump is a | | | | mother to use her fingers to simulate this |
| personal decision, it can be very confusing | | | | pattern. |
| when you're a brand new mom and not quite | | | | |
| sure what to expect or look for. Two of the | | | | Choose an electric pump with adjustable |
| most important things to consider are how | | | | controls to make the pumping action best fit |
| strong the suction is and the number of | | | | your style. There may be times where your |
| cycles per minute it has. These two features | | | | nipples are sore or your breasts are engorged |
| will determine how much milk you collect and | | | | and you will want to be able to dial down the |
| how long it will take. | | | | suction to a comfortable level. |
| | | | |
| Most babies suck between 40 and 60 times a | | | | If you're going to be pumping at work or |
| minute when they're nursing. The hospital | | | | somewhere privacy is important, make sure you |
| grade rental pumps have a 50 times per minute | | | | turn on the pump and test the noise level |
| cycle and automatically mimic the | | | | while it's in use. Some models are quiet but |
| suck-release-relax sucking pattern of your | | | | some with smaller motors can make a |
| child. Pumps with smaller motors will | | | | surprising amount of noise. |
| generally have a slower cycling rate and may | | | | |
| result in sore nipples from the longer | | | | - Single battery/electric pumps: Medela Mini |
| periods of sustained suction. | | | | Electric or Medela Single Deluxe |
| | | | automatically cycle between 30-38 cycles per |
| You also want to check the amount of suction | | | | minute, a rate that will provide enough |
| the pump applies. A baby will normally have | | | | stimulation and will be comfortable. |
| a suction rate of 220 mm. Many hospital | | | | |
| grade rental pumps can achieve a suction rate | | | | - Occasional-use double pumps Medela |
| between 200 and 220mm. | | | | DoubleEase or Medela Double-Deluxe pumps |
| | | | automatically cycle at 30 times per minutes |
| Decide if you need a portable pump or if you | | | | or above. |
| will only be pumping at home. The | | | | |
| hospital-grade pumps you can rent can be too | | | | - Simultaneous double pumping professional |
| cumbersome to regularly take on the road with | | | | grade pumps: Any of the Medela Pump In Style |
| you, but they are very efficient at pumping. | | | | breastpumps. |
| | | | |
| Look for an electric pump that has the | | | | - Simultaneous double pumping hospital-grade |
| suck-release-relax cycle that most closely | | | | pumps: Medela Classic, Medela Symphony, |
| mimics a baby's natural nursing pattern. | | | | Medela Lactina, Ameda Egnell SMB or Ameda |
| Some models automatically simulate this | | | | Egnell Lact-E. |
| release cycle while others will require the | | | | |