Advantages and disadvantages of a breast pump

Most new mothers breastfeed their  baby  for about six months, because breast milk is the perfect nutrition for the baby in the first six months. But what to do if the mother starts to work again while breastfeeding or just a few hours of time to yourself? So that the baby can also be supplied with breast milk during this time, a breast milk supply can be created with the help of a breast pump.

Borrow breast pumps from the pharmacy

In general, a distinction is made between electrical devices and hand pumps when it comes to breast pumps. However, hand pumps are only suitable for expressing excess  milk  . Whole meals can be obtained much easier and faster with an electric breast pump. This is powered by either batteries or mains power. With most breast pumps, the container with which the milk is collected can then be closed with a teat and used directly as a bottle.

If you want to use a breast pump, you don’t necessarily have to buy it, you can also borrow the breast pump from a pharmacy. Many pharmacies now offer this service. Have the breast pump explained to you in detail at the pharmacy or alternatively by your midwife before using it for the first time. You should also carefully boil the breast pump before using it for the first time to kill any germs that may be present.

This is how the breast pump works

When using the breast pump, it is particularly important to put on the pump correctly, otherwise the vacuum created by the pump can cause cracks in the nipple. If the breast pump is attached correctly, it sucks at about the same rhythm as a baby. With many electric pumps, the suction strength of the breast pump can be individually adjusted.

At the beginning it is quite normal that only a few milliliters of breast milk can be pumped out. However, this amount can usually be increased quickly. In total, milk should not be pumped for more than 20 minutes, otherwise the breast will be put under too much strain and milk production will be stimulated too much. With electric breast pumps, the pump should be switched off at a moment when the pump is not sucking. Otherwise, removing it from the breast can be extremely painful.

After use, the breast pump must be cleaned carefully. The individual parts of the pump can be cleaned by hand or in the dishwasher. If washed by hand, the individual parts should not be dried with a tea towel, otherwise contamination may occur. It is even safer not to rinse the individual parts of the breast pump, but to  sterilize them . This can be done either by boiling, using a vaporizer, or a microwave sterilizer.

Pumping tips

For many mothers, handling the breast pump is not easy at first. These tips will make expressing milk easier:

• Bend your torso slightly forward as you pump.
• Switch sides often when pumping milk. If it helps you, you can breastfeed your child on the other breast at the same time as you pump.
• Warm up your breast slightly before using the breast pump
• Massage  your breasts slowly and in circular motions as you express

Benefits of a breast pump

Breastfeeding mothers can stock up on breast milk by using a breast pump. So they can do something on their own without the baby having to forgo breast milk. In addition, the use of a breast pump offers mothers other advantages:

• Pumping the milk takes the strain off your breasts. Especially at the beginning of breastfeeding, when a lot of milk is produced, a breast pump can prevent breast engorgement.
• Pumping the milk not only prevents milk build-up, but also stimulates milk production. This is especially helpful when the mother is producing too little milk.
• The expressed breast milk can be given to the baby in a bottle. So not only the mother but also the father can feed the baby.

Disadvantages of pumped breast milk

The great advantage of breastfeeding is that there are usually no major complications: the breast milk is fresh, at the right temperature and the breast does not have to be sterilized – in contrast to bottles and breast pumps. Using a breast pump involves more effort than breastfeeding. In addition, if the breast milk is frozen, important components of the milk are lost.

If you breastfeed your baby, but also occasionally feed it with pumped breast milk from the bottle, you should be aware that this can lead to the baby getting confused when sucking. This is triggered by a different sucking movement of the child on the bottle and on the breast. In order to prevent the sucking confusion, pumped breast milk should best be given to the baby via a cup, a spoon or a pipette.

In general, natural breastfeeding should be preferred to pumped milk. However, if breastfeeding the child is not always possible, expressed breast milk can also be used with a clear conscience. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when storing breast milk.

Storing and freezing breast milk

In general, breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator for about three days and in the freezer for up to six months. If the breast milk cannot be cooled, it should be fed no later than eight hours after pumping – much faster in summer temperatures. If the milk is stored in the refrigerator, it should not be kept in the door as the temperature is higher there.
Before freezing breast milk, the container should be marked with the date, time and, if necessary, the child’s name. The name should be noted above all if the child is cared for together with other children – for example with a childminder.

In the freezer, breast milk is best stored in special breast milk containers. It should always be noted that the milk expands slightly when it freezes – so the container should not be more than 80 percent full. If you want to use the frozen breast milk, you should let it thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature – but never in the microwave.

After thawing, you can feed the milk for 24 hours, after which the milk must be discarded. Refreezing is not possible. Before the baby gets the milk, it should be gently warmed in a hot water bath. Be sure to test the temperature of the milk after heating  to avoid burns  .