Diane Oakland, IBCLC Family Education and Support Coordinator, Lactation Consultant

August 31, 2010

Breastfeeding your baby is one of the most important choices you can make to get your baby off to a healthy start in life. Bringing baby to your breast has immeasurable rewards for both mother and baby, including the bonding that occurs by its very nature, holding baby to your breast to get the nourishing and healthful benefits of breast milk. But what if you can’t feed baby at your breast? Perhaps baby is premature or you are separated from your baby or you discover that breastfeeding is not right for you, but you want to give your milk to your baby. Today’s breast pumps are designed to be efficient, portable and affordable, saving the cost of expensive cow’s milk formulas and providing the overwhelming benefit of giving mother’s milk to your baby.

As a new mother and baby learn to breastfeed, as with all new tasks, in the beginning it may seem difficult to master. Mother may be tempted to switch to pumping which may appear easier at first. Although this is an option with quality breast pumps at our fingertips, most women will find that holding baby and breastfeeding becomes much easier in time and feeding at breast is precious time spent with baby, easier than pumping and washing bottles over the months that lie ahead.

When to begin pumping
When breastfeeding is off to a good start, it is encouraged to wait until baby is about 4 to 6 weeks old before beginning pumping and introducing a bottle. At that time, baby will have learned to feed well at the breast, will prefer to feed at breast and it is unlikely to cause confusion as you teach baby how to take a bottle of expressed breastmilk.

Types of breast pumps
Not all breast pumps are created equal. To help you choose just the right pump for you, first you’ll need to determine how often you plan to pump.  When exclusively pumping, renting a hospital grade double electric pump such as the Medela Symphony is recommended to best establish and maintain a full milk supply. Many women want a pump that will drain both breasts quickly, efficiently and with the least amount of effort to accommodate a busy lifestyle or for returning to work. Medela Pump In Style Advanced does the job well and has been the pump of choice for many active women.  It is durable, lasting through the first child and beyond. The new Medela Freestyle is more portable and has a rechargeable battery but the extra cost may not be worth the investment. The Medela pumps have a carry bag that is large enough for the cooler pack and 4 bottles to store milk without the need of a refrigerator. The new Lansinoh Affinity or Lansinoh Double Electric (previously Purely Yours) is also used by many working mothers, although more affordable, it may not be quite as efficient as the PIS nor is it designed for the same longevity. For occasional pumping, a good quality hand pump such as the Medela Harmony or the Avent Hand Pump may be all you’ll need.  You’ll pump both sides separately, so it is more time consuming than a double electric pump and takes more effort, and it is typically not designed for the working mother. For more efficient single pumping capability, Medela’s Swing Pump is an electric single version of the double electric Pump In Style and sells for about half the price.

How long to pump at work
Pump about 15 to 20 minutes at a sitting or until the milk stops dripping for 2 minutes.  Two to three times in an 8-hour workday is typical for most moms to pump. A time saving tip - store your breast pump parts in a bag, chilled in the cooler or refrigerator along with your milk between feedings so you won’t need to wash it between each pumping or until you get home. Ideally, pumping enough milk to get most of what baby needs for the next day is the goal. To help keep your supply up during the busy work week, breastfeeding frequently in the evening, allowing for night feedings as baby desires and breastfeed through the weekend. The nicest way to greet your baby after a long day away is quiet time at breast before beginning the busy evening activities. An excellent website for preparing to return to work is workandpump.com.

Storing breast milk
For specific instructions on how breast milk should be stored, please refer to our helpful webpage. There are a few tips to remember as well. Breast milk can be stored in bags or bottles. Bags are used for shorter periods while bottles are recommended for longer periods. Breast milk should be used within 5 days after pumping and stored in a refrigerator. You can also freeze your breast milk and then thaw it in the refrigerator for later use. But the milk will only be good for 24 hours after thawing it.

While breastfeeding is ideally the first option, it’s important to remember that if there are medical needs, if you are away from your baby, or if your baby can’t take to the breast, expressed breast milk is the next best choice for you and your baby and is well worth all the effort.

See information about Columbia Center’s Breast Pump Rental and Sales