From the day you hold your baby for the first time till the day they go to college and beyond, a mother’s duty is never fulfilled. However, according to a unanimous decision made by mothers around the world, we can assure you that the first few years after birth are the most challenging as well as demanding.
From getting little to no sleep in your nights to suffering from the discomfort of engorgement, a mother’s patience is truly tested in the first few weeks after her child’s birth.
This all may seem daunting at first, but like most things, practice and hard work are crucial steps to becoming a good mother. This article will look at situations that can prove the importance of breast pumps for new moms.
But before we begin, you should know there’s another method to stimulate breasts and attain a natural flow of milk production;a method known as Hand Expression.
What is Hand Expression?
Hand Expression is another method used to deal with breast engorgement and to remove excess milk. This is usually achieved by moving your fingers rhythmically and compressing the breast near the nipple to stimulate it, achieve natural production, and get rid of the discomfort brought on with an engorged breast. However, at Kidz Country, we encourage women – who’ve not had any prior experience with Hand Expression – to acquaint themselves with the process before practicing it.
Why You Need a Breast Pump
There are a number of situations during which a smart breast pump might prove to be the perfect accessory for you, a few of which are stated below.
- If Your Baby Isn’t Able to Breastfeed: In cases of premature birth, more often than not, mothers find their babies unable to breastfeed properly; though this isn’t uncommon, it can become a source of concern if left unattended. Regular pumping sessions stimulate your milk production as well as prevent several problems that can leave you restless, including engorgement and inflammation of the breasts. Compared to Hand Expression, using a breast pump proves to be more efficient and less tiring, should you feel the need to remove your breast milk regularly.
- If Your Baby Isn’t Getting Enough Breast Milk:In order to stimulate your breasts for increased milk production, you can use a breast pump after the feeding session to fully drain your breasts. This will help increase milk supply and prove to be time-efficient and convenient compared to Hand Expression.
- If Breasts are Engorged:Should you suffer from breast engorgement, you can use Hand Expression to relieve yourself of the excess milk to prevent mastitis (inflammation of the breasts) and discomfort. If you are looking for something more efficient and less demanding, we suggest using a breast pump.
- If You’ll be Separated from Your Baby: If you find yourself in a position where separation from your baby is inevitable, whether it’s because of work or an illness, you’ll have to leave enough milk to feed your baby while you’re away. In this situation, pumps are guaranteed to come in handy when large volumes of milk are required.
- If You Have Flat, Inverted, or Dimpled Nipples: Breast pumps can be used to evert your nipples before your baby’s feeding sessions when they are learning to breastfeed. This helps your baby latch on easily as well as makes the feeding session painless for the mother.
What is the Best Type of Breast Pump
The different types of breast pumps were designed to suit the needs of different mothers. There is no ‘one size fits all’ situation regarding breast pumps. The best course of action in this situation is to acquire the help of someone who knows what they’re talking about, someone like us.
- Manual Breast Pump – works by manually using a lever to draw the milk through suction. Manual pumps are the cheapest of the bunch.
- Silicone Breast Pump – a single-piece silicone pump with no articulations that creates a gentle vacuum on the nipple while you feed your baby on the other breast.
- Single Electric Breast Pump – an electric or battery-powered breast pump that enables you to pump each breast separately. It usually comes with different suction levels.
Double Electric Breast Pump – an electric or battery-powered breast pump that comes with a pair of breast shields that allow you to pump both breasts simultaneously. The recent models feature a portable and rechargeable design that unobtrusively fits nursing bras.
