If you are wanting to breastfeed your baby you most likely have thought about getting yourself a breast pump. There are so many different types to choose from. Let us help you choose a breast pump that is best for you. At first the idea may be simple but there are quite a few different types of pumps. The Elite is a hospital grade pump that can be used by different users. Then there are the personal use pumps: The lactaline which is a double electric, the Una which is a single electric and the manual. There is the perfect pump for you and to help you make sure you chose the correct Ameda pump for your needs, follow these 6 easy tips:
Rental or personal
There is a difference between a hospital grade and personal grade pump. The Hospital grade and personal pumps use a different mechanism to help create the negative pressure that draws out your breast milk. The Elite hospital grade pumps are mainly for mothers who have to establish their milk supply without the assistance of their baby. This would be a mom who has her baby in NICU, a mom who is adopting and wanting to breastfeed or a mom who has returned to work and needs to pump effectively and fast. If you are planning on only using a pump for a short period of time, the rental option maybe the most cost effective. To learn more about our rental program click here
The Ameda personal pumps are much smaller in size than the hospital grade pumps which makes them portable. Our electric pumps use both mains electricity and batteries which make them portal and ideal for taking to work to pump. They even have a car adaptor which makes it possible to pump while in the car. The Ameda Manual pump allows for multiphase pumping and is easy to transport.
Closed system or open system
Closed and open systems refer to the ability of moisture, air or breastmilk to move through your pump and collect in your tubing or pump motor. With open system pumps, moisture or breast milk is allowed to collect in the tubing or motor which can allow for the growth of bacteria, viruses or moulds. Studies have found: Klebsiella, Staph. Aureus, Str. Faecalis Ser. Marcescens and Ps. Aeruginosa and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the tubing, flange sets, expressed breast milk and motors of open system pumps. This can be very dangerous for sick or premature or sick infants and the bacteria or virus can be transferred to your baby via contaminated breast milk. It is very difficult to clean out the tube and sterilise the tube or the pump once it has the milk in it. If you see breast milk or moisture collecting inside your tubes it is best to replace the tubing. To keep replace tubing can be time consuming and expensive.
A safer option is to use a pump that has a complete closed system. All Ameda breast pumps are closed system. The Ameda FDA approved design has a silicone diaphragm that does not allow for the movement of air or moisture to pass from the flange into the tubing. The placement of the barrier is very important because the studies found that the contamination of the tubing was within the first 4cm form the flange. This makes it so important that the barrier should be between the flange and the tubing. This means that the moisture or milk is not able to move into the tube or the motor. This results in you not needing to clean, sterilise or replace the tubing parts.
Used or new pump
There are a lot of mothers looking at purchasing second hand pumps online or borrowing a pump from a friend. The reason for this is that electrical pumps can be very expensive. Although you would be saving some money there are risks involved with purchasing a second had pump. As mentioned above there are very real risks of purchasing an open system pump. With a second hand pump the risk for mould, viruses and bacteria being in the actual motor of the pump is much higher. Studies showed that although most of the contamination happened within the first 4cm of the tubing with usage the risk of the contaminates traveling though the tubing and up in to the actual motor was greater. It is always recommended to buy a new pump rather than a second hand one. If you can’t not afford a new electric pump consider a manual pump, a closed system pump and at least to buy your own flange and tubing sets (which will add to the price of the pump).
The decision between a manual and an electric pump can be based on two main factors; Price and usage. As mentioned before, electric pumps are more expensive than manual pumps. Some mothers respond really well to manual pumps and find them easier to use compared to electrical pumps. Electrical pumps are mainly used by mothers who go back to work because they make pumping quick and effective.
Double or single
The lactaline double pump has two flanges so that you can pump both breasts at the same time. This helps to half the amount of time per pump session. Also, double pumping results in your breasts producing more milk per pump session. The Una single pump are less expensive than double pumps and can be a very useful option. They are idea for a mom that has a bit more time to pump for her baby.
Comfort and fit
With the Ameda range of breast pumps you can make sure that you chose a pump that is comfortable and fits you well. If you are comfortable while you express, you will also produce more milk. Once you have decided which type of pump would be the best for you, make sure that the brand that you chose will fit you perfectly and be comfortable while you pump. Ameda has a range of flange sizes because not all breasts are the same size. If the flange is too small it can hurt your nipple and if it is too big it can result in poor expression of breast milk. If you are not sure of your flange size you are welcome to contact us and we will help you chose your correct size.