Breast Milk Pump

The world of the breast pump seems an unnatural and confusing realm. Maternal instinct does not kick in when holding a hard piece of plastic, and the whole nursing process loses its appeal without the soft bundle of sweet smelling baby in your arms. But you have made the commitment to nurse this baby, and you will figure this pump thing out. Good for you! It isn’t as hard as it sounds.

If every woman could buy the ideal pump, it would be a dual-powered, silent, dual pumping, hands-free, electronic heavy pumper that fits discreetly into an attractive carrying case. Reality is that most budgets can cover the hand-powered, silent, single pumping, hands-on, manual lightweight pumper that you shove in your purse. Let’s break that down and get you the best bang (or pump) for your buck.

The primary pump choice is between electric and manual. Manual is admittedly a lot more work than electric, because you have to physically squeeze the pump handle to express the milk, but it is quiet, affordable, portable, and does the job. An electric pump will work faster and better. It also makes noise, is heavier to carry, and requires a power source.

If you are only an occasional pumper, a manual pump will suffice. Look for brands such as Avent Isis and Medela Harmony which have comfort shields that massage the breast as they extract the milk. Medela Pedal Pump is a manual pump with a foot pedal which makes pumping more convenient. Size is also a consideration. Ameda One-Hand is small enough to stow in a desk drawer or carry in a purse.

If you will be pumping daily, you will likely prefer to invest in an electric pump, which presents more options. First, consider your time constraints when pumping? A double pump, such as the new Playtex Embrace, will simultaneously empty both breasts. Bump up the power (and the price) with a hospital grade pump such as the Medela Lactina.

If you must continue to work while pumping, consider hands-free options. Some companies such as Medela and Easy Expressions offer hands free nursing bras that support the pumps so you can keep working.

Also consider the power source. Will you have access to an outlet or would battery-operated fit your situation? Some models offer both.

While most electronic pumps cost well over one hundred dollars, or even over one thousand if you are considering a hospital-grade beauty such as the Medela Symphony, there are more affordable options. While not as powerful or loaded as the higher ticket pumps, the Evenflo Comfort Select is a battery-operated pump that comes in under $40. As with everything else, you get what you pay for, but it is wise to only pay for what you need.

Whatever pump you choose, you will need to keep these tips in mind. Since the plastic machine does little to release the maternal hormones needed for let-down, be sure to relax and think of your baby. Photos, cherished objects, or a little baby lotion on your wrist may all assist with let-down. If you must pump consistently while at work or away on business, be sure to maintain a steady milk supply by emptying the breasts completely and pumping consistently. (Do you see why most working mothers prefer an electronic pump?) Clean your pump by boiling any parts that come in contact with the breast or milk, and then keeping them clean by thoroughly cleaning or washing in a dishwasher. Do not share your pump–it is contamination waiting to happen.

Congratulations on your decision to pump! You can be proud of yourself for your commitment to give your baby the best food possible–yours.

Breastfeeding While Pregnant

They said it couldn't happen, getting pregnant while breastfeeding, but “they” were wrong. Here you are nursing a baby and growing another. You’re not ready to stop nursing, and neither is Junior, but you want what is best for the new bundle of love growing inside you. Carefully consider the following before hurriedly weaning.

If I'm nursing, how can I be pregnant?

While nursing is a natural method for spacing children, it is not foolproof birth control. Mothers who experience the longest period of infertility after childbirth are those who nurse on demand (no less than once every four hours during the day and once every six hours at night), introduce solids late (not replacing more than 5-10% of the baby’s overall intake), and often co-sleep to increase feedings. This maintains a constant flow of the nursing hormones that suppress ovulation and decrease your chances of becoming pregnant.

Is it safe to nurse while pregnant?

Absolutely! As long as you have no health problems, there is no reason to wean.

When is it not safe to nurse during pregnancy?

If your obstetrician tells you to avoid all pelvic activity or nipple stimulation, then you should wean. The oxytocin released from nursing, while small enough to not affect a normal pregnancy, is a factor for women at high risk for pre-term labor.

Be forewarned that most doctors will unilaterally say that you should wean while pregnant. If you have a healthy pregnancy, do not feel pressured by this. Encourage the doctor to research this specific issue.

Will pregnancy affect my milk supply?

The early months of pregnancy will cause no change in your milk supply. Later the milk may lessen and change flavor, sometimes resulting in a toddler or older child self-weaning.

Your milk supply may dry up completely in the third trimester. If this does not encourage your child to wean, then you will be dry nursing, essentially serving as a human pacifier. For some women this is painful, while others have no issue with it.

What nutritional considerations must I consider when pregnant and nursing?

It is important to focus on proper nutrition during any pregnancy. Nursing during pregnancy will make you a little hungrier and require you to eat a bit more, as well as require a bit more focus on proper hydration.

What drawbacks are there to nursing through a pregnancy?

Just as when you first began nursing, your nipples may become tender. If you end up dry nursing, you may have some pain. The tender breasts common in pregnancy, although less of an issue during subsequent pregnancies, may bother you if a rambunctious toddler is nursing roughly. Encourage gentle behavior

What are the benefits to nursing through a pregnancy?

While all the pre-pregnancy benefits remain, such as bonding with your little one and releasing calming hormones, an added benefit is that the child’s request to nurse will force you to sit and rest your tired body. Tandem nursing after the newborn arrives will help the older child bond with the infant. Rather than competing for Mom’s attention and being forbidden the breasts which are now given to the newborn, the older child can still feel a part of Mommy and have that precious bond maintained.

Nursing is a precious, sacred time for a mother and her child. Do not let anyone pressure you into premature weaning unless it is a medical necessity. Enjoy these cherished years!

Breast Milk Storage

You've pumped and pumped and pumped. Now what do you do with the fruit (or milk) of your labor? Follow these simple how to procedures for storing breast milk.

Why to Store Breast Milk
Mothers store breast milk for a variety of reasons. The most common reason is to supply cabregivers with bottles while the mother is at work, on a trip, out to dinner, or finally sleeping through the night with Dad in charge of baby. Some mothers face an upcoming medical situation that would require they not nurse their babies for a time, so the baby receives bottles while the mother pumps and dumps. Some try to encourage greater milk production by temporarily increasing the demand on the breast, and then store the results of their efforts. Finally, many like the security of knowing that a little bit of Mama is in the freezer for baby, whenever the little tyke might need it.

Where to Store Breast Milk

Store all breast milk in sterile bags or sealed containers. Some sterile milk storage bags offer convenient zipper seals, such as Gerber’s Seal and Go. Dr. Brown’s sealable storage bags tout a doubled zipper seal and dual-layer thickness for extended freezer life. Companies like Avent and Medelah, among numerous others, provide storage systems to accompany their model of breast pump. Look for PBA-free storage products and bottles, now readily available from most breastfeeding supply companies. If you plan on freezing the breast milk, only use freezer safe storage containers that will not leach harmful toxins into your baby’s next meal.

How to Store Breast Milk

Either pump into a sterile bottle or directly into a storage container. If pumped into a bottle, transfer the milk to a sterile storage container or bag. Store the milk in small quantities, from 2-4 ounces, to avoid wasting your milk and pumping efforts. Seal the container and mark it with the date it was pumped. If the milk is to be consumed within the next few hours or days, include the time as well. Companies such as Lansinoh manufacture medical-grade milk storage bags with a convenient label built in. Use ink rather than a permanent marker which can leach into the milk if using a bag.

To avoid bacterial problems, do not add fresh milk to previously stored milk, and do not reuse or freeze milk that the baby has partially eaten.

As you increase your supply of stored milk, always keep the oldest milk to the front and use it first.

How Long to Store Breast Milk

Different sources will site different lengths of time for proper breast milk storage. You will need to determine for yourself by consulting your child’s pediatrician, a local La Leche League advocate, or the information that comes with your milk storage supplies. Following are the general ranges.

• At room temperature: 4 to 8 hours
• In the refrigerator: 2 to 3 days
• In a freezer within a refrigerator: up to 2 weeks
• In a freezer outside of a refrigerator (like a side-by-side): 3 to 4 months
• In a deep freezer: up to 12 months
• When freezing, store the milk in the coldest region in the back of the freezer, and not in the door.

How to Use the Frozen Supply
Thaw the frozen milk in the refrigerator, under running water, or in a pan of warm water heated indirectly. Never boil or microwave breast milk or any other item you will be feeding your baby. Not only does the heat damage the nutrients in the milk, but it poses a burn risk to the baby due to hot spots in the bottle. Always test the temperature of the milk on the inside of your arm where you are more sensitive.

Don’t worry about the unusual appearance of the milk, whether blue, yellow, brown, or separated. This is normal. Remember, breast milk is a natural product which has not undergone any form of processing. It will vary.

Storing baby’s liquid gold is a simple process.

Breastfeeding Pillows

Breastfeeding pillows are versatile products that can offer a variety of different comforts and uses during pregnancy and after the arrival of your baby. As well as providing a stable and comfortable platform for feeding your baby, breastfeeding pillows can give you back support, help you sleep more comfortably during pregnancy, can be used as a pillow to raise your baby's head and can also work as an aid to help your baby sit up more easily.

In their primary function as a feeding support, breastfeeding pillows provide a stable platform from which you can feed your baby with ease. A breastfeeding pillow should be comfortable yet firm, so your baby's back and neck are in a secure position. In addition to this it is important that the pillow forms a snug fit around your body - if it is too loose the constant need for adjustment can be quite annoying!

Another great function of the breast feeding pillow is as a back support - during feeding a surprising amount of strain can be placed on your back. Since breastfeeding is so regular during the early stages of a baby's life, it is important that you try to support your back as much as possible during this process. Breastfeeding pillows come in a variety shapes and sizes - many of them can wrap around your back giving you that much needed support.

It should be noted that you can also use your breast feeding pillow to support your back during pregnancy. Pregnancy can put a lot of pressure on your back, so a supporting pillow around your lower back whilst sitting down can work wonders.
Your nursing pillow can also be used to support your baby whilst they are learning to sit up on their own. In this guise, the pillow acts as a supportive surround to prevent baby from toppling over. One final point to note it that a breastfeeding pillow can also be used as a simple pillow for your baby. This can be particularly beneficial if baby is suffering from a cold or ear infection, as it is highly recommended that their head is elevated during this kind of illness.

Pregnancy and the early stages of a baby's life will provide parents with a truly unique and amazing experience, but it will also present an almost endless list of challenges - particularly for Mum! Being pregnant means morning sickness, tiredness and discomfort, then there is the trauma of the actual birth, followed by the inevitable lack of sleep. And amidst all this you'll need to get the hang of a new skill: breastfeeding!

Your partner will hopefully do his best to provide you with as much support as possible throughout all this, but when it comes to breastfeeding it's really down to Mum (and of course baby!). Thankfully, there are a number of breastfeeding pillows now available to help with what can be a tricky skill to master during what is a demanding time.

Breastfeeding pillows are designed primarily to provide support for Mum and baby during breastfeeding; they enable the baby to be propped up in a comfortable position for feeding, taking any strain away from Mum and also ensuring the little one is able to tilt his or her head back and swallow the milk easily.

Breastfeeding pillows can also double up as an effective sleeping aid for pregnant women, providing support to the tummy, knees and back and discouraging you from sleeping on your back. Pregnancy is tiring, so a good night's sleep is extremely important - especially when you consider the sleepless nights that lie ahead...
With this versatility in mind, it's no surprise that breastfeeding pillows are quickly becoming an essential part of the pregnant and new Mum's kit. This web site explains the various uses of breastfeeding pillows in more detail, as well as providing some useful general information on breastfeeding and advice on which pillows you might like to buy.