Electric or Manual Breast Pump

It's usually one of the first things that crops up in conversation for expectant mums, whether or not they will be breastfeeding their unborn child. Many mums do and will only give their baby breast milk, yet still a majority of new mum’s are put off by the whole process. We know that breast milk has a distinct advantage against formula milk, not only for the baby but also for the mother.

 Breastmilk VS Formula Milk

Breast feeding gives your newborn baby healthy, natural and nutritional milk so if you decide to use an electric breast pump, your options become even more variant. For example you may be feeling exhausted from caring for your little one all day long, your partner returns home and you want to take a little lie down and let them take over the feeding role. If you use a breast pump, you are still able to feed your little one with the nutritional milk which they need without you even being there or administering it! Furthermore, if you decide to go back to work or leave your baby with a member of your family, your baby can still feed on the natural milk which you have produced. It also means that you can get that much needed uninterrupted sleep as you let someone else take over the duties for a while. Breast pumps work in a way that they mimic a baby’s natural suckling action to make the experience feel as comfortable and natural as possible. Using a breast pump may also help to stimulate your milk production and boost your supply, this is handy if you have had a premature baby. However in order to get your breast pump to work efficiently you do need to be both calm and relaxed. Breast pumps are all very simple and easy to use. All you have to do is place the suction shield over the nipple, turn the breast pump on and it will then do all the hard work for you, you can just sit back and relax!

 How to use a breast pump

There are many types and styles of breast pumps available on the market such as an electric/battery powered or manual, it depends from mum to mum on which they personally prefer to use. If you choose to use a manual breast pump this may be because you feel like you would like to control the mimicking suckling of the child and that it feels much more natural than what an electric pump feels like. Manual pumps also generally feel lighter, more portable and quieter. However, these are not always for everyone as some mum’s feel as though they take too long and the fact that they can become tired, meaning that not enough milk for feeding is collected. 

If you are struggling to breastfeed naturally, then an electric breast pump may be more suited to you. Also, if you plan on heading back to work or you know that you will not regularly be around your growing little one, then an electric breast pump may be best suited to you. Why? This allows you to express your milk, creating meals for when you are not there or able to feed your baby. If you decide to use an electric breast pump this will mean that you no longer have to supplement with formula milk whenever you are not there or if you leave your little one with a family member or a friend. 

Our most popular electric breast pump is the Philips AVENT Electric Breast Pump which has an electronic memory that remembers and continues your pumping rhythm. The pump also has a battery warning light on the control handle which displays a slow pulsing flash to warn you when it is time to replace the batteries.

Remember, the more relaxed you are, the more milk you express.