The breast pump simulates attachment to the baby’s breast. It consists of a milk container, a treat for the breast, and a suction body that pulls the milk, acting in two stages: suction and release. The aim is to stimulate the nipple to promote natural and without-pain milk production.
Breastfeeding is a significant moment from the physiological point of view: breast milk is a complete food that transmits to the child all the nutrients necessary to grow strong and healthy. In addition, breastfeeding is a precious phase on the psychological level that creates a unique connection and intimacy between mother and child. No other experience can replicate.
The frenetic pace of today’s life does not allow you to stay with the child until it is self-sufficient, or it can happen that the child does not have enough suck, that the mother is taking drugs, or is subject to breast engorgement. In all these cases, the breast pump is the best solution to extract the milk from the mother’s breast and to be able to give it to the baby in the absence of a mother.
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How to choose a breast pump: Types and Characteristics
Choosing the best breast pump is personal, but some important features are considered to identify the most suitable appliance. First of all, there is to know that there are two types of breast pumps:
- Manual breast pump: the first models operated exclusively manually, operated by hand or foot. Using a manual breast pump requires time and effort and allows you to extract less milk in more time than an electric model.
- Electric breast pumps: if initially, they were prohibitive costs for most women, fortunately, they are now more accessible. They work like the manual models, but being electrically powered, they have many revolutions per minute that allow much larger milk quantities without fatigue.
Other aspects to consider are:
- Efficiency: a newborn reaches about 45-55 portions per minute. The more the breast pump approaches this number, the greater its efficiency. The best products exceed at least the 25 thresholds, while the appliances below are considered inefficient. Also, some models can pull the milk from the two breasts to optimize time and efficiency.
- Noise: a good breast pump must also be discreet. It is important to guarantee the mother’s tranquility and concentration to extract the milk smoothly.
- Practicality: removable and dishwasher-safe components make cleaning operations much easier. In addition, a breast pump is a tool that should use daily, so it must be easy to use and clean to avoid wasting time unnecessarily.
- Accessories: Most market models include containers for collecting milk transformed into bottles if necessary. Alternatively, they can offer practical lids for hermetically sealing the container and storing breast milk in the refrigerator.
Duration and Maintenance
For appliances like this, hygiene is a fundamental aspect. After each use, washing and drying the various components is necessary. Many manufacturers also recommend sterilizing them to avoid the proliferation of germs and bacteria.
To do this, you can proceed in different ways: using the dishwasher at 140°, soaking the containers in boiling water, or using a bottle sterilizer.
The best electric and manual breast pump
Now that you have a big picture, you are almost ready to choose the best breast pump. To help you navigate the many alternatives, we have selected the top 10 best ones on the market for quality/price ratio, which you will find below with the main features.
Product prices and availability are subject to change. Therefore, any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to purchasing any products.