Like
many other moms and moms-to-be who have taken to blogging their own experience
and considerations after much head-splitting ideas and sleepless night
decisions, I believe the final decisions boil down to the fact of how far one
is willing to go in determining what is the best for yourself, your baby, your
partner, your wallets, and how much control you would want to have over this
transition period.
No
doubt much helpful advice has been heaped on where well wishes would advise you
to try and use as many hand-me-downs as possible, from clothes to strollers to
cots; reason being that yes, time flies and the little bundle of joy will no
doubt easily outgrow many things quickly. Hence, you would then need to burn
another hole in your wallet for this additional growth spurt budget. No doubt
if you are fine with hand-me-downs these would definitely be a time and financial
lifesaver, but ultimately, it would still boil down to whether these
hand-me-downs are available, and if they suit your needs and lifestyles.
Whether
you are exclusively or partially feeding your baby breast milk, it is highly
likely that you will use a breast pump somewhere along the way for one purpose
or another. The frequency of its use depends upon your lifestyle and milk
production as well as baby's appetite. A great
breast pump can sometimes even make all of the difference between either a
stressful breastfeeding experience and a lackluster supply, or a great one with
a robust supply. Therefore, this is one baby-related item that needs thorough
consideration.
The types of
breast pumps in the market today can be divided into 3 main categories: manual
pumps, electric pumps, and hospital grade pumps. There are also single user
(self-usage) and multiple user breast pumps (used by hospitals and lactation
consultants), but the focus of my article will be on single user breast pumps. Below
are a list of factors that I had considered in my choice selection of shortlisted
breast pump(s) purchase/ acquisition in anticipation of the arrival of my new
bundle of joy:
Frequency
of Usage
Manual:
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Recommended for
stay-at-home moms who rarely miss a feeding, or for occasional travel usage.
A point to note that frequent usage could easily tire your hand(s) out and
cause repetitive strain injuries.
|
Electric:
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Recommended for
moms who pump occasionally, i.e. at least once a day, and are away from their
babies, such as working moms.
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Hospital Grade:
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Recommended for
those who plan to pump from home,
or if you must dramatically increase your milk supply.
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Budget
Manual:
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Least expensive
compared to all other types, as they are single-handed and self-operated.
Promotional prices can range from RM30 - RM150.
|
Electric:
|
Prices vary for
these motorised types, as they come in a variety of single pumps, double
pumps, and even hands-free pumps, ranging between lightweight uses and
midweight types. Prices can range between RM250 – around RM1000. Personally,
a decent promotional double-pump set could cost around RM400 – RM600, whilst
a single could be around RM200 – RM400.
|
Hospital Grade:
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Electric power
house types that can cost around RM800 – over RM1,000.
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Portability
& Weight
Manual:
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Usually just a
one-piece pumping unit or bulb/ syringe cylinder silicone variety that comes
with a cap. Hence, it is very light, compact, and easily portable.
|
Electric:
|
Electric pumps
are generally lightweight, compact, and can be fit into purses or briefcases.
There are some single pump varieties where the motors are about the size of
your palm.
|
Hospital Grade:
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Electric power
house types that would fit just over the palm of your hand and can weigh over
1kg, hence decently bulky and heavy by nature.
|
Suction
Settings
Manual:
|
As these are
manually operated by hand, the suction power, manner and speed are dependent
on your hand movements and suction preference.
|
Electric:
|
All electric
types have adjustable suction strength and method settings to mimic how a
nursing baby suckles. All offer massage/stimulation modes to stimulate milk
flow, expression modes for milk pumping and all-in-1 modes for milk pumping
and release of engorgement. As these settings are dependent on the motor
power, it would be best to choose a pump that offers an optional strong
suction intensity should the need to relieve your sore/ full breasts arise.
|
Hospital Grade:
|
These types have sensitive controls that allow you
to regulate suction rhythm, intensity, and pressure, and some even have a
pumping action that's almost identical to a baby's natural sucking. These
double pumps is said to reduce the amount of time required for milk pumping
compared to the 2 other varieties above considerably.
|
Power
Options
Manual:
|
Dependent on
your own hand power.
|
Electric:
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Usually comes
with a charger and built in rechargeable batteries. Best to find those that also
allow for USB port charging, and have a battery lifespan of at least an hour,
as each pumping session can last between 10-30 minutes.
|
Hospital Grade:
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Usually comes
with a charger and built in rechargeable batteries, and optional cable for
connection to a power source.
|
Durability
Not all pumps are
created equal, and the silicone/ electronic parts and motors of each pump type
will wear out eventually, depending on the components used, frequency of use and
maintenance care provided. A point to note is that some silicone parts may wear
out faster if subjected to frequent high heat sterilisation.
Comfort
Level
This refers mainly
to the pump cup/flange size and material, which will determine how much grip
the cup would have covering the breast, and then coupled together with the
suction intensity. Some cups/flange are made of pure plastic, part silicone and
part plastic, or pure silicone. To determine which would best suit your comfort
level, it is recommended that you request for a demonstration of how your
chosen pump works.
The pumps suction literally pulls the
nipple into the flange and hence, it is very important for the cups/flanges to
fit properly. You do not want the nipple to constantly be vigorously rubbing
against the plastic as it may cause abrasions and lead to bleeding, pain, and
even infection. Most
cups today however are universal in size and shape and cater to most breast and
nipple types.
Motor
Noise Level
Most pumps today
are created to be as silent as possible (with a night light), to allow nursing
moms to pump discreetly and at times, to avoid waking the baby. Best to test
your preferred pump during a demonstration to determine how silent the motors
are.
Cleaning
Accessibility
Ease of daily
cleaning after each pump could save you a lot of time and unnecessary stress.
Manual pumps are a one-piece equipment and hence, the easiest and fastest to
clean. When considering electric/ hospital grade pumps, all connecting parts
where the milk will flow should be easily detachable for quick rinsing/
sterilisation, including the connecting ports, pipes and pump cup. Check with
your supplier if they will also offer cleaning/ maintenance services for your
pumps, as some parts could be hard to reach for cleaning.
Warranty
& Customer Service
Most electric and
hospital grade pumps come with at least a year’s warranty from the manufacturer
or supplier. Consider an extended warranty to cover all parts if possible, and
check customer feedback on the specific brand product before getting one.
Better yet if their customer service can offer prompt technical support and
postage of your required replacement parts instead of you having to drop by
their outlet for consultation or replacement, as time and pump efficiency is no
doubt vital to a working and nursing mom. A generous warranty typically is a sign of
quality and durability.
Single or Double Pumping
If you'll be pumping at work or pumping often, getting a double hospital-grade
or midweight, personal-use, electric pump will allow you to express both
breasts at once, completing a pumping session in 10 to 15 minutes.
Double-pumping is also said to increases levels of prolactin, the hormone
responsible for milk production, especially if your little one is no longer
directly latching onto you. Smaller pumps or a single pump may not be able to
maintain your milk supply for the long-term and can sometimes become
frustrating when on prolonged usage.
Hands-Free Pumps
Consider this option if your schedule is hectic
and you like the idea of being able to do something else while pumping. The
breast shields of these hands-free models (i.e. Freemie Cups) can attach the
top clasps of most nursing bras. Point to note: Many regular breast pumps can
also be made hands-free with a special pumping bra, or a DIY bra band for each
breast. However, setup can be complicated, and the right-sized breast shields
have to be used to prevent breast soreness.
Insulated Carrying Case
If you will be commuting or traveling frequently, consider a professional-looking
pump "briefcase," sporty backpack, or hand bag that either features a
removable cooling compartment, or allows you enough space to store an ice pack
or two to keep your pumped breast milk for later.
LCD Display and Memory Indicator
Some breast pumps today offer an LCD panel and programmable memory that allow
you to record your preferred pumping pattern, so you don't have to reset the
pump each time you use it. Pretty nifty and time saving for a frequent nursing
mom.
Used Breast Pumps
It isn’t recommended
to use or borrow a used personal breast pump as it could put your little one’s
health at risk since potential contaminants,
viruses and bacteria can travel through the tubing and lodge in the pump's
internal mechanism, which may or may not be be removable, replaceable, or allow
for dismantling for sterilisation purposes. Exception lies with the hospital-grade
rental pumps designed for many users and are built to last for years as long as each mother uses her own collection kit.
If you must buy a used pump or borrow one from a
friend, wash/ sterilise all the parts you can with soap and water according to
manufacturer's directions and replace the tubing. This advice also applies if
you're planning to use the same breast pump you got now for later siblings.
Of the many breast pumps available in the market today, the ones I have
frequently heard with decent/ positive reviews include the following:
Manual Pumps:
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Medela Harmony,
Philips Avent Manual Natural Comfort, Rosy Silicone Manual, Haakaa Silicone Manual,
Autumz Silicone Manual
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Single Electric
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Medela Swing, Medela Freestyle, Autumz Bliss, Autumz
Blossom, Lacte Solo Elite, Spectra M1, Tiny Touch Mini
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Double Electric
|
Autumz Passion, Lacte Duet, Spectra M1, Medela Pump in
Style Advanced, Spectra M1 (with additional tubing), Tiny Touch Mini (with
additional tubing), Tiny Touch Intelligent
|
Hospital
Grade Double Electric
|
Spectra S1, Spectra S2
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One of the breast pump shops with multiple
outlets that I have been to seek a demonstration of some of the breast pumps
mentioned above would be PumpOn TheGo.
The assistants I went to at the Kelana Jaya outlet were very helpful, and it
was definitely an eye-opening experience and exposure for me. Another outlet i have heard of that offers
these demonstrations are Moms House
Babyshop. Both shop details can be found on Facebook and they do sell other
mommy related products as well.
I would definitely recommend going to any one of
these shops when considering your purchase as they tend to run frequent
promotions that can almost be comparable with the prices offered at baby fairs,
less much of the time and hassle of attending one.
PS: Peekaboo
Babyshop is an online shop that can also be found one Facebook and offers a
massive variety of products on sale. I have found many interesting products for
sale at a decent price and during promotions, it is definitely worth checking
out.
On a personal note, my choice breast pump was the Tiny Touch Intelligent Double Electric pump, which i had purchased at the TCE Baby Expo in July 2016 after considering all factors above, and thanks to multiple crazy freebies offered when it was first launched, on top of the fact that the flange cups are 100% silicone and the product comes with a 1+1 year warranty period.
Alright, that’s it for now. For any readers who
actually trudged through my whole lengthy post, thank you for your patience and
support, and I hope what I have compiled here will help you in your exciting
journey of motherhood.
