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1. Understanding Breast Pumps
A breast pump is a specialized product designed to extract milk from a mother's breasts into a container, which can be a milk storage bottle or bag. After expressing milk, mothers can feed the baby directly from the bottle or store it in the refrigerator for later use. In many developed countries, most mothers express milk into bottles before feeding their babies. However, some prefer direct breastfeeding for the benefits it offers both mother and child, in terms of health and bonding.
2. Benefits of Breast Pumps
After childbirth, many mothers experience issues like blocked milk ducts or oversupply. With the help of breast pumps that mimic the natural breastfeeding cycle, mothers can relax while addressing concerns such as:
– Relieves breast pain and discomfort caused by engorgement or blocked ducts.
– Stimulates natural milk production to ensure an ample supply for nursing babies.
– Allows babies who cannot latch properly or mothers with small breasts, inverted nipples, pain, or cracked nipples to still have the opportunity to breastfeed directly through bottle feeding.
– Provides mothers with more free time to take care of themselves. For busy postpartum mothers, using a breast pump is indeed a helpful lifesaver.
3. Who Should and Should Not Use a Breast Pump?
If you're a new mother wondering whether using a breast pump is beneficial, here's some helpful information on when it's necessary and when it's not:
3.1. Which Postpartum Moms Should Use a Breast Pump?
Currently, bottle-feeding is prevalent worldwide, but in our country, due to customs and culture, direct breastfeeding remains more common. Postpartum mothers with the following conditions are advised to use a breast pump:
- Moms with babies who don't know how to latch or latch insufficiently. This affects the mother's milk production, so using a breast pump is recommended to maintain the milk supply for the baby.
- Moms who want to stimulate milk production: some mothers experience low milk supply, so using a breast pump can effectively stimulate milk production.
- Moms who need to work and want to store milk for their baby while away from home without manually expressing milk.
Note: Breast milk storage bags are essential accessories that should always accompany a breast pump. The pumped milk will be stored in these breast milk storage bags for refrigeration to feed the baby later.
3.2. Which Postpartum Moms Might Not Need to Use a Breast Pump?
There are some other scenarios where postpartum moms may not necessarily need to use a breast pump, such as:
- When Mom experiences breast engorgement: Using a breast pump can alleviate discomfort when experiencing engorgement. However, Mom can also manually express milk or breastfeed frequently to reduce this issue, as it's merely a result of an oversupply of milk.
- When Mom is ill or taking medication: Even when Mom is ill, she can still breastfeed without adversely affecting the baby's health in most cases. Alternatively, if Mom is concerned about medication affecting the baby, she can manually express milk to feed the baby before taking medication.
4. Considerations for Using a Breast Pump
While using a breast pump is convenient and beneficial, to use it effectively, Mom needs to consider the following:
4.1. Proper Use of a Breast Pump
– Before pumping, Mom needs to wash her hands and thoroughly clean the pump equipment. Familiarize yourself with the instructions and proper usage before operating the pump.
– During pumping, the nipple should be centered in the funnel. Ensure a tight seal between the funnel and nipple, and it's advisable to moisten the funnel before use.
– Mothers should drink plenty of water, consume fortified milk, eat three balanced meals, and incorporate plenty of fruits and vegetables to ensure good quality milk for the baby.
– If mothers experience pain or any unusual symptoms while pumping, they should stop and seek advice from a nutrition expert.
4.2. How Much Milk Should Be Pumped Each Time?
– During the first few days after childbirth, mothers can pump a small amount of colostrum for the baby, which is sufficient.
– After the first week, mothers can pump between 50-80ml of milk, depending on individual circumstances. Mothers will need to double this amount if they have twins, etc.
– After one month, mothers will need approximately 80-110ml, or about 700-900ml per day.
– When a child reaches 6 months old, they will need about 170-220ml, approximately 1000ml-1400ml per day.
4.3. How Long Should Breast Pumping Sessions Last?
Each time, mothers should pump for about 15-20 minutes. Pumping for a shorter duration may not sufficiently stimulate the milk ducts, while pumping for too long can potentially damage breast tissue, affecting milk production.
4.4. Frequency of Breast Pump Usage in a Day?
– In the first 6 months: During this period, mothers should maintain breastfeeding or pumping every 2-3 hours, equivalent to the baby breastfeeding or using a breast pump 7-8 times/day.
– After the child reaches 6 months: Mothers can reduce the frequency of pumping to once every 4-5 hours. On average, mothers can use a breast pump about 5-6 times/day.
5. Criteria for Choosing and Types of Breast Pumps on the Market
There are various types of breast pumps available on the market with different designs, prices, and brands. Evaluating whether a breast pump is good or not depends not only on the features of the pump but also on the needs of mothers.
Currently, there are two main types of breast pumps on the market: manual breast pumps and electric breast pumps. Accordingly:
- Manual Breast Pumps: These pumps rely on manual force. Manual breast pumps usually have a simple design, are easy to use, and convenient for disassembly, cleaning, and hygiene. Some affordable yet quality manual breast pumps include: Mezzo Unimom UM880052, Sanity AP-154AM Albert, and Kichilachi breast pumps.
Advantages of manual breast pumps: They are cost-effective, ranging from a few hundred thousand to about one million Vietnamese dong. Compact and lightweight, easy to carry around when needed, very easy to clean after use. Adjustable suction strength based on the mother's perception while pumping.
Disadvantages: Prolonged pumping can lead to hand fatigue, and sometimes may not be effective for mothers with low milk supply.
- Electric Breast Pumps: These are electric or battery-operated pumps that facilitate quick, gentle, and painless milk expression, with fast pumping times. There are two types of electric breast pumps: single electric breast pumps and double electric breast pumps. Some brands of electric breast pumps for your reference include: Forte Unimom, SANITY-Albert, and Medela breast pumps.
Advantages of electric breast pumps: Mothers can adjust the suction force to suit their needs, with massage functions to increase milk flow and prevent blocked ducts. They cause less nipple pain during expression and can be used for both low and high milk production.
Disadvantages: Electric breast pumps are more expensive than manual ones and are bulkier, making them less portable for travel.
6. Top 5 Most Trusted Brands of Breast Pumps on the Market Today
Currently, there are dozens of breast pump brands advertised to consumers, but only a few reputable brands are trusted by postpartum mothers the most, such as:
Australian Brand BioHealth Breast Pump
As an Australian brand, this breast pump meets ISO standards, supporting mothers in expressing and stimulating milk effectively. It is designed to be simple, lightweight, and easy to carry. Prices range from 200,000 VND to 1.6 million VND.
Philips Avent Breast Pump
The Philips Avent breast pump comes in various models, including manual, single electric, and double electric pumps, all belonging to the premium range. They are made from safe materials for user health.
Unimom Breast Pump
Manufactured in South Korea, Unimom breast pumps offer diverse designs and types. They are made from high-quality BPA-free plastics, ensuring safety for both mothers and babies. Prices are relatively affordable, starting from 1 million VND.
Medela Breast Pump
This type belongs to the premium range, so it comes with a relatively high price, ranging from a few million to tens of millions of dong. However, in return, you will own a breast pump product with good quality, high-grade materials, and safety for both mothers and babies.
Pigeon Breast Pump
This line distributes both manual and electric breast pumps, but compared to electric pumps, manual breast pumps offer more diversity in terms of designs, types, and relatively cheaper prices, making it easier for mothers to choose according to their needs.
Here are the top 5 most reputable breast pump brands on the market today for your reference. The choice of a breast pump brand depends on specific needs and budgets. Breast pumps are products that mothers only use for a certain period, so it's advisable to buy a durable one for potential reuse or resale at a good price.
Here are all the necessary insights for postpartum mothers to choose the best breast pump product. Hopefully, mothers nursing infants will gain more experience in selecting the most suitable breast pump.
