A breast pump, also called a breast milk pump, is used to express breast milk when there is no possibility of normal breastfeeding. The reasons for this can be many and varied. So-called pump breastfeeding has both advantages and disadvantages.
What is a breast pump?
With the help of the breast pump, breast milk is extracted from the breast by stimulation and vacuum generation. The breast pump can help bridge the baby’s breast milk supply in situations where normal breastfeeding is impossible. In many cases, this is due to health reasons on the part of the mother or child. But time restrictions, for example due to work, can also affect the rhythm of breastfeeding. With the help of the breast pump, breast milk is extracted from the breast by stimulation and vacuum generation. The mother’s ability to breastfeed is maintained even during periods of nonbreastfeeding because the stimulating stimulus is still present. Technically, the breast pump, like the baby, generates a suction reflex through negative pressure, which stimulates the flow of milk via the natural milk-giving reflex. The breast milk is then bottled and can be stored under refrigeration. The baby thus drinks from the bottle rather than at the breast. An advantage of expressing milk is also that there is no need to use substitute milk. The baby gets all the nutrients it needs from the breast milk.
Forms, types and kinds
There are different types of breast pumps in the market. Thus, manual and electric breast pumps are on offer. Depending on the type, one-sided or two-sided pumping is possible. There are also pumps that can be operated by hand or hands-free. Electric pumps have the option of adjusting the suction pressure, the suction rhythm and the suction frequency. Electric pumps that can pump simultaneously on both breasts are particularly suitable for stimulating milk production. This creates a stimulus that maintains lactation for a long time. Various sizes are offered to adapt the pump opening to the size of the nipple. If there is a medical indication, it is also possible to rent breast pumps from pharmacies or hospitals via prescription. The accessories of a breast milk pump additionally include milk bottles with teats, bottle warmers, a sterilization device and special freezer bags for freezing breast milk.
Structure and mode of operation
To pump, the breast pump is placed on the breast using a glass or plastic attachment. This initially creates a vacuum during the pumping process, which then sucks the breast milk out of the breast. The attachments are made of skin-friendly and food-safe materials to prevent allergies. The pumping process is divided into a stimulation and pumping phase. In the stimulation phase, the milk flow is stimulated by the milk-dispensing reflex. The milk-giving reflex, also known as the ejection reflex, refers to the reflex produced by sucking to stimulate the release of milk. In this case, the suction reflex is produced by the negative pressure of the breast pump. In a second phase, the actual pumping of breast milk takes place. A stress-free environment is necessary in the process of milk pumping. Unlike breastfeeding, pump breastfeeding must first be learned. The presence of the baby, gentle breast massages, adequate nutrition as well as fluid intake and much more are factors that can positively support the pumping process. Rhythmic, rapid pumping imitates the baby’s suckling phase and thus stimulates the milk flow reflex. After about three minutes, the milk can be pumped. To stimulate milk production, the entire process should take about ten to twenty minutes, even if no milk flows in the meantime. It is recommended that milk pumping be done at stress-free times, cooling the milk and re-warming it as needed. It is also necessary to match the amount of milk pumped to the baby’s drinking needs. The average drinking requirement of an infant is between 600 and 1200 ml of milk. However, this is only a very rough guide. Basically, the amount depends on the child itself, its age and weight. For continuous milk production, it is more effective to pump more frequently instead of increasing the pumping time. In this way, the stimulation stimulus takes effect more quickly. Bilateral pumping is milk-promoting. Therefore, if pumping is unilateral, the breast should be changed more often.In the longer term, it makes sense to repeat the pumping process every four to six hours. For weaning, the duration and frequency of pumping are gradually reduced. In this process, the weaning process can be better controlled with pump breastfeeding than with normal breastfeeding.
Medical and health benefits
The use of breast pumps is necessary for certain medical conditions of the infant or mother. In infants, pump breastfeeding is indicated for cleft lip and palate, premature infants, general weakness, or breastfeeding strike of the infant. Mothers may suffer from frequent nipple inflammation, for example, and the inflammatory process is exacerbated by breastfeeding. However, time-related problems or stress also frequently play a role in a disturbed breastfeeding process. Pump-feeding by means of a breast pump offers the possibility of supplying the infant with its own mother’s breast milk despite breastfeeding problems. In this case, the milk composition is best adapted to the infant’s needs and there is no need to resort to milk substitutes. This has a strengthening effect on the baby’s immune system. In addition, pump breastfeeding also maintains lactation. Later breastfeeding is possible again more quickly. Pumping the milk also makes it easier to prevent milk retention, and weaning is easier to regulate than with normal breastfeeding. A disadvantage is the lack of physical contact between mother and child, which is also present during the breastfeeding phase and plays an important role in bonding and the child’s sense of security. The breast pump and its accessories must also be purchased and require regular sterilization. However, in case of breastfeeding problems, pump breastfeeding via breastpump is a much better alternative for the infant compared to formula feeding.
