Breast milk is the healthiest food that mothers can give to their babies. It helps build their immune systems and it is also easier for little ones to digest than store-bought formulas. Unfortunately, breastfeeding isn’t always an easy process. For example, some mothers have extreme cases of eczema which makes it impossible for them to bring a baby to breast and other times the baby itself it too weak to suck the nourishing milk from its mother’s breast. In such cases, a breast pump is an invaluable tool.
In addition to being easier on the mother’s skin and doing the hardest work for the baby, breast pumps also yield other benefits. One of these benefits is a little more freedom for new parents. For example, if breast milk can be pumped before a baby is even hungry it can be stored in the fridge and used later; even if the mother goes out for an evening with her husband.
Additionally, using a breast pump can relieve some of the pain that comes when milk supplies build up because a baby isn’t hungry. Or, if your baby seems to always be hungry, a pump can also help increase breast milk supply. After all, the more milk you pump, the more your body thinks you need. And the less you pump, the less your body will produce.
Pumped breast milk also makes it possible for more than one person to feed a baby. For example, with pumped breast milk in a bottle, fathers can also experience bonding time while feeding their babies. Sharing the job of feeding can also help mothers get more rest.
There are several different kinds of breast pumps. If possible, try to use a couple different kinds before you purchase your own. Friends or relatives will probably have different models that you can test and after comparing them, you can settle on the best choice for your body. My personal recommendation is to find a hands-free pump that is dishwasher safe.
When it comes to feeding infants, the main goal should be to get your nutritious breast milk to your baby. How this happens is not as important as making sure that it does happen. Direct breastfeeding is always the best option and first choice that mothers should try, but if breastfeeding leads to complications a breast pump is the next best thing. No matter how you do it, give your baby the best food source you can provide.
Got Breast Milk LLC (http://gotbreastpump.com/) is a leading provider of breastfeeding products. They also provide many articles and tips on breastfeeding, storing milk, weaning and learning how to increase the breast milk supply that you have. The author, Art Gib, is a freelance writer.
