To Use a Silicone Pump, or Not - That is the Question
Every drop of breastmilk is a precious gift to a baby. After years of increased research and public education, more and more people are understanding the value of breastmilk, both for the unparalleled health benefits for mom and baby and the cost efficiency over formula feeding. With all of this wonderful knowledge about how important every drop of breastmilk is, seeing the breast leak might lead a mother to a state of fear over losing these precious drops.
Mother’s groups, breastfeeding essentials checklists, baby product stores, friends and family can all provide suggestions for use of all the latest and greatest breastfeeding and baby products. Sometimes, however, the information provided about various product use may not be the most beneficial. This brings us to the topic of the newly infamous silicone manual breast pumps. These pumps can be a great addition to the breastfeeding tool bag, but learning exactly what they are and how they work is something to consider.
What is a Silicone manual breast pump?
These types of pumps are classified alongside other manuals, non-electric breast pumps. They are designed with a full silicone one-piece body. There are now several different brands on the market with a similar design.
The design of the silicone manual breast pump is very similar to that of one of the first breast pumps invented and used!
These pumps are easy to use, clean and store, which makes their use convenient for many mothers in different situations and for various needs.
This pump is often used to “catch milk that would have otherwise been lost in a nursing pad”, etc.
This IS a breast pump and applies suction, which removes milk.
This product is designed to apply suction to stimulate and remove milk. There are other products with the design to simply collect breastmilk from a letdown reflex, this is not one of those products.
When to use a silicone manual breast pump:
To soften a very full or engorged breast before latching a baby onto the breast.
To remove milk “to comfort” following or between breastfeeding sessions for engorgement relief.
To remove milk when separated from the baby and/or unable to use an electric breast pump.
It is important to remember, though milk is being removed, it is not often efficient emptying of the breast. A baby or electric breast pump should be the first option if available.
To remove milk from breast baby has already been fed from for milk storage.
To remove milk from the breast of a mother who has a full breast and forceful letdown reflex to help baby manage milk to flow better.
When not to use a Silicone manual breast pump:
Silicone manual breast pumps are often used before the baby has had an opportunity to take in an appropriate volume. This milk is often “feeding the freezer” and not the baby.
This can result in the baby needing to nurse a lot more frequently throughout the day or even deprive the baby of receiving an appropriate milk volume in a 24-hour period.
It’s important, especially in the first few weeks following delivery, for baby to have a chance to nurse from each breast at every feed. Allowing the baby to have “first dibs” before the pump can ensure the baby is receiving all the milk he/she needs.
The exception to this may be with a mother who has a large storage capacity and has already determined, with her pediatrician or lactation consultant, that the baby receives an appropriate volume from one breast at each feeding session or needs to reduce the force of milk flow.
For mothers experiencing an unwanted oversupply.
When a baby is breastfeeding efficiently, removing additional milk from the breasts may lead to an oversupply of milk.
