Breast Pump: Manual or Electric?
Breast pumps come in all shapes and sizes and carry a variety of features. Probably one of the first things a woman should consider when choosing a breast pump is whether or not she wants to buy one that pumps manually or one that is electric.
A manual breast pump will have a lever or a piston which you squeeze by hand to create the suction for extracting the breast milk. Those who prefer this model enjoy the size and ease of its maneuverability. Manual pumps are also quieter than the electrics and so a mother can pump one breast and feed the baby with the other without noise distraction. Disadvantages that are found by those who have used the manual pumps are the slow speed and tiredness of hands. Another issue to be aware of are the pumps which use a rubber ball and look like the horn of a bicycle as bacteria has been known to build up in the ball.
Electric pumps, although somewhat pricier, are far and above becoming the favored choice of busy moms. The idea of simply attaching a cup to your breast (or both breasts) and reading a book while you pump your milk is very attractive to most women. And as electric pumps become more light-weight and less bulky the challenge of maneuverability is minimized. Manufacturers are even researching suction patterns that vary from baby to baby and milk expression which vary from mother to mother. With the the turn of a dial, a mother can then set the pump to a pattern which suits her needs and rhythms. The best example of one of these machines is the Ameda Purely Yours breast pump, found for unbelievably low price right here at this website.
