Top 5 Reasons to Use a Breast Pump
Buying a breast pump is a great way to make the most of breastfeeding. I am a huge fan of using a breast pump because it really helped me to breastfeed both of my children through a full time work schedule and injured breasts. Here are the top reasons to rent or buy a breast pump.
#1 - Increase Breast Milk Supply
Increasing breast milk supply is easy with the right breast pump. Experienced mothers have all kinds of suggestions for how to increase breast milk production. Anything from a hospital grade breast pump to a cheap breast pump—even a manual one—will do the trick. In addition to increasing breast milk production, a breast pump also helps nursing mothers prevent low breast milk supply when she is away from her baby, as when working, or when the breasts are injured.
#2 - Heal Breast Injuries: Cracked Nipples and Engorged Breasts
Engorged breasts and cracked nipples can make many women want to stop breastfeeding altogether. However, using a breast pump can soothe engorged breasts and solve other breastfeeding challenges. The benefits of breastfeeding are worth the extra effort. Some of the most severe cases of cracked nipples and engorged breasts are often healed by resting the breasts from baby’s latch. Using a manual or electric breast pump maintains breast milk supply and provides breast milk to your baby while you are “on a break.”
#3 - Have a Cocktail: Pump and Dump Breast Milk
Breastfeeding and alcohol are not a good combination. Drinking alcohol while breastfeeding can pass alcohol through mother's breast milk to her baby. However, it is okay to drink alcohol while breastfeeding as long as you pump and dump breast milk. Get yourself a breast pump and live a little. You need it.
#4 - Stock Up On Breast Milk for Bottle Feeding Breast Milk
Bottle feeding breast milk is easy with a good quality electric breast feeding pump. Breast milk storage containers are specially designed to store breast milk in the freezer for months. Hospital grade breast pump rental is available in most communities as a temporary option prior to buying a breast pump. Breastmilk storage is easily done in a standard freezer.
#5 - Stop Breast Feeding
If you are ready to stop breastfeeding, but you still want your baby to receive the benefits of breast milk, you can learn how to stop breastfeeding and feed pumped breast milk to the baby. Baby breast feeding is a personal decision and so is weaning from breastfeeding. A good pump can help you continue to give baby breast milk while being free from actually breast feeding, or help you stop breast feeding completely by weaning baby gradually off of breast milk.
