Hospital grade pump
Hospital grade breastpumps are without a doubt the strongest and most durable breastpumps available to breastfeeding moms. These pumps effectively stimulate your breasts to adequately raise your levels of the hormones prolactin and oxytocin to increase your breast milk production and output.
While personal use breast pumps are intended for use by only one mother, hospital grade pumps are designed and approved by the FDA to be safe for multiple users. Hospital grade breastpumps can be used by more than one mom because they are designed with barriers that prevents cross contamination. When multiple moms use a hospital grade breastpump, each mother will need to use her own collection kit.
Hospital grade pumps have stronger, more powerful motors that provide a higher level of suction and more efficient pumping. These pumps are larger and heavier, which in turn makes them less easy to transport than their personal pump counterparts. They are also more durable and are covered by a 3 to 5 year manufacturer’s warranty rather than a 1 year warranty.
Hospital grade breast pumps can be used in any type of pumping situation because they are designed for frequent, daily pumping; however, they are recommended for use under special circumstances including when pumping:
For premature or sick infants
For twins or other multiples
To increase milk supply
To induce lactation
Since hospital grade pumps are approved safe for multiple users, they are a great pump option to make available for working moms
Personal Use Pumps
Midweight, personal-use, automatic breast pumps
Usually no bigger than a briefcase and weighing around 8 pounds or less, these electric breast pumps typically are lighter and slightly less efficient than the hospital-grade models. Like a hospital-grade pump, a personal-use automatic can slash pumping time because it has a powerful motor and serious suction. Many personal-use automatic pumps have suction that mimics a baby's natural sucking, which typically begins with rapid, high-frequency suction and changes to a slower, suck/swallow pattern. This mimicking fosters faster milk flow, although some pumps use a constant vacuum, with self-adjusting suction settings. Intermittent action better imitates a baby than a constant vacuum--and it's probably easier on you, too.
Many models come housed in a black microfiber shoulder bag or backpack, which is ideal if you're working outside your home. They're often equipped with an adapter for your car's cigarette lighter or a battery pack for times when you're not near an electrical outlet. They may come with all necessary attachments, including removable cooler carrier and cooling element, battery pack, AC adapter, and collection containers, lids, and stands. Choose this option if you'll be returning to work full- or part-time and you need to pump throughout the day to maintain your milk supply and express milk for missed feedings.
Manual Breast Pumps
With these small pumps, you produce the suction yourself by squeezing a bulb or lever or by manipulating a syringe-style cylinder. There are many designs of manual pumps on the market. Cylinder, or piston-style, pumps usually allow you to control pressure and minimize discomfort. Some manual models can be operated with one hand. They're easier to use than those requiring one hand to hold, one to pump. Choose this option if you're a stay-at-home or work-from-home mom and you need to miss only a rare feeding because of a night out; if you're traveling, or you have plugged milk ducts or sore nipples. A manual pump is also ideal for pumping on the go, in places where electricity may not be available. Look for one with an ergonomic handle, not a bulb, though any small pump could tire your hand and arm and cause repetitive strain injuries if you use it frequently.
Sponsored by: Danjo Creations.ca
