It’s important to find the right silicone breast pump for you and your baby. Hospitals usually use double electric breast pumps however there can be very expensive and are not accessible to most new moms, guardians or parents. Think about the kind of things you will need from your breast pump, such as how often you will use it, how many times a week you will use, and how long you will spend on each pumping session. Also factor in the budget you have, because electric breast pumps are far more expensive than a manual pump. We will look at the advantages and drawbacks of silicone breast pumps and other types of breast pumps, as well as other advice for pregnant women and new moms, care providers and workplaces.
Most of the time it is a good idea to speak with a medical professional like a nurse, lactation consultant, family medicine practitioner, either an MD or Osteopath, about the kind of silicone breast pump or other type of breast pump which would best suit your needs. Sometimes the more expensive option will be better as electric pumps which use a closed system are cleaner. They reduce the risk of mold or bacteria or any kind of infection from entering into the parts of the pump. These include the valves, pump mechanism and tubes. If bacteria gets into the pump it can cause infection for the mom who is pumping or for the baby. Manual breast pumps but not silicone breast pumps if they are closed systems can be less hygienic and bring more risks.
These risks are present because with a manual breast pump which is an open system, which means there is nothing separating the pump mechanism from the tubes and other parts of the pump, which means that breast milk can get into the various parts of the pump or the pump mechanism. As a result, it is important if you do use a manual silicone breast pump to make sure that you wash it thoroughly with hot soapy water after each use, washing each part carefully and thoroughly, and allowing it to dry thoroughly before the next time you use it. Not cleaning a manual pump before you re-use it can lead to mold growth or bacteria in the silicone breast pump, which can cause the milk to get infected and therefore infect the nursing infant, as well as the mom.
Manual pumps are much cheaper than electric pumps, but if you can try to find a closed system manual silicone breast pump because a closed system means that the suction part of the pump is separated from the rest of the pump mechanism by some obstacle, which prevents milk from flowing back into the pump system. This allows your silicone breast pump to stay clean, and less at risk from infectious bacteria or other particles. If you can afford it, try to invest in an electric closed system breast pump. There are two suction areas, which allows moms to pump from both breast at the same, and release more milk in one pumping session, which saves time and energy. New moms will already be tired and busy, with sleepless nights as they get used to their newborn’s sleeping cycle. Silicone breast pumps are generally easier to clean and have more comfortable cups at the suction area than those made from other materials. Limerick uses soft silicone breast cups in their hospital grade breast pumps, using unique technology which is designed to be comfortable and soft against skin and the nipple area, and not to irritate the areola. Soft silicone breast cups in the double electric breast pump mould to the shape of each woman’s breasts, so that women don’t have to buy separate cups for their breast pump. The cups on the silicone breast pump even accommodate women with breast shapes which might be difficult to fit the cups of other pumps, such as if you have inverted nipples or flat nipple shape.