Which is better, a breast pump or hand expression?

A breast pump is an instrument used to express milk. It is specially designed for pregnant women who work and cannot breastfeed their babies anytime and anywhere. It can express the milk in advance and then feed the baby when the baby is hungry. Some people are not used to using a breast pump to express milk. They are used to expressing milk by hand and think that it is better to express milk by hand. Is this true? The following will introduce in detail which one is better, a breast pump or hand expression.

Is it better to use a breast pump or to express by hand?

1. When is it best to use hand expression?

1. If your breasts are swollen and your areola is hard, it is not recommended to use a breast pump immediately. First, use the correct collection method to soften your areola before using a breast pump. At this stage, the child may not be able to latch on well because of "slipping". If the child expresses difficulty, you can do this. After the areola becomes soft, it will be relatively easier and more stable for the child to latch on.

2. If there is a wound on the nipple, even the breast pump at the lowest setting will feel uncomfortable and painful. Perhaps using the correct hand to express milk can avoid direct pulling on the wound, which will make the milking feel better.

3. If you have breast congestion, do not use the breast pump too frequently, because the breast pump may not be able to effectively remove the congestion, but it will bring additional nipple stimulation, which may cause the congestion to worsen. The best approach at this time is to continue breastfeeding and contact your breastfeeding coach if necessary.

4. When collecting colostrum in the first few days, it is best to use hand expression with a small container milk storage device. Because the amount of colostrum is small, even if you use a breast pump to squeeze out the milk, it may hang on the wall of the breast pump horn or pipe, making it more difficult to collect.

2. When is the best time to use a breast pump?

1. When the mother is unable to master the correct hand-milk expression technique, she will feel pain during and after hand-milk expression, and the squeezed area will remain red for a long time after milking. These all indicate that hand-milk expression is incorrect. At this time, using a breast pump correctly is a better choice.

2. For mothers who are separated from their babies for a long time and are unable to breastfeed, it would be too tiring for them to express milk entirely by hand.

3. Mothers with arm injuries or tenosynovitis should avoid excessive use of hands to express milk and should choose an electric breast pump.

4. A breast pump can be used to increase milk secretion, stimulate lactation or reinitiate lactation.

Is a breast pump useful?

1. When the mother is working and cannot feed the baby on time, she can use a breast pump to extract milk for the baby.

2. Using a breast pump not only promotes early milk production, but early milk production is also beneficial to the health of both mother and baby. The baby can also eat colostrum in time without the need for milk powder.

3. Using a breast pump can clearly tell the amount of milk, so you can know how much the baby needs to drink at each meal, to avoid the baby choking due to too much milk, or not having enough milk.

4. Avoid the baby from becoming dependent on the mother's nipples.

5. It can determine whether the milk is sucked out. Suck out the milk will not affect the milk production.

6. When the baby grows teeth, he will feel itchy and bite the mother's nipple. A breast pump can effectively prevent the baby from biting the mother's nipple and causing inflammation.