Types of breast pump
Use the following list of pros and cons to help mums determine which type of breast pump will be most suitable for their needs.
Manual pumps
- Quiet
- Inexpensive to buy
- Cost nothing to run
- Put mum in complete control
- Easy-to-use
- Good for occasional use
Cons: Some mums find it hard to maintain the suction while holding and pumping. The action of pumping can make your hands ache after a while.
Battery-operated pumps
- Performance can be very good
- Easy-to-use
- Good for occasional use
Cons: The frequent need to change batteries can be costly. Performance can deteriorate noticeably when the batteries are running low.
Electric pumps
- Quick
- No need to replace batteries
- Constant power supply
- Easy-to-use
- Good for frequent use
Cons: These are the most expensive and they can be quite noisy, depending on the model chosen.
How often mums need to express milk, and how much money they wish to spend, will help them decide which is the best type of breast pump for them. You may want to suggest they hire breast pumps if they’d prefer to try one before they buy.
