Breast pumps

There are 3 kinds of breast pump available and what suits one mum may not suit another. How often mums want to express milk and how much money they want to spend will influence their choice. It may be possible for them to hire a pump to try it before deciding.

MANUAL PUMPS
These are inexpensive to buy and cost nothing to run. They are quiet, easy to use and put mum in complete control. However, some users find that the action of pumping makes their hands ache after a while and can find it initially difficult to maintain the suction while holding and pumping.

BATTERY OPERATED PUMPS
These are easy to use and work well but batteries need changing frequently. This can prove costly and performance deteriorates considerably when battery power is low.

ELECTRIC PUMPS
These are quick and easy to use but are the most expensive option. Models vary but they can be quite noisy.