Breast Pump


A breast pump is a mechanical device that extracts milk from the breasts of a lactating woman. Scientific American (1863) credits L.O. Colbin as the inventor and patent applicant of a breast pump. The U.S. Patent Office issued Patent No. 1,644,257 for Lasker's breast pump. Mechanically, a breast pump is directly analogous to a milking machine used in commercial dairy production. A misconception is that the breast pump suctions milk out of the breast. A breast pump's job is to trigger the milk-ejection response. Thirty to sixty cycles per minute can be expected with better quality electric breast pumps. It is important to note that in most cases the breast pump is not as efficient at removing milk from the breast as the nursing baby.

Women use breast pumps for many reasons. Many women use breast pumps to continue breastfeeding after they return to work. They use the pump to express breast milk which is later bottle fed to their child by a caregiver.

Foot-powered breast pumps use the same collection tubing and breast horns as electric breast pumps, but are powered by a foot pedal.

There are two types of electric breast pumps, hospital grade and personal use pumps. Hospital grade pumps are larger and intended for multiple users. Electric breast pumps are powered by a motor which supplies suction through plastic tubing to a horn that fits over the nipple, provides a lot more suction, making pumping significantly faster, and allows pumping of both breasts at the same time. Some breast pumps are designed to be part of a "feeding system" so that the milk storage portion of the pump is the baby bottle used to feed the infant.

The plastic tubing and horn of an electric breast pump are commonly referred to as the collection system. When this style of breast pump was originally developed, the pump’s suction was supplied through the collection system tubing. Today most electric breast pumps sold feature an open collection systems. The pump mechanism motor's suction is directly passed to the mothers breast versus indirectly with closed diaphragm systems.

When an open collection system is used, the pump’s suction can cause milk to overflow it into the collection system tubing, which may lead to milk particles being drawn into the pump motor. If milk leaks into the pump’s tubing, the tubes should be washed, sterilized and air-dried prior to using the pump again. Some models of pumps have bacteria and overflow filters which prevent milk from entering the tubing.

Renting a rental breast pump virtually eliminates the chance of cross contamination of the pump from mother to mother.

Because milk is unable to be exposed to the pump motor, closed collection systems are considered more hygienic than open collection systems. The barrier in a closed collection system breast pump also prevents outside air from contaminating the expressed breastmilk in the collection bottle, which preserves the milk’s purity.

Symphony® Breastpump
Symphony is Medela's latest innovation in hospital-grade electric double pumps. Model: 0240108
Features and benefits:
• 2-Phase Expression Pumping
• Electric
• Double Pump


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