As you may already know, Breast milk is the best for your baby instead of formula like Enfamil newborn/infant, and that is why the American Academy of Pediatrics and top professional organizations recommend that mothers should breastfeed their babies in the first six months unless medical reasons don’t allow you. It can be a daunting task to search for the best and suitable breast pump for your individual needs, no matter the number of recommendations you get from other parents or reviews you read. However, keep reading to learn what to consider before your purchase of the best breast pump for working moms can be easy.

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Before you search through the available options, take a look at what insurance will cover if you have health insurance. In the United States, any woman with health insurance is entitled to a new breast pump for each of their babies at no costs, as per the Affordable Care Act. Besides, what insurance carriers cover varies. Some pay for a manual pump and others, a hospital-grade pump or a portable double electric pump. Also, with permission from certain medical device companies, you can upgrade’ the device insurance covers.

When purchasing the best breast pump for working moms, parents need to ask themselves these questions:

• What is my pumping plan?

• Am I going to be pumping exclusively?

• Do I want to pump merely to reserve a stash of milk for emergency purposes?

• Do I want to pump and let my partner or someone else bottle-feed the baby occasionally?

• Do I have to pump because I’m a working mom and won’t be available to breastfeed during working hours?

Seaching for the best breast pump involves a lot of things you must consider. That includes typical factors such as price and other considerations that involve selecting the pump that suits your needs the most.

Key Considerations for purchasing the best Breast Pump

1. Portability:

Purchasing a breast pump that you can move around the house easily is a great idea. Think of whether you can carry the pump to and from work with ease.

2. How easy is it to clean?

Cleaning some pump models can be difficult, and others come with smaller parts. Remember that you always have to wash the parts every single time you are done using the pump. You should be looking for a pump that you can easily assemble and disassemble to clean.

3. Consider the noise level of the pump:

A lot of electric pumps have motors that make them noisy. Making sure you don’t purchase a noisy breast pump is essential because the high noise level won’t permit you to pump in the presence of your sleeping baby.

4. Is the pump comfortable to use?

Consider the sizes, material, tube length of the flanges, etc. Some women prefer pumps that come with silicone flanges since they can fit more comfortably on their breasts. Also, going for an electric pump, with tubing that is long enough would help you pump comfortably while standing or sitting. If it’s a manual pump, consider how comfortable and ergonomic it is to hold.

5. Is it user-friendly?

This factor is critical. You have to ensure that you’re going for a simple-to-operate best breast pump for working moms. Find out whether the settings are complicated and also the ease with which you can assemble.

6. Does the pump come with special features to facilitate pumping?

A lot of electric and manual pumps feature a letdown function for stimulating a speedy flow of your milk. Other pumps come with a timer and digital display to help you monitor your pumping session. These are useful features to consider.

7. Are replacement parts easily accessible and what about a warranty if there is a breakdown?

Most breast pumps have a limited warranty, but when it comes to customer service, brands differ. For instance, Medela is popular because their unique customer service draws customers’ attention.

8. Feeling the pump with your hands before purchasing it.

Reading reviews and all that is pictured and written on the boxes is one thing, but actually holding the pump and examining it by yourself, is another. Some prenatal classes have actual pumps in varieties for you to have a look, feel and learn about pumps before looking for your choice.

9. Used pumps are not an option:

Any pump that is not hospital-grade falls in the category of single-user pumps. Even if they are amply washed and sterilized, the risk of bacteria and viruses passing on still remains an issue. Fortunately, insurance now covers breast pump costs and that has risen the percentage of women that are still purchasing second-hand pumps.

Types of Breast Pumps

There are three types of breast pumps for working moms:

1. Electric Pumps

These are the types of pumps with the option to change their speed and suction level depending on the amount of milk you wish to express. Electric pumps are designed to run on batteries. Their models are either single or double. This implies that they can express milk from both breasts, simultaneously. Working moms may be better off using double electric pumps considering their quick pumping capability, though they can be a little cumbersome.

2. Hospital-grade pumps

They are electric too and are rightly considered as the best of the three for many reasons. Hospital-grade pumps pump milk pretty quickly. However, they are the most costly and normally sale for a few hundred dollars. Besides, the option of renting a hospital-grade breast pump because of its high cost is ideal too. So, it is also sensible to say that a pump like this isn’t the best since the cost may bar you from taking it to work because of the risk of damaging or losing it.

3. Manual pumps

As the name suggests, manual pumps are hand or foot pumps that involve the use of the hand or foot to draw out the milk from your breasts. The method requires strength to control the speed and suction level. In comparison with electric pumps, manual pumps are quieter and more portable, especially if you usually commute on public transport. However, they take long to express your desired amount of milk.

Whether you’re experiencing breastfeeding/pumping issues or not, it might be helpful to contact a lactation consultant a couple of weeks before you go back to work, for necessary back-to-work lactation coaching. Your lactation consultant is the right professional to help you make a better plan and pumping schedule that suit you before you start using your best breast pump for working moms.

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