Growing Your Baby - Parenthood from Pregnancy to Pre-school » Double Electric Breast Pump

Salma Hayek Reportedly Using ‘Industrial Sized’ Breast Pump To Lose Weight

Lisa — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:52:38 +0000

When I read the headline on this story, I KNEW it must of been written by a man.

I don’t know of any woman that would call a breast pump industrial sized, unless of course she was attached to a machine and surrounded by a load of heffers. The article goes on to say that:

The ‘Frida’ actress is resorting to extreme measures after friends told her breastfeeding is the best way to shed post-pregnancy pounds. Hayek gave birth to her first child, Valentina Paloma, in September.A friend of the actress said, “Salma has been pumping and freezing endless amounts of breast milk. When she’s not feeding Valentina, she’s hooked up to an industrial-size breast pump.”

I believe the term that this writer is looking for is a ‘hospital grade’ pump (worth sometimes $700-$900). They are usually a decent size, come with more options and have a stronger, more consistent suction.Breast feeding and pumping is normally associated with weight loss after a baby arrives.

A mom could burn up to 600 calories a day nursing her newborn. The only drawback is that it is normally recommended that a nursing mom consume an extra 700 to 1000 calories a day in order to provide her baby with quality milk.

SOURCE

Choosing A Breast Pump

Lisa — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:35:00 +0000

If you decide to breast feed your baby it is recommended that you have a breast pump to help express the milk in case you need to be away from them for extended periods of time.

The task of looking for a good pump is daunting.

Just a few years ago there were just a few to chose from. Now the selection is vast with each pump designed to be used for many reasons.

I personally believe that if you are going to pump, the best choice is always a double electric pump. Pumping both sides simultaneously will save time, which will be precious to your after the baby is born.

Here is a list of the most popular choices and new products that have recently hit the market.

1. Medela Breast Pumps: Medela has a pump that will suit every moms needs. They have categorized their pumps into daily use, occasional use and personal, which is recommended for moms who need to pump just once or twice per day, or a few times per week. All of Medela’s pumps and bottles are made from biosphenol-free plastics, which make them the natural choice for green parents.

The Pump In Style was designed for moms who are going back to work and need to pump many times a day to keep their supply up. Each double pump kit is concealed in a microfiber bag that is insulated on the inside for storing the expressed milk. This pump is very popular because of it reliability and ease of use.

Occasional Use Single or Double electric pump: These two pumps were designed for moms who only need to pump once or twice a day.

I have the single electric pump and it works fine but not great. The motor is loud, which makes conversation nearly impossible when pumping. Both pumps have a conversion kit to allow new moms to pump manually if a power source is not available. This method is tiring after just a few minutes due to the awkward set-up.

Personal Use Manual Breast pumps: Medela has many choices available for moms who wish to use manual pumps. In 2005 the introduced the Harmony, which I have, to rave reviews. I used to use it when I had blocked ducts because it was so powerful.

The harmony doesn’t work like a normal manual pump. You need to use a rhythmic pumping pattern to get the full effect 2-Phase Expression.

2. Ameda: Most hospitals have either Medela or Ameda breast pumps available for their new moms to use. I was lucky enough to experience both kinds and in the end I preferred the Ameda. Like the pump in style by Medela, this pump also comes in a tote to conceal it’s purpose. Unlike the Medela, the stand alone double electric pump is just as good as the tote model, but half the price.

I preferred the no frills model and put it in a diaper bag when I needed to travel with it. This pump is quiet, efficient and lightweight(weighs just 1 pound).

3. Advent Isis: Advent is very well known for their bottles. Quite a few years ago they came out with a manual pump that became popular with breastfeeding moms due to its ease of use. They have now entered into the double electric market with their Avent Isis iQ Duo Breast Pump.

Like the other pumps it competes with, the Isis iQ is hidden inside a tote. It boasts an Ultra quiet motor and a patented technology that was designed to improve milk production – natural let-down, efficient double pumping and variable control settings for ultimate comfort.

4. Whisper Wear: This pump is fairly new to the market. It is the only hands free breast bump that claims to be able to match the effectiveness of a professional-grade pump by using a microprocessor-controlled motor that more closely emulates a baby’s suckling pattern than any other pump.

Packaged inside a microfibre bag, the whisper wear pumps are lighter weight, smaller, less cumbersome, quieter than other pumps and compatible with any standard bra.

5. Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Electric Breast Pump – Dr. Brown’s has just entered the breast pump market. They are known for their bottles. This pump uses the Whittlestone Hospital Technologies, which uses a continuous one-way airflow that draws air away from the breast rather than using a suck-and-release method that can tug on the breast.

The gentle touch of the Dr. Brown’s pump is said to provide ‘unmatched comfort’ as it helps you to achieve a more natural let-down and increases your milk supply.

It uses a Universal Connector that has double threads to pump into ALL standard AND wide-neck Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow bottles.

Resist the urge to buy a cheap pump from your local Walmart, Target, or Zellers. The better grade pumps will cost you a bit extra, but they will also last through 3 kids and give you a decent re-sale at the end. The wrong pump could damage your breasts or do other unknown damage. Anything that looks to go to be true…probably is. Splurge on the better product and you won’t regret it.

Medela Introduces Limited Edition "Pump In Style"

Lisa — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 13:45:00 +0000

Until now, the only case you could get for your double electric breast pump was a knapsack or “lunch box” style carrier.

Medela has launched a limited edition ‘pump in style’ double electric 2-Phase Expression^® breast pump.

The bag is stylish and roomy, which is a bonus for moms who want to take their pump with them when they go out and keep its purpose discreet. Aside from being fashionable here are some other features:

Convenient shoulder bag allows mom to remove all the components and customize it, in a way that works best for her
Adjustable straps for her convenience
Completely removable internal parts, so the bag can be used long after mom’s done pumping
Removable work surface provides a clean place for mom to work with
Color-coordinated cooler bag keeps milk cool for 12 hours
Two mesh storage bags designed to hold loose pieces and parts in between pumping sessions

Medela is a leader in the breastfeeding industry. The limited edition shows that they are in touch with what moms are looking for in a portable pump.

Another bonus is that medela is the only breast pump manufacturer that uses Biosphenol-A free plastic in their bottles and collection kits.