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Expressing and Storing Breastmilk: A Working Mother's Guide
An electric pump is an excellent choice for all working mothers, especially those who work full-time and are dedicated to providing their child care provider, partner or family member with an ample supply of breastmilk for the baby. Electric pumps can be rented or purchased and many come with a battery or car accessory adapter. Top-of-the-line models have several sucking speeds and motions similar to those of a nursing infant. They are often packaged in an attractive professional-looking carrying case and have the ability to express milk from both breasts at once. Being gentle, yet effective while retrieving high quantities of milk, this type of pump is certainly worth the extra expense. If purchasing or renting a high quality, effective breast pump means giving up bi-weekly manicures or Friday nights at the theater, it is a choice well made.
Suzie Calvin, an accredited La Leche League leader in Riverside, California recommends that nursing mothers invest in a high quality electric breast pump, whether via a purchase or rental arrangement. Pumping is a learned art and Suzie recommends pumping milk from one breast while baby nurses from the other in an effort to build up a supply of stored breast milk. This process should begin during the maternity leave, a few weeks before returning to work. However, Suzie warns that sometimes when moms have too much breast milk in storage, they tend to slack off on pumping at work, which later could deplete their milk supply. Keep this in mind to avoid that situation.
