Breastfeeding 101: Which breast pump is best for you?

August 8, 9:52 PMOrlando Parenting ExaminerRobyn Kurth

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The Medela Swing breast pump is more compact than
the dual sided pumps but has enough features to be
a daily use breast pump. (Photo: Medela.com)

For mothers who are breastfeeding, a breast pump makes it possible for women to continue nursing a bit longer even if travel, work, or a medical situation prevents baby from being attached directly to the breast.

Single pumps work best for women who don't anticipate missing too many feedings. Sometimes mothers use a single pump to "pump and dump" breast milk that can't be given to their babies due to medication, a recent X-ray, or even a small amount of alcohol. A physician is always the best resource for how many hours of "pumping and dumping" might be necessary after a particular medical treatment.

Single side pumps are battery operated--usually with standard AA batteries--or can be plugged into an electrical outlet. The cost for a Evenflo automatic single pump is $40.99 (there is even a hand-operated manual pump for $22.99, but quite frankly, manual pumping is not worth the money saved). The First Years MiPump retails for $79.99 and an Avent single pump is $69.99. The Medela Swing single pump is $149.99 and is considered a daily use breast pump but the Single Deluxe Breast Pump by Medela (ideal for stay-at-home-moms) is an occasional use pump that retails for $64.99. All prices are based on a recent stroll through the baby section of the Winter Park Target.

Double sided breast pumps usually run anywhere from $150 to $280, and are most frequently used by women who work outside the home. The pumps can be carried in a briefcase-like bag and the smaller single pump can always fit inside a large purse as a backup.

Nursing mothers who are traveling internationally should rely on their battery pack instead of the electrical outlet; even with a voltage converter the pump's circuitry can blow out (a lesson my sister learned on one business trip). Another tip for traveling mothers who might be having difficulty with their own pump is to seek out the lactation center of a local hospital. By setting up an appointment--there is usually a fee--a mother can use the hospital's motorized industrial strength pump.

For women who pumped breast milk for their babies a few years ago, the technology of breast pumps has advanced greatly in a short amount of time. The Medela Pump in Style dual breast pump (price: $279.99), for example, has a letdown feature that mimics how a hungry baby latches on (fast pulse) and then suckles at a slower rate. The Medela, Avent, Evenflo and The First Years bottles are BPA free and Medela and Evenflo also sell glass bottles.

Once the breast milk has been pumped, it can be stored in a freezer for three to six months, according to BabyCenter.com. In most cases, breast milk can be stored in a refrigerator for three to five days, but be sure to perform a "sniff test" just to make sure that the milk has not soured before feeding it to the baby.

For more info: Need to compare products? Read The mother of all product reviews. Get a list of the Top 5 products for breastfeeding HERE. Read an article about Spanish doll that mimics the act of breastfeeding HERE.