Everything You Need to Know About Medela Breast Pumps
Throughout your pregnancy, you’re going to spend a lot of time planning for the future and anticipating life with your newborn. You’ll create to-do lists, keep track of everything you’ll need for when your baby arrives, and if you’re really prepared, pre-make freezer meals for the crockpot. During this time, it’s easy to get carried away in all of the cute baby clothes and cool new baby gear. To make sure you’re fully prepared, it’s important to look into your options for an insurance covered breast pump.
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, all new and expecting mothers are eligible to receive and insurance covered breast pump to help supplement feedings and ensure that your baby is getting the nutrients they need to grow up big and strong. While there are certain specifications revolving around which breast pump you’ll qualify for, Medela breast pumps are trusted by millions of moms around the world. Since shopping for a breast pump can be quite overwhelming, we’re here to tell you everything you need to know about Medela breast pumps so you can better understand your options.
The Medela Breast Pump Story
Medela was founded in 1961 in Switzerland in an effort to help provide research-based breast milk feeding solutions to mothers all over the world. Medela is committed to supporting new and expecting mothers through every step of their pregnancy journey and beyond. Their mission statement is that they exist to enhance mother and baby health through the life-giving benefits of human milk, and they work hard to achieve that through the continual development and advancement of their products. There’s a reason that Medela is the #1 mom and doctor recommended breast pump brand and they continue to grow their services to encompass every aspect of pregnancy and motherhood. Medela offers a full line of nursing and pumping products that are designed to make every breastfeeding journey a success.
Medela offers award-winning breast pumps that help meet the needs of new moms around the world. They developed the 2-Phase Expression® technology, which has been shown to help improve your milk expression when double pumping. Using the knowledge of both phases of breast pumping - stimulation and expression phase - Medela pumps work with your natural milk supply to help you get the most out of your experience.
During the stimulation phase, babies start sucking fast and light to help encourage milk flow. During the expression phase, let down begins and babies feed with a slow, deep suck that helps to expel more milk. Medela’s 2-Phase Expression® technology mimics the way that babies breastfeed so you can improve the efficiency of your pumping sessions and get back to your busy schedule.
Choosing a Medela Breast Pump
Once you’ve been approved for a Medela breast pump through your insurance provider, it’s time to narrow down your choices and find a pump that will work best for you. First, you’ll need to decide whether you want a manual or electric pump. Then, consider your options of either a single or double breast pump. Finally, think about whether or not you’ll want to use a regular pump or a hospital grade pump.
While nipple confusion is a possibility, there are plenty of ways to make sure that your baby will still latch and nurse.
While many women today opt for electrical breast pumps due to convenience, there are still mothers who prefer manual pumps. If you’ve never used a breast pump before, it’s a good idea to weigh your options. Manual breast pumps are very quiet and discrete, but they require manual effort and can become burdensome if you need to pump frequently throughout the day. Electric breast pumps are a little louder and less discrete, but they do all of the heavy lifting for you so you can multi-task or get in a few minutes of mid-day relaxation. Medela’s electric breast pumps are equipped with 2-Phase Expression® technology that works to mimic a baby’s natural sucking behavior. Medela breast pumps can also be used with a rechargeable battery pack or AA batteries so you can use it on the go.
Next, decide whether you’ll want a single or double breast pump. A single breast pump will expel milk from one breast at a time and is often used when you aren’t pumping regularly or need to relieve engorgement. A double breast pump expels milk from both breasts simultaneously so you can get more milk out and keep both of your breasts free of engorgement and discomfort. We recommend using a double breast pump to save time and energy and get more milk out during your sessions. As an added benefit, the milk you expel while double pumping has a higher fat and calorie content, which is perfect for growing babies.1
If you need to use a hospital-grade breast pump, we recommend renting one and returning it when you’re done. Many hospital-grade pumps aren’t covered by insurance and are very expensive. You can still receive a Medela breast pump through insurance and rent a hospital-grade pump for the periods when you need it. Medela’s Symphony hospital-grade breast pump can be rented to help you initiate, build, and maintain milk production, which is crucial in the days following your delivery. Talk to your doctor about your options for renting a hospital-grade breast pump in addition to receiving your Medela breast pump through insurance.
One of the best things about Medela’s breast pumps is that they offer many different options for breast shield sizes and their parts are available in stores all over the country. Breasts come in all different shapes and sizes, but in order to pump efficiently, you need to have breast shields that fit correctly. Medela offers an array of sizes and even customization opportunities. If you’re on the go and you realize that you either forgot a part or need a new one, you can buy replacement parts at places like Target, Walmart, and more. This level of convenience is unmatched and means that you’ll never have to skip out on a session because of a missing or dirty part.
The Best Medela Breast Pump
The Pump in Style Advance® Starter Set from Medela has been the first choice of millions of moms for over two decades. It features the patented 2-Phase Expression® technology with a one touch let-down button that allows for seamless transition between the stimulation and expression phases of pumping. The Pump in Style Advance® Starter Set is a double electric breast pump that includes:
- (1) Pump in Style Advance® Double Electric Breast Pump
- (2) Breast Shield Connectors
- (2) 24 and 27 mm PersonalFitÔ Breast Shields
- (2) 5 oz Bottles with Lids
- (2) Valves and Membranes
- (1) Complete Tubing
- (8) Disposable Nursing Pad Samples
- (1) Power Adaptor
- (1) Battery Pack (8 – AA batteries not included)
- (1) Instructions for Use
How to Use a Medela Breast Pump
While your Medela breast pump will come equipped with specific instructions for your pump, there are steps you can take to improve the efficiency of your session and make sure you’re as comfortable as possible.
First, make sure that you’re comfortable and you have a private space to pump in peace. You want to encourage relaxation and limit your stressors, as cortisol can inhibit let-down. Always wash your hands prior to using your breast pump or assembling it to reduce the chances of germs. Next, position your breast shields on your breasts so that your nipples are centered. If you feel any discomfort, the shields may be too large or too small, or simply not centered. If you need a different size breast shield, you can order them online or visit a retail partner. Next, turn on the breast pump. It will start in the stimulation phase and once you start to see or feel your milk expelling into the pump, switch over to the expression phase. It will take some trial and error to find settings that are comfortable for you, so don’t be afraid to play around with your Medela breast pump during the first few sessions. When you’re finished, remove the tubing, store the milk, and disassemble your pump for cleaning. For more great tips on how to use a breast pump, check out this article.
If you need help keeping up with your baby’s needs and your pumping schedule, Medela offers the perfect solution. With the Medela Breastfeeding App, you’ll be able to track your baby’s feeding schedule, track how many ounces you pumped, time your pumping sessions, track your baby’s sleeping habits, log changes in height and weight, track your baby’s diaper changes, get tips from breastfeeding professionals, set breastfeeding goals, and more!
While nipple confusion is a possibility, there are plenty of ways to make sure that your baby will still latch and nurse.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding is one of the best things a new mother will do for their baby. It provides nourishment, bonding, and contributes to a healthy development. However, sometimes you won’t be able to nurse. To make sure that your baby is still receiving the proper nourishment while you’re away, you’re going to need a breast pump. Luckily, new and expecting mothers are eligible to receive an electric breast pump covered by their insurance provider. Learn more about our wide selection of manual and electric pumps by visiting our home page and selecting your insurance.
If you have any tips or advice about breast pumping, head over to our Facebook page today and leave a comment!
Source:
1 https://www.medela.com/breastfeeding/mums-journey/how-to-choose-breast-pump
