Advantages and disadvantages of breast milk machines

Whether to use a breast milk machine or not is currently a common question of many mothers who are breastfeeding. In general, manual or mechanical milking has its own advantages and disadvantages.

In ancient times, to express breast milk, people mainly used it by hand. Nowadays, with the development of science and technology, different types of milking machines are also born to bring convenience to mothers. Many mothers worry that using the breast pump regularly can cause the nipples to be enlarged or the amount of milk produced is less and lost. However, are these concerns true? Let aFamilyToday Health follow up on the following shares to understand more about the pros and cons of using a breast milk machine.

Benefits of using a breast milk machine

Breast milk is the best food for the health and holistic development of babies and children. Any mother knows this well, but for many people breastfeeding is not easy. Sometimes, you will need the help of a milking machine in case of little milk, not enough milk to breastfeed or in case your baby is born prematurely, is not healthy enough or experiences diseases such as cleft palate , syndrome. down ... makes it difficult for the baby to breastfeed.

In addition, if you have to work and cannot breastfeed regularly, you also need to store milk so that the caregiver can breastfeed your baby. Here are some of the benefits of breast milk machines:

1. The milking machine helps to produce more breast milk

Breast milk is created based on the law of supply and demand. The more mothers express milk or breastfeed, the more milk will come back. Mostly, breastmilk will yield more breast milk than when a baby breastfed directly. The reason is that when the mother's milk is completely expressed, her body understands that the baby needs more milk, so it will produce more milk. This is especially useful if you have twins and triplets because it helps you provide enough milk for all babies.

2. Reduce the risk of breast engorgement, mastitis, blockage of milk rays

If your baby is unable to finish all the milk you release, her breasts can become tight and painful. At this point, you can use a breast machine to ease discomfort. Not only that, but using a breast machine can also help reduce the risk of mastitis , preventing blockages. 

You can learn more about clogged milk through the article  Blocked Milk Jet: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment.

3. Helps correct flat or recessed nipples

The suction power of the milking machine can help draw and extend the nipples, making it easier for the baby to suckle.

The milking machine makes the life of breastfeeding mothers more convenient. With the breast milk machine, you can go back to work after giving birth but your baby is still fully breastfed.

Disadvantages of breast milk machine

Although the milking machine has many benefits, it has a few potential disadvantages that you should be aware of. Here are some disadvantages that you should be aware of when using a breast pump:

1. The baby does not receive all nutrients from breast milk

When breastfeeding, the mother's body will produce a variety of antibodies to suit the baby's needs and put into breast milk, protecting the baby from infections. In addition, when the baby is feeding directly, the baby will receive all the necessary nutrients for healthy development. Milking, preserving can cause the loss of antibodies and important nutrients in breast milk.

Please see the article Revealing how to properly preserve breast milk to ensure your baby's milk supply 

2. Machine expressing can damage nipples and breast tissue

Machine milking can damage nipples and breast tissue. Especially, if used incorrectly, you can also feel intense pain.

If you do not know how to breastfeed, please refer to the article How to effectively breastfeed so that your baby has a good source of milk 

3. Causing pain due to excessive pumping

Using the breast milk machine can make mothers want to suck a large amount of milk in one go to store and use it gradually. However, this causes the body to release too much hormone, causing the breasts to become painful and full of milk.

4. Reduce the time spent with your baby

Direct feeding will help strengthen the bond between mother and baby. If you express milk and bottle it, you will have less time to spend time with your baby than with direct feeding.

5. Spend time cleaning the machine and the bottle

One of the downsides to using a milking machine is that you have to spend a lot of time cleaning all its parts. From bottle to nipple, all should be thoroughly washed and disinfected before and after each use.

6. Breast milk is at risk of infection

No matter how well you clean and sanitize the parts of the milking machine, there are parts that are difficult to clean, so it is easy to build up mold and bacteria. These bacteria can enter breast milk and make your baby sick if ingested.

Rules to keep in mind when using a breast machine

Here are some tips to keep in mind when using a milking machine to avoid some of the side effects:

Consult your doctor before use: Your doctor will give you the best breastfeeding advice as well as give you some information to keep in mind when using a breast pump.

Breast-feeding for at least the first six months: Direct breast-feeding increases the levels of the hormone oxytocin. This hormone helps to stimulate the milk's down reflex. The higher concentration of oxytocin in the body, the more milk will return.

Change the milking machine after 8 to 10 months to avoid contamination of breast milk. Milking machines used for a long time can cause mold to grow in its small parts. This makes breast milk more susceptible to infections, making the baby more susceptible to disease. In addition, the milking machine may not work as well, resulting in less breast milk production.  

Use an electric milking machine instead of manually to avoid feeling tired every time you have to express.

The frequency of milking : If you need to stimulate and increase the amount of breast milk, you should pump every 2-3 hours, about 8-12 times / day. When breastmilk has stabilized, you can pump 6-8 times / day to maintain breast milk supply. If you work, you can pump 3-4 times at work. If not, the mother can pump before going to work or at night before going to bed. The spin time is about 15 - 20 minutes each time. If expressed too long, it can damage the breast tissue, leading to reduced breast milk production. In addition, it can also make you feel tired, stressed, from which less milk will be lost and milk loss.

When expressing milk, you must always feel comfortable and comfortable : It must be pain-free. Some possible causes of discomfort include incorrect funnel size or improper suction power. In addition, for comfort, you can listen to your favorite music or watch funny videos.

Choose a good breast milk machine: When choosing to buy a breast milk machine, you should choose quality products. Because if you use a good milking machine, you can pump enough milk to breastfeed.

How to choose a breast milk machine

Buying a milking machine is not easy, many mothers have to buy and exchange 2-3 times to choose a suitable machine. Each person will have different requirements but the general criteria for you to choose from are: strong suction power, massage mode, multiple levels of suction power, multiple funnel sizes and simple usage.

Should choose a breast milk machine double or single? Squeeze by hand or by electricity?

These choices depend on the needs of you and your baby. Choose a single, manual milking machine if you have plenty of time to care for your baby and do not have the need to pump several times a day. If you are quite busy, wishing to pump several times a day, the double and electric milking machine is the right choice.

In general, breastmilk machines can offer a lot of convenience. It will make sure your baby still has enough breast milk to feed even when you're not around. However, you should not overdo it, if possible, breastfeed as much as possible. In addition, if you intend to use it, you should also consult your doctor.

aFamilyToday Health  does not offer medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.