Thursday, December 06, 2012

Using Medela Breastpumps To Encourage Nursing

By Faye Hunter


Many women who want to breastfeed their children will have to go back to work before their child is weaned. Some may decide to begin feeding their child formula right away, since they know that going back to work may mean the end of the nursing relationship. However, using Medela breastpumps can help a mother continue to nurse her baby despite challenges and work.

There are instances where a mother may be daunted from breastfeeding merely because she assumes that the demands on her body and time will be too great. A woman who has a something arranged that will necessitate her being well rested may despair at having to wake several times the night before to feed the baby. However, if she has stored up some pumped milk, her partner or another adult can rise with the baby and feed him the expressed milk.

Most women understand and agree that the best nutrition they can offer their child is breast milk. In some cases, there may be obstacles to providing this nutrition that are no fault of the mother's. If the baby is too young, for example, a preemie, the baby may not have the strength to be able to effectively suck the milk from the breast. Another problem may be a baby born with a deformity of the mouth such as tongue tie. If the baby's mother has inverted or flat nipples, it may be difficult or impossible for the baby to latch on to nurse.

Regardless of the reason a woman want to pump milk for her baby, it is imperative that she have a good breast pump. There may be a higher investment for one of the better pumps, but it is worth the difference. The pump should be able to completely drain the breast. But it should also be gentle and the woman should be able to adjust the suction, especially in an electric pump.

When a nursed baby begins taking a bottle, there are guidelines that need to be followed. All artificial nipples should be avoided for the first six weeks after the baby the born. This includes bottles and pacifiers. If a mother is planning to transition the baby to formula at some point, this is not as important.

Because drinking from his mother is harder than drinking from a bottle, a baby may begin to prefer bottles, particularly if the introduction to bottles has been too early. The best way to discourage this is to stop using bottles immediately, until the baby is a little older, in order to preserve the nursing relationship.

A nursing mother should never, herself, give her baby a bottle. She should nurse the baby exclusively unless the baby is not actually nursing, but only drinking expressed milk from a bottle. Because nursing is a supply and demand relationship, ensuring the baby is put to breast several times a day will keep a woman's supply of milk higher.

Without doubt, mother's milk is the premiere nourishment for a baby. When a woman wants to breastfeed, but faces any obstacles, it is possible for her to continue feeding her child her own milk, with the use of Medela breastpumps.




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