Kavita Mukhi, eco-nutritionist from La Leche League, an international organisation providing information and support to breastfeeding mothers and Sonali Shivlani, breastfeeding counsellor and M&B panel expert, tell you what to look for while buying a breast pump...

Words Poornima Nair
Visual  Binisha Mehta

Kavita: You can choose between a manual pump and an electric pump. It’s important that it should suit your needs. Also, the pump should be easy to clean because otherwise it can cause infection in your baby. Make sure the material is as natural as possible and it has good force so that it can be pumped easily. While using a pump, make sure you’re sitting in a comfortable position so you are not stressing your arms or back because you can develop an ache. Remember that after you express the milk you must use it as quickly. In case you want to use it later, then store the milk in the fridge.

Sonali: You must decide why you need the pump. If you want to express occasionally, then you can use a manual breast pump. But if you’ve gone back to work three months after delivery and need to exclusively give your child breastmilk for six months, as recommended by the Indian Paediatric Association, then it would make sense to choose an electric pump. It’s expensive but faster, and will allow you to express the large quantities of milk that you need. However, a manual pump lasts longer compared to an electric pump. Also, do check if the pump and containers can be easily sterilised because in some pumps only certain portions can be sterilised.