I'm a little concerned that some readers of the posts on these subjects may 
be linking these two different research projects.

The findings on breast anatomy have nothing to do with pump research.

The pump research, likewise, is only looking at physiology, not anatomy.
The pump research published recommended a pattern for the pump that will 
stimulate the milk ejection reflex most effectively, and then remove the 
most milk using various negative pressures. All the test patterns were 
published in the Journal of Human Lactation, with their findings - any pump 
company that wants to can copy their recommendations (ie make a pump with 
an identical pattern) or test the ones they did, or anything else they 
think may be better. The researchers didn't test pumps from other 
manufacturers and, to the best of my knowledge, make absolutely no comment 
comparing the pump pattern that their research found to be most efficient 
for that pump with pumps from any other manufacturers. All I've heard them 
say is that "X" pattern is most efficient for most women on the pump that 
they use. I have never heard nor seen written that they have stated theirs 
is the best pump, or that it is perfect for all women. Quite the contrary - 
several times I've heard one or other of the reseachers mention the mother 
who they couldn't get a drop out of with a pump - but breastfed her chubby, 
thriving baby without a problem.

It all looks pretty open to scrutiny to me - and hands everything over to 
their competitors on a platter without them spending a cent on research to 
help breastfeeding mothers.

Personally, I don't have an opinion on what pump is best - I'm a firm 
believer in individuality and self-confidence. Most pumps today are 
effective, easy, time-saving devices. But, I have seen mothers use the old 
wrist-breaking Kaneson hand pump to express milk for their preterm babies 
for months and months - successfully; and in countries where the majority 
of preterm babies are born today (ie not the affluent West) - mothers don't 
have the option of any type of pump, only ever hand expressing - 
successfully!!

Is the necessity of having an expensive, "hospital-grade" pump an artifact 
of a loss of faith in women's bodies?

Denise

***************************************
Denise Fisher
Health e-Learning
http://www.health-e-learning.com
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