Hmmm....Is a mother who wishes/needs to provide her milk for her baby using a breast pump a second-rate mother?  Does she not deserve to benefit from research which will lead to a more comfortable  and effective breastpump?
     There are many reasons why a mother needs to use a pump:
1. Her baby is unable to remove her milk from her breast.
2. She needs to go back to work to provide food, shelter and health insurance for her family.
3. Some women find it physically repulsive to put their baby to breast--sometimes due to physical or sexual abuse in their past or present.
   ...and I may have missed some others.
      Hand expression doesn't work for everyone.  It would be cheaper and easier if it did.  And, even if successful, it may take too long.  Milk production is dependent on frequent milk removal.  Personally, my hat is off to these women who choose to provide their milk to their babies with WHATEVER MEANS POSSIBLE!!  It is a lot of work and effort and planning.  They are choosing not to give formula.  They deserve our support, not our disdain.  I do hope Medela has designed a better breast pump for my mothers to use.  Someone needs to.
                                 Maureen Allen RN, BSN, IBCLC
                                 NICU Lactation Consultant
                                 Brigham and Women's Hospital
                                 Boston, MA
PS. Kangaroo care is not the only factor in milk supply for the mother of a preterm infant--stress, fatigue, discomfort, illness, the degree of milk removal, times per day milk is removed, etc. all play a role in supply.

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