I had plenty of moms damage their nipples with the type of pump in which one 
cylinder fits into another and a rubber gasket creates the suction - moms who 
are desperate to make milk will pull, and pull, and pull until they draw blood!  
I saw it with my own eyes!

In Puerto Rico, in the area where I lived,  the electricity was erratic - 
especially after hurricanes -  so even if a mom could afford a pump, a lot of 
times they were better off using the Medela Pedal Pump - especially if they had 
a baby in ICU or worked away from buildings with generators.   They LOVED it 
(unless they had delivered by cesarean - in that case, dad or older siblings 
could pedal) - and there was no need to be near an outlet.

In fact, I encouraged the purchase of these pedal pumps for our California 
Public Health Nurses and we have them stored in case of emergency - as an 
Emergency Preparedness activity.  (I agree that hands work well - even better - 
but at the time we had little experience with that option - now, I would 
encourage the use of hand expression FIRST - but I would still have these pumps 
available - you can do "hands on pumping" with them, too.)

...and I am NOT connected in any way to Medela - and am very well aware of their 
choice to not follow the WHO Code - which totally frustrates me - but I still 
must mention this product.

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC
Vacaville, CA

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