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Subject:
From:
"Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 12 Dec 2003 22:53:03 -0500
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I suspect it has to do with the peak suction and cycling speed of the
pump, as well as the suction needed by the individual mother in order to
overcome the resistence of the muscles of the nipple-areolar complex.

Pumps work by pulling milk out of the breast by subjecting the nipple to
a vacuum, which increases the pressure differential between inside the
breast and outside.  When the pressure is reached that overcomes the
resistence of the muscles, they let go and the milk sprays or drips out.

For some mothers, the personal double electric breastpumps are enough to
overcome their muscle resistence, and fast enough for her to get milk in
a reasonable time.  For other moms, the resistence is higher, and they
need a higher peak negative pressure (suction) than the small pumps can
provide.  I have had quite a few mothers in my practice who had much
better response to the hospital grade pumps, and others who did fine on
the smaller ones.  I even have one mother who relactated at 3 weeks
postpartum with a small handheld electric pump!

My own personal "acid test"  of whether  a personal pump will work for
an individual mother is whether they can pump sucessfully (get sustained
multiple sprays of milk, and 3+ MERs per pumping) with the hospital
grade pump on minimum or less than half way to maximum.

Unfortunately, women who have just spent in the neighborhood of $300 on
a personal pump are often unwilling to rent a hospital grade pump, and I
have seen too many of them suffer dwindling milk supplies.
Sigh.
--

Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC  New York City  mailto:[log in to unmask]

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