> Rachel writes:  There has been at least one article published in JHL showing
> that a hand-operated personal pump is just as good as a hospital grade
> electric pump.  It was funded (and perhaps carried out) by the manufacturer
> of the hand-operated pump.  I would have more confidence in the findings if
> it were someone completely independent doing the comparisons between pumps.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the study your refer to is:

Fewtrell, M. et al.  Randomized trial comparing the efficacy of a novel manual breast pump with a standard electric breast pump in mothers who delivered preter infants.  Pediatrics 2001; 107(6):1291-97.

The researchers compared the Avent Isis with a hospital-grade double electric breast pump.  Before I wrote about this study in The Breastfeeding Answer Book, I conferred with Paula Meier, who kindly reviewed the Prematurity chapter for me.  We agreed that just on the face of it (never mind who funded it) this study that was not nearly strong enough to reconsider our recommendations.  For one, neither groups of mothers (all of whom had premies who were not yet breastfeeding) pumped the recommended number of times per day.  Instead of 8 times per day, they pumped on average 3-4 timers per day.  Consequently, neither group brought in anywhere close to a full milk supply (750-900 ml/24 hrs.)  They were only expressing about 200 ml per 24 hours--not exactly a spectacular result.  Another problem was the mothers in the
manual pump group used a silicone insert in their pump flange (hyped for its massaging action) and the mothers in the other group did not, even though there was one available that fit that particular type of pump.

Here's hoping some better research is in the offing.

Happy Holidays to all,

Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC
Chicago suburbs, Illinois USA

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