Firstly, met me say hello. It’s good to be here! I’m a Lactation Professional!
My username on here is “Lifetime Lactation Learner” and I took that name because I never stop learning about lactation science!
The topic of lactation is a serious science and many researchers put out new studies every year, increasing the knowledge base and answering long-standing questions.
I am writing this entry in response to the question that is the title of this posting.
I’d like to answer the question! I know I have an idea of what my answer might be.
There are so many reasons why Hand Expression of breast milk beats using an electric breast pump, or even a manual breast pump like the Haaka.
It’s difficult to know where to begin. One important skill I help new Moms learn is how to perform hand expression of breast milk.
THREE MOST IMPORTANT REASONS HAND EXPRESSION IS BETTER THAN USING A BREAST PUMP? Hmmm
Okay. Here goes:
Firstly, know that I don’t have to play devil’s advocate here. I actually subscribe to this belief. I encourage new Moms to hand express rather than pump. Why? That’s a good question. So many reasons.
But the best reason for considering hand expression a superior means of removing milk from the breast is probably ease. Hand Expression is easier than pumping. There’s a lot less to take care of with an electric breast pump. No electric cords, no lines to sterilize with Hand Expression. No equipment. It’s not even a hassle.
It’s also more sanitary. You can hand express right into a cup that just came out of the dishwasher. It’s that easy to keep everything clean. With an electric breast pump, you have a lot to clean. And, even then, there’s far more of a chance of contamination. Even the manual pumps aren’t going to be as clean from washing by hand than your bowl or cup that was sterilized in the dishwasher.
And, it works better in less time, making it the more efficient choice. That means you get more milk in less time. With pumping, keeping everything sterilized is another task that will take many hours from someone’s schedule every week.
Yes; that’s true for both the manual and electric pumps.
Nothing is more effective or efficient for moving milk along than a Mom using hand expression and developing the abilities necessary to become good at it.
Like most things in life that can be done well or just done, hand expression takes some real practice.
It’s not necessarily easy for every woman, at first. In fact, most women I’ve worked with have had some struggles or other at some point.
But, with repeated attempts, and patience with oneself, sometimes slowly, sometimes rapidly, women develop the skill-set necessary.
That includes being able to feel the lobules and understand what you’re feeling.
Unclogging clogged ducts.
Getting the hang of pushing milk toward the nipple.
Getting good at self breast massage.
And, finally , squeezing and pulling the nipples and areola, in order to actually get the milk out.
And, setting up to repeat this motion.
Sounds easy? It is for some women. Not everybody, though!
Do you remember in gym class when kids were learning basic gymnastics?
Some girls got the idea right away after having just learned it all, others languished and tried their best but couldn’t quite get it right.
And then there were the girls who had taken gymnastics since they were three and already had years of practice.
Practice matters!
You may find hand expression to be easy, or you may find it to be difficult. You may find one, or more, aspects of the experience to be challenging. You really can’t say; every new Mom’s experiences differs, and differs GREATLY.
It’s worth it, in my professional opinion. I’ve been helping women with breastfeeding issues for almost two decades. There are a myriad of benefits to hand expression.
Some Moms would argue that the right answer to the question would certainly be that hand expression, with breast compression and light massage, helps move painful clogs along. Hand Expression decreases pain of engorgement. And the third?
No new Mom who has to wash all the breast pump equipment and accessories daily will argue with me on ease being key as well. But new Moms are more concerned with increasing their supply than having an easy time!
And so, the fact that Hand Expression almost undoubtedly will increase breast milk supply more effectively than a manual or machine pump would be many breastfeeding women’s third pick for most important reasons, I would imagine.
These are the facts. How you choose to go about your Breastfeeding Adventure is up to you. But do your own due diligence, and compare notes between specialists and different schools of thought on breastfeeding. Learn all there is to learn about Hand Expression if that’s your style.
But just Don’t Give Up!
That is key. Do it your way! This way, you are enthused about breastfeeding and it’s not a chore.
The truth is, keep it simple, and it’s easier and more efficient.
