Breast pumps can be a great ally in the breastfeeding journey of a woman; they can help to overcome certain circumstances or specific complications and help to maintain deferred breastfeeding (exclusive pumping) in the case of mother-infant separation, when the mother goes back to work or is useful for other reasons. Nevertheless, using a breast pump is not necessary in all cases as not all breastfeeding women need to have and use a breast pump, and so each case should be assessed individually.

In cases where the use of a breast pump is recommended, women must receive suitable recommendations for its use because inappropriate use can lead to unnecessary complications that can compromise the health of the mother and the breastfeeding experience.

Recommendations for the use of breast pumps that should be offered to mothers who wish to make use of them are as follows:

• Ensure that the funnel/flange size is correct. To do this, measure the base of the nipple (width across) and add 1mm on each side. This should be the diameter of the funnel to be used, and depending on the brand used, there will be more or fewer sizes available. Using the wrong funnel size can damage the nipple and areola and produce inefficient milk extraction.
• Wash all parts that come in contact with breastmilk thoroughly with soap and water and allow to air dry or dry with paper tissue. It is not necessary to sterilize the breast pump after each use, except if the milk is for breastmilk donation (human milk bank at hospitals) or if it is the first use of the pump.
• Pumping can become a difficult task for women, both physically and emotionally, and advice on the use of a breast pump should be offered to try to minimize these burdens:
  • Frequent and short pumping sessions are more effective than staying at the pump for a long time without any breaks.
  • More milk is obtained in a pleasant and relaxed environment, preferably with audio-visual inspiration from the infant (videos or photos) to enhance hormonal secretion.
  • It may be useful to cover the collection container to reduce the psychological pressure regarding the amount of breastmilk expressed.
• As for the ideal breast pump, there is not one single type of pump that is suitable for all cases and all women, and the different needs and preferences of women must be carefully assessed. In general, it is convenient to contemplate brands that offer different funnel sizes, and in the case of electric pumps, make sure that they are not pumps that only perform a vacuum suction but also perform an extraction rhythm, as a strong vacuum on its own can damage the nipple.