For nursing mothers who are planning on returning to work, breast pump reviews can be a valuable tool for deciding which breast pump is best suited for them. Some of the best reviewed pumps on the market include the  Ameda Purely Yours breast pump, the Medela Freestyle, the Medela Pump in Style, and the Lansinoh double electric breast pump.  However, before just jumping on the top rated pumps, you want to read the feedback supplied by other parents so you can get a real world view into the advantages and disadvantages of each pump.

Once a mother has chosen the best pump for her though, there are safety considerations that she should observe to protect both herself and her nursing baby. Breast pump safety is especially important for nursing mothers who must pump at work. To save time, mothers sometimes delay washing all of the parts after each pumping. Although the Ameda Purely Yours breast pump has breakthrough technology that allows the suction to be as varied as the sucking is of an infant, there is still exposure of all of the parts to the expressed milk, even the tubing. Sometimes women believe that because the milk has excellent properties which protect it from spoiling, the milk left behind in the tubing and flanges can still be a place for bacteria to live and thrive, especially if it is not washed thoroughly after each use. If it is not possible to take the time for washing, placing all of the milk-exposed parts into a plastic bag and storing them in the refrigerator between uses can lessen the possibility of bacteria growth.

The Medela Freestyle breast pump is also extremely customizable and very small which makes it great for working mothers. Even with this small size, it is important that expressed milk have adequate cool storage. Many women think that putting the milk into an ice chest for the entire work day plus the time to get home from work is adequate, but a better suggestion is to place the expressed milk inside a cooler or other non-see through storage container and place this inside a regular refrigerator. If the mother doesn’t feel comfortable leaving it in the main break room refrigerator, a small desk size one can accomplish the same thing. Even though expressed milk can sit out for a time, the safest thing it to keep it chilled in the refrigerator.

Nursing for working mothers can be made much easier by using a good breast pump. However, it is vitally important that the health and safety of the baby be protected with these few simple steps that ensure the milk is chilled and bacteria-free.

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