Why Use A Breastfeeding Pump?
Not all breastfeeding mothers will need to use a breast pump. However, if a mother and her baby will be separated for more than a few hours, or the baby or the mother is hospitalized, then using a breast pump will be very important. Selecting the right pump for your circumstances is important and you may wish to ask the advice of a lactation consultant or other knowledgeable health care provider. You should remember that breast pumps are personal use products and most cannot be returned once the package has been opened. So it is important to make sure you select the most appropriate breast pump the first time. At J Slawner's we use the Amdea breastfeeding products.

Benefits To Baby
Mother’s milk provides complete and valuable nutrients for baby’s ideal growth and development. It’s rich in antibodies for protection against diseases, proteins for growth, and carbohydrates, fats, and minerals for brain and nervous system development.

Breast Milk Helps Protect Your Baby From
• Allergies • Eczema
• Bacterial Meningitis • Juvenile Diabetes
• Crohn’s Disease • Respiratory Infections
• Diaper Rash • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
• Diarrhea • Urinary Tract Infections
• Ear Infections

Benefits To Mother
Babies aren’t the only ones who benefit from breastfeeding. Mothers who breastfeed lose weight more quickly after giving birth and their postpartum bleeding is usually lessened when compared to mothers who do not breastfeed. Oxytocin, a hormone released during breastfeeding, helps shrink the uterus and return it to pre-pregnancy size. The hormones released with breastfeeding act as a type of contraceptive to delay ovulation and fertility. In addition, breastfeeding activates a calming effect through the release of the hormone prolactin, which increases mother-baby bonding while initiating and maintaining milk production.

Benefits To Society
Because breastfed babies are generally healthier than formula-fed babies, they require fewer expensive medications, doctor visits, medical tests, and hospital stays. Costs to the federal and state governments could be reduced by billions of taxpayer dollars if we had more breastfed babies—and this estimate does not factor in “lost work time” by parents who stay home to care for a sick child.
From an environmental standpoint, breastfeeding requires fewer natural resources in the form of glass, aluminium, paper, and plastic for packaging plus the products required to prepare and provide baby formula.

A Special Time
This is a very special time for you and your baby. You’re forming emotional bonds that will last a lifetime and offering your baby the healthiest combination of nutrients possible—an ideal way to start life. Although you’ll be very focused on your newborn, it’s also important that you consider your own needs. In the long run, that will benefit both you and your baby. For instance, try to rest when your baby rests rather than catching up on housework or laundry. The extra rest will help elevate your attitude, complete your postpartum recovery, and help establish your milk supply. Limit visits from neighbours and friends and simplify the activities of daily living as much as you can to reduce the stress level. Although you’re thinking of your child’s nutrition, don’t neglect your own. Eat a well-balanced diet and drink plenty of fluids. If possible, try to take a walk or occasionally schedule some stretching or aerobic exercises—with your doctor’s approval. It’s amazing how much better you’ll feel with a little time to yourself. If you experience mood swings, which is normal after giving birth, reach out for support. Call another mother, join a peer group of new, breastfeeding mothers.