Selecting pumps for breastfeeding mothers

By understanding how a breast pump works, the nurse can suggest a pump best suited to meet the needs of the mother and her infant. When the infant is well, issues of cost and convenience can be the priority; when the infant is ill, primary considerations are how negative pressure is created, maintained, and released and how pathogens are controlled. Understanding these mechanisms helps solve technical problems that contribute to malfunction or maternal discomfort.