Ameda Breastfeeding accessories
It is a measure of a brand's popularity when its accessories are having to be routinely stocked by retailers and stores across the country. In the super-niche market of post-natal care, Ameda / Hollister stands out as one such brand whose accessories are always in great demand.
Some of the accessories are items that are recurrently asked for by the customer. Other items may be asked for only when they turn defective, and the warranty period is over. This article lists the most popular accessories brought out by Ameda, and highlights their usage.
First off the block are hydrogel pads. Ameda ComfortGel Hydrogel Pads are useful for keeping the nipples dry after the feeding is over. These pads absorb any leakage from the breasts, and thus prevent the mother's inner clothing from being soiled. The pads are especially useful in situations where the mother is experiencing pain in the nipples. An advantage with Ameda's hydrogel pads is that they can be used for up to a week, and may be rinsed and cleaned daily. A similar accessory is the Ameda contoured nursing pad - these pads are made up of brushed cotton instead of hydrogel.
The Ameda Nipple Shield, on other hand, is meant for short-term use only. This device is made up of ultra-thin, flexible silicone shield. It is used to help the infant to latch on to the breast properly. It is also quite handy to induce babies that have been fed on the bottle to return back to breastfeeding. The Shield is quite useful for cushioning sore nipples from being rubbed against the mother's clothing.
Mothers with a condition known as flat or inverted nipples can correct the condition by making use of the Ameda Breast Shell. In this condition, the nipple either remains passive, or is drawn inwards into the breast when stimulated (normally, the nipple protrudes). To continuously apply gentle pressure on the underlying tissues to let go off the nipple, the breast shell is quite useful. Due to their design, breast shells also assist in rapid healing of nipples that have gone sore due to the child's aggressive actions. The healing takes place through a continuous air circulation around the nipples that the shell allows, while being discreetly concealed underneath the bra.
Some mothers take more time than usual to start letting down. In order to stimulate their breasts to accelerate the process, Ameda has brought out the Flexishield breast flange insert. This insert stimulates and massages the areola while the pumping is in progress, and mimics the feel of the baby's mouth. Thanks to the Flexishield, mothers with smaller breasts and nipples (about A-C bra cup), can better adjust the flange size so that a firmer grip on the breast is maintained.
On the other hand, for mothers with larger breasts, Ameda has a custom Breast Flange Pair that is especially useful when the nipple is between 27 to 31 mm ("nickel" and "quarter" size), as well as when the bra cup size is in the F-J range. "In-between" sizes can be adjusted through the reducing inserts that are part of the package.
Another useful accessory from the Ameda stable is the One-Hand Handle Assembly. This device converts an Ameda HygieniKit pump body into an Ameda One-Hand Breast pump. The one-hand device is a manual device that is quite handy when there is no electric outlet around, and the batteries are down. Perhaps the mother is on an excursion trip, and instead of carrying the entire HygieniKit, only the one-hand breast pump suffices.
The list of Ameda's accessories goes on to include adapters of various kinds, freezer bags, totes, etc. After all, one never knows what a mother might suddenly find herself out of!