Medela ManualEase
Medela, as a company, prides itself in coming out with newer and more innovative products in the breastpumping sector. It is able to do this because of the continuous feedback that it proactively gathers from the breastfeeding mother community from all over the country. The ManualEase breastpump, a manually operated product, came out of the company's factory floor in response to such suggestions.
The ManualEase design is quite compact and handy. What makes it unique is a table-top feature, wherein the pumping action is moved to the top of the table, and separated from the breastshield and the container. This makes it quite convenient for any family member to assist in the pumping operation.
ManualEase is especially useful for mothers who wish to store milk for later use. Mothers who are always around, and can nurse the child whenever it demands, may use this pump occasionally when she has to stay away from the child for an extended period of time, and might not be able to return before the next hunger pang. If the nipples have become sore due to wrong tugging by the child or some other factor, ManualEase helps in continuing with expressing the milk, while healing is taking place. There is a condition known as engorgement, in which the breasts become so full with milk, that the tissues tighten and milk flow is painful. In such situations, when even the child is unable to connect to the breast comfortably, ManualEase helps by gently massaging the tissues till the point of disengorgement.
Assembling ManualEase is deceptively simple. Before assembling the parts for the first time, it is advisable to sterilize them in boiling water for about twenty odd minutes, then rinsing and air-drying them. The parts fit into each other snugly; and each of them should be tightly fit together such that no air escapes from any loose couplings. The equipment has six adjustable vacuum levels, with position 1 being the minimum. Initially, the position may be maintained to level one, and then increased gradually. As vacuum causes a tugging at the breast tissues, there is always the risk of a higher vacuum causing injury. For this reason, the vacuum level should be maintained only to the point where comfort is not compromised.
If the table holder has to be used, simply fasten the piston/cylinder to the table holder, and connect the tubing's ends between the piston/cylinder and the breastshield frame. With one hand holding the breastshield firmly in place, the other hand can pump the piston resting on the table. The table top might be fixed on a wall, too; in fact, any position where it is convenient for the mother to pump. By changing the position of the pump, the mother does not get fatigued by repeated hand operation.
The milk collected through such expression may be stored in refrigerator, to prevent contamination by bacterial growth. Milk can be refrigerated quite easily for five to seven days. However, if it has to be stored for longer periods, then it is advisable to make use of deep freezers. A frozen milk container should not be thawed in any microwave equipment, but, instead, should be held under warm milk for some time. Due to the low temperature, fats tend to separate from the milk, and appear as lumps in the container. This fat should be blended with the liquid by shaking the container gently, while the thawing is in progress.
ManualEase is yet another attempt by Medela to put the breastfeeding mother at ease. World over, mothers prefer to feed their bundle of joy with their own milk, rather than industrial, or formula milk. ManualEase helps them fulfill their wish.