Professional Medela breastpumps
For a company that has made continuous improvement in technologies for breastpumping its mission, it comes as no surprise that their repertoire contains such a rich variety of equipment for the breastfeeding mother to choose from. Amongst the string of categories, each of which further contain a mindboggling number of models, is a category called the Professional series, which have a patented technology called Natural Expression incorporated in them. The models in the Professional series are also referred to in the trade as "Pump In Style" models.
Following models are part of the Professional series - "Pump In Style Advanced Backpack", followed by a more staid, "Pump In Style Advanced", then the "Pump In Style Original" and finally the "Pump In Style Traveler".
It is the "Natural Expression" technology that distinguished this series from the rest of the Medela stable initially; though models that succeeded it, too, incorporated the technology later, as its effectivenes became proven and accepted by its customers.
Natural Expression evolved as a result of studies carried out by Dr Peter Hartmann, a leading scientist and lactation expert. Dr Hartmann's research brought to light for the first time the sucking pattern that characterises the infant's efforts of drawing milk from the mother's breast. The infant has an instinctive method that nature builds into its genes, wherein it starts sucking at the nipple quite rapidly at a very high frequency rate. The moment the milk ejection begins, the infant automatically and quite abruptly drops to a slower sucking rate, since the swallowing of the milk entering its buccal cavity also begins to take place side-by-side. The nursing rhythm of the baby, known as two-phase cycling, led to the design of a prototype that mimics this very rhythm.
The prototype had two pumping patterns - the "Let-Down" mode and the "Expression" mode. During the"Let-Down" mode, the pump's suction-release cycles are quite rapid, with the objective of stimulating the breast tissues to begin the flow of milk. Once the flow begins, the "Expression" mode takes over, which is slow and longer in suction, and thus draws milk faster. Thus, by following Nature's hints, a new technology was born, appropriately called "Natural Expression".
All Professional Grade Breastpumps brought out by Medela are meant to be used by mothers who work full time. Mothers who are separated for long periods of time from their infants, too, can go in for these devices.
The "Pump In Style Original" breastpump brought about a revolution in this industry, due to superior quality and comfort that it extended to the mother. It has a manual operation, and at the same time it has the facility to be driven by batteries and regular electric supply. There are three cooling elements, besides a built-in cooler compartment to store the milk. The kit comes with a double pumping accessory kit, too. Milk is recommended to be collected in special-purpose CSF bags, again manufactured by Medela.
The "Pump In Style Advanced" and the "Pump In Style Advanced Backpack" differ only in the looks and features of the carrybag that the latter has. The "Backpack" version has a trendy, sporty look, and is surely an attraction for the breastfeeding female with a similar disposition! The stylish black microfiber bag discreetly fits in all the parts of the kit quite comfortably; including the motor unit, the cooler carrier, the AC adapter, four collection containers and lids, double pumping accessory kit, et al.
The "Pump In Style Traveler" version is quite ergonomically designed, and meant for travelling moms and dads. There is a removable motor that can remain at work, and a removable cooler carrier which can be used to transport the daily quota of breastmilk to home or a daycare. For added convenience, the Traveler kit comes with an extra DayCarrier, which can be left with the baby, filled with the day's feedings, allowing the mother to carry the regular kit with her to express and store milk at the workplace.