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Breast pump suction patterns that mimic the human infant during breastfeeding: greater milk output in less time spent pumping for breast pump-dependent mothers with premature infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 32, pages 103–110 (2012)Cite this article

A Corrigendum to this article was published on 31 January 2012

Abstract

Objective:

The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness, efficiency, comfort and convenience of newly designed breast pump suction patterns (BPSPs) that mimic sucking patterns of the breastfeeding human infant during the initiation and maintenance of lactation.

Study Design:

In total, 105 mothers of premature infants ⩽34 weeks of gestation were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups within 24 h post-birth. Each group tested two BPSPs; an initiation BPSP was used until the onset of lactogenesis II (OOL-II) and a maintenance BPSP was used thereafter.

Result:

Mothers who used the experimental initiation and the standard 2.0 maintenance BPSPs (EXP-STD group) demonstrated significantly greater daily and cumulative milk output, and greater milk output per minute spent pumping.

Conclusion:

BPSPs that mimic the unique sucking patterns used by healthy-term breastfeeding infants during the initiation and maintenance of lactation are more effective, efficient, comfortable and convenient than other BPSPs.

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Acknowledgements

This study was partially supported by Medela (McHenry, IL, USA) and by NIH Grant NR0100009.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Women, Children and Family Nursing, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    P P Meier, J L Engstrom, B J Jegier & F Loera

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    P P Meier

  3. Department of Women and Children's Nursing, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    P P Meier & J E Janes

  4. Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing, Hyden, KY, USA

    J L Engstrom

Authors
  1. P P Meier
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  2. J L Engstrom
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  4. B J Jegier
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to P P Meier.

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Competing interests

Dr Meier and Dr Engstrom have received research funding and honoraria for projects from Medela. The other authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Journal of Perinatology website

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Meier, P., Engstrom, J., Janes, J. et al. Breast pump suction patterns that mimic the human infant during breastfeeding: greater milk output in less time spent pumping for breast pump-dependent mothers with premature infants. J Perinatol 32, 103–110 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2011.64

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