Clinical Investigation to Assess the Performance of the Eureka Electric Breast Pump in Mothers Breastfeeding Their Healthy Term Infant

Breast pumps currently on the market function by applying vacuum directly to the breast. The effect of a build-up of pressure within the breast due to the accumulation of milk, combined with the external negative pressure introduced by the breast pump, results in the expression of milk. However, in order to express sufficient amounts of milk it is important to stimulate the Milk Ejection Reflex (MER). The MER, also called letdown, draught ejection, expulsion or pumping reflex, is described as a response of the mammary gland to oxytocin. When the nipple is stimulated, the mother's posterior pituitary gland releases oxytocin into the bloodstream. Upon reaching the breast tissue, oxytocin provokes contraction of cells within the structure of the breast causing milk flow. Without the MER successful breastfeeding or breast milk expression cannot happen. In order to stimulate the MER, Philips has developed 2 new expression kits to better mimic the suckling pattern of an infant.