Inner and outer shield parts of a breastshield are joined to form an
enclosure defining a pressurizable chamber. The inner shield part has at
least a portion thereof movable relative to the outer shield part when
the chamber is subject to a negative or a positive pressure. A first
pressure port is in communication respectively with the chamber for
connection with a fluid pressure source of a first pressure. A second
pressure port is in communication with the interior for connection with a
pressure source of a second pressure. The breastshield is thus capable of
being subjected to two different pressures, such as a positive pressure
to move (expand) the chamber into the interior, so as to compress or
massage the nipple/breast, and a negative pressure in the interior to
draw the nipple/breast further therein for the expression of milk. The
pressures can be independently controlled, and may furthermore alternate
being negative and positive through the same pressure port. In one
embodiment, an enclosure defines first and second chambers. The chambers
are separate from each other and independently pressurizable. A greater
plurality of chambers is furthermore contemplated. The invention takes
the form of a variety of different embodiments of breastshields and
breastpumps for breastmilk pumping having sundry novel attributes and
advantages.