Breast Pump Guide Category:
Before Coming Back to Work
• Preferably, try to have a fully automatic electric pump with a double collection kit so that you can save time by pumping both breasts at the same time.
• If you are particularly self conscious about pumping at work, check out the latest pumps as there are some which come disguised as briefcases or large purses.
• Get used to pumping at home before returning to work so to be more confident since you will know what to expect and how it feels.
During Work Hours
• Ideally, you will have access to a private room at work where you can pump, such as an unused office or conference room, or even a large, clean closet with a chair, countertop and electrical outlet. If your pump comes with a battery option, an electrical outlet will not be necessary.
• Try to find a room with a door that locks so that you won’t have to worry about your privacy being intruded.
• If all these options are not available, ask the building manager or human resources staff for suggestions, and enlist the support of a co-worker or supervisor if necessary.
• To maximize your milk flow, try to pump at the same time and place each day.
• Do not worry if your milk supply fluctuates. It is natural if your milk supply varies daily since there are many factors that affect your milk supply.
• Stress and fatigue are your biggest enemies. So, try to relax, eat well and drink plenty of water while at work.
Storing Milk
• Always bring along glass or plastic bottles or plastic milk collection bags to store the milk.
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• Leave room at the top of each bottle or bag for expansion if you will be freezing the milk.
• Label the bottles and/or bags with your name and the date so you can use the oldest ones first.
• If you do not have access to a refrigerator to keep the milk cold until you get home, remember to bring along a small cooler with an ice pack if your commute is longer than 30 minutes.
• If you like more reassurance, do keep a stash of breast milk in the freezer at home.
Prevention of Leakage
• During the first week or two that you are back at work, your breasts will probably feel very full at feeding times and may leak milk.
• One way to prevent that is to pump regularly: morning break, lunch break, afternoon break, etc.
• Breast pads are wonderful clothes protectors from leakage stains.
• Alternatively, look for the new self-adhesive silicone pads (called LilyPadz) that prevent your breasts from leaking in the first place!
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by Linda on February 23, 2010
As you pump, some of the fat or cream of the milk will stick to the pumps and may find its way into the many cracks and crevices of the breast pumps. So, cleaning your breast pump is very important to keep the pump working at top notch and for the safety of your baby.
After each pumping session
Clean the following with hot water and anti-bacterial soap:
• Both breasts shields
• Both valves
• Both membranes
Each day, sterilize:
• Both breast shields
• Both valves
• Both membranes
• Tubes
Every few days:
• Take the diaphragm apart
• Gently wipe the diaphragm with a wet towel
• Wipe the whole case inside out
What to do if you find a mold?
• Clean the infected parts with hot water and soap as well as you can, then wipe well with a wet cloth
• Sterilize the parts in boiling water
• Run diluted bleach, ½ bleach and ½ water, through the tubing, and also rinse the remaining parts with the diluted bleach;
• To remove the harsh chemicals, rinse the parts well with hot water for several minutes.
• Dry the parts as well as possible.
If these methods are not feasible, you can resort to the last alternative which is to throw it away and purchase a new pump. Most of the time, by following the above cleaning precautions, you can prevent any mold from accumulating in your breast shields where your tubing connects. Thus, always inspect this area closely whenever you clean the parts.
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by Linda on February 22, 2010
• Don’t rush to get the most milk in the shortest period of time. Mothers might make this mistake and keep the pressure going on those pumps.
• It is advisable to use an automatic cycling method if you are prone to maintaining a high pressure for a long time.
• If you do not have the automatic pump, hum a rhythm in your mind like suck-2-3-4-5; rest 2-3; suck 2-3-4-5; rest 2-3- and so on. Bear in mind that the release doesn’t have to be as long as the sucking.
• If you are still continuing to get blisters on your nipples or feel sore while pumping, feel free to return the pump to the place where you purchased it.
• You could also contact a board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) in your area and find out what else could be causing the problem. Sometimes it could be due to the tightness of the flange due to the inappropriate size.
• Avoid ‘bicycle horn’ pumps that require you to squeeze a rubber bulb; they can damage sensitive breast tissue.
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by Linda on February 19, 2010
Once you have bought your breast pump, the journey has just begun! There are some mothers who find it pure agony to use a breast pump. However, if you have a good pump and have a fast ejection reflex (let down), the whole pumping process should not take you more than 15 minutes to empty both breasts using a double pump. Below are the following steps to use a breast pump generally:
Before Pumping
(1) Wash your hands thoroughly.
(2) Make yourself comfortable by supporting your back and shoulders.
(3) Lay out everything you need within reach especially if you are using an electric pump
(4) Apply warm compresses before pumping or gently massage your breasts, think of your baby or imagine your baby in your arms. This can help stimulate the release of hormones that allows your milk to flow easily which will make your pumping a success.
(5) The more relax you are, the more milk you will be able to pump. Some of the ways are to listen to relaxing music, audio tapes, watching television, reading a book or apply some familiar baby powder.
(6) Read the instructions that accompany your pump and milk collection kit before you begin pumping.
During Pumping
(1) Centre the breast flange over your nipple
(2) Once you have started the pump, your nipple should begin to move in and out without rubbing against the sides of the flange. If the breast flange feels too tight, try on a larger flange.
(3) Continue to massage or gently squeeze your breasts while you are pumping. You may feel like a cow at this point but it tends to expel more of the milk out in greater quantities
(4) Move your breasts in various directions while pumping to pull more milk out of the many milk ducts.
(5) Another key to stimulate and maintain a good milk supply is to express your breast milk with frequency. Additionally, your pumping routine should simulate your baby’s feeding schedule as closely as possible.
(6) If you are the mother of a premature or hospitalized infant, you will need to pump every 3-4 hours (even at night time) until your baby is ready to begin breastfeeding.
(7) If your pump’s suction can be adjusted, always start at the lowest setting before gradually increasing the suction to the highest level at which you are comfortable. On the other hand, if you experience any pain, decrease the suction level until it feels more comfortable.
Length of Pumping
(1) For a single milk collection kit, pump about 15-20 minutes per breast. Switch to your other breast when your milk flow decreases. If you are using a double milk collection kit, pump for 10-15 minutes.
(2) Continue to pump even as your milk flow slows down. This is because this can happen several times before your breasts are fully drained.
(3) If you are using a manually operated breast pump, begin with quick, short squeezes to simulate the way a baby begins the feeding. Once your let-down reflex occurs and the milk is flowing freely, transition to a squeeze-and-hold rhythm as it can be more effective and less tiring.
After Pumping
(1) After each use, completely disassemble your milk collection kit and wash all the parts that come into contact with your milk in hot, soapy water.
(2) By rinsing them with hot water, you can rid any contamination.
(3) Allow all the parts to dry.
(4) Your milk collection kit does not need to be sterilized unless your health care provider or hospital policy clearly state or recommend it.
(5) To sanitize the product, always follow the instructions that come with your milk collection kit as some may differ.
How much do you have to pump?
This depends on a few criteria, namely:
(i) Age of your baby
(ii) Weight of your baby
(iii) Length of time since your breasts were last emptied
(iv) Time of the day
(v) Mother’s stress level
(vi) How established your milk supply is.
Do keep in mind that a vigorously breastfeeding baby can always get more milk from you than the very best breast pump on earth!
For first time mothers, don’t get discouraged if you get very little milk the first time you pump. The effectiveness of pumping improves with practice. As a matter of fact, you can always ask for help from other mothers, a midwife, doula, public health nurse, lactation specialist or the breast pump manufacturers. Give yourself time to learn this new skill. Don’t wait until you get back to work before you learn to pump. That would only add to your stress level and make pumping an arduous task. By planning ahead and learning in advance, your experience will be definitely more positive and enjoyable.
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by Linda on February 18, 2010
Shopping for a breast pump can be overwhelming. Thus, you might like to take a look at some of the handy tips that I’ve picked up along the way. It is not just about looking at reviews and picking the best choice recommended by the experts. It is about finding the right kind of pump with the right kind of features that is suitable for you because tastes vary from one mother to another. So have a quick browse at what features you should look for.
• Don’t buy used breast pumps
- Since pump mechanism can’t be sterilized, there is no way to guarantee that disease-causing organisms like HIV or hepatitis won’t be transmitted from one user to the next.
- Besides, buying a used breast pump voids the majority of the manufacturer’s warranties. That would cause a lot of hassle when you need to buy spoilt parts especially those professional electric pumps.
• Consider your individual needs
- A professional-grade pump is not a necessity! If you plan to pump occasionally, a small single electric pump or even a manual breast pump would suffice.
- Perhaps when you return to work full time and need to boost your milk supply, then the professional-grade pumps would come in handy.
- On the other hand, if you are pumping milk for a premature or hospitalized baby, you would be better off renting or buying a hospital-grade pump.
• Consider Renting
- It is advisable to rent a hospital-grade breast pump for a minimum of a week or two.
- Since retail breast pumps are non-returnable most of the time, renting from the hospital may be one of the few ways to try a pump before you buy it.
- Alternatively, you could rent a pump from a qualified source such as a Board Certified Lactation Consultant who gives instruction on pumping and care of the pump. These instructions do make a difference for your pumping success.
- If you buy straight from a department store, you will not get valuable expert information which is vital as a guide for your pump purchase and maintenance.
- For some moms, they might not even pump at all. So, short-term rental may be all that they would require.
• Work-Friendly
- If you are planning to pump at work, you should bear in mind four most important factors: size, portability, noise and power options
- It is preferable for the pump to be relatively compact and light if you are to carry the pump back and forth every day. You might want to consider a model that comes with a carrying case and insulated milk storage compartment.
- Try to choose a pump that has a noise level that you and your co-workers can live with. Generally, the larger the pump, the quieter the motor and vice versa. Manual pumps, by their very nature are quite quiet. There is, then, a give and take between the level of noise and the size of the pump.
- If you need to pump in a place without an electrical outlet, you might want to consider a pump that runs either on batteries or a vehicle adapter power source.
• Look for adjustable suction features
- Comfortable suction levels differ from mother to mother.
- As such, it is best to buy a breast pump that has an adjustable suction level for electric pumps.
- For manual pumps, some come with adjustable pump-handle positions.
- Additionally, remember to use the correct size of breast shield. Make sure that the pump you are interested in not only comes with a breast shield but also with a breast shield that fits you.
• Efficiency
- If you are time-crunched – and which mom isn’t? – It is probably worth paying more for a pump that has double-pumping capability and one that works effectively.
- Your pumping time for both sides can be cut by more than half with a dual pump (e.g. from 30 minutes to about 12 minutes)
- The added benefit is that double pumping boosts milk production by emptying both breasts completely.
- Research has shown that simultaneous double pumping increases hormone responsible for milk production and therefore, better maintains your milk supply over a longer period of time. Invariably, your baby gets natural and nutritious mom’s milk for a longer time too!
- Generally, cycling rates of a pump below 25 are often ineffective at yielding milk and the longer the suction, the higher the possibility that it will lead to pain of the breast and nipple tissue.
- Look for a breast pump that mimics a nursing baby: suction should be around 200-230 mm Hg negative pressure and cycles should be about 45-60 times per minute.
• Ease of use & Durability
- Look for a pump that is easy to use, clean and assemble. That way, you can save time assembling and cleaning it.
- Besides that, it is important to have an idea of how often and how long you will need to use the pump before looking at the pump’s warranty.
- Don’t make the mistake of choosing a pump which purpose and life span fall below your pumping goals or needs.
- This can result in premature motor wear and many times a compromised milk supply once the motor begins to wear out.
- On the other hand, manual pumps, do not depend on a motor for operation. With frequent use, a mother is more likely to ‘wear out’ before a manual pump.
• Comfort
- Some breast pumps are limited to only one size breast shields.
- As such, mothers with large nipples and/or breasts may find these ‘one size fits all’ pumps less effective and quite uncomfortable. These might cause more problems (e.g. cracked and dry nipples) in the long run.
- If you do not know what pump is best for your need, do visit a lactation.
• Check the warranty
- Breast pumps have moving parts that break down.
- Preferably, experts recommend a brand that has at least a one-year warranty. This is especially important if you are to use the pump regularly.
I hope that these points in choosing and buying a breast pump will be of some help. Of course, you can always choose to buy your breast pump based on market researches or recommendation by your lactation. Nevertheless, remember that no matter how fantastic a breast pump is, there is no better breast pump in this world than your own baby’s suckling!
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