If you have opted for breastfeeding, there may be several reasons why you have to express milk at any given time. For example, it could happen that you need to supplement your baby with your own milk, that you have decided to make a bank for a future incorporation to work, or that you want to restore production in case of relactation.
Some women are able to express milk manually, but others prefer to opt for the breast pump, an electric or manual device that helps us in this task. If you have never used one but you need to start doing it, we will tell you what you must take into account to use it in a hygienic and effective way, and how to express your milk step by step.
How many breast pumps are there?
We will start by talking about the types of breast pumps on the market, so that you can decide which one is best for you according to your needs and those of your baby, because what is suitable for one mother is not always suitable for another.
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Manual breast pumps are the most basic and inexpensive, and in general they work by operating a lever with your hand that will exert the pump on the breast in order to stimulate it and start producing. They are recommended for occasional use, or if you already have experience expressing milk, as they are slower and require more effort.
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Electric breast pumps are connected to the current or use batteries so that they automatically begin to express milk without the need for you to be pumping it by hand. This type of breast pump favors a faster and more efficient extraction, since it allows you to regulate the speed and intensity of the suction in a very comfortable way.
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Double electric breast pumps work by stimulating both breasts at the same time, so that the pumping time is reduced and is especially optimal. They are especially recommended in cases where the extractions must be very frequent and periodic. The main disadvantage they have is that they are quite expensive, although the time savings in extraction is so considerable that depending on the use you are going to give it, it could more than compensate.
Recently, other innovative cordless electric breast pumps have come on the market, such as Willow or Elvie Pump, which share an ergonomic design, small, light and quiet to place under the bra and express milk without being noticed anywhere or at any time.
Components of the breast pump
Although it may vary slightly from one model to another, in general a manual or electric breast pump consists of the following parts:
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A base or support to support the bottle that will collect the milk during extraction. When we have finished using the breast pump, this bottle could be covered with a lid and save the milk for later, or attach a nipple if we want to give it to our baby.
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During the extraction, the nozzle of the bottle will be closed with a valve that in turn will be connected to another larger piece called the connector or body, which is the link with the funnel . The funnel is what is placed on the breast, and the first piece that breast milk will come into contact with.
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A handle will be attached to the body or connector that will be the one that we activate to pump in case the breast pump is manual, or if it is an electric breast pump it will have a tube / hose that in turn connects to the electric pump (which works battery-operated or power cord).
Before you start pumping, here’s what to keep in mind
Once you have chosen the breast pump that best suits your needs, you should know that some brands offer different sizes of funnels to better fit your chest . And the fact is that the size of the funnel that always comes by default may not be the most suitable for you, either because it squeezes your nipple, with the risk of injury that this entails, or because too much of the areola enters the funnel, in in which case the extraction would be hampered.
In this link on the Medela website you can find a document and an explanatory video on how to choose the best breast pump funnel according to the size of your nipple.
Other accessories that you will need when starting to use your breast pump are containers or breastfeeding bags where you can collect the milk . As we have just seen, the breast pump has a small bottle that can help you at first to collect the expressed milk, but depending on the amount you are going to express or how you use it later, it may be necessary to distribute the breast milk in others containers or use airtight bags to refrigerate or freeze.
If you are going to express your milk outside the home and your baby is not going to consume it at the moment, it will be necessary that you also have a portable refrigerator with cold accumulators for its correct conservation. Remember that the expressed milk must be labeled before storing it, with the amount and the date of the extraction, to always consume the one that takes the longest before.
How to pump in 11 steps
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1) First, find a comfortable place that will help you express your milk comfortably . If you are at home, it will be easy for you to find that cozy corner, preferably near your baby. If you are away from home, make sure it is clean, quiet, and free from interruptions.
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2) Have everything you need at hand during the extraction , in order not to interrupt the moment and make it as comfortable as possible for you. A gauze or muslin will always be of great help to clean possible drips, but it could also come in handy to have the telephone nearby, the television remote control, relaxing music, a book … In any case, it is likely that the former Sometimes you prefer to be silent and fully focused on this task until you gain practice.
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3) Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before using your breast pump. You should also clean the surface on which you are going to place the breast pump or its accessories.
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4) Assemble or assemble the breast pump according to the manufacturer’s instructions, but remember that you have previously washed and sterilized all its parts following the instructions.
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5) It helps to be close to your baby while you express your milk, as this raises the levels of oxytocin. You can also take the opportunity to express milk from one breast while your baby suckles from the other. If none of this is possible, it will help to look at a photo or video of your baby .
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6) Begin by gently massaging your breast before applying the breast pump , making circular movements from the outside to the areola. This will promote extraction.
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7) Try to express your milk always at the same time so that your body gets used to it. There are mothers who prefer to do it first thing in the morning, others who do it after breastfeeding their baby, and others who must do it at a specific time depending on external factors (for example, if they are at work). The important thing is to find the time that best suits you and be consistent.
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8) Place the breast pump funnel on your breast, making sure that the nipple is right in the center. Hold the funnel with your thumb and index finger, and use the rest of the fingers and the palm of your hand positioned in a C shape to support your chest. Don’t press the funnel hard against you, as you could compress the breast tissue and make it difficult for the milk to come out.
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9) When you have correctly adjusted the funnel, actuate the pumping lever with the other hand in the case of a manual breast pump, or press the button if it is electric. Electric breast pumps have two extraction phases : the first combines rapid and low-intensity aspirations to promote breast stimulation, and then the aspirations begin to have a constant and more intense rhythm.
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10) When you have finished the extraction, save the expressed milk according to the indications that we have commented before.
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11) Wash all the parts of the appliance properly and leave it preserved in a clean and dry place for its next use.
Like breastfeeding, expressing milk with a breast pump should not hurt , so if you feel any discomfort during the process or notice scratches or sores on the nipple, it is recommended that you consult a lactation consultant to help you find the cause of the problem, which many times lies in a funnel size not according to your size.
On the other hand, it is likely that the first times you use the breast pump you will not be able to extract large amounts, but do not despair because as with other things, the use of the breast pump requires practice, patience and perseverance , so little by little you will increase the amounts.
Photos | iStock
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