Breastfeeding is the best thing you can give a baby. After all, this is a guarantee of health and comfortable development of the baby. The mammary glands of a nursing mother constantly produce milk. It so happens that there are reasons why a woman needs to express milk. For this, there are special devices - breast pumps.
In this article we will look at:
- how to choose a breast pump?
- how to use a breast pump?
How to express breast milk correctly and effectively?
- this should be done in a room alone, so that no one interferes. The room must be warm.
Think about your baby. So the milk will pass faster;
- if the breast is dense to the touch, it is better to massage yourself before the pumping procedure;
- it is necessary to express every 3 hours during the day and try at least once at night;
- it happens that milk leaves one breast poorly, so switch to the second breast, and then to the first. And you will see that the milk began to flow better;
- for cracks, you should use vegetable oil, or lubricate the nipples with Dexpanthenol cream.
Types of breast pumps:
- electronic;
- manual: piston, pump, pear, syringe.
Electronic breast pump
There are many electronic breast pumps on the market today.
The most common is the Avent breast pump. For the price, this product is quite expensive - about 3000 rubles. Also, the kit may include special containers for storing milk.
Manual breast pumps
The best place to start is.
- Piston breast pump. Easy to use. There is a special piston thanks to which milk is expressed. The disadvantage is that mom's hand quickly gets tired.
- Pump-type breast pump. Has accessories - pump, nozzle, bottle. Its big drawback is the lack of sterilization capabilities.
- Pear. The special rubber bulb and attachment make it easy to use. Can be sterilized.
- Syringe, or vacuum, breast pump. In terms of structure, these are two cylinders located one in the other. One cylinder is superimposed on the breast, and the second is made translational movements, due to which a vacuum is created and milk begins to stand out from the breast.
How to properly express breast milk with a manual breast pump?
- It is best to start expressing breast milk with a manual breast pump. This way you will feel the strength and pressure that is comfortable for you.
- The manual breast pump should be boiled for a couple of minutes before using.
- Wash your hands with soap and water. It is not necessary to wash your breasts with soap, as soap dries your skin and increases the likelihood of a nipple crack.
- Place the nipple in the middle of the breast pump head. Secure your chest with your right hand.
The nipple should not be pinched, there should be no sharp pain.
- If your breast pump has a plunger, press down gently. At first, droplets will appear, gradually the milk will begin to flow out in trickles.
Do not press on the chest, bruising may remain. With gentle movements, you can massage the breast to facilitate milk flow. It is also helpful to take a warm shower before expressing. A pear breast pump works the same way, except that instead of a piston, there is a rubber bulb.
- Use a breast pump until you feel relief in your breasts. You should not do a complete emptying, and you cannot, anyway, some milk will remain in the breast. In general, with mechanical expression, one procedure takes about 10 minutes.
During one pumping procedure, two breasts should be emptied in turn.
- After this manipulation, the breast pump must be disassembled and washed with soap and running water. Then dry on a towel without wiping. No need to boil.
Breast milk can be stored in the freezer in special containers for up to six months.
Using a breast pump with an electric device
How to use a breast pump with this mechanism? First, read the instructions.
As already mentioned, the most convenient modern breast pump from Avent.
Pros:
- does not contribute to the mother's fatigue, is gentle to the nipple
- memory. Remembers pressure and pumping mode;
- ease of use, sterilization;
- there are modes in which first there is a quick expression, then a slow and deeper one.
This breast pump is powered by either an electrical outlet or a battery.
Don't worry if you don't succeed right away. This takes some getting used to.
Anastasia, 28 years old: “After the birth of my daughter, I had to resort to pumping. Used a manual breast pump. At first it was painful and unpleasant, but in a few days I got used to it. Nothing wrong with that".
Why pump at all?
With normal lactation, the baby should consume as much breast milk as he needs. And you don't need to pump. But if you feel that the breast is tight or painful, then there is a slight stagnation of milk. Then it is necessary to express in small portions until relief.
Also, the pumping procedure should be carried out when separating from the baby, mother's illness, taking medications that are contraindicated during lactation.
Your pediatrician or breastfeeding specialist can also help you choose the right breast pump. Sure, a manual breast pump is not that easy to use, but it's best to start pumping with it.
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