Choosing a breast pump and learning how to express breast correctly

Many expectant mothers, preparing for the birth of their baby, make a shopping list in advance, trying to take into account all the important little things that will help them in the future in caring for their baby. This list most often includes a breast pump - a special device for expressing breast milk.

Why a breast pump, and not hands, because you can express your breast with your hands? Modern breast pumps can save you a lot of time and energy.

The choice of these devices today is so wide (the functionality differs from each other in the mechanism of its work, price, properties, convenience, etc.) that a woman's eyes simply run up. In order not to be tormented by the question of which breast pump is the best, and which one to choose for comfortable expression of milk, you should know what types of these devices exist.

Types of breast pumps: which one to choose

(Photos are clickable)

Absolutely all breast pumps are divided into two types according to the principle of their operation: manual, that is, mechanical, and electrical.

Manual breast pumps are not as expensive as their electric counterparts. They can be divided into:

Pump

The simplest of the existing devices. Consists of a chest attachment and a rubber pump (or pear). When expressing milk with this device, the woman needs to squeeze the pump frequently to create a certain vacuum around the nipple and induce milk flow. Milk flows with every pressure on the breast.

Plus models - low price. The price of pump breast pumps starts at 90 rubles for the simplest models.
Minuses - due to constant mechanical squeezing of the pump, the hand quickly gets tired, with frequent use there is a possibility of nipple cracks. Milk pulls badly.

Pump pumps are available without a bottle and with an attached bottle.

Syringe-shaped breast pump

The device consists of two cylinders, where the inner one is applied directly to the nipple itself, and the outer one makes movements forward or backward. This option is the most common and popular: it is easy to clean, easy to work with, and small in size.

Reciprocating (cylindrical)

This type of breast pump consists of a silicone nipple attachment with a special lever attached to it and a bottle included. To express, simply press the lever while pressing the nozzle firmly against your chest.

Pros:

Thanks to the silicone attachments, pumping with a piston pump resembles natural breastfeeding, which helps to improve lactation;
fast expression. In 10 minutes, up to 150-200 ml is expressed. (With manual expression, it takes up to 40 minutes);
silent work;
the ability to sterilize all parts of the breast pump;
relatively low price and a huge selection of different models.

Minuses:

fragility of parts. If you use it very often, the pump arm may break.
a woman's hand quickly gets tired when expressing.

Philips AVENT manual breast pump - overview - https://razvitie-krohi.ru/posle-rodov-dlya-mamyi/obzor-ruchnogo-molokootsosa-philips-avent.html

Electric breast pumps

In addition to mechanical models, there are electrical models to facilitate the pumping process. It will not be difficult for a nursing mother to use any model of an electric breast pump.

The principle of operation of the device is not to manually create a vacuum around the nipple, but using a special motor. A woman just needs to press a button, and the device will start its work!

Pros:

the ability to memorize the pumping mode;
there are two-phase models. At first, the device works in a fast and light mode, gradually moving to slow and deep expression. This mode allows the accumulated breast milk to be maximized;
there are models that allow you to simultaneously express from both breasts;
easy to disassemble, parts are washed and sterilized;
The electric breast pump is suitable for continuous use as it does not injure the nipple or contribute to fatigue.

Despite the undoubted advantages of electric models, they also have certain drawbacks. These include very high cost and noise in use. Such a breast pump is unlikely to be used next to a sleeping baby.

Electronic

This is a microprocessor-controlled breast pump that fully controls milk flow and pumping rhythm. Powered by an outlet or battery. They are correspondingly expensive.

Video: choosing a breast pump

Having decided on the choice of a breast pump, a woman is faced with the questions of how to properly prepare for pumping and how to express breast milk as efficiently as possible.

Rules for expressing with a breast pump

During the period of breastfeeding, most mothers have to deal with such a situation as pumping. To protect herself from unnecessary risks, every mom must know how to properly express her breasts with a breast pump so as not to harm herself.

Expressing your breast with a breast pump is absolutely not a shameful process, you should not be afraid or ashamed of it!

The main reasons that force you to pump:

You have a lot of milk, therefore, in order to avoid hardening of it in the breast, it is imperative to get rid of the excess;
Your breast milk is not enough to feed your baby, so you need to express to stimulate lactation;
You need to attend an important event where it will be impossible for the child to provide access to the breast or the baby stays at home without you with his grandmother, dad and they need to feed the baby;
The baby refuses to breastfeed, but drinks milk from a baby bottle.

There may be a lot of options ...

Preparing to express

Before using a breast pump to express milk, read these guidelines:

Wash your hands with soap and water and wash your chest with warm water.
If possible, drink a glass of warm water or tea to improve milk flow.
Read carefully all instructions included with your breast pump.
If you are using a breast pump for the first time, be sure to boil it and let it dry. Then collect all the parts and prepare a sterilized milk collection container.
Before starting the process, select a funnel of the right size, the nipple itself should not adhere to the wall of the suction device, otherwise expression will be slow and painful. The nipple must move forward and backward without obstacles, so leave room for it to move.
For large breasts or large nipples, it is recommended to choose the funnel with the largest diameter.
To help your chest fit better against the funnel, dampen your skin with a damp towel.
Find for yourself a place that is most convenient and suitable for such a procedure.
Start expressing milk at your most comfortable speed, even if it's the most powerful. The main thing is not to forget to constantly stimulate the flow of milk.
With light circular motions, the breasts can be stimulated before and during the procedure.

Preparation is complete, you can start pumping

If you feel the slightest difficulty in pumping, do not forget that pumping is an artificial process, an imitation of feeding. A positive result can be achieved by producing a pumping hormone called oxytocin. To do this, it will be enough to take a warm bath, drink hot tea (preferably with milk), put a warm towel on your chest, or just look at a photo of your baby. Already during expression, the hormone prolactin begins to work, it depends on how much milk you can express.

Video: Expressing Milk

Desk instruction for nursing mothers

Breast pumping takes 10-15 minutes per breast. If you've pumped faster, don't stop - continue for a few more minutes.

To facilitate the process, it is better to bend forward a little, but not too much. This position will allow the slices to pass milk more easily and it will be much easier for mom to collect it.
While supporting and slightly lifting the breast with one hand, place and firmly press the breast pump attachment against the nipple with the other. The nipple should be in the middle of the nozzle. In turn, the funnel must fit snugly against the nipple, otherwise the desired vacuum will not be created, and the pumping process will be difficult.

(Photo clickable)

[sc: rsa]

When using a mechanical device, start pressing the lever or pump; to express with an electric breast pump, just press the button. At the same time, you do not need to squeeze the breasts so as not to injure the nipple. If pain does occur, check that the breast pump funnel is correctly positioned and that the nipple is in the middle. In a state of severe discomfort, you should stop pumping and start the process again after a while.
It should be expressed until the chest softens and the seals are no longer felt. Before the end of the process, once again massage the breast from the armpit to the center, driving out the remaining milk from the side lobes. This completes the expression, you can use the milk immediately or freeze it.

How to use a breast pump (video # 2)

Why is it impossible to pump with a breast pump?

So, how to choose a breast pump and how best to express a woman already knows, but what to do when it is impossible to express a drop of milk with a breast pump? Expression, although an imitation, is still a natural process and if there is no milk in your breast, then no breast pump will be able to express it. Having studied the technique of expressing and the rules for handling such a device, we can conclude that you will not be able to drive milk if:

The tightness between the nipple and the funnel is broken. If air gets in, the breast pump will not work properly.
Stagnant milk (I also call lactostasis - read about it). If the breast is very dense to the touch, there are painful areas, then it will be difficult to express milk quickly. In this case, a long breast massage will help (See article on how to massage your breasts) with your hands and gently stimulating the nipples to improve milk flow. You can also try placing a baby on one breast and a breast pump on the other.
You are not prepared for the procedure itself: oxytocin is not produced.

In general, it takes about 15 minutes to express one breast. Depending on how complex and narrow the milk ducts are, the collection period can be delayed. After any machine pumping, the milk will be collected by hand. This is necessary for a better and maximum collection.

Video: How to assemble an Avent breast pump

Where could I buy

You can familiarize yourself with prices, read reviews, choose and buy a breast pump on the website of the online store obsheterstvo.ru - 67 types of breast pumps.

Rating TOP 10 breast pumps - https://razvitie-krohi.ru/posle-rodov-dlya-mamyi/10-luchshih-molokootsosov.html

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