Why do you need a Breast Pump?
Breast pumps can be used to maintain, and more importantly, to increase a woman's milk supply.
Wondering if you’ll need a breast pump when your baby arrives? A breast pump is an essential tool for a new mother to have even if she intends to exclusively breastfeed her child.
For many new mothers, returning to work after giving birth is a reality. By pumping and storing milk while at work, a mother can continue to provide her baby with breast milk as long as she wants.
When mom expresses breast milk for later feedings, dad and grandparents can give feedings to help mom and bond with the new baby.
Breastfeeding on demand can easily wear any mother out occasionally. Having a bottle of expressed milk available allows mothers to take some much needed time for herself while someone else takes care of baby.
In order to provide breast milk for a premature baby that is too weak to breastfeed a mother can use a hospital grade pump to express milk for feedings. A pump will also provide breast stimulation to increase and maintain a sufficient supply of milk.
A mom can pump and store an emergency supply of breast milk to use for feedings in case she becomes sick or needs to take medication.
When a mother’s breasts are overly full and engorged with breast milk, she can use a breast pump to express enough milk to provide relief from pain.
Mothers with flat or inverted nipples can have trouble when trying to get baby to latch on properly. By pumping a few minutes before breastfeeding, a mother can draw out her nipple so that baby can nurse more easily.
Breastfeeding one child can be very demanding on a mother and feeding twins or other multiples only increases the demand and challenge for a mother. By pumping milk, a mother of multiples can provide her children with breast milk without having to nurse around the clock.
By using a breast pump to stimulate milk production a mother can keep her supply up so that she can breastfeed her baby when they are together.
If a mother’s breasts are very full, pumping some milk out can make it easier for her baby to latch-on and nurse properly. For other infants who are unable to latch-on because of a birth defect like a clip lip or palate, expressing milk is the only way for them to receive breast milk for feedings.
Some mothers feel that breastfeeding just isn’t for them and choose to exclusively pump breast milk for all of their baby’s feedings.
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Tips for Using Breast pump
- Hold your breastshields correctly using your index finger and thumb,and the palm of your hand and other fingers supporting your breast.
- Avoid squeezing the flange of the breastshields into the breast tissue. This will squeeze together and compress the milk ducts which are superficial and this can block the milk flow.
- The first few times you use a breast pump, you may not be able to express as much as you expected. Try to pick a regular time of day for pumping breast milk. This will allow your body to prepare for this extra demand on your breast milk supply. For instance, if you always pump one hour after nursing your baby in the morning your body will quickly adapt to this demand.
- Breastpumping both breasts simultaneously can increase the amount of expressed breast milk as it empties both breasts more effectively encouraging your body to produce even more.
Breast pumps can be categorized as manually operated breast pump and electric breast pump (single or double pump).
Manually operated breast pumps are more economical and compact, while electric breast pumps have better suction power. Using double pump can help stimulate prolatic and save time for mothers.
Getting Back to Work
What to do at workplace?- Prepare breastfeeding related products and accessories, such as breast pump, breast milk collection bottles, Pump & Save bag, microwave bags, mini fridge (if it is not provided at workplace).
- Look for opportunities to express and store your breast milk at your workplace, and clothing that facilitates breastfeeding or pumping.
- Schedule for pumping breast milk at least twice a day for 20 minutes each session at workplace.
- Bring a photo or video of your baby with you so you can look at him while you are breastpumping. This will help stimulate your milk ejection reflex.
- Relax and keep well hydrated.
- Pump both breasts simultaneously to save time and try to ensure they are completely emptied of milk before stopping.
Getting Back to Work
What to do at home?- Try to stay at home as long as possible. If you delay starting working outside home until breastfeeding is well established - usually after four to six weeks - this enhances the chance for successful breastfeeding.
- Learn to express your breast milk and to know how to store it about two weeks before you return to work. Start to build up a supply of expressed breast milk. You will have a better feeling if you have some breast milk on stock when you start working.
- Let somebody else introduce the bottle to your baby or try alternative feeding methods to feed your baby while you are away.
- Continue to breastfeed your baby when you are at home. This will help maintain your supply.
Medela was founded in 1961 by Olle Larsson and is headquartered in Switzerland. Medela have become the healthcare choice for more than 6 million hospitals and homes worldwide, and remain committed to supporting millions of moms, families, patients, and healthcare professionals around the world.
Medela's breastfeeding products are based on more than 20 years of evidence-based research into the life-giving benefits of breast milk. To understand mothers’ needs and babies’ behaviour, Medela works collaboratively with universities, hospitals and research institutions around the world. Their insights and discoveries help Medela to develop advanced technologies for breastfeeding solutions.
Celki VitalAire is the sole distributor of Medela in HK & Macau
