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2) The exceptions to the above are:
a) If you are expressing milk for your baby to be given in hospital.
b) If your breasts are engorged (painful or swollen), you can express
a small amount of milk before or between feeds to ease the pain
and to help your baby latch on more easily.
c) If you have sore or cracked nipples, you may wish to express your
milk until they are healed.
d) If you are separated from your baby and wish to continue to
breastfeed when you are reunited, you should express your milk
regularly to stimulate your milk supply.
3) You will need to find the right times of the day for you to express
your milk, e.g.
a) Early in the morning when your breasts are full, just before or
after your baby’s first feed.
b) After a feed, if your baby has not emptied both breasts.
c) Between feeds, or in a break if you have returned to work.
8. Hints to help you succeed
Using a breast pump takes practice – you may need to make several
attempts before you succeed, but because the pump is so simple and
natural to use, you will soon get used to expressing your milk.
1) Choose a time when you’re not rushed and won’t be interrupted.
2) Having your baby or a photograph of your baby nearby can help
encourage ‘let-down’.
3) Placing a warm cloth on the breasts for a few minutes before you
start pumping can encourage milk flow and soothe painful breasts.
4) Warmth and relaxation can encourage milk flow. Try expressing after
a bath or shower.
5) Try expressing from one breast while your baby is feeding from the
other, or continue expressing just after a feed.
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6) Repositioning the pump on the breast from time to time can help
stimulate your milk ducts.
Practice with your pump to find the best technique for you.
However, if the process becomes very painful, stop and consult
your breastfeeding advisor.
9. How to use the Manual Breast Pump
1) Wash your hands thoroughly and make sure your breasts are clean.
Gently squeeze a little milk from each nipple to ensure milk ducts are
not blocked.
2) Make sure you have sterilised and carefully assembled your pump
exactly as shown in sections 3 and 6.
3) Consult the ‘Hints to help you succeed’ section.
4) Relax in a comfortable chair, leaning slightly forward (use cushions
to support your back). Make sure you have a glass of water nearby.
5) Press the funnel and Let-down Massage Cushion of the pump firmly
against your breast, making sure that no air can escape – otherwise
there will be no suction.
6) As you gently push down on the pump handle, you will feel the
suction on your breast. You don’t need to depress the handle fully
to create a vacuum – only as much as is comfortable. Your milk will
soon start flowing, even though you may not use all the suction the
pump can generate.
7) Begin by pumping 5-6 times rapidly to initiate let-down. Then, hold the
handle down for 2-3 seconds, and allow it to return to its resting place.
These 2-3 second cycles imitate your baby’s natural suckling pattern
and allow the milk to flow between strokes.
8) Milk should begin to flow after the first few strokes. Don’t worry if
your milk does not flow immediately. Relax and continue pumping.
Do not continue pumping for more than 5 minutes at a time if
NO result is achieved. Try expressing at another time during the day.