A breast pump is a good helper and a must-have item in many mothers’ maternity bags. When the baby is born, when the mother and baby are separated for special reasons, or when the mother is unable to breastfeed due to physical reasons, it can effectively remove milk, relieve breast pain, and ensure continuous lactation until the baby returns. It is an essential tool for daily breastfeeding, when chasing milk or when the mother has something to do, and when returning to work after maternity leave.
But often, mothers can’t suck out the fluid, and even hurt their areola. This is because they’re using the wrong method and machine. The best option is the one that suits you best.
How a breast pump works – imitating baby sucking
The essence of a breast pump is to replace the baby and remove milk. The working principle of a good breast pump must imitate the baby ‘s sucking. The more similar the simulation is, the more milk can be sucked out.
Watch your baby breastfeed. The lactation process begins when the baby opens their mouth wide and sucks on the mother’s nipple. The nerve cells in the areola and nipple transmit stimulation to the hypothalamus , which secretes prolactin and prolactin . Prolactin acts on the myoepithelial cells surrounding the mammary alveoli , causing muscle contraction and squeezing the milk from the alveoli into the mammary ducts, stimulating milk ejection. This is the milk ejection reflex, also known as the milk letdown. The milk letdown is crucial for a baby’s ability to feel full. The key is to have the milk letdown.
Mouth imitation–choosing the size of the horn
First, look at the baby’s mouth connection~~The corresponding imitation accessory is the breast pump horn cover. Choose a model that is about 4mm larger than the nipple diameter. For example, if the mother’s nipple diameter is 17mm, choose the 17+4 21mm model. It is generally recommended to have several different models of covers. The left and right breasts may also be different sizes. The nipple size will also change before and after sucking. As the breastfeeding time increases, the nipple size will also change.
When the bell cup matches the nipple size
1. The nipple is centered and can move freely in the tube of the speaker cover
2. Little or no areola is pulled into the duct
3. The front of the breast moves gently and rhythmically with suction
4. The nipples are comfortable, without pain or damage, and can recover quickly after sucking milk without redness, swelling or discomfort
| Size | Diameter |
|---|---|
| S | 21 mm |
| M | 24 mm (Standard size; used by over 60% of mothers) |
| L | 27 mm |
| XL | 30 mm |
| XXL | 36 mm |
Sucking Imitation
Looking at the baby’s sucking, the mother will find that the baby’s sucking can be roughly divided into two types:
There are two types of sucking: very fast and short sucking (about twice a second) and deep and slow sucking. The first type of fast and short sucking can stimulate the mother’s milk letdown reflex (milk letdown). After the milk letdown comes, it is time to switch to deep and slow sucking to swallow a large amount of milk and drink it up.
Therefore, if a professional and easy-to-use breast pump is used, it should also be able to imitate the baby’s two sucking modes – stimulation mode and sucking mode.
Yes, a breast pump does not only rely on negative pressure to extract milk, but more importantly, it relies on stimulating the milk flow. In other words, the milk is not sucked out, but sprayed out. When spraying out, it is assisted by external force (negative pressure), and at this time the milk can be extracted quickly and effectively.
If a breast pump doesn’t have a stimulation mode, we’ll need to manually activate it. Obviously, manual breast pumps don’t have a stimulation mode. Some cheaper manual breast pumps require mothers to stimulate the milk flow themselves before pumping. Their advantage is that they lack a motor and are therefore lighter and more portable. This makes them a good choice for stay-at-home mothers with ample time and who primarily breastfeed and occasionally pump.
How to use Breast pump
After washing your hands, install the accessories according to the instructions.
After turning on the machine, you must first turn on the massage mode at a frequency of about 1-2 times per second. This is to imitate the baby’s stimulation of milk flow. The internal pressure brought by prolactin plus the external suction will successfully pump out the milk.
How long should you massage? The frequency of milk letdowns varies from person to person; some may feel a few seconds, some half a minute, and some a minute. Seize the most intense moment of milk letdown and express milk quickly and abundantly. When you feel the letdown, switch to the express mode immediately. What does a letdown feel like? Some mothers may experience milk dripping or a tingling sensation on the other side, or they may not feel anything obvious but see milk flowing out of the duckbill valve .
The best pumping frequency is once per second, mimicking a baby’s deep, slow swallowing.
Gently press down on the areola between the cup and the tube to minimize swelling. Mothers with large areolas should be especially careful not to lean forward and let the cup hang from the breast. This can cause blockage in the mammary gland and hinder milk flow.
The suction force and frequency should be adjustable, not fixed. Many electric breast pumps emphasize dual modes. Some brands are designed to switch automatically, but manually switching the mode according to the condition of the breast will have a better milking effect.
How to choose comfortable negative pressure suction ? When we adjust the gear from low to high, when we feel discomfort in the breast (note that it is not pain), we can go down one gear. At this time, the gear is the maximum negative pressure that can be tolerated .
Pumping time
The first and second milk letdowns are basically sufficient. When the milk from the duckbill valve slows down, it means that the milk letdown has passed. You need to switch to the massage mode to stimulate the milk letdown and then switch to the breast pumping mode. The two milk letdowns on both sides take about 12 minutes, and the unilateral mode can be completed within 20 minutes. Even if you are not familiar with it, the running-in period should not exceed 30 minutes.
Creating a breastfeeding environment
Find a comfortable environment and relax yourself. You can listen to music, watch baby videos, or watch TV series. In short, all ways that can relax you are fine. I personally have the experience that it is difficult to suck out milk when you are in a hurry to urinate and have an empty stomach.
How to choose a breast pump (hardware)
Taking financial ability into consideration, both unilateral and bilateral breastfeeding pumps have their own advantages. Bilateral breastfeeding pumps are relatively expensive , but they save time and are more suitable for working mothers who breastfeed.
First, the hardware should have a silicone sealant to prevent backflow or moisture evaporation into the pump, which can lead to mold growth. This contaminates the milk and damages the motor.
Second, the accessories should be easy to clean, avoiding winding paths and trapping dust and dirt. Some mothers who are too meticulous about cleanliness often sterilize the pump at high temperatures, which can cause the accessories to deform and weaken the suction.
Third, multiple speaker cover models are available
Fourth, the suction force and frequency are adjustable. It is best not to choose 2 mobile phones, as the motor power will be different and there will be pollution effects.
Breast Pump Misconceptions
1 Isn’t the greater the suction, the better?
Some mothers think that stronger suction means more milk can be extracted. This actually carries a great risk. Don’t compare it with a vacuum cleaner.
Excessive suction can cause nipple edema or even damage. Even if milk flow is good at first, prolonged use can worsen the damage to the nipple and lead to milk flow becoming choppy. Repeated nipple damage can also increase the risk of mastitis . To choose the maximum comfortable vacuum, increase the pressure from the lowest setting. When you feel discomfort in your breasts, go back one setting to the maximum comfortable vacuum.
2. Does the amount of milk I express reflect my milk production? Or does not expressing milk mean I have no milk?
No, how much milk can the baby actually take out of the breast? Usually the baby can take up 67% of the breast milk, which means that the mother’s breast milk is more than the baby actually takes. So the same principle applies to the breast pump. We use the breast pump to suck out the milk on behalf of the baby. It is enough to suck out about 67%. There is no need to pursue complete emptying. It depends on the running-in of the breast and the machine.
As for the inability to suck out milk, you should consider whether the machine and accessories you choose are suitable for you, and whether the method of use is effective.
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