Breastfeeding Guide: How to Use Breast Pumps?

Breast milk has many benefits for your baby, so breastfeeding will be recommended by many authorities. However, we understand that not every mom can feed on demand and be with their baby 24 hours a day. If you want to continue to provide your baby with breastmilk, a breast pump is an effective way to establish and maintain a good milk supply. Before using the pumps, here are some tips you should know.

 

When Should I Pump?

There are no special rules about when to pump. While it’s likely you’re producing the most milk early in the morning, you should really schedule your pumping sessions based on when you feed your baby. Some women feel they have more milk in the morning, while other moms feel they have a fuller supply in the afternoon or night. Everyone’s milk supply is different and you can get your best results based on your own routine.

When you decide to start pumping on a regular basis, it is best if you have your pump set up and clean all of the time.

How to use Breast Pumps?

1. Do a little homework. Read up on the basics of breast pumping, and be sure to review your breast pump instructions. (If you use Chefhandy Breast pumps, please read the instructions carefully before using. Click here know Chefhandy breast pumps instruction.)
2. Keep a good mood, and find a quiet, comfortable place to sit.
3. Bring a drink and a snack to replenish the energy you lose while breastfeeding.
4. Plug in your pump or make sure it has working batteries.
5. Wash your hands with soap and water.
6. Assemble the pump kit.
7. Center the flanges over your breast(s) and center the nipple in the flange opening, making an air seal. It is important to fit Flange!
If you’re double pumping, cup each flange to the breast with fingers below the flange and thumb on the top. When adjusting your dials, switch to using one arm across both breasts, keeping an airtight seal.
8. Turn your pump on.

Similar to a baby nursing at the breast, start out with high speed and low suction until you see milk flow (let-down), then adjust speed to medium and increase suction based on comfort level.
Once milk flow decreases, increase speed to high until the next let-down, then decrease to medium speed.

 

How often should I pump and for how long?

The majority of new mothers get the most milk early in the day. Plan to pump at least 8-10 times in a 24-hour period (if exclusively pumping) You can pump in-between, or immediately after, breastfeeding.

How Long You Should Pump Depends on Why You’re Pumping.
Below I’ll go through how long you should pump in each of the following scenarios – exclusively pumping, pumping to build a freezer stash, pumping to increase milk supply, and pumping at work.

When you’re exclusively pumping, you plan to pump for a total of 120 minutes per day (as a minimum guideline).

Therefore, how long each session should be depends on how many sessions you have in a 24-hour period.

When you have a newborn baby, you might be pumping eight times per day, in which case you’d want each session to be at least 15 minutes. (120 minutes / 8 sessions = 15 minutes per session)

Also, In most cases, the more times each day you pump, the more milk you make. The reverse is true, too. Pumping fewer times will produce less milk.

Some mothers say the milk never stops flowing while they pump. Typically, you should not pump longer than 30 minutes, even if the milk is still flowing.