Breast Pumping Tips
Here are five great breast pumping tips to help make you an expert.
- Nipple position
The flange should be large enough for your nipple. The nipples should not rub top, bottom or sides of the flange. - Comfort is key
Keep the suction setting comfortable. Too much and you won't get any milk as you will be too tense. You don't want to be cringing while pumping. - How to double-pump with only one hand
Here's a great tip to free one of your hands. Put flange #1 in place on the breast. Using the arm by that breast, hold the flange with the forearm right by the elbow. Now you can place flange #2 on the second breast and use the hand of the arm holding #1 in place to hold #2 in place. Voila. Now you have a hand available to do whatever (like talking on the phone, holding a book, etc.). - A good time to pump?
If you can do it in the morning that seems to be the best. But really it depends on your body. Some get good milk expression late in the day. Avoid pumping immediately before nurse feeding your baby. Give yourself a good hour afterward to let your milk supply replenish. - Drain the breast
When you pump all the milk out of your breast, this will tell your body to make more and make it fast. Experts have a fancy name for the chemistry involved in this: Feedback Inhibitor of Lactation or FIL. The more FIL you have, the less fill (of milk) you'll get.
Armed with these tips you will be for effective using your breast pump, like the Ameda Purely Yours.
