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When opting to breastfeed, a breast pump can be an invaluable tool for helping mothers express their milk. Breast pumps help ensure that your baby still gets the benefits of your milk even when breastfeeding isn't possible. Here are some tips to get the most out of expressing with a breast pump:
1. Start Early – To get the most out of breastfeeding, it is important to start breastfeeding as soon as possible after your baby’s birth. Doing so will help stimulate the production of breastmilk and provide the best nutrition for your baby.
2. Find the Right Breast Pump – Different pumps work better with different mothers, so do a bit of research to figure out which pump will work best for you. There are manual, electric and double pumps that can make expressing your milk faster and more efficient.
3. Use the Right Accessories – To ensure successful breastfeeding, use the right accessories with your breast pump. Ensure that you have the right size flanges, enough bottles and other essential parts to make expressing easier. Items like our pump and store attachment and breast milk storage bags help remove steps in the process to help keep every drop of your milk safe and a breast pump bra allows you to be hands free when pumping to help you do little tasks if required (although we recommend trying to relax while pumping!).
4. Consider a Milkbar – Many breastfeeding mothers find that a Milkbar Breast Pump is an invaluable tool when expressing milk. A Milkbar helps you express more breast milk faster by mimicking a babies suckling technique, making it easier to express and without any discomfort.
5. Store Breast Milk Safely – Once you have expressed your milk, be sure to store it safely and correctly. To ensure that your baby receives the best nutrients, be sure to label your storage bags or containers with the date and time of expressing and how many millilitres so you know how much to defrost when it comes time to use it. Our Breast Milk Storage Guide Magnets come free with our breast pumps and are a handy guide to pop on the fridge!
💜 Be Patient: Try to pump for 15 minutes each breast. Don't worry if you don't collect much milk at first - regular pumping sessions will help to increase your supply.
💙 Find Your Best Time: Many mums find that they are able to express more milk in the morning. But remember, each body is unique, so experiment and find the time that works best for you (source: Breastmilk Counts).
💛 Relax and Get Comfortable: Lightly massage your breasts before pumping and lean forward. Reading something light or listening to soothing music or sounds of your baby nursing can also help (Kansas Breastfeeding).
🧡 Proper Storage is Key: Breastmilk is OK for up to 4 hours after pumping at room temperature. Refrigerate or freeze it for longer storage (Women's Health Gov).
Finding a routine that works for you and your baby will be key to successfully building a freezer stash, exclusive pumping or building your supply. Frequent and effective draining of the breast is what will assist your production of breast milk. Click these links for tips on how to increase supply, exclusive pumping, and returning to work! We also love Lactation Cookies alongside a pumping routine to help build supply, our faves are these ones - The Good Batch - Lactation Cookies
By following these tips, breastfeeding mothers can get the most out of expressing their milk using a breast pump. With a bit of research and help, giving breastmilk when feeding at the breast is not possible, or increasing supply can be made easier and more efficient with the aid of a breast pump. Happy breastfeeding! :)
Note: For additional help on breastfeeding or expressing milk, please visit our website or contact us directly for assistance. We're always here to help!
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