When to use a breast pump

When the mother for some circumstance need to express milk from your breasts During breastfeeding, you have the option of using a breast pump. If there are doubts about when and how to use a breast pump, here we clarify all the doubts for its correct operation.

There are various reasons that can lead a person to use this simple and versatile device. These devices have their safety, since they have been equipped and regulated with the help of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

When to use a breast pump?

It can be used from the beginning of breastfeeding and even when the baby has just been born and needs its food. The mother can generate a lot of milk, causing engorgement of the breasts and need to express that milk and want to save it. On the other hand, it can be too premature baby and his sucking instinct is not yet mature to be able to feed through the breast. The breast pump will extract the milk it needs to be able to administer it through a bottle.

Once the milk is expressed, it can be stored in a small freezer bag or in a container that can be put in the refrigerator. In this way it will be on hand for when the baby is needed or demanded. Do not forget that the more the breasts are emptied, the more milk will be produced in the breasts.

Circumstances in which a breast pump is used

There are several reasons that can lead to the use of a breast pump. You do not have to use it out of obligation, but it is totally functional for many circumstances that can be contemplated and where it is necessary. The use of the breast pump is very practical for essential cases, where it will be suctioned and then administered with the help of a bottle.

• When a baby is premature or has some kind of deformation on the palate. The fact that the little one was born prematurely may not strong enough to express breast milk or do not know how to do it. In the same way we can come across babies who have been born with a deformed palate or a malformation in the frenulum, that is why it does not have sufficient mechanisms to be able to suck the milk.
• Inverted or elongated nipples. This is another problem when mothers want to give their own milk and cannot because of their nipples with physical problems. With the breast pump you can solve this problem.
• Excess milk. This setback does not usually happen, but there are mothers who for some reason have that excess breast milk. If you think that the child does not get to empty the breasts during the feeding, you can always extract a little before taking. Don't worry because the best milk is at the end of each feeding. Or if you prefer, you can empty one of the breasts that have not been touched, or both, so that no pain or the dreaded mastitis. Later this milk can be stored.

• Incorporation into the world of work. When the mother has to go back to work and wants to continue feeding her baby, the breast pump is a good option to give the baby her milk when she is away.
• Taking medications. When the mother has to take some medicine at a specific time and you do not want it to interfere with the time and take of the baby. In this way you can give your drink at that time, with the milk that we have saved and extracted with the device.

How to use a breast pump

Before proceeding with the extraction we must have clean hands. In the case of the breasts or nipples, they are probably already clean, but in the event that some type of cream has been used or if you have sweated excessively, it will be necessary to wash them with a little water and air dry or patted with a towel.

There are two types of breast pumps, electric and manual. Either use a breast pump cup for extraction. We will attach the cup by its shape on the chest and we will use the lever manually or activate the electric breast pump.

All the milk that is expressed can be store in a container or individual bags to be able to freeze. It should not be forgotten that before giving the baby the bottle with the expressed milk, it must be heated in a bottle warmer or water bath. After using the breast pump, the parts must be cleaned and sterilized.