How To Use A Breast Pump

Just like breast feeding, pumping is a skill that you
learn.  When first trying a breast pump, most mothers
are only able to express a few drops of milk.  With
the proper practice and knowledge, the mother will
be more efficient at pumping.

Preparing the breast pump
    1.  Read all the instructions in the kit
very carefully.
    2.  Every part of the breast pump will need
to be sterilized before you begin using it.
    3.  After use, all the parts of the pump will
need to be washed in warm, soapy water, then rinsed
with hot water and drained on a clean towel.  The
plastic tubing doesn't need to be cleaned unless
you get milk into it.  If you do wash it, it should
be hung to allow time to dry and drain thoroughly.
    4.  If your doctor feels the need, the
entire kit can be sterilized every day.
    5.  When you first start with an electric
pump, the suction level should be on the lowest
possible setting. 

Getting started
    -  Warm compresses, gentle massages of the
breast and gentle nipple stimulation will help to
stimulate a quick let down.
    -  You should always relax while doing
breast massages during pumping.  Some mothers prefer
to close their eyes then think about nursing the
baby, imagining the baby in their arms. The more
relaxed a mother is, the better let down she'll
have and the more milk will be dispensed.
    -  Your first attempts at pumping should be
considered practice sessions with learning to use
the breast pump as the goal, not how much milk is
actually dispensed. 
    -  When you use a hand pump, quick, short
pumps at the start is stimulating and will imitate
more closely the way a baby breast feeds.  Once
the let down occurs and milk starts to flow freely,
long, steadier strokes are more effective and
less tiring.
    -   When you learn to pump, you should
practice for 5 minutes on a side at least once or
twice a day.  Always pick the least stressful part
of your day for pumping. 

Relaxing and realizing that the pump is your
friend is the single most important thing that a
mother can do.  There are several things that a
mother can do to help herself relax, such as
putting a picture of the baby on the pump, playing
cards or a game with friends, watching television,
read books, or talk on the phone.  Simply watching
the collection bottle is not helpful and will
probably put more stress on you than you actually
need.

Getting Started With Breast Feeding

When you hold your baby for the first time in the
delivery room, you should put his lips to your
breast.  Although your mature milk hasn't developed
yet, your breasts are still producing a substance
known as colostrum that helps to protect your baby
from infections.

If your baby has trouble finding or staying on
your nipple, you shouldn't panic.  Breast feeding is
an art that will require a lot of patience and a
lot of practice.  No one expects you to be an
expert when you first start, so you shouldn't
hesitate to ask for advice or have a nurse show you
what you need to do.

Once you start, keep in mind that nursing shouldn't
be painful.  When your baby latches on, pay attention
to how your breasts feel.  If the latching on
hurts, break the suction then try again.

You should nurse quite frequently, as the more
you nurse the more quickly your mature milk will
come in and the more milk you'll produce.  Breast
feeding for 10 - 15 minutes per breast 8 - 10 times
every 24 hours is an ideal target.  Crying is a
sign of hunger, which means you should actually
feed your baby before he starts crying.

During the first few days, you may have to wake
your baby to begin breast feeding, and he may end
up falling asleep during feeding.  To ensure that
your baby is eating often enough, you should wake
him up if it has been four hours since the last
time he has been fed.

Getting comfortable
Feedings can take 40 minutes or longer, therefore
you'll want a cozy spot.  You don't want to be
sitting somewhere where you will be bothered, as it
can make the process very hard.