Today, let's take a look at the problem of "breast pump".
before buying
1. Is it necessary to use the breast pump?
of course, the answer is yes. (From the perspective of liberating women)
Because you can't be with your baby all the time, having a breast pump will make your time more leisurely and flexible.
2. When do you need to use a breast pump?
Generally speaking, when the baby can't suck the breast or can't suck it effectively (including premature infants, low birth weight and inability to suck); When a mother is separated from her baby because of work, business trip or travel; Relieve breast distension; A mother who regularly suckles; Mothers who don't like or can't milk by hand need to use breast pumps.
3. In these cases, never use a breast pump to open or lower the milk.
In the first few days, ensure the effective sucking times and time of the newborn. The baby's sucking is the best stimulation, so try not to use a breast pump at this time. When the breast is painful
When the breast is painful and uncomfortable, the breast tube is actually highly filled. At this time, it is easy to damage the breast tissue by using the breast pump. You should squeeze out some milk by hand first, and then use the breast pump. When there is a lump in the breast,
the breast pump can't intelligently distinguish where there is a lump, which may only make the situation worse. By adjusting different feeding postures, the intelligent baby can help to dredge and relieve (just aim the baby's chin at the hard part). When the nipple is broken
If the mother's nipple has a broken wound, the pulling of the breast pump will make the wound worse.
4. Manual or electric? Unilateral or bilateral?
From a broad perspective, breast pumps can be divided into manual and electric, unilateral and bilateral (there should be no bilateral manual operation, so why bother to embarrass yourself … )
If you only need to use it occasionally, it is enough to buy a manual breast pump. There is no need to buy an electric one, after all, it is several times more expensive. Like the picture below ▼
But if you need to carry milk every day and use it several times a day, it is absolutely recommended that you buy an electric one. Manual breast pump, milking in one position for a long time can easily cause wrist pain.
of course, since I bought an electric car, I will definitely push it bilaterally. Bilateral breast pumps allow you to milk from both sides at the same time, which is suitable for mothers who often need milking.
I bought a manual breast pump when I gave birth to my brother before, and I thought it was good at that time, but after giving birth to my brother, I upgraded and bought a bilateral electric pump, which improved the efficiency a little bit! You can also fly your hands and brush your mobile phone while milking.
5. How to choose a suitable breast pump?
I have determined the type of breast pump, and the next step is how to choose a suitable breast pump.
Apart from the difference of pumps (manual or electric), many mothers may not know that the size of the horn cover is also particular!
A proper trumpet cover can avoid the oppression and abrasion to the mammary gland, and help to obtain the maximum milk quantity when sucking milk.
If the horn cover is too large, it will suck in part of the areola when sucking milk, which will cause breast wear; Too small will easily damage the nipple and cause damage.
The suitable trumpet cover should be that the nipple is right in the middle of the trumpet when sucking milk, and it can stretch freely without rubbing the nipple and feeling pain.
Generally, the specific number of millimeters will be marked on the horn cover. You can choose breast pump brands that can provide different horn cover sizes, so it is convenient to choose the size that suits you.
if you are not sure what size you want to use, buy more sizes to try on. Especially for mothers who need to use breast pumps frequently or need to chase milk, it is very important to find the most suitable one.
6. What else should I pay attention to when buying a breast pump?
in addition to the above-mentioned aspects, a suitable breast pump should be convenient to buy vulnerable accessories, including milk bottles, anti-overflow valves/diaphragms, connectors, catheters, horn covers, etc., otherwise it can't be used after being worn out.
other aspects include whether it is easy to clean, whether it is convenient to disassemble and assemble, whether there are multiple gears to adjust, whether there are multiple driving modes (dry battery, power supply, mobile USB, etc.) if it is electric, whether there are two modes of stimulating the milk array and sucking milk, etc. Choose according to your own functions and budget range, which may be extra points! (The key depends on how much money you (husband) plan to pay.)
Of course, you can also buy a second-hand host of a breast pump from other mothers and then buy accessories again.
When in use
7. How often does the breast pump suck? How long does it take each time?
If the mother and baby are separated in the second month, it is necessary to simulate the feeding rules of newborns at least 8 times a day to maintain adequate milk secretion and suck milk every 2-3 hours.
if it is after the second month, you can take it once every 3-4 hours, depending on the situation of the baby and mother.
Usually, one side sucks milk for 1-15 minutes, and both sides can do it at the same time.
however, it is not recommended to spend more than 2 minutes on one side, and absolutely not more than half an hour, otherwise it will do harm to the breasts and mammary glands.
8. Is the breast pump as strong as possible?
Some mothers mistakenly think that the stronger the breast pump, the better.
Before, my mother told me that the manual breast pump is definitely better than the electric one, because the manual force is much stronger, and I don't feel anything when I use the electric one. When I am weak, I will suck less milk.
Actually, a breast pump is not a vacuum cleaner, and the greater the strength, the cleaner it is.
Breast-feeding should be something to enjoy. What we need is gentleness and efficiency, not the stronger the better.
generally speaking, we suggest to adjust the strength of the breast pump slowly, and then move back one gear when you feel a little pain, so as to ensure that the suction is just the most comfortable you can bear and suck milk to the maximum extent. (Every mother has different acceptable range, so she needs to experience it by herself)
9. The longer she sucks, the more milk she has?
We also said before that a single use of the breast pump for a long time will do harm to the breast. In order to increase the milk quantity, the frequency of breast pumping is more important than the duration of breast pumping.
If mom wants to maintain milk quantity after work, it is generally recommended to suck it once every 3 hours for 1-15 minutes each time to ensure sufficient stimulation frequency. If a pro-fed baby wants to chase after milk, he can milk for another 5 minutes on both sides after each feeding and stick to it for two to three days, and feed as usual at other times.
never hang the breast pump on your body! ! (Just like not hanging a baby on your body! ! ! )
1. How to use the breast pump correctly?
For most mothers, relaxing and gently massaging their breasts is a good start.
wash your hands, choose a horn cover of appropriate size, and put your nipple in the center of the horn cover, starting from the lowest gear.
If the breast pump can't or doesn't have the mode of stimulating the breast array, you can try to stimulate the breast array by hand first, and then adjust it to the appropriate gear to suck milk.
gradually increase the gear speed until you feel comfortable. Do not use it for more than 2 minutes at a time, so as not to cause excessive pulling and irritation to nipples and areola.
11. What tips can improve milking efficiency?
Find a private space, because nervousness will hinder the milk ejection reflex and reduce the amount of milk;
relax and drink a glass of warm water to get ready for milking;
Wash your hands and gently massage your breasts to relax them;
Find a cute photo of the baby, or watch his cute video and listen to music, which will help to spray milk.
Use the breast pump only when the breast is clear. If the breast has risen like a stone, you can squeeze it out by hand or apply cold compress to reduce the swelling, and then use the breast pump.
When using the breast pump, you can push the milk at the breast root from the back to the front by hand, which can help the breast pump to remove the milk more effectively;
After using the breast pump, you can squeeze out the milk that has not been completely removed by hand.
12. The breast pump can't suck out. Is there not enough milk?
We have always said that the amount of milk sucked by the pro-feeding baby is definitely greater than the amount of milk sucked out by you. Never use the amount of milk sucked out to estimate your productivity, which will dampen your confidence in chasing milk. (scare yourself! )
After all, the breast pump simulates the baby's sucking, which can't be completely replaced, nor can it dynamically adjust the suction and position. Moreover, it is also related to the mother's use method, whether she can effectively stimulate the breast array, whether she has chosen a suitable breast pump, whether she has used the breast pump correctly and other factors.
If you use it blindly and be pessimistic blindly, you may really suck less and less milk ...
13. Do you want to continue pumping for a while if you can't suck it out?
This question can be answered by questions 7 and 9. There is no direct relationship between the duration of breast pump use and milk quantity.
Therefore, if the mother is chasing milk, the interval of sucking milk can be shortened appropriately, at least once every 3 hours.
at the same time, pay attention to your diet, mood, rest and other aspects (3L water every day! ）。
Please pay attention to WeChat official account vegetable mom and caimaqianba when chasing milk. Please reply to the menu bar to see more contents ~
After use
14. How to disinfect the breast pump?
According to the standard steps: ▼
As soon as the breast pump is used, every part that comes into contact with the milk should be disassembled, soaked in cold water, and washed with running water in time;
Then wash each component separately with detergent and sufficient warm water;
rinse and soak each part with hot water for 1-15 seconds;
the cleaned parts can be put on a clean paper towel or a special drying rack to air dry naturally. If there is not enough time, dry it with a clean paper towel, but don't use a cloth towel (there may be bacteria and microorganisms on the cloth towel).
But actually, for a mother who needs to use the breast pump 123,456 times a day, it is estimated that each operation will take longer than sucking and feeding itself (darkness)
Therefore, it is more practical to do this: after each use of the breast pump, disassemble the part that comes into contact with the milk in time, rinse it with running water immediately, scald it with boiling water again, naturally dry it, and wait for the next use. After a tiring day, you can clean it again according to the first paragraph. (Clean it thoroughly every 24 hours! )
15. How to store the extruded breast milk?
If breast milk is not given to the baby immediately after being squeezed out, it should be stored in the refrigerator and eaten within 24 hours as far as possible. If you intend to squeeze it out for later consumption, you should put it in the refrigerator as soon as possible. (Breast milk stored in the freezer should not be put into the freezer for transfer.)