How to Use a Breastfeeding Pump

A breastfeeding pump is designed to help nursing mothers produce more breast milk and store that milk when the baby is away from the mother. Using a breastfeeding pump is not difficult for most women. A pump can help you feed your baby breast milk even after you have returned to work or if you must be away from your baby for a prolonged period.

Instructions

1

Make sure all working parts are in order. Breastfeeding pumps are either hand operated or electric pumps. Both types of pumps will have a mechanism to control the speed of the pump, a base for a container or a bottle and mechanism that fits over both breasts or a single breast. The speed mechanism is often adjustable. The base should be clean. Any bottles you use should also be as clean as possible. If you see any dirt, dip a cloth in hot water and wash thoroughly. Some breast pumps can be placed in the dishwasher. Read the instructions carefully to determine if your model is dishwasher safe.

2

Place a bottle or other container on the base of the pump. Some breastfeeding pumps have specially made bottles that you must use. Other models allow you to fit any bottle you want in the empty space.

3

Lift up your top and open your bra. You may want to buy specially designed nursing bras. A nursing bra allows you to lift the flap of the front of bra without having to remove the entire bra.

4

Place the mechanism over your entire nipple and turn it on. You should hear a sound indicating that the mechanism is working. You should start to see milk flowing down into the container. Many electric breast pumps will let you control the speed of the pumping. If your breasts are sore from prior breast feeding, start the mechanism very slowly to avoid adding to the soreness.

5

Let the breast pump continue to work as the container fills. When you feel you have enough milk in one breast, stop the mechanism, pull it away slowly, wipe it off with a cloth dipped in hot water and attach it to the other breast if desired. Some models have two collection cups that let you pump from both breasts at the same time. This function can be quite useful if you have limited pumping time.

6

Wash the collection mechanism in hot water before using it again. You can store bottles full of breast milk in the refrigerator.