The benefits of breastfeeding have been well proven, and most doctors and other health care professionals encourage mothers to breastfeed their new babies for as long as possible. The most difficult part of breastfeeding past the first few weeks of baby's life is the logistical challenge it presents. Unless a breastfeeding mom plans on being with her baby every minute of every hour, there will come a time when a breast pump becomes necessary. A pump like the Mini Electric from Medela is intended for moms who occasionally need to pump a bottle for their babies.
Assembly
The Mini Electric pump has several parts including the motor, breast shield, plug, valve and a stand for holding the bottle. First, screw the breast shield into the motor. Next, the valve with plug attached should be positioned at the bottom of the breast shield so that it sits in the bottle neck when the bottle is screwed onto the breast shield. Once the parts are placed in the correct order, the pump can be used with batteries or with a wall plug.
Using the Pump
Each woman requires a different level suction for comfort and effectiveness. If it is your first time using a breast pump, try it on the lowest suction level first just to get used to the feeling. Many women find this setting to be too low to get milk production to begin. As you begin to feel comfortable, slowly raise the suction level until you can feel a pull, but not pain. You may feel a warm sensation as the milk lets down, just as with directly feeding the baby. Once you find a setting that allows letdown, keep note of the strength level and keep it set there. Increasing suction will not make the milk come any faster and could make the process painful. Most women will produce a single feeding bottle in as much time as it takes to feed the baby. Some may find that they under- or overproduce when using a pump. In the case of underproduction, try increasing the amount of time you pump per day. If you find you are making too much milk, consider yourself lucky and keep in mind that the milk can be frozen for use at another time. Check with your lactation consultant for tips on the best way to freeze milk. Once a bottle has been filled, turn the motor off and carefully extract the breast from the shield. Usually, it will release comfortably. Occasionally, the breast may be suctioned into the shield and a finger can be inserted to break the seal and prevent injury to the breast.
Cleaning the Pump
After use, the pump needs to be cleaned properly to prevent contamination of future milk. The breast shield, valve, plug and bottle should all be cleaned. These parts are all dishwasher safe and fit nicely inside a sterilizer. At the very least, they need to be cleaned with warm soapy water and allowed to air dry.
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