The Process of Pumping

• Getting Started

  We strongly recommend you take your breast pump out of the box before you plan to use it – Read the instructions; assemble it and wash the parts according to the manufacturer’s recommendations; hold the breast shields against your breasts so you know what they feel like. Become familiar with it before you need it -- if possible, even before you give birth.
  
  Think of where you will be breast pumping, both at home and at work (if you plan on pumping at work.) Find the most comfortable, relaxing location in both places.
  
  Remember, the breast pump is a machine – it will feel different than your nursing baby. Again, be gentle with yourself and don’t expect to pump a large amount the first few times. It may take six to ten times for you to truly relax so your milk will let down (start flowing.) It can be normal for some women to only pump a very small amount (even a teaspoon or two) at times. But know that the milk will start flowing. Breasts let down multiple times during breastfeeding. So, if you feel your milk start to flow, enjoy it, appreciate it, and keep breast pumping.
  
  A quick reminder again to drink lots of fluids like water, juice, and decaffeinated teas. Limit your caffeine intake (coffee, tea, cola) to two or three drinks a day. Be aware that caffeine does cross into the milk supply.

• Getting the Most Milk from Your Breasts

  Some moms find that they are able to express (pump) more milk in the mornings than in the evenings. Before beginning your pumping session, gently massage your breasts using a gentle but firm circular motion. Start at the top of the breast near your ribcage and work down toward your areola. When your baby nurses, your body responds to the skin-to-skin contact. Massaging your breasts mimics the skin-to-skin contact. In addition, it helps the milk to be released from the alveolies which then allows the milk to travel down into the ducts and out through the nipple.
  
  You can also massage your breasts gently during a pumping session, being careful not to break the suction. It is easier to massage your breasts if you are using an Original Pumpin’ Pal™ Hands-Free Accessory which allows you to have the use of your hands during your pumping session.

• Shimmee

  Let gravity help if your milk isn’t letting down after a few minutes. Try turning off your pump, taking it off for a minute and doing a “shimmee.” To do a shimmee, lean forward so that your breasts are hanging down. Quickly (but not so quickly that you lose your balance) alternate moving one shoulder down toward the ground and then the other so that your breasts “shake” a little. It feels awkward but it works for many women. This movement uses gravity to help the milk let down and begin to flow.




• Begin Breast Pumping

  When you are ready to begin breast pumping, take a deep breath and drop your shoulders. Start your pump on low vacuum (suction) and low speed (cycles), if your pump allows you to control either/both of these. Gradually increase the vacuum and speed. Trust your body – if it is uncomfortable, turn it down. With that said, take advantage of the breast pump’s capability to pump efficiently. Once you are familiar with the feel of your breast pump, try turning the cycles (speed) up to the highest setting and adjusting the vacuum (suction) to the highest level that you can comfortably tolerate. But remember, turn the suction down if you feel any pain. The quicker it cycles and the stronger the vacuum, the more the milk is drawn out of the breasts. A quick reminder: as the breast milk is removed, your body responds by making more (“demand-and-supply”.)
  
  Once your milk starts to let down, you can vary the cycle speed – mimicking the way your baby nurses. . . sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. But again, keep both speed and vacuum at levels which are comfortable and pain-free.
  
  Think about your baby. Look at pictures of your baby. Smell some baby lotion or anything else that will trigger your body to respond. Sometimes it takes six to ten pumping sessions for your body to truly learn to relax and let down. If you only get a couple teaspoons of milk during a 20 minute pumping session, don’t be discouraged. And DON’T GIVE UP!
  
  If your milk still is not letting down after a few minutes, try turning off your pump, taking it off and doing another shimmee before starting to pump again.

• Next...

Breast pumps are available for purchase through local nursing/baby stores, pharmacies, hospital gift shops, some lactation consultants, as well as on-line.