- The breast pump in a nutshell
- Pumping milk: an act of love and conviction
- Small equipment for beginner breast pumps
- The secrets to expressing milk more easily
- 4 mom's tips for a successful breast pump!
Breast pumping is a funny word. Yet more and more young mothers are choosing this way of feeding their babies, sometimes right from birth. Breast pumping makes it possible to reconcile a working life with the desire to continue breastfeeding, to feed your child with your own milk. As an alternative or complement to breastfeeding, but also as a by-product ofmixed breastfeedingthe breast pump opens up the possibility for all those who can't or don't want to put their baby to the breast, to use their breast milk anyway.
The breast pump in a nutshell
As you'll have guessed - the breast pump is aptly named - the idea is to pump your milk every day and feed it to baby at every meal, using a bottle.
Why would you do this? Because breastfeeding has not been possible, because you find this method practical and flexible, because it suits your lifestyle... and for many other reasons.
Pumping milk: an act of love and conviction
Why choose to express milk? The answer is entirely up to you. But we've tried to put together a (non-exhaustive) list of reasons why you might want to think about, consider and choose breast pumping.
- The back to work is approaching and you want to continue giving your baby your milk for a few more months, even when you're away.
- A sucking problem, baby doesn't want to suck, a physiological problem (umbilical nipples, pain, cracks...) or a health problem (lack of milk, tiredness...) prevents you or your baby from breastfeeding.
- You want to involve your spouse or partner in the unique moment of breastfeeding your child.
- Expressing your own milk can provide relief in the event of engorgement, when baby can't drink all your milk, or when you're at work .
- On the contrary, in the event of a drop in lactation, using the breast pump regularly can boost production and increase the volume expressed.
- As long as you're breastfeeding, you delay the return from childbirth and the reappearance of menstruation.
- To give your milk without breast-feeding, because you don't like it, because it makes you uncomfortable or because your first breast-feeding was complicated: whatever the case, and this is important, because it's your choice
- Breast pump lets you know how much milk to give at each feed
Small equipment for beginner breast pumps
A breast pump that's gentle on your breasts
As anyone who has ever pumped milk knows, the machine is not always the most pleasant to use, even if some models are more comfortable than others.
The best way to choose your breast pump is to start by renting it. Many companies offer weekly rentals, allowing you to change quickly if your equipment is unsuitable. Once you've found the right model, you can always decide to buy.
Another point to consider: electric or manual breast pump? Single or double pump? Here again, it's a question of need and feeling. But if you choose to pump 100% of the time, consider that the double electric pump will be faster and more efficient. Particularly as pumping milk is, at least initially, rather time-consuming.
You can rent a breast pump at a chemist's for 100% reimbursement, with a prescription from your doctor or midwife. All you need to buy are the accessories (nipple shields and storage bottles), which may be covered by your health insurance.
If you plan to use it at home or at work, opt for a more portable model that can be slipped into a practical, space-saving bag with all its accessories.
Feeding bottles!
Breastfeeding is a gentle and beautiful gesture. To recreate this magic through the breast pump, Élhée imagined the bibRond.
A creation born of a mother's love of birth and design, this unexpected blend reveals the first round, soft feeding bottle, beautiful and pleasant in both your hand and your child's, with its distinctive shape so reminiscent of breastfeeding perfection. We designed it for just this reason: to enable all parents to feel, share and retain the delicate, pure sensations of breastfeeding, even through a bibRond. 150, 240 or 330 ml - the choice is yours!
Containers for storing pumped milk
For storage, you'll need small freezer jars - or suitable storage bags - and storage bottles to put in the fridge. If you have more than one breast pump, these may be the ones you use with your breast pump. The Élhée bibRONDS come with a small lid that allows you to seal the bibROND and use it as a container by removing the nipple, so all you have to do is pour the milk into your bibROND, close it hermetically and place it in the fridge.
When multi-feeding, avoid pouring newly expressed, still-warm milk into a storage bottle already opened earlier in the day. Let it cool before adding it.
Is it possible to use an exclusive breast pump?
Assuming that you and baby are on the same wavelength, breast pumping can be exclusive. You just need to equip yourself a little so that breast pumping is efficient, comfortable and as pleasant as possible.
Did you know? Expressing milk by hand is an alternative. If you can't find a suitable breast pump, if pumping hurts or if you don't like the object itself, try expressing your milk yourself. Start by massaging nipples and areolas between thumb and forefinger, then place your hand on the breast. Press gently towards the chest, squeeze and release. It's worth a try!
The secrets to expressing milk more easily
It's no myth that expressing milk can be unpleasant and even painful at first. Changing not only your breast pump, but also your nipple shields can make your breastfeeding sessions a little more comfortable. You should also consider investing in a suitable bra or bustier. By holding the nipples in place, they leave your hands free. But if you want to save time, a little organization is essential, especially in the first weeks of lactation:
- For maximum milk yield, opt for a double-pump breast pump
- Pump your milk regularly: Catherine Watson's power-pumping method suggests 10 pumpings a day for 5 to 10 minutes, with at least 45 minutes' break between each, while the Lact&Sens method recommends 3 one-hour pumpings a day, with 20 minutes of pumping followed by 10 minutes of break and 10 minutes of pumping.
- Stimulate your lactation! Breastfeeding herbal teas and certain foods are particularly helpful: fennel, basil, cumin and verbena, as well as apples, quinces, cashews and almonds, with plenty of mineral water.
- Take your time: at the outset, you'll be devoting several hours each day and night to pumping your milk, so you might as well take all the time you need to be relaxed and comfortable (especially if you're at home, as it's more complicated at work), and keep in mind the reasons that motivate you.
- Ask for advice: the LecheLeague is the association specializing in breastfeeding, but other moms, your mom, can also help and support you. There are also groups for breastfeeding pumpers on social networks.
Massage your breasts! Whether it's for your own well-being, to tone their fine skin or to stimulate lactation, massaging your breasts is a source of benefits you wouldn't want to do without. Before inserting the breast pump, gently palpate the areolas to soften them. This gesture can also help relieve engorgement.
Store breast milk properly between feeds
When it comes to storing breast milk, you need to take a few precautions. Simply put, it keeps for 4 hours at room temperature and 4 months in the freezer. In the fridge, it can be kept for a maximum of two days above 4 degrees Celsius.
To facilitate logistics, think of small labels to stick on the container to record the date and time of each volume collected. Finally, to reheat expressed milk, use bottle warmers and bottle compatible with all our Élhée models.!
Note: place frozen milk in the fridge at least 6 hours before feeding to give it time to return to its original state.
Donating breast milk: a tender gesture that is still little-known
In France, there are some twenty lactariums able to collect breast milk from anonymous donations. Still relatively marginal, this donation nevertheless provides essential help in feeding and sometimes saving very premature babies whose mothers are unable to breastfeed. In 2018, nearly 45,000 liters of milk were collected.
If you have already breastfed or are breastfeeding, you can donate your excess milk, or reserve a few millilitres of each batch for other babies. After a few medical tests, you can donate at home, quietly and at your own pace.
4 mom's tips for a successful breast pump!
- Find your own routine, pumping when you feel like it, when you feel like it, when you're in the right mood... in short, no pressure! If possible, why not use a mobile breast pump that you can take with you to pump your milk from your workplace. In France, young mothers are entitled to one hour a day for this purpose.
- Get rid of stress and find the best way to relax: a TV series or a book can do wonders to keep your mind occupied enough to make the milk flow more easily.
- Stimulate your emotions by practicing skin-to-skin contact with baby just beforehand, by breathing in pajamas or a cuddly toy, or why not, by watching a video if he's not with you. The mother-child bond is an integral part of the lactation process.
- Whenever possible, always keep your equipment clean and in an airtight bag. You can also buy breastfeeding accessories in duplicate, so you can put off washing them until later, without missing the next print run.
Have you heard of nursing shells? Both stylish and useful, they facilitate nipple repair in breast milk. A little extra tip to make your breast pump easier and more successful.
