Successful breast pumping: A practical guide for moms

CONTENTS :

The breast pump in a nutshell
Pumping milk: an act of love and conviction
Small equipment for beginner breast pumpers!
6 women's secrets for expressing milk more easily
- How do you store breast milk between breast pump sessions?
- Donating breast milk: a tender gesture that is still little-known thanks to the breast pump
4 mom's tips for a successful breast pump!
Things to remember
Check out our other articles on how to become an even more zen mom 🧘‍♀️!

That's a funny word, breast pump.

However, more and more young mothers are choosing this way of feeding their breastfed baby, whether boy or girl, sometimes from birth or after a few weeks (the time it takes to recover).

The breast pump makes it possible to reconcile a working life with the desire to continue breastfeeding, to feed your child with your own milk, without putting him to the breast. The milk collected is then administered in the form of bottle-feeds.

As an alternative or complement to breastfeeding, but also as a by-product ofmixed breastfeeding, the breast pump opens up the possibility for all women who can't or don't want to put baby to the breast after giving birth, to use their breast milk anyway. This removes an often considerable burden of guilt!

The breast pump in a nutshell

As you'll have gathered by now - the breast pump is aptly named - the idea is to pump your milk every day and give it to your baby at every meal, using a bottle. If necessary, you can also express milk at night.

Why use a breast pump? Because :

it has not been possible to breastfeed, but you don't want to give powdered milk,
you find this method practical and flexible,
your child's palate or tongue cannot take the breast properly,
it's better suited to your lifestyle (work, sport, physical disability, etc.)
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.

You're about to go back to work and want to continue giving your baby your milk for a few more months, even when you're away... A good solution: expressing your breast milk!

A sucking problem, baby not wanting to suck, a physiological concern (umbilicated nipples, pain, cracks...) or a health problem (lack of milk, tiredness...), prevents you from comfortably breastfeeding or prevents your baby from sucking.

You want to involve your spouse or partner in the unique moment of breastfeeding your child. You can do away with breast-feeding and have a third party give you a bottle.

Expressing your own milk can be a relief when you're engorged, when your baby, although breastfed from an early age, can't drink all your milk, or when you're at work.

On the contrary, in the event of a drop in lactation, regular use of the breast pump can boost production and increase the volume expressed.

As long as you're breast-feeding, you'll delay the return of 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

The breast pump lets you know how much milk is produced and given at each feed. So you'll never be left without an answer to the famous question: "How much does your daughter drink?

Small equipment for beginner breast pumpers!

A breast pump that's gentle on your breasts

As anyone who's ever pumped milk knows, the machine isn't always the most pleasant to use, even if some models are more comfortable for your breasts than others. So what can you do? Pump by hand before every bottle-feeding? Not necessarily.

To help you choose the right breast pump, you can start by renting one as soon as you leave the maternity ward. maternity hospital. Many companies offer weekly rentals, enabling you to change quickly if your equipment is unsuitable. Once you've found the right model, you can always decide to buy.

Other important points to raise:

Electric or manual breast pump?
Single or dual pump model?

Once again, it's a question of need and feeling. The choice is yours.

Anti-colic feeding bottles: until what age should they be used?

If you choose to pump 100% of your milk as soon as you've finished giving birth, consider that a double electric pump will be faster and more efficient. Especially 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 lighter, more portable model that can be slipped into a practical, space-saving bag with all its accessories.

Which bottle to use for breast pumps?

Breastfeeding your baby is a gentle and beautiful gesture. To recreate this magic through the breast pump, Élhée has come up with bibRond, an innovative bottle made from medical-grade silicone!

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 the perfection of the breast.

We designed it for just this reason: to enable all parents to feel, share and retain the delicate, pure sensations of breastfeeding from birth, right from the end of the maternity ward, through a bibRond.

150,
240
330 ml... The choice is yours!

What's more, the teat is physiological, so your child can suck comfortably.

Les biberons silicone et tétines physiologiques 100% sains et incassables

Les biberons Élhée accompagneront votre bébé de la naissance jusqu'à 24 mois et plus, pour lui permettre une parfaite autonomie, sans risque de casse.

Découvrir notre gamme

What containers to buy to store drawn milké ?

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.

Élhée bibRONDS come with a small lid that allows you to seal the bibROND and use it as a container by removing the teat. All you have to do is pour the milk into your bibROND, close it hermetically and place it in the fridge.

In the case of multiple feedings, avoid pouring newly expressed, still-warm milk into a storage bottle already opened earlier in the day. Let it cool before adding it.

Do you know how many bottles to plan for each day?

Is it possible to use an exclusive breast pump?

Our answer:

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?

Manual expression of milk is an alternative. If you can't find a suitable breast pump, if pumping hurts, if you're uncomfortable with pumping, or if you don't like the object itself, try expressing your milk yourself.

The method :

Start by massaging nipples and areolas between thumb and forefinger,
Then place your hand on the breast.
Press gently towards the chest, press and release.

It's worth a try! If only to remove the milk-induced weight while you wait to get back to your beloved milk-expressing machine. 😅

6 women's secrets to express your 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.

And don't forget to invest in a suitable bra or bustier. By holding the nipples in place, they leave your hands free.

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. You can pump two at a time. 🤞

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' break and 10 minutes of pumping.

Stimulate your lactation! Not everyone is born with a strong ejection reflex. 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 start, you're going to spend several hours each day and night 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 Ask for advice: the LecheLeague is the specialist breastfeeding association, but other moms - your mom - will also be able to help and support you. There are also breastfeeding groups on social networks, as well as independent lactation consultants.

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 breast engorgement.

How to to store breast milk properly between breast pump sessions?

Every time you produce breast milk, you need to take a few precautions when it comes to storage. To put it simply, breast milk can be kept for 4 hours at room temperature and 4 months in the freezer. In the fridge, it's a maximum of two days above 4 degrees.

To facilitate logistics and avoid storage problems, 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 preparers 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 thanks to the breast pump

In France, some twenty lactariums 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 in this way.

If you've already breastfed or are breastfeeding, you can donate your excess milk, or reserve a few milliliters of each draw for other breastfed babies in need. 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 by expressing your milk 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 nomadic breast pump that you can take with you to express your milk at work? 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 your breastfed baby just before, 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? They're both stylish and useful, and once in place they make it easier to repair nipples in breast milk. An extra little trick to help you avoid difficulties, make your breast pump a success, and have a great time!

Things to remember

Breast pumping is a technique for expressing breast milk, sometimes as soon as the baby is born, sometimes at night but mainly during the day, using a special machine called a "breast pump".

The breast pump is available in manual and electric versions.

The first few weeks are those of discovery. So getting started can be tricky, which is perfectly normal!

Choosing mixed breastfeeding allows you to take time for yourself.

Childbirth is a highly emotional event. In the event of a perilous birth, a breast pump is often the solution that allows you, as a fighter, to find a little respite by delegating the responsibility for breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding moms have all experienced the same difficulties, and have all benefited from advice found on sites like ours or from lactation consultants.

We've just shared our top tips on how to get the most out of your breast pump, and hope you've enjoyed reading this guide.