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When to express milk, Hints to help you succeed, How to use the manual breast pump – Philips AVENT Extractor de leche manual User Manual

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7. When to express milk

1) If possible, wait until your milk supply and breastfeeding schedule

are well established, normally at least 2-4 weeks after birth, unless
told otherwise by your health professional or breastfeeding advisor.

2) The exceptions to the above are:

a) If you are expressing milk for your baby to be given in hospital.

b) If your breasts are engorged (painful or swollen), you can express

a small amount of milk before or between feeds to ease the pain

and to help your baby latch on more easily.

c) If you have sore or cracked nipples, you may wish to express your

milk until they are healed.

d) If you are separated from your baby and wish to continue to

breastfeed when you are reunited, you should express your milk

regularly to stimulate your milk supply.

3) You will need to find the right times of the day for you to express

your milk, e.g.
a) Early in the morning when your breasts are full, just before or

after your baby’s first feed.

b) After a feed, if your baby has not emptied both breasts.
c) Between feeds, or on a break if you have returned to work.

8. Hints to help you succeed

Using a breast pump takes practice – you may need to make several

attempts before you succeed, but because the breast pump is so simple
and natural to use, you will soon get used to expressing your milk.

1) Choose a time when you’re not rushed and won’t be interrupted.
2) Having your baby or a photograph of your baby nearby can help

encourage ‘let-down’.

3) Placing a warm cloth on the breasts for a few minutes before you start

pumping can encourage milk flow and soothe painful breasts.

4) Warmth and relaxation can encourage milk flow. Try expressing

after a bath or shower.

5) Try expressing from one breast while your baby is feeding from the

other, or continue expressing just after a feed.

6) Repositioning the pump on the breast from time to time can help

stimulate your milk ducts.

Practice with your pump to find the best technique for you.

However, if the process becomes very painful, stop and consult
your breastfeeding advisor.

9. How to use the Manual Breast Pump

1) Wash your hands thoroughly and make sure your breasts are clean.

Gently squeeze a little milk from each nipple to ensure milk ducts
are not blocked.

2) Make sure you have sterilised and carefully assembled your pump

exactly as shown in sections 3 and 6.

3) Consult the ‘Hints to help you succeed’ section.
4) Relax in a comfortable chair, leaning slightly forward (use cushions

to support your back). Make sure you have a glass of water nearby.

5) Press the funnel and Let-down Massage Cushion

of the pump firmly

against your breast, making sure that no air can escape – otherwise
there will be no suction.

6) As you gently push down on the pump handle, you will feel the

suction on your breast. You don’t need to depress the handle fully to
create a vacuum – only as much as is comfortable. Your milk will soon
start flowing even though you may not use all the suction the pump
can generate.

7) Begin by pumping 5-6 times rapidly to initiate let-down. Then, hold

the handle down for 2-3 seconds, and allow it to return to its resting
place. These 2-3 second cycles imitate your baby’s natural suckling
pattern and allow the milk to flow into the VIA Cup between strokes.

8) Milk should begin to flow after the first few strokes. Don’t worry if

your milk does not flow immediately. Relax and continue pumping.

Do not continue pumping for more than 5 minutes at a time if NO

result is achieved. Try expressing at another time during the day.

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