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To express breast milk or not? This issue is one of the most discussed among breastfeeding women. There are doctors who still aggressively promote pumping.
The recommendations of the World Health Organization, on the contrary, are based on the refusal of pumping, provided that lactation is properly adjusted.
Most experts argue that pumping is justified and appropriate only when necessary. What are these cases when to express milk and how to do it correctly?
We will understand the intricacies of this procedure and answer the most exciting questions of women who are breastfeeding.
When is it necessary to express breast milk?
Consider situations and cases when a woman needs pumping:
Premature baby | Babies born prematurely do not have a sucking reflex. They do not know how to suck, but they are able to absorb mother’s milk. For these children, natural nutrition is a vital necessity. Breast milk, saturated with useful components, accelerates growth and development. |
“Lazy sucker” (weakened sucking reflex) | Lazy suckers are children who suckle too slowly and for a long time at the breast during feeding. The causes of an underdeveloped reflex are quite serious, it can be caused by a variety of pathologies, including diseases of the central nervous system. Problems with the sucking reflex should not be a reason to stop lactation. There is an easier way, you can express milk and give it through a bottle. |
Reduced (insufficient) lactation | Is it reasonable to express milk if there is so little of it? In this regard, the recommendations are based on the principle “all means are good”. The pumping process increases milk production, but with natural feeding, lactation is more stable. And yet the struggle for it involves any means. Express your breasts with thoughts of the baby and in his presence. |
The formation of lactation | Immediately after childbirth, a woman’s breasts produce colostrum. It’s not milk yet, but it’s an excellent source of nutrition for a baby. Colostrum is useful, this nourishing substance perfectly satisfies the nutritional needs of the newborn. Milk comes in 3 days. The kid can’t handle the volume. Filled breasts must be released, if this is not done, lactation will decrease. Pumping keeps the flow of milk flowing. It is impossible to express until the last drop, as soon as the breast becomes soft, stop pumping. Stagnation of milk leads to mastitis. One of the reasons for this unpleasant phenomenon is considered incorrect pumping. A weak sucking reflex of the child can also provoke stagnation. |
Taking medications that are excreted in breast milk | When breastfeeding, many drugs are contraindicated. Nursing mothers also get sick and quite often there are situations when you have to resort to medication. To maintain lactation, expressed milk must be discarded. You can’t give it to a child. You can feed with mixtures. If a woman knows in advance about the upcoming medication, milk can be stocked up, expressed and frozen. |
Inverted (flat) nipple | This is a conditional cause, since the problem is one of the solvable ones. You can use special pads on the nipple. If this method does not help, the breast is expressed and the baby is fed from a bottle. |
Separation from a child | Breastfeeding becomes a priority in cases where the mother cannot always be with the baby. This may be a return to work or the need for treatment. |
Preparing milk for the future | Such a need arises when the mother plans to stop breastfeeding. Not wanting to deprive the child of a valuable product, many make stocks. During storage, milk may lose some of its useful properties; the very process of keeping milk in the cold for a long time requires compliance with strict rules. |
There are mothers who are frightened and alarmed by the sight of their milk. It doesn’t look like a cow. This bluish liquid can be very oily or, conversely, empty, looking like ordinary ghee or water. After several days of storage on milk, cream exfoliates. No matter what picture you see and what feelings you experience when you see your own milk, its value does not depend on external attractiveness. It fully meets all the requirements of your child, but on condition that pumping is carried out in accordance with all the rules.
There are two ways to express milk, using a breast pump and using your own hands. Each woman decides which one to prefer on her own, sometimes on the advice of doctors.
Hand expressing milk technique
Like any responsible process, pumping requires preparation. First of all, the emotional state is important here. For good lactation, pumping is best done in the presence of the baby. If this is not possible, you can admire the photo. Constantly think about your little miracle, mentally touch it.
15 minutes before pumping, massage the breast with light movements, drink warm water or tea, take a shower, let the baby touch the breast. Before pumping, be sure to wash your hands and take a comfortable position.
Place your thumb on top of the halo, and place your ring and index fingers comfortably under it. The distance to the areola should be at least 3 cm. Squeeze your fingers in the direction of the ribs and slowly roll them forward towards the nipple. All movements must be confident and accurate. Moving the fingers around the circumference of the areola helps to get milk from all the breast lobules.
The first time you pump, you may experience pain, this is normal and not for long. Over time, the discomfort will disappear.
Milk pouring out in streams is a sign of proper pumping. If it just drips, then your hands are making the wrong movements. Train, learn and be prepared that not everything can work out right away.
Fingers should not slip on the nipple, as it can be injured.
With abundant moisturizing of the skin, the chest and hands are wiped, after which pumping is continued.
As soon as you feel that the chest has become lighter, stop pumping. Squeezing to the last drop and completely emptying the chest is not recommended. Usually hand pumping techniques are explained in the maternity hospital. If something does not work out, difficulties arise, consult a doctor and consult.
Rules for expressing milk with a breast pump
Modern breast pumps, assistants to nursing women, allow you to extract milk quickly, efficiently and without compromising comfort. There are several varieties of these handy pumping devices. They differ in cost, manufacturer and mechanism of action. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages, a woman can choose the most suitable breast pump option. It is convenient for someone to use electric devices, while someone chooses a manual one. In any case, there are rules of use that must be followed.
Read the instructions, prepare for pumping and make sure that the breast pump is perfectly clean:
Place the funnel against your breast and notice that the nipple is positioned right in the center.
To create a vacuum, you need to attach the funnel as tightly as possible to the chest.
For the pumping process, the start button is turned on on the electrical device, on the manual device, the piston is pressed or the pump (pear) is squeezed.
Manual breast pumps involve non-stop work of the hands. All movements, impacts on the pump, piston handle or pear must be coordinated and rhythmic.
Electrical devices simplify operation. Only process control is required. The strength of the pumping is adjustable independently, to whom it is convenient. At the final stage, the breast becomes soft, the milk flow turns into a trickle.
When expressing with a breast pump, monitor the flow of milk, it should be moderately active, and the process itself should be painless.
Storing expressed breast milk
Every mother should learn the rules for storing expressed milk. Neglect and inaccuracy deprive milk of valuable qualities, it becomes dangerous for the health of the child.
Where to express milk? Storage tanks:
Baby bottles are suitable for one-time cases. It is convenient that the expressed milk is stored in them, and then the baby is fed.
Electric breast pumps are equipped with separate bottle containers. Milk is pumped into these containers, it is stored there, and if necessary, a nipple is put on and the baby is fed.
For long-term storage, from 2 to 3 days, it is convenient to use plastic containers. They are sterile, designed to store milk, they can be placed in the freezer (refrigerator) without any problems.
There is an easier and cheaper option. Breast milk can be stored in baby food jars. It is better to use glass ones, it is enough to sterilize them for several minutes along with the lids. The only thing to be wary of is storing jars in the freezer, the glass may burst.
Industrial packages are practical and convenient. They have graduations, the date of pumping can be fixed in a special place. It is ideal for freezing mother’s milk.
How long can expressed milk be stored?
Room temperature allows storage of milk 3 – 4 hours. Exposure to direct sunlight is highly undesirable.
In the refrigerator, the shelf life is up to 4 days.
In the conditions of the freezer (at -18 ° C), milk retains its beneficial properties for up to 6 months.
Where to store expressed milk during a long move when there is no refrigerator?
When you go on a trip, you should take care of storing expressed breast milk in advance:
Thermos. This is the most budget option. Thermos keeps warm and cold. Having cooled it from the inside, you can safely pour breast milk, it will not deteriorate. To cool the thermos, you can use ice from boiled water.
Thermal bag. Ice packs provide the optimum temperature.
Cooler bag. When moving, this is the ideal solution. A compact bag is indispensable on long trips.
Can breast milk be frozen?
The answer is unequivocal, you can freeze. Modern mothers were lucky, before the advent of refrigeration devices, the problem of storing milk caused a lot of inconvenience. Nowadays, milk can be stored for six months, the time reserve is provided by low-temperature pressure.
How to freeze breast milk?
Before freezing milk, it must be cooled. This should be done in natural conditions, that is, without getting it out of the refrigerator. Changing containers, pouring milk is not recommended.
To maintain sterility, refrigerate and freeze in one container. Freezing mode is activated after placing milk in the freezer. A separate shelf is allocated, there should not be other products in the neighborhood, all contacts must be excluded.
Be sure to sign the containers, indicate the date of freezing. This is important, since milk cannot be stored beyond the prescribed period. Elementary forgetfulness can lead to unpleasant consequences, and given that we are talking about the health of the child, it is desirable to eliminate all risks.
How to warm up expressed breast milk?
Before you give your baby expressed milk from the refrigerator, it is warmed up in bottle warmers. You can heat it in a water bath or just hold it in hot water. Before heating milk from the freezer, it is first thawed in the refrigerator to a liquid state.
Warm milk is not suitable for multiple use. It does not matter where it was stored, in the refrigerator or freezer, it is better to get rid of the leftovers. During storage, the milk is divided into fractions to achieve integrity, the bottle is well shaken before feeding.
Breast milk is used as the main and additional food. The benefits persist until boiling, so if you decide to cook porridge or make an omelette on it, keep in mind that all the best qualities of mother’s milk will be destroyed by high-temperature processing. There will be no minerals and vitamins left in it, the protein will definitely curl up and will be poorly absorbed.
Current questions about pumping
Do I need to express breast milk from both breasts at once? This need is assessed depending on the time of separation of mother and baby. With a long separation, two breasts are expressed. When a mother is away for a couple of hours and has fed the baby before going out, there is no need to make large supplies.
How often to express? The norm is 1,5 – 3 hours. Frequent pumping is not recommended, the child drinks one breast, the other is expressed.
How many times to express? Everything depends on the situation. By pumping regularly, a woman focuses on feeding time. It is necessary to rely on the expressed milk to be enough for the time of mother’s absence.
Should you express your breasts at night? Pumping at night allows you to maintain lactation. This is true in cases where, due to circumstances, the mother is separated from the child. Express regularly, 1 time in 3 hours. There may be more breast milk than the baby will drink, but it’s better than not enough. You can prepare for the future and make stocks in case of need. If mom is not a supporter of feeding frozen milk, you can just pour it out. The process itself is important, pumping stimulates the production of milk in sufficient quantities. If you stop breastfeeding at night, pumping at night is not necessary.
How long does it take? Manual pumping takes about an hour. It will take no more than 15 minutes to express with a breast pump.
Can I mix milk portions that have been expressed in multiple sets? Doctors do not recommend doing this. Even if the serving sizes are very different, refrain from mixing.
Is it possible to give milk that has been kept without cold for more than 4 hours? In summer, it is better not to take risks and be careful when handling breast milk. If the bottle has been exposed to the sun, the shelf life is reduced. Under optimal storage conditions, milk will not deteriorate, it will be suitable for feeding for 5-6 hours.
Can I breastfeed and pump my other breast at the same time? It is possible, there are mothers who manage to combine feeding with pumping, believing that this way more milk is released. This fact has not been proven, just an observation, but the fact that mother and child are constantly distracted is very bad. When feeding, the environment should be as calm and comfortable as possible for both.
Which is better, a breast pump or manual pumping? Here everything is individual. A breast pump is safer and more reliable than hands, its sterility with proper care should not be in doubt. There are no problems with manual pumping, if the skills and techniques are worked out.
Is breast milk that has been frozen healthy? Mother’s milk in any form is healthier and better than adapted milk mixtures. Freezing requires strict adherence to storage rules. Temperature and time must be controlled. Repeated freezing and temperature changes are unacceptable. Having provided milk with good conditions, you can be sure of the safety of its properties and unconditional advantages over mixtures.