The use of breast pump during breastfeeding is among the most curious ones. Should you use a breast pump while breastfeeding or is it harmful for a nursing mother to use a breast pump…We are looking for answers to these questions…
Should Breastfeeding Mothers Use a Breast Pump?
Breast pumps, which have been at the top of baby needs lists in recent years , have the important function of delivering breast milk to the baby in any situation. When the mother cannot be with her baby, she can express and store the milk. Thus, the baby can be fed with breast milk even when the mother is not around. However, there are some dilemmas and different opinions about the use of breast pumps. Before we talk about whether it is right or wrong for a nursing mother to use a milk expressing machine, let’ s talk about what a breast pump is, what it does and how to use it.
What is a Breast Pump and How to Use It?
We know how precious breast milk is. We must give breast milk to the baby for the first six months. Breastmilk should be the baby’s main food for the first six months . After that, if the baby is breastfeeding, it is recommended to breastfeed until the age of one and a half to two years. However, it is very difficult for a working mother to be with her baby all this time. In this process, breast pumps, or milk expressing machines as they are commonly known, can be a great convenience.
The types of breast pumps can be differentiated according to the way they work, whether they are electric or not, whether they are double or single. However, they basically work on the principle of collecting the milk from the breast by vacuuming. The following points should be considered when using a breast pump:
- Keeping the mouth of the vacuum clean and drying it on a clean cloth after each use by immersing it in boiling water and taking it out.
- Milking from both breasts
- Sitting comfortably and feeling good while milking
- Thinking about the baby while milking
Does Breast Pump Harm Breastfeeding?
Expressing milk with a breast pump has not been found to interfere with breastfeeding. On the contrary, it is known to support milk production because it repeats the sucking reflex and constantly stimulates the breasts. However, it is important to note here that it would be wrong to milk only with a breast pump and that the baby should be breastfed. For this reason, it is important to breastfeed intensively and prefer to use a pump when you cannot be with your baby. It may be useful to list the important details here:
- Especially after cesarean delivery, using a pump to help open the breast ducts for milk to come in can relieve the mother.
- Expressed milk should be immediately placed in a breast milk storage bag or milk storage container, the milking date should be written on it and it should be placed in the refrigerator.
- Expressed breast milk cannot be heated on the stove, in a microwave oven, etc. It can only be warmed in warm water.
- Expressed breast milk can be kept in the refrigerator for 2 days and in the freezer for 4 days.
When to Use a Breast Pump?
- To express excess milk that accumulates in the breast canal and causes pain
- To relieve the breast if there are problems such as mastitis
- To store breast milk for the baby even when the mother is separated from the baby
- In cases such as cleft palate, to ensure that the baby benefits from breast milk
- To ensure continuity of milk when the mother is on medication
How to Choose a Breast Pump?
The question of manual breast pump or electric breast pump is very popular.
- Hand-operated breast pumps
When using a manual breast pump, the mother milks by hand. This can sometimes be a bit tiring. However, if the mother is usually with her baby and rarely needs to express milk, a manual breast pump can be used.
- Electric breast pumps
They offer a more comfortable milking. These devices, which milk without tiring the mother’s wrist, offer different settings such as low vacuum and high vacuum. If you will be away from the baby frequently, you may prefer electric breast pump products as you will need to milk frequently .