A Complete Guide to express breast milk using Breast Pump
We all know that mother’s milk or Breast milk is best for your baby. The associated benefits of breastfeeding extend well beyond the basic nutrition requirement. It contains all the essential vitamins and nutrients your baby needs in his first six months of life. It is packed with all the disease-fighting substances that protect your baby and hence plays a major role in a child’s growth. But there are times when mothers are not able to continue nursing even if they wish, due to various reasons, the most common being joining back work. In such a situation, the best alternative could be to express your Breast Milk using a breast pump.
It is even proved that extended breastfeeding is also equally beneficial for both mother and child. Research indicates that continuing Breastfeeding along with solids also helps in better eating habits. I too nurse my almost 22-month son and follow an easy strategy- Don’t ask, Don’t refuse.
From my experience with expressing, storing and Thaw-ing milk, I have listed the important pointers. Hope it helps!
Why to express/pump your breast milk
Well, the most important reason is that it will ensure that your baby can have your breast milk when you’re not around. Also, it will help you maintain your milk supply for when you’re together and you would want to nurse your baby directly.
Also, there are times when the baby is not able to latch and breastfeed properly. It may also help you relieve the pain and pressure of engorged breasts if you are away for a long time.
How to express your breast milk
Though most women express their breast milk using an electric or manual pump. Some women may prefer to express their milk by hand. But using a pump is a faster, easier and a pain-free process.
Choosing a good Breast pump can make your life easy.
A good breast pump mimics the sucking action of the baby. The best part of is that it won’t cause you any pain. Just ensure that you place it correctly on Be sure to use the right size phalanges for your nipples and position them just right, so you don’t pinch or irritate yourself.
My Experience with Breast Pumps
I have both Manual and Electric versions of breast pumps from R for Rabbit and completely loved the convivence they brought in my Breastfeeding Journey. ( I was gifted one by my extended family and I chose to use it too 😊)
R for Rabit- First Feed Manual Breast Pump-
In the manual Breast pump, there is a handle attached to the suction device. The milk can be squeezed out with the frequent pressing of the handle. The First Feed Manual breast pump uses hand action to create suction. The handle puts pressure and creates suction. This suction helps to express milk which is passed on the bottle attached in the device. When you are using a manual the pump, make sure your whole nipple area is centred inside the flange.
- This Manual Breast pump is made from BPA safe plastic hence is safe for skin
- The best part is its lightweight, unbreakable and portable body, you can easily take it along in your handbag.
- It has a smooth Ergonomic Design, looks very elegant and is very comfortable and easy to hold on
- There is 4 Suction level adjustment which can be adjusted depending on the milk flow and hence makes it super comfortable.
- Another important feature is its Anti-Back Flow Technology which prevents any backflow and imitates the baby’s natural feeding style.
A simple trick which always works
Press and hold for a little while, for first few suction. And increase the pressure as your milk starts to flow in the bottle attached thereto. Always, use as much pressure as needed to keep a continuous flow of your milk flowing.
Overall it is a really effective and cost-efficient breast pump and is available on Amazon too.
R for Rabit-Comfort Electric Breast Pumps
In the electric version, there is a small battery (800 mAh) which will do the expressing/pumping action for you. If you are a full-time working mother finding it is difficult to find time to express during a busy workday. In that case, you should use a fully automatic pump which can express both breasts together. This surely will save a lot of your time and efforts.
- This Electric Breast pump is also made from BPA safe plastic hence is safe for skin
- It is very easy to use, Just sit and relax while the easily operated battery operation completes the task.
- It has a Dual Mode system- A massage mode and a suction mode. The Massage mode has 10 different levels to massage and stimulate the mother’s milk flow while the Suction mode has 15 different levels to go slower with intense suction power.
- This also has an Anti-Back Flow Technology which prevents any backflow and it operates on 1.5s Bionic Frequency (Time between 2 suctions of your baby)
- It also has a LED illuminated digital display to check the selected suction power and modes.
- There are 4 comfy buttons to let you switch between the modes and increase or decrease the suction power.
This one is also available cheaper on Amazon.
Choosing the right breast pump for yourself will depend on how often you may plan to use it. Considering your schedules, how much time you can devote to expressing and off-course your convenience. While the manual ones would need you to work a little harder, but they are much cheaper than the electric ones.
Storing your Breast Milk
- You can store breast milk in either in bottles which are made of BPA free plastic or glass. Also, you may use a plastic bag which is made especially for storing breast milk.
- Also, write the date on the bottle before refrigerating. You may want to Use FIFO method- First In, First Out. You should store it at the back, of the main refrigerator.
- Ideally, one should not mix fresh milk and frozen milk or left-over milk, hence store the milk in the amounts that you normally use in one feeding.
How long breast milk be stored?
There are different opinions by different Authorities on how long breast the breast milk stays fresh, once it’s left your body.
- Fresh breast milk. Fresh milk can be kept at room temperature for around six to eight hours, though it would be better to refrigerate it immediately. Also, the stored milk should be used within five days.
- Frozen breast milk. In case, you need to store the milk for a longer duration. You may choose to freeze it. In the freezer compartment, the milk can be frozen for three to six months. if the milk is frozen, then for every time you would need to ‘Thaw” it before you serve it to your little one
How to ‘Thaw’ frozen breast milk
To thaw the store frozen milk, hold the bottle under warm water till the temperature is comfortable or you may let it defrost in the refrigerator overnight. And again warm it by holding under hot water. Never use the microwave for defrosting or warming the breast milk, as it kills the natural nutrients in breast milk.
Happy Breastfeeding!!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please Note: Every woman is different, and her body responds differently to the same breast pump. What works for one may not work for another. Also, there are various factors which may impact the amount of milk output you get. These factors could include your supply, the timing of pumping, any medication influence, your diet and lifestyle including the during and frequency of nursing your baby directly.
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, but the views expressed here are unbiased and my own. The post contains affiliate links, which may earn a small commission to the Author but that shall not have any effect on the price for you!
Pingback: Travelling with an infant (Easy packing guide) - Story of a Mom, Motherhood & Beyond!
You’ve written in such detail, this will help a lot of new mothers out there decide better!
That’s a informative and helpful post for breast feeding moms. I am sure many will learn from this post.
Pingback: Tips To feed right and Increase Your Child’s Appetite - Story of a Mom, Motherhood & Beyond!
Pingback: How to make your diaper changes less messy with diaper changing mat - Story of a Mom, Motherhood & Beyond!
Pingback: How can you manage diarrhoea in children - Tuggu n Mommy
Pingback: 5 Gifts a new-mom will Thank you for - Tuggu n Mommy
Pingback: Top 5 sensitive baby wipes to keep Tiny Tushies soft and clean - Tuggu n Mommy
Pingback: Colic 101: Baby's Got Colic and this is how you can cope - Tuggu n Mommy
Pingback: Am I a SuperMom? No #MujheSabNahiPata - Tuggu n Mommy
Pingback: Is your New born having enough? - Tuggu n Mommy
Pingback: Breastfeeding made easy - Tuggu n Mommy
Pingback: New Year Resolutions: What I say and what I actually do - Story of a Mom,
Breast pump is such a useful product .. this seems like a good brand . Will suggest new mom friends
Expressing milk is such a strenuous task, especially for a new mum. Breast pumps make this task a lot easier.
This post is life savior for new and well as working moms. Will share it with my friend who is expecting her first baby.
I have never used it because that time I had no idea about a good brand. Hope this post will help all the new moms to continue the EBF process. This is best option for working moms specially.
I have never used it because that time I had no idea about a good brand. Hope this post will help all the new moms to continue the EBF process. This is best option for working moms specially.
This is a very useful post for new moms wanting to try expressing breast milk. It helps all working new moms.
Breast pumps are so helpful to moms who need to express and who are joining back at work. I have used it too.
this was such an informational post about breast pumps. my friend has recently started using one, will forward this to her.
Gunjan this is such a informative post for new moms. I have too used breast pump long time back:) and its a blessing, especially during travelling.
I have tried r for rabbit one and feel that it gives right results…good for storing mil for little bundle of joy
I have used one Breast pump but my child refused the expressed bottled milk. Great and informative article for every new mom.
Very valuable information for all the new mothers out there.
Pingback: Must Have Kitchen Appliances for all Busy Moms - Story of a Mom,
A very informative and detailed post. A must read for all the young mothers.
#ContemplationOfaJoker #Jokerophilia
I have used breast pump in my first baby and it is very useful and helpful when you are not around with baby
Glad to hear that pump eases the job if mother has a problem in feeding directly or if its paining.
Such a detailed post ,wish you had shared it before when I was looking for answers .I will bookmark this post and share it with my friends who are going to be mommies.
A great post for all the mother and for those who are going to be mom soon. I haven’t used it but my sister in law used it for my niece, its quite useful
It’s a very informative post it’ll help many mothers to feed the young one. Great post
My daughter is 2 and i stillBF her, I am always around and never had the need to pump and freeze breast milk but this post is helpful to working moms.
I used the manual one for my kid and my hands used to pain pressing the handle…I cant comment on the EBF as I haven’t used it..
I have passed this stage but a friend of mine has delivered twins last month and she is struggling to balance her time with both of them. Your post came right in time. I have forwarded this to her. She had a lot of questions regarding storing, thawing . Thanks.
Thank you Alpana
I did EBF and it was not easy. Even I had faced huge problem for pumping and all. I wish I could get this one that time. But it is going to help all the new mummas. 🙂
Very informative post. I wish I had this when I was starting out because you have captured all the key information any new pumping mom would require to begin
A very useful article for new mommies who are having supply issues. Sharing right away!
Thank you so much for reading and sharing <3
There are some new information here regarding the usage of breast pumps. A lot of breastfeeding moms will find this guide helpful
Thank you Jhilmil
I had used a philips breast pump and I agree that breast pumps help a lot in terms of expressing milk. You have added some helpful tips for thawing the milk,which not many new moms know.
These are amazing choices for expressing Breast milk. Simple and mom child friendly.
Thank you!!
I never used this for my baby as I was always der for her…but surely I will share with my friend who are at this stage
Even days when you might want to relax, a dad can feed bm and bond with the baby too 🙂
For all new moms and moms to be this is a good guide. Quite a comprehensive post. I used manual pump and struggled Do, if a mom is going to use pump frequently she should think about electric ones.
Yes an electric one is a real life saver for frequent expressing moms. Though I was okay with manual ones too on a lazy day. There is a trick to replicate baby’s suction pattern. It’s there in my post. Do let me know if you need any help. Would be glad to help out <3
Gunjan, I am not pumping these days as boss prefer boobs over bottles. . But I have shared this post with a friend of mine who would use pump soon. So, I will ping you whenever we two got a doubt
Sure sure.. all ears always 🙂
Breast pumps are surely an innovation in the journey of motherhood. They ease out when we actually feel full and the baby is not hungry. I have tried the manual ones at the time of my pregnancies. I guess electric ones must be much more helpful.
Yes in situations of engorgement this is a life saver. I always Express at those times and save it for later.
This is quite an informative post for new moms. Breast pumps are so helpful for moms who have to express and keep breastmilk ready for babies.
I am glad I came across this post… In the beginning I too struggled with them… But later it with some online research it helped a lot… This is great informative post… which will help new mommies….
This is such an informative post, I have used breastfeeding pump and it’s really helpful for me
Very informative post, an exclusive read and support of lactating mothers. I have used the manual, hope had this knowledge before. Will share with my peers.
You’ve so comprehensively detailed the usage & benefits of using breast pumps in order to pursue breastfeeding without inhibitions, Gunjan. I’ve used them too & yeah, they come really handy while working/travelling.
this is a wonderful post for all new moms who are confused between choosing pumps and their benefits
I have used manual one the same and it really proved good …