In
a sense, you and your breast
pump are a team, working to express milk for your baby. So, what
does a team need to do to succeed? It needs to work together. Here
are some tips to better help you and your breast pump work together
efficiently:
· Relaxation – You will produce more milk if you relax.
You can use warm wet compresses and circular massaging to relax you
and your breasts. You may even wish to think of or look at your baby.
· Dual-breast pump – when you pump both breasts at once,
you are going to get more milk faster than if you simply pumped one.
You may even wish to use a breast pump on one breast while nursing
the baby from the other.
· Gravity – lean forward and let gravity be your guide.
When you lean forward, your milk will flow more easily into the horns
of the breast pump. If you do not want to lean forward, simply make
sure that the nipple tunnel is tilted slightly downward.
· Schedule – by creating and sticking to a schedule,
your body can better prepare for “feeding” the breast
pump.
· Lubrication – by lubricating the horns of the breast
pump, you can reduce chafing and minimize friction. Also, the lubrication
(lanolin cream works well, but check with your doctor) makes it possible
for the breast pump to draw in more of your breast.
Do not be afraid to use your breast pump – and do not be afraid
to become its “teammate!” These abovementioned tips should
help you get the most out of your breast pump.