Expressing

There are several situations in which it is necessary to express your breast milk.

STIMULATE PRODUCTION

It may be that during the first days the milk production is not yet sufficiently underway, while the weight loss of the baby makes it necessary to stimulate the breasts extra. Even if the baby is not (yet) breastfeeding properly, it is important to start expressing in order to stimulate milk production. In any case, start pumping if your baby has not yet sat well at the breast or has not been drinking efficiently from the breast within 12 to 24 hours after delivery. And within 6 hours if the breasts are not yet stimulated at all (an attempt to drink of your baby does mean that the breasts are sufficiently stimulated).

The use of a manual breast pump or a small battery-operated electric pump is usually not sufficient to initiate breastfeeding. It is better to rent an electric pump from Medela ® or Ardo ®. Preferably with a double system where both breasts can be pumped at the same time. This can be rented at PUUR Kraamzorg or the Thuiswinkel.

Also for pumping it applies that the more often the breasts are stimulated, the better the milk production. Try to pump at least 8 times a day. Express about 15 to 20 minutes per breast. A double breast pump not only saves you time, but it also has an extra stimulating effect on milk production.

YOUR BABY IN THE INCUBATOR WARD

If your baby is in the hospital in the incubator ward and you and your baby are separated, it is important that you start pumping as soon as the situation allows. This should be done at the times when you would normally breastfeed your baby. This equates to about 8 times a day. If this is too stressful for you, try to express as often as possible.

Expressing often and briefly has more effect on milk production than less often and for longer. Consequently, it's better to express for 10 x 8 minutes than 8 x 10 minutes. In both cases you spend the same amount of time pumping, but more often and shorter is more effective and stimulates production better. Again, a double pump system is better.

The expressed milk can be given to the baby with a teaspoon, with a cup (cup feeding) or a feeding syringe (finger feeding). The maternity nurse or nurse will teach you how to do this.