Dairy milk, Using Hand VS Manual Pump and Electric Pump

If you are a working mother or are away from infants who are less than 6 months old, it is recommended to express milk every 3 hours to maintain the supply of milk. Delaying to express milk will reduce milk production. This is because breasts that are too full of milk due to not milking will send a signal to the body that you only need a little milk. To express milk, you can use your bare hands or with the help of a breast pump, either a manual pump or an electric pump. Here are some facts about the three.

Express milk using hands

Free, is one of the benefits of the method of expressing milk by hand. Mother is always ready to express milk anywhere and anytime without the hassle of bringing pumping equipment. In addition, milking with your hands is very useful when the process of breastfeeding is met with challenges in the early days, for example because the baby is not feeling well or is premature. Mother must first learn to blush using hands directly. At first it might be a bit difficult, but don't be discouraged to keep practicing. Once accustomed and skilled, Mother can more easily express milk in more quantities than before. The earlier the mother starts to blush using her hands, the greater the volume of breast milk that can be produced by the breast. Here's how to express breast milk using your hands.

• Place the little finger under the breast and stick with the rib cage, while the thumb is above the breast, making the thumb and forefinger form the letter C around the breast. Let the other fingers stretch to support the breast.
• The index finger and thumb must be away from the nipple because milk comes from the breast, not from the nipple. Place your finger towards the outer edge of the areola or the area around the nipple.
• Feel the area of ​​your breasts, especially around the areola, is there a soft texture change resembling a small mound. Place your thumb behind this mound and start pressing it firmly slowly. Do it repeatedly without releasing your fingers from their position in your breasts until you can find a comfortable rhythm.
• Avoid sliding your fingers over the skin of the breast because this will not stimulate the flow of milk and will instead suppress breast tissue in it.
• Keep the rhythm strong until the nipple takes out a few drops of colostrum or the first drop of breast milk or the next drop of breast milk.
• After dropping a few drops, adjust the position to collect more milk, for example by feeling where the mound of milk is and pressing the area.
• Be patient, Mother, because the early days of this practice will not give instant results. It may take 1-2 minutes for the droplets to come out. The milk that comes out can be only a few drops before it can start to flow freely. To get a good flow requires practice.
• If the flow of milk slows down, try changing the direction of rotation of the hand's position and try another part. In the end, try to massage all parts of the breast before moving to the other breast. Carry out the process of milking until the milk flow has completely stopped or Mother has received the required amount of milk.
• Adjust the position of the fingers on the breast most suitable for milking because each mother has a different breast. If your fingers are tired, try using your other hand or switching to the other breast.
• Some mothers feel that the results of milking using their hands can be better if the breasts are lightly massaged in the direction of approaching and away from the ribs evenly beforehand.

Blush Using a Pump

If you choose to use a pump, you must pay attention to the procedure. Improper use can make your breast nipple chapped or bleeding. Some breastmilk pumps can injure breast tissue by breaking capillaries and causing bleeding under the skin. Even so, there is also the condition of the breast to bleed out which is quite normal, usually occurring in the first few weeks of the breastfeeding process. under normal conditions, you will not feel pain and this blood will disappear in a few days. Blood that arises is not necessarily interpreted as a breast injury, but is caused by increased blood flow to the breast of the mother and the growth of milk-producing tissue. If your nipples are chapped or bleeding, apply a small amount of lanolin ointment or cream specifically for nursing mothers in the nipple area. It can also be overcome by applying a few drops of breast milk to the injured area before breastfeeding. If the pain is unbearable, you can take paracetamol or ibuprofen 30 minutes before breastfeeding. During this suckling period, do not use lotion, soap, or perfume on the nipples. If the wound does not heal, consult a doctor immediately. There are two types of breastmilk pumps that you can use, namely:

• Manual Pump

You can choose this type of pump if you are the type of mother who only needs to blush occasionally. Its use will require practice, skills and coordination. As a drawback, this pump invites a high risk of developing breast infections. However, several studies have seen that applying the milking technique in combination with using hands directly with the use of a manual pump can increase milk production and is more effective than using a pump alone. The trick, milking the milk using your hands until the first drops out then followed by the use of a manual pump while massaging the breasts.

• Electric Pump

For some breastfeeding mothers, an electric pump is a practical choice. Especially if you use a double electric pump so that you can milk the breast from both breasts at once. But the maintenance side must be paid more attention, as Mother will need a place to clean and store equipment for reuse. Mothers of premature babies can avoid lack of milk supply by milking the breast by combining the hand-milking technique followed by an electric pump. Inadequate supply of breast milk in the 6 weeks after giving birth is the most common reason for mothers to stop trying to breastfeed, especially mothers who have premature babies. With this combination technique, Mother can be helped to continue trying to provide the milk needed by babies.

Regardless of the method of breastfeeding Mother chooses, whether using a manual or electric pump or by hand, do it patiently and always be optimistic. To help the milking process, think about your baby, even if necessary while looking at your baby's photo. Sit calmly and imagine milk flowing can also add to your optimism. As part of the need for the milking process, Mother can learn the proper management of breast milk and how to store milk.