Pump Breastmilk While at Work

Pump Breastmilk While at Work

This guide outlines how to express breast milk using manual or electric pumps while at work, covering technique, privacy, and preparation tips.

Pumping milk can be done in two ways, namely: by electric pump or by manual pump. These two methods can be used to express your breast milk, and you can choose the one that suits your convenience. Regarding pumping breast milk while at work, it is not advisable to use an electric pump. Manual pumping may be preferred, but it is not contraindicated. Again, it varies and depends on your convenience. Privacy and time are needed for expressing breast milk. If your company has a breastfeeding area, take advantage of it; if not, you can always make use of an unused room. Manually expressing milk in an open area can be embarrassing for others, so it is recommended to do it in a private room. Also, remember that a calm and relaxed state is essential to milk expression. Manual pumping can be done in two ways, by pump or by hand. Pumping milk needs practice and is usually done weeks before you switch from breastfeeding to bottle feeding using breast milk. Here are ways to pump breast milk even while at work.

• Manual pump. Wash hands before you start. Massage your breasts gently with your hands to stimulate the glands under them, or you can place a warm towel over your breasts. This is best done sitting down and slightly leaning forward – gravity helps. Place the flange and fit it over your nipples. Pump out milk using the manual pump. Use a container with a wide mouth for a more convenient catch. If you’re using your hands, basically you do the first three steps. Next, place your thumb and index finger an inch from the areola and form a C-shape with your hand. Press your fingers toward your breasts and then towards each other gently. Make sure you compress the area under the areola and not the nipple to stimulate the glands responsible for milk production. Use a rolling motion rather than pulling the breast outward to prevent pain. This step needs practice, and you have to find the right spot to express your milk. Use a wide-mouth container for a more convenient catch.
• Tips. Milk expression, as mentioned earlier, needs practice. It is essential that you practice this, especially for working mothers, to make expression faster. You can always do this on your break or if you are free. You can also do this at home, which is much preferred, obviously. Pumping milk relieves breast engorgement, which can be painful for the mother. It also stimulates your breasts to produce more milk. In some countries, breast milk is sold for those mothers who cannot produce enough milk for their premature babies. Breast milk contains antibodies and provides complete nutrition for the premature infant. With this basic know-how, you can pump away even while at work.