3+ Reasons why mothers should pump milk after giving birth
Stimulate more milk production: For mothers who do not have much milk, pumping will help the mother store more milk. From there, the mother will always have enough milk to meet the needs of the baby. Regular pumping is also a method to stimulate the mother’s breasts to produce more milk.
Blocked milk ducts: Blocked milk ducts are a phenomenon where the duct system is blocked, so milk cannot flow out. Some common signs such as milk not secreted or secreted very little, chest tightness, pain, … Under the influence of the breast pump, the milk follicles will be dilated causing milk flow.
Having breast milk to practice external feeding: Pumping milk out for external feeding helps the baby not to be too dependent on the mother. You don’t need to hold and breastfeed your baby all the time, but still make sure your baby gets the best breast milk. When the mother is busy or unable to breastfeed, the baby can be bottle fed by grandparents, father or relatives. This is also a way to help mothers have more time for themselves, get more rest to recover after giving birth.
Should you pump by machine or by hand?
Some moms will wonder which method of pumping will stimulate milk better. Here are the pros and cons of both manual and manual pumping methods.
Pump milk by machine
Advantages:
- Pumping milk with a machine will make the mother feel light and smooth, without causing breast pain.
- Some machines are also set up to add a massage mode to bring comfort to the mother when pumping.
- Milk is pumped more and more evenly, especially double breast pumps also help mothers save a lot of time.
- Pumping milk with a machine does not cause hand fatigue, when pumping mothers can take advantage of more work.
Defect:
- It is easy to encounter fake goods, counterfeit goods of unknown origin leading to poor use efficiency.
- The machine also depends on the power source, so when the power goes out, the machine will not be able to operate.
Instructions on how to pump milk with a machine:
- First, please read the manual and familiarize yourself with the machine to use it properly.
- Wash hands, sterilize tools, make sure all parts of the machine are clean.
- Mom places the suction cup on her breasts, holds the shield and adjusts it to her liking for more comfort.
- In order to not feel pain when expressing milk, you should find a most comfortable speed.
- When you see the milk flow slow down, then turn off the machine.

Electric milking device
Manual pumping
Advantages:
- Low cost and high durability help mothers save a lot of money when taking care of their children.
- The product is compact, easy to move, suitable for mothers who breastfeed directly every day.
- Cons: The amount of milk pumped out is small, and at the same time, it has to be pumped frequently, so it will easily cause hand fatigue for the mother.
Instructions on how to pump milk by hand:
- Wash your hands, dry, clean the breasts with a warm towel, remove the milk residue at the tip of the nipple.
- Install the breast pump and take care that its parts are completely dry.
- Then massage your breasts and do it with both breasts for about 10-15 minutes.
- Adjust the funnel to fit the breast, avoiding the outside air entering to affect the suction.
- Use your hands to squeeze continuously on the upper push rod to stimulate milk. When you see the milk secreted in a moderate amount, please squeeze the lower lever slowly. This will help the machine achieve the best performance.
- 15-20 minutes after smoking, stop and do the same with the other breast.
- Milk after expressing can be used by the baby without warming. When the baby has no need, the mother puts it in a milk storage bag or a dedicated milk storage bottle. Store milk in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Finally, please clean and dry the machine to prepare for the next suction.

Manual milking machine
Conclusion: Although manual pumping has the outstanding price, it causes mothers to tire quickly. At the same time, the milking efficiency of this method is also quite low, making the mother’s care very difficult. Therefore, if the mother has good economic ability, invest in an electric milking machine right away.
10+ principles of breastfeeding after giving birth
Currently, breast pumps are very familiar to nursing mothers. Breast pump can stimulate milk glands as well as massage to help breast firmer. Here are 10 principles that mothers need to understand for the best postpartum milking:
Rule 1: Pump milk as soon as possible
The first rule to keep in mind is that you should start expressing milk after giving birth as soon as possible. By performing early milking will ensure the body to produce longer and more milk. If the first time you express your milk, you do not get much milk, do not worry, but persevere. Because after giving birth many mothers will have little or even no problems. At this time, mothers try hard to pump evenly and often to quickly return milk.

Expressing milk early helps the body to produce longer and more milk
Principle 2: Pumping milk is more effective with a pump than by hand
Currently, there are two ways for mothers to express milk at home: by machine and by hand. However, compared to manual milking, using a machine will be more effective. Because milking machines will have a short time to perform, combined with breast massage. Therefore, mothers will easily get the best amount of milk for their babies in large quantities.

Pumping milk with a machine brings better milk stimulating effect
Principle 3: Apply a scientific and regular pumping schedule
According to the doctor’s recommendation, if you want milk to come back faster and more than your mother, you should build a scientific pumping schedule. Accordingly, every day the mother should smoke regularly and enough 8-12 times / day and each time 2 – 5 hours apart. However, how long the interval between periods depends on the free schedule and health of each mother. Mothers can refer to the following milking schedule:
Schedule L2 (2 hours): 7 – 9 -11 – 13 – 15 – 17 – 10 – 21 – 0 – 3 – 5
Schedule L3 (3 hours): 6 – 9 -12 – 15-18 – 21 – 24 – 3.
Schedule L4 (4 hours): 7 – 11 – 15 – 19 – 23 – 4.
Schedule L5 (5 hours): 7 – 15 – 17 – 22.
Note: The mother should smoke on time and do not skip the meal to avoid tightness and tightness in the mother’s chest.

Implement a regular pumping schedule to help milk come in quickly and in abundance
Rule 4: Use a hands-free breast pump
A hands-free pumping bra is a great solution that moms need to prepare. Because thanks to this shirt, mothers can both pump milk and do other jobs. Thereby, the mother will save more time when pumping milk.

Hands-free breast pump to help stimulate milk
Rule 5: Store milk after pumping properly
Milk after pumping for storage should not be left outside because it will make the nutrients in the milk lose. Ideally, mothers should store milk with specialized storage bags, milk storage bottles and keep it cool or frozen. This way of preserving will help the milk to keep for a long time and avoid spoiling when not in use.

Store milk after pumping in the refrigerator to keep it for a long time
Rule 6: Drink water/milk before pumping
Before each pumping session, the mother should drink 500ml glass of water or warm milk about 15 minutes. Because this way will help milk come back faster and more abundant baby. At the same time, after pumping, the mother should also drink more water to rehydrate and the mammary glands continue to produce milk.

Drink warm water before pumping to expand the milk follicles to help milk come in more
Principle 7: Prepare all necessary pumping equipment
Before proceeding to express breast milk, you should prepare all the necessary supporting tools. Because of the careful preparation, the pumping process will be quick and convenient.

Prepare enough tools to pump milk quickly
Principle 8: Sit to pump milk in the right posture
Correct posture is also an extremely important factor that mothers should not ignore when expressing milk. Because sitting down to express milk properly will help milk come back quickly and reduce pressure on the breasts. At the same time, sitting milking in the right position also helps mothers reduce back pain when performing for a long time. The correct position for the mother to sit is to keep her back straight, not bending or reaching up. Besides, before expressing breast milk, find a quiet, comfortable and distraction-free space.

Mother should sit up straight, do not reach forward to avoid back strain
Rule 9: Clean the breast pump
Cleaning and sterilizing the supporting tools before milking is very necessary. Because in the surrounding environment there are always hidden bacteria that mothers cannot see with the naked eye. The bacteria on the milking equipment, if not cleaned, will cause the milk to deteriorate. At the same time, after expressing breast milk, you should also collect all tools and clean them. Because when pumping, there will be patches of excess milk on the wall of the bottle, if not cleaned, bacteria will easily grow. Above all, when you use it the next time, it will be difficult to clean it.
Here are some important notes when cleaning the suction device:
Mothers should not use dishwashing liquid or other strong cleaning solutions to wash utensils.
Mothers need to be gentle, avoid scratching or breaking the parts of the breast pump.
Before and after washing, the mother must sterilize the bottle and breast pump, … to ensure absolute hygiene.

Clean all parts of the milking machine before and after use
Rule 10: Stop pumping if it doesn’t work
If you come to a time when you find that your milk is still not enough, don’t worry too much! Because there are many reasons such as not enough milk or because the machine is not suitable for the mother. At this time, please stop expressing milk, find out the cause and fix it for the next use.

Please stop pumping by hand or pump if it doesn’t work
The best breastfeeding schedule for mothers after giving birth
Mothers who breastfeed by pumping will have times when wondering when to pump? How much milk a day? How long to pump milk for best results? Here are 2 basic breast pumping schedules mothers can refer to:
Breast pump schedule when nursing a baby under 3 months
Normally, after giving birth, breast milk will increase and change in the amount of milk secreted. Therefore, as soon as possible after birth, the mother should let the baby skin-to-skin with the mother. When the baby is suckled directly, it helps to stimulate milk secretion faster.
From 2 to 5 days after giving birth, the milk will come back a lot and make the mother feel chest tightness and discomfort. Please smoke from 8 to 12 times / day, every 3 hours will smoke once even at night. You can pump more when you feel that too much milk comes in, making you full and tight.

Scientific milking schedule for babies under 3 months
Breast pump schedule when nursing a baby over 3 months
When the baby is 3 – 6 months old, the mother can divide it into 5 times a day. Breast pump time frame can be referenced: 6 am, 9 am, 12 noon, 3 pm and 10 pm.
When the baby is 6 – 11 months old, the mother should divide it into 4 times a day. You can refer to the following time frames: 6 am, 10 am, 2 pm and 10 pm.
When the baby is 11-12 months old, the mother will pump about 3 times a day. The time frames mothers can refer to include: 6 am, 12 noon and 10 pm.
When babies are over 12 months old, mothers will have less frequency of pumping about 2 times / day. Two frames can be arranged to smoke around 6 am and 7 pm.

Breast pump schedule for babies over 3 months
How long does pumped milk last?
How long breast milk can be stored depends on how each person is stored. According to the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, milk can be stored in three ways: room temperature, refrigerator or freezer. In there:
Milk stored at room temperature should be used within 6-8 hours.
Expressed breast milk is stored in the freezer (5 degrees F or -15 degrees C), for up to 2 weeks.
If the mother keeps the milk in the freezer with a temperature of 0 degrees F or -18 degrees C, it can be kept for 3-6 months. In case the mother keeps the milk in the deep freezer (-4 degrees F or -20 degrees C), the milk will be preserved and used for 6-12 months.
Note: After thawing milk, milk can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours and at room temperature for 1 hour. If the mother does not use all the milk, it should be thrown away because once the milk has been defrosted, it cannot be refrozen.
To defrost milk, hold the bag or bottle under warm running water to the appropriate temperature. Mothers should not use the microwave to defrost milk, because this will kill the nutrients.

Breast milk can be long or short depending on how it is stored
Should milk be kept in the freezer or refrigerator?
Whether a mother should choose to store milk in the freezer or the compartment depends on the need to use and the amount of milk pumped out. Specifically as follows
You can choose to keep your milk in the freezer if you pump a lot. At the same time, the mother does not need to use it until soon or preserve it for the baby to use when the mother is away for many days.
If the amount of breast milk sucked out is not much, just enough for the baby to suckle, the mother should keep it in the refrigerator for the baby to breastfeed.

Depending on the amount of milk pumped out, the mother will choose the appropriate storage method
Types of breast pumps to use
Breast pumps are gradually becoming an effective arm to help mothers comfortably take care of their babies. Therefore, the issue of choosing a breast pump is also worth considering. Here are some breast pumps, moms can refer to to choose the right one:
1. Real Bubee breast pump
Real Bubee is a mid-range breast pump brand from Japan. The product, in addition to its beautiful design, also has many uses such as: massage, LED lighting, suction adjustment, … That’s why Real Bubee is loved and appreciated by many diaper mothers.
Technical information
Brand: Real Bubee
Made in Japan
Weight: 0.450kg
Color: White
Accessories included: 2 breast funnels, 2 150ml bottles, 1 main motor, 2 extension cords, 1 cable, 2 connecting pins suitable for double or single suction.
Warranty 12 months
Outstanding Features
Real Bubee milking machine has a compact design, rounded corners very meticulously.
Real Bubee is made of high-quality PP plastic, BPA-free to ensure absolute safety.
The milking funnel of the product has many different sizes to help mothers choose the right one for their breasts.
The device works quietly, making no noise to the baby and everyone around.
The machine has 4 levels of pumping and 3 levels of massage to help mothers freely choose according to their wishes when using.
Real Bubee is equipped with LED lights to help mothers express milk easily in a dimly lit space.

Real Bubee electric milking machine
2. Rozabi breast pump
Rozabi is a brand specializing in the supply and production of mother and baby products based in the United States. Currently, Rozabi is producing products such as: air purifier, blender, milk warmer, bottle sterilizer, breast pump,… In which, milking machine is a typical product, sold with Large quantity and much appreciated. Rozabi milking machine uses advanced technology, along with safe materials, so mothers can rest assured.
Technical information
Brand: Rozabi . breast pump
Origin: Hong Kong
Weight: 0.377kg
Color: White
Accessories included: 1 main motor, 1 power cord, 2 funnels, 2 milk bottles with lids included.
Warranty 12 months
Outstanding Features
Rozabi milking machine is made of PP plastic material, BPA-free, meeting FDA quality inspection standards from the US.
The machine has a built-in silicone massage funnel, helping moms always feel more comfortable when sucking.
The operating mechanism of the machine is quite smooth, does not make noise to disturb people around.
Rozabi has 12 levels of suction and massage, mothers can manually adjust the suction from light to strong as desired.
The LCD screen displays full information: mode, suction time, massage button, current button…helps mom easily control the status of the machine.

Rozabi Deluxe Double Electric Breast Pump
3. Medela Pump In Style Advanced
Medela Pump In Style Advanced is a product of the Medela brand, made in Switzerland. Currently, Medela Pump In Style Advanced is sold in many countries around the world, including Vietnam. The plus point of the machine is compact design, high durability, modern features, reasonable price.
Technical information:
Brand: Medela
Origin: Switzerland
Dimensions: 36 x 17.5 x 29.3 cm
Color: Milk Beige
Included accessories: 01 Adpater, 1 Electric/battery motor, 1 machine bag, 2 silicone suction lines, 2 24mm size funnels, 2 funnel necks, 4 white valves, 2 yellow valves, 4 150ml milk storage bottles, 1 set of dry ice storage, 2 packs of milk absorber.
Warranty 12 months
Outstanding Features
The Medela Pump In Style Advanced milking machine is quite compact, weighing more than 1kg. Comes with the device, there will be a convenient storage bag so that mothers can carry the device with them when needed.
The accessories of the machine are designed very simply, easy to disassemble and clean.
Medela Pump In Style Advanced can use both mains and AAA batteries very conveniently
The machine has a strong suction to help limit the blockage of milk ducts and quickly stimulate milk
The operation of the machine is very simple, just press the button to switch modes and turn the knob to adjust the suction power.

Medela Pump In Style Advanced Breast Pump
Goodheathplan has just shared with her mother the knowledge and 10 important principles when performing breast pump after giving birth. Hopefully, this information will help mothers to express milk quickly and effectively. At the same time, Monkey also suggested to her mother 3 types of milking machines for her reference. Wish mothers will choose the right type of machine according to their wishes to ensure milk supply for their babies.

Johnny Jacks was born in 1985 in Texas, USA. He is the founder of Good Health Plan and is passionate about helping people improve their health and physical well-being. With over a decade of experience working in the healthcare industry, he currently works at Goodheathplan.com – a blog that shares knowledge on beauty and health.