How to Get More Out of Your Breast Pump

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Any breastfeeding mom has heard that “breast milk is like liquid gold.” My OB-GYN said it and my pediatrician said it, as did every nursing mom I knew. If you’re a woman who has to pump — because you’re in the office all day, because your kid gets too distracted when nursing, or, really, for any reason at all — you probably know the feeling of watching each drop, praying for just one more ounce. And while some of your output is pure biology (conditions like insufficient glandular tissue, thyroid disorders, or polycystic ovary syndrome can all result in low milk supply), your breast pump can be a major player. “Proper use of the pump is so important,” lactation consultant Irene Zoppi, R.N., the clinical education specialist for the breast pump brand Medela, tells Yahoo Parenting. Here are a few tricks that can help moms make the most of their pump.

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1. Plug in

“When possible, women should use direct current rather than relying on battery,” Zoppi says. “You may think your battery is full — because the pump sounds like it should and is still functioning — but if the battery is draining your pump won’t be at its most effective.” Keeping your pump plugged in while you use it, if you have that option, will ensure that it’s performing at maximum capacity.

2. Replace your parts

Think of your pump like a car, suggests Joan Kessler, a certified lactation specialist with Chicagoland consultants Lactation Partners. “It really does get miles, and the more miles it has, the less effective it will be,” Kessler tells Yahoo Parenting. Most pumps come with a rubber valve or membrane that is responsible for the suction, and the more you pump, the more wear and tear that piece suffers. “Replacing these parts occasionally—every few months, or more often if you’re exclusively pumping, or pumping three times a day at a full-time job—is an inexpensive and quick way to improve the function,” she says. “You can usually get a six-pack those spare parts for under $10.”

3. Pump for two minutes after you see the last drop.

General guidelines are to pump for 15-20 minutes per session if you’re using a double pump, Zoppi says, but she suggests sitting tight for two minutes after those final droplets fall.  “That really drains all available milk,” she says. It also stimulates the higher-fat milk that comes at the end of a pumping session, and ensures better milk for your next go-round. “The return of milk happens best when the breast is well-drained,” she says.

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4. Watch a baby video to stimulate let down.

A good portion of breastfeeding and let-down is about the emotional connection with your baby, Kessler says, and the pump misses that. “Watching a video of your baby on your phone, you can see her move and hear her sounds. It can help compensate for that lack of physical closeness,” she says. “Even better would be to record a video of your child nursing and watching that while you pump.”

5. Fit your breast shield.

“Research has shown that a mother frequently needs different breast shield sizes throughout her lactation,” Zoppi says. Which means yesterday’s size might not be right for today. As the body adapts to frequent pumping, the contour of the breast may change, which could cause your shield size to go up or down, Zoppi says. Or, if a mother pumps soon after delivery, her nipples might be swollen from IV fluids. A bad fit can quickly translate to a lesser output. “If a breast shield is too tight, it could occlude the milk ducts or put too much pressure on the glandular tissue,” she says. “If a breast shield is too large, you might not get the stimulation you need.”

The first sign of a good fit is comfort. “If it hurts, there’s something wrong,” Zoppi says. Sizing your breast shield isn’t easy, but Medela uses the acronym “COMFY” to help women gauge good fit: Centered nipple which moves freely; Only a little or no areola tissue is pulled into the tunnel; Motion of the breast is gentle and rhythmic with each cycle of the pump; Feels comfortable pumping; Yields a well-drained breast.

6. Massage your breast.

This is called ‘hands-on pumping,’ according to Kessler. “It’s scientifically proven that mothers who massage the breast while they pump have a higher yield and higher fat content of their milk,” Kessler says. Massage while the pump is on, or pump, then take a break and massage for a couple of minutes, then start again. It might be a learning process to figure out which works best for you, Kessler says, but “it will help the milk flow more freely.”

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7. More suction isn’t always better.

“Oftentimes moms think, ‘If I turn up the suction, I’ll get a better performance,’” but that’s not the case, Zoppi says. “A mother should turn up the vacuum to the highest level that she can comfortably pump. Some mothers like a high vaccum and tolerate it well, and some moms produce just as much at a lower vaccum.”

8. Skip the washing.

If a pump part hasn’t touched a baby’s mouth, Kessler says it doesn’t need to be washed after each use. Kessler suggests putting pump parts in a zip-lock bag and sticking the bag in the fridge in between uses. Or rinse them out and lay them on a clean towel. “Wash the parts once a day if you’re using them multiple times at work or if you’re exclusively pumping, but you don’t need to scrub them clean each and every time,” she says. But any part that touches your child’s lips should be washed in warm water after each use.

9. When all else fails, call the manufacturer.

Each of the major breast-pump companies – Medela, Ameda and Hygeia—has a customer service line you can call for help. “The manufacturers really are the experts on their individual pumps,” Kessler says. You can do all the troubleshooting in the world but sometimes a pump has a defect. “They’ll talk you through your individual problem, and sometimes replace parts or even an entire pump.”