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b. Use of mechanical breast pump
1) Electric Breast Pump
(a) There are two purposes for using
a breast pump: to stimulate the formation of breast milk in the woman who
is unable to nurse her baby and to maintain an existing supply of breast
milk in the woman who must temporarily stop breastfeeding her baby
(b) Remember, the breast pumps are very
efficient, but are neither as efficient nor as gentle as the baby
nursing. The pumping schedule should be followed. The pumping mother should
be instructed in the care of her nipples by her healthcare provider - typically
a hospital provided RN - especially in regards to proper airing and use
of Eucerin cream.
The woman should be instructed to
pump at regular intervals to establish a pumping routine of every 3 hours,
or 2 hours if the breasts need to be emptied. (Encourage milk let-down
with warm compresses and by massaging the breast toward the nipple before
applying pump.) Remember that pumping is easily put off because there is
no baby crying to be nursed. However, stress that keeping to a regular
pumping routine will establish a milk supply and enable the woman to give
her baby her breast milk.
Cracked, sore, or bleeding nipples can
occur with pumping, as with nursing. These normal problems of nursing are
treated the same way as with a nursing woman. The woman should be taught
to air her nipples well after each pumping session and to use a small dot
of Eucerin cream massaged into sore nipples. If slight bleeding occurs
from cracked nipples, the milk may still be used for the baby. The sore,
cracked, bleeding nipples will heal in a few days with proper care. Eucerin
cream need not be removed.
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