Does a breast pump damage the breasts?

Does a breast pump damage my breasts? Many mothers now have multiple jobs. They not only have to work well, but also take care of the family. Many breastfeeding mothers will bring a breast pump to the office so that they can express milk for their children during their rest time. So does a breast pump harm the breasts? Let’s take a look at some of the misunderstandings people have about breast pumps so that we can use them correctly.

Common breastfeeding mistakes made by mothers

Myth 1: You have to suck your breasts until they are soft.

Indeed, many doctors have said that the breasts should be emptied, otherwise the milk will swell and become blocked. But for mothers who already have plenty of milk and whose babies are full after just one side, it doesn’t matter if the breast milk is empty! No! good! thing! Because the amount of milk secreted is greater than the baby's needs, it is necessary to completely empty the breasts. It will only increase the amount of milk, causing frequent breast swelling, and the mother will need to constantly pump and store milk.

Solution:

Pump milk on demand to achieve a balance between supply and demand. If the mother has encountered the above situation, she can reduce the number of times she pumps milk and only pump until she is comfortable. She does not have to empty the milk completely. After that, the amount of milk will gradually decrease, which can both meet the baby's needs and help the mother avoid the trouble of breast engorgement.

Myth 2: If you can’t pump out the milk, you think you don’t have enough breast milk

Can’t suck out milk = no milk? This view is wrong for three reasons:

1. The breast milk is small and thick (for example, colostrum), so it is normal that you cannot squeeze out the milk. It is recommended to let the baby suck. For newborns, the amount of colostrum is enough to meet the baby's needs, because the stomach capacity of newborns is as shown in the figure below ☟

2. The breast pump does not completely cover the breast, causing air to escape and resulting in failure to suck out milk.

3. There are many types of breast pumps, including single-headed, double-headed, manual, and automatic. If your breasts hurt a lot when you are pumping milk, it means that this breast pump is not suitable for you. Every mother's breast nipples are different sizes, so the right breast pump and breast cup are crucial. Long-term use of an inappropriate breast pump will not only fail to extract milk, but will also cause blockage in the mammary glands.

Myth 3: Breast milk accumulation needs to be cleared by breast pump massage