From birth to 6 months or even 1 year, breast milk is the food that best suits your child and allows his optimal development. Regardless of the child’s age, breastfeeding is very beneficial and helps meet his nutritional needs while strengthening attachment with his mother.
Breast milk has many benefits for the child's well-being. In particular, it protects him from infections, especially gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tract infections. Also, breastfed babies are less often affected by certain inflammatory diseases such as eczema and diabetes.
Whether it is to relieve breast engorgement, plan an outing, or simply because the baby does not latch on, expressing milk can be very useful.
Why should I express milk?
As mentioned, several situations can lead a mother to express her milk, the most common being :
- Breast engorgement: After the baby is born and milk production has increased normally, the mother may experience some degree of discomfort due to breast engorgement. Expressing a small amount of milk occasionally will help relieve the engorgement.
- Short-term mother-baby separation: If you are occasionally or regularly separated from your baby for several hours a day (work, school, etc.), you can express your milk so that your baby can drink it while you are away.
- Suspension of breastfeeding: if you are forced to stop breastfeeding due to certain circumstances (hospitalization, sick baby, medication incompatible with breastfeeding, long separation, etc.), you can express your milk regularly in order to conserve it. It is entirely possible to resume breastfeeding after an interruption as long as your baby still agrees to breastfeed and as long as you have been able to maintain your lactation to stimulate milk production effectively.
- Donating milk: Whatever the reason, you always have the option of expressing your milk and offering it to a human milk bank.
It is essential to maintain feedings when you are present and express only when necessary, as expressing milk regularly can lead to overproduction.
When to start expressing breast milk?
One question many moms ask is when to start expressing milk. In theory, the answer to this question is quite simple: when you want to. However, in practice, it depends on many factors such as your breastfeeding routine, the reason you are expressing, etc.
Most healthcare professionals advise new moms to establish a breastfeeding routine before starting to express milk. In general, it is recommended that you let the first few weeks go by and start expressing around the 6th week after you give birth.
However, if you feel a lot of discomfort during the first few weeks due to breast engorgement, you can relieve this feeling with occasional pumping sessions at regular intervals and in small amounts. Make sure you don't overdo it since the more you pump, the more your body takes it as a sign to produce more milk.
When you start expressing a little later (after 6 weeks), you're more familiar with your body and your baby to know how to meet your needs and those of your newborn. Also, at this stage, in terms of quantity, your body is used to producing larger amounts, so pumping a bit more won't be a problem.
Once you’ve established your breastfeeding routine and you feel ready to express your milk, try to do so at a specific time and just after a feed to stimulate your production. The time you choose will depend on the reason you are expressing milk.
For example, if you want to store your milk so that your baby is fed during the day, express in the morning since that's when you produce the most milk. If you express it so that the father can take care of night sessions, express it in the evening, as the milk will contain hormones that have a soporific effect.
What foods enhance lactation?
Establishing a breastfeeding routine is not a simple task since the amount of milk in a mother's breast can vary depending on how tired and stressed she is or how the baby is feeding. In general, maternal pathophysiological inability to produce milk or enough milk is quite rare; however, certain foods can help the mother produce more milk. The most well-known foods that promote lactation are :
Almonds and cashews
Almonds and cashews are among the oleaginous fruits that effectively promote breast milk. These fruits are natural stimulants rich in vitamins and minerals, making them the perfect snack for breastfeeding. Don't hesitate to consume them regularly!
Dates
Dates are also very effective in breast milk production. They are rich in vitamins and easy to transport. You can easily add dates to your favourite salads.
Fennel
Fennel is one of the foods most commonly found in breastfeeding drink recipes because it stimulates estrogen and prolactin production, which promotes better lactation.
Ideally, mix it with other galactogenic plants such as aniseed and enjoy a good herbal tea that not only helps you produce more milk for your baby but also aids digestion and boosts your immune system.
Fenugreek
Another plant rich in vitamins and minerals that is commonly used in breastfeeding drinks is fenugreek. It is known for its galactogenic properties and for its almost immediate effects. It is best consumed as a herbal tea.
Oats
Oats are an essential food to stimulate lactation. Indeed, it promotes the production of oxytocin, which is a hormone involved in milk production. You can consume it in different ways either by eating it as it is or with some milk, or in a recipe (cookies, salads, pudding...).
Sesame seeds
Sesame seeds are known for their galactogenic virtues. Given their high calcium content, they quickly increase lactation. They are particularly effective when crushed but can also be sprinkled on your meals according to your desires.
Cumin
Cumin is commonly used in herbal teas for breastfeeding to promote lactation due to its richness in iron, magnesium, and potassium; it helps stimulate your lactation and relieve the pain associated with infant colic, and facilitates digestion.
Water
To produce breast milk, your body needs more fluids than usual. This is why it is advisable to monitor your water consumption closely and make sure you stay well hydrated during the day (one and a half to two liters per day) in order to stimulate your lactation.
How to pump breast milk efficiently?
It's important to know that the amount of milk you produce highly depends on whether the baby or a breast pump is able to extract it efficiently. To get the most out of your milk, adopt a regular breastfeeding routine and choose an efficient method of extraction.
There are two ways to express breast milk: either manually or with a breast pump. Breastfeeding by hand requires some learning, and a lot of time, so many moms use a breast pump..
Here are a few tips and tricks to help you use your breast pump properly:
How do I use a breast pump?
Before using your breast pump, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly, clean and sterilize your breast pump and all the materials and accessories you will need (baby bottles, etc.). When you feel ready, make yourself comfortable, try to be relaxed and calm and place warmth on your breasts to stimulate the milk flow.
Milk expressing sessions can last between 20 and 30 minutes, so take your time and don't rush. Whichever breast pump you choose (electric breast pump, manual breast pump, etc.), it is crucial to follow the manufacturer's instructions when using it.
It's best to imitate your baby's feeding as much as possible, so avoid setting the suction too high. It is also advisable to pull on one breast while the baby is suckling on the other to maintain a good rise and a good output.
Ensure the breast shield is the right size to facilitate the natural flow of your milk to the bottle or flask. When you are finished, thoroughly clean your breast pump after each use.
You have a choice of different manual or electric breast pumps, different suction rates, and suction forces, so you are sure to find a pump that fits your needs.
