Tips
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Familiarize yourself with the breast pump and how to operate it before you use it for the first time.
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Choose a time when you are not in a rush and will not be interrupted.
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A photograph of your baby can help encourage the 'let-down' reflex.
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Warmth can also help: try to express after a bath or shower, or place a warm cloth or Philips Avent
Thermopad on the breast for a few minutes before you start expressing.
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You may find it easier to express while your baby is feeding from the other breast, or immediately
after a feed.
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If expressing becomes painful, stop and consult your breastfeeding advisor or healthcare
professional.
Operating the breast pump
1 Wash your hands thoroughly and make sure your breasts are clean.
2 Relax in a comfortable chair (you may wish to use cushions to support your back). Make sure you
have a glass of water nearby.
3 Press the assembled pump body against your breast. Make sure that your nipple is centered,
so that the massage cushion creates an airtight seal (Fig. 18).
For twin electric breast pump users: The twin electric breast pump enables you to express milk
from both breasts at the same time. However, you can also use the appliance to express from one
breast in just the same way. Attach both assembled pump bodies to the silicone tube and cap.
We recommend to place the cover over the other one.
4 Make sure that your nipple fits correctly in the cushion. See for correct size of cushion, section
"Find the best cushion for you".
5 Press the on/off button (Fig. 19).
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The breast pump automatically starts up in stimulation mode and the on/off button and the
stimulation button light up.
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You begin to feel the suction on your breast.
6 Once your milk starts flowing, you can adopt a slower rhythm by pressing the lowest suction button
(Fig. 20).
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This button lights up instead of the stimulation button.
Note: Do not worry if your milk does not flow immediately. Relax and continue pumping. The first
few times you use the breast pump, you may need to use a higher suction mode to get your milk
flowing.
7 Depending on your own personal comfort, you may wish to use a higher suction mode that
provides deeper suction. You can always return to a lower suction mode (Fig. 21). You can turn off
the breast pump whenever you like by pressing the on/off button (Fig. 22).
Note: You do not need to use all suction modes, only use the modes that are comfortable for you.
Warning: Always turn off the breast pump before you remove the pump body from
your breast to release the vacuum.
Warning: Do not continue pumping for more than 5 minutes at a time if you do not
succeed in expressing any milk. Try to express at another time during the day.
8 On average, you need to pump for 10 minutes to express 60-125ml (2-4fl oz) of breast milk from
one breast. However, this is just an indication and varies from woman to woman.
Note: If you regularly express more than 125ml per session, you can purchase and use a 260ml/9fl
oz Philips Avent bottle to prevent overfilling and spillage.
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