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Breast Pump Glossary
and Breastfeeding Terms A - C
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A - C D - L
M - Z
- 2-phase expression(R)
- A feature on some breast pumps by Medela (Symphony, Pump In Style
Advanced-- not Original-- and the new Swing), that starts the cycling
fast with less suction then after two minutes switches to slower
cycling with more vacuum strength to imitate the sucking
patterns of infants. A special let-down button can be pressed once to
go instantly to the second mode. The manual breast pump Harmony is
also said to have 2-phase. The first phase is initiated by squeezing
the short part of the handle, with the longer, stronger strokes of the
second phase coming from switching the hand around to squeeze the long part of the handle.
- areola
- The dark circular area around the nipple. It is important during
breast feeding for the baby to latch on with as much areola in his or
her mouth as possible.
- baby scale
- For mothers concerned about low milk supply a baby scale is a
tool to verify baby's weight gain and also the amount of breast milk
received in any given nursing. By weighing the baby before and after
nursing and doing a little subtraction, one can determine the number
of ounces the baby nursed from the breast. Since a nursing baby is
usually more efficient than any breast pump, this method is preferred to
breast pumping for determining how much milk the baby may be
getting. For these purposes a baby scale accurate to 15 grams or less
may be rented from many breast pump rental stations.
- battery pack, batteries
- In a breast pump, batteries give cordless convenience but vacuum
strength and cycles per minute may be less than the user will find
when using the AC adapter. Also pump cycling may slow as the batteries
wear down. Slower cycles may cause some discomfort because the vacuum
will be held longer on the breast. If this happens, reduce the vacuum
and replace the batteries with fresh ones as soon as possible.
- breast pads
- Absorbent material of cloth of paper inserted in the bra between
nursings to absorb milk leaks. They may be disposable or washable, but
a healthy pad should allow for good airflow to the nipple. Plastic
liners are discouraged or only for occasional use.
- breast pump
- A device that expresses milk from the breast. A misconception is
that the breast pump suctions milk out of the breast. A breast
pump's job is to trigger the milk-ejection response or let-down. Most
pumps achieve this goal by using suction to pull the nipple into
the tunnel of the breast shield or flange then release, which counts
as one cycle. Thirty to sixty cycles per minute can be expected with
better quality electric breast pumps. It is important to note that in
most cases the breast pump is not as efficient at removing milk from the breast as the
nursing baby. Many mothers find their milk supply dwindling when they
substitute too many pumpings for actual nursing sessions with their
baby.
- breast pump reviews
- Opinions by actual users of the breast pumps. For good places to
find some reviews on the internet, see
where can I read breast pump
reviews?
- breast shells
- Rounded pieces of plastic worn inside the bra. Shells come with
two types of backs; the one with the larger hole is meant for
treatment of sore nipples. The back with the small hole, which fits
close to the nipple base, is meant for treating inverted nipples.
- breast shields, flanges, funnels
- The part of the breast pump that actually touches the breast,
covering the nipple and areola area. Medela breast shields fit
almost all their pumps and come in sizes 21 mm, 23 mm, 27 mm, 30 mm,
36 mm, and 40 mm. Ameda uses different combinations of flanges
and inserts to accommodate nipples in sizes 21 mm, 23 mm, 25 mm, 28.5
mm, 30.5 mm to fit all of their pumps but the Nurture III. See also
SoftFit, Flexishield and Let-Down Massage Cushions.
For more information on fit issues see
Breast Shield Fit.
- closed system
- Breast pumps designed for multiple users, such as hospital grade
rental pumps. There is no possibility of breast milk entering the
pump motor. See the
used breast pumps article for more information. Although the Avent
Isis IQ breast pumps are said to be closed system, Avent still
recommends their pumps to be single user.
- colostrum
- The substance produced in the breasts during the final weeks of pregnancy. This "first milk"
is highly concentrated in nutrition ideal for the newborn. It has been
likened to an "antibodies cocktail." Colostrum has a laxative effect on the baby, helping
him pass his early stools, which aids in the excretion of excess
bilirubin and helps prevent jaundice. With frequent nursings of 10 to
12 times a day, a mother's regular breast milk will begin to appear or
"come in" around day 3 or 4 after birth.
- cycling
- The suck and release pattern created by a breast pump to
simulate what a nursing baby does.
- cpm
- cycles per minute. See cycling.
Glossary continued: A - C D - L
M - Z
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