Press the funnel and silicone petal massager of the pump firmly against your breast making sure that no air can escape otherwise there will be no suction. As you gently push down on the pump handle you will feel the suction on your breast. Milk will begin to flow after the first few pumps . Hold the vacuum for 2-3 seconds and always allow the handle to return to its resting position after each stroke. This will allow the milk to flow into the bottle and not build up in the body of the pump.
Comfort is more important than maximum suction.
Your milk will soon start flowing even though you may not use all the suction the pump can generate. Do not keep pumping the handle. While some women may prefer to use the pump without the silicone petal massager, extensive trials held before the product was introduced showed that, in most cases, the massaging effect of the petals flexing in and out around the areola stimulates the let down reflex and allows you to express far more milk more quickly. However, this is just a guide and varies from woman to woman. How to Store and Use your Expressed Breast Milk Store expressed breast milk for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer.