When beginning with a full service electric pump, the suction level should be on minimum. Since each woman has a different comfort level, the level may then be gradually increased to what is comfortable for her. Back Getting started Warm compresses, gentle breast massage and gentle nipple stimulation will help stimulate a quicker let-down. Relax while doing breast massage and during pumping. Some mothers close their eyes and think about nursing the baby, imagining the baby in their arms.
Many mothers use a picture of their baby to focus their thoughts.
The more relaxed a mother is, the better let-down she will have and the more milk will be expressed. The first attempts at pumping should be considered practice sessions with learning to use the pump as the goal, not how much milk is expressed. Pumps that allow you to nurse on one side while pumping have the advantage of using the body's natural response to let down the milk for the baby. When using a hand pump, quick, short pulses at the start of the pumping is especially stimulating and imitates more closely the way a baby initiates breastfeeding. Once the let-down occurs and the milk is flowing freely, long steadier strokes are effective and less tiring.