Response of Breasts to Different Stimulation Patterns of an Electric Breast Pump

Optimising the provision of human milk for preterm infants

“…When this reflex is inhibited, the average milk yield is less than 4% of available milk, and local mechanisms bring about an inhibition in milk secretion. 23 In stressful situations, mothers may have difficulty with milk ejection when expressing. The early instigation of kangaroo mother care (KMC) is thought to be beneficial in this respect, with mothers experiencing feelings of milk ejection during KMC (fig 1).…”

Randomised, double blind trial of oxytocin nasal spray in mothers expressing breast milk for preterm infants

“…7 Techniques designed to support mothers and maximise their milk production are therefore important. Most successful methods are based on the underlying physiology of lactation-for example, increasing the frequency of pumping, 8 hand massage before expressing milk, 9 breast pumps designed to operate in a more physiological manner, [10][11][12] and the use of dopamine antagonists to increase plasma prolactin concentrations. [13][14][15] The effect of exogenous oxytocin on milk production was investigated during the 1950s and 1960s.…”

Correctly fitting breast shields are the key to lactation success for pump dependent mothers following preterm delivery

“…If pain occurs by incorrectly fitted breast shields the milk ejection reflex may be inhibited. If the milk ejection is not triggered the average flow is less than 4% of the available milk (Kent et al, 2003).…”