All manual pumps work with suction and have a funnel or shield, pump mechanism, and container. The assembly and operation of different brands of pump will vary slightly, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Using a pump Place the shield over your nipple, then squeeze and release the handle. Your milk should be drawn into the vacuum created in the bottle. If this causes you any pain, stop immediately; expressing should be painless. Try again a little later.

Make expressing milk as easy on yourself as possible, and take care to store your milk correctly.

• If you have to learn over a low surface, expressing may give you a backache. Make sure the container is at a convenient height
• Expressing should be painless. If it hurts, stop immediately. Ask your doctor or lactation consultant if you are expressing correctly
• The more relaxed you are, the easier it will be to express. If the milk won’t start to flow, place a warm washcloth over your breasts to open the ducts, or try expressing in the bath
• If you’re concerned that your baby might not go back to breastfeeding after getting used to the bottle, try feeding her milk from a specially designed cup, or spooning the expressed milk from a cup
• Milk will go sour unless it is stored correctly, and then it could make your baby ill. Refrigerate or freeze your milk as soon as you’ve collected it. Refrigerated milk will keep for 24 hours; frozen milk for up to six months
• Expressed milk should be put into clean, sealable containers. Don’t use glass containers in the freezer – they might crack. Sterile plastic bottle liners are ideal.