Ameda Platinum Breast Pump - A How To Guide
The Ameda Platinum Double Breast Pump user guide. Connecting the pump to the kit. Managing the settings and features. Hints and tips for initiating, boosting and increasing your breast milk supply.
Choosing The Right Breast Pump For You
There are loads of types of breast pumps on the market. There are single breast pumps, double breast pump, pumps that can be used as single and double pumps. There are hand held pumps, electric pumps and hospital grade electric pumps.
Narrowing down the search can be quite a big task if you have no experience with breast pumps. It's a lot to digest and almost impossible to choose without expert help. Don't worry, and try not to get bogged down with too much information to consider. The New Mummy Department founder and owner Maria, is a breast pump and lactation expert who has over 21 years of experience. Trial and error, hands-on experience and practice has helped Maria to narrow the search to just a few pumps that she recommends.
The Ameda Platinum double breast pump is one of Maria's expert recommended breast pumps.
Here's why.
- It is a hospital grade breast pump, which means that it will express breast milk quickly and efficiently. The added strength of a hospital grade pump better mimics the natural breast-feeding motion of a baby. You will be able to produce more milk in a shorter amount of time than with a non-hospital grade breast pump.
- The Ameda Platinum is a double breast pump that can be used as a single and a double pump because each pump side operates independently. It is a simple and easy process to switch between the single and the double pump features.
- It is one of the most user-friendly pumps on the market. The simple and practical breast pumping machine has backlit screens on the front. These highlight the suction, speed and timing of each breast pumping session.
- The Ameda Platinum has an infinite array of settings. This means that mamma can easily find the optimum breast pumping comfort for her, every single time she expresses her milk. In fact, The Ameda Platinum has been proven to express more breast milk in each use, than any other on the market. Arguable, this is mom's ultimate goal.
Rent The Ameda Platinum Breast Pump
You can rent the Ameda Platinum breast pump here. If you are in the GTA, we will pick it up and conveniently deliver it directly to your doorstep for free! If you are outside of the GTA we can ship it to you for as little as $20 each way.
Getting Comfortable Using A Breast Pump
Using an electric, hospital grade breast pump for the first time can be confusing, intimidating and can feel more than a little awkward. Really, the whole idea of being milked is a little odd. But it is a practical and useful way to initiate, boost and increase milk supply. Breast milk pumping also has other benefits:
- Mom can express her milk and store it for later use. This means that Dad, partner or other family members can enjoy feeding the baby while mom has a break.
- Pumping your milk can give your sore boobs a break. Sore nipples, mastitis and engorgement. Using a breast pump can relieve all of these physical side effects of breastfeeding.
- Mom and baby may be separated for all sorts of reasons. From sickness, to a hairdresser's appointment to a family event, mom and baby can't be permanently attached. Pumping milk for later use means that the baby can still benefit from mom's awesome milk.
We know why it is important to have an electric, hospital grade breast pump. Now we need to figure out how to make you feel less awkward using one. Here are a few expert hints and tips for getting cosy with your breast pump.
Creating A Comfy Breastfeeding And Breast Pumping Zone
One of the best things about breastfeeding is that your boobs are totally portable. Breast pumps are portable too but not quite so convenient. Although you can breastfeed anywhere, when you are at home it makes sense to create a breastfeeding nook, this where you can relax and take your time in peace and comfort. It is entirely up to you where this might be but it should include a few essentials (again this is totally dependant on how you like to pass the time).
- A TV with the remote within reach
- A good book
- Soft lighting
- Drinks and nibbles
- A blanket
- A breast feeding pillow
You get the idea. The last essential to have in your breastfeeding nook is your Ameda Platinum Breast Pump. Why? So that you can attach a single pump while the baby is feeding from the other side, or exclusively pump in that location. Your body will soon learn to associate that zone with milk production, (this will help with the 'let down'). There is also the advantage that anyone who lives in your household will know what you are doing when you are in your nook, and they will be less likely to come barging in.
Having a breastfeeding nook will help to make the initial awkward feelings disappear, so that you can get fully into your breastfeeding stride.
Now that you are all set and ready to pump: watch the New Mummy Company expert Maria, as she guides you through using the Ameda Platinum Breast Pump for the first time.
Step 1: Make sure that your hands are clean. It probably doesn't need saying post Covid-19, but don't forget to wash your hands before you put the breast pump together.
Step: 2: Move the Ameda Platinum breast pump to a convenient location (maybe the breastfeeding nook that we talked about earlier). The Ameda Platinum is a fairly heavy piece of equipment. If you have had a C-section, it might be best to ask someone to carry it for you. There is an easy grip handle on the top, in the middle of the pump.
Step 3: Turn it on. Plug in the power cable at the back. This can stay plugged in when it is not in use. You will see the back lit control buttons light up.
Step 4: Get your kit ready. Your kit should come ready sterile so you can use it straight out of the bag. The kit contains:
- (2) 25.0 mm breast flanges
- (2) silicone diaphragms
- (2) 4 oz./120 ml bottles
- (4) white valves
- (2) adapter caps
- (2) silicone tubings
- (2) 2-piece lock-tight bottle caps
- (1) instructions for use
Put The kit Together
Insert the end of the tubing into the front of the pump. Slot the bottom of the brush shield into the valve and screw the bottle on. Place the membranes on top. Put the caps in and make sure that you hear them click into position. Insert the other end of the tubing into the bottles. Place the bottles in the designated slots, where they will be secure.
Connect The Breast Shields And Adjust The Settings
Gently place the shields over your nipples so that they are centred.
The Ameda Platinum is set to start automatically pumping at 80 cycles per minute. This is designed to trigger the milk 'let down' quickly. The suction level starts fairly low. This is where you use the buttons on the front of the pump to adjust for your comfort. Adjust the setting slowly if you are new to pumping breast milk. You are looking to find the maximum comfort level. As high a speed and suction rate as is comfortable will yield the most milk. Push the speed button once to go up or down 1 cycle. If you hold the button down it will go up or down by 10 cycles. The suction button works in exactly the same way as the speed button. There is also a timer on the Ameda Platinum; the average pump time is around 25 minutes.
Switching The Ameda Platinum To Single Pump Setting
Turn the pump off and remove the tubing from the front of the pump. There is a cap that you put on the removed side to block it. Replace the tubing onto the front of the pump. You are now left with a very efficient and powerful single breast pump. It will be so efficient that you may want to lower the speed and suction.
Step 5: Sterilising The Ameda Platinum Kit. You need to make sure that you are thoroughly cleaning any part of the kit that has come into contact with your breast milk and/or your body. This can be done in a variety of methods but must be done after each use. Remember that the tubing has not been in contact so it does not need to be sterilised.
And that is it. Happy pumping.
Ontario Hospitals That Use The Ameda Platinum Breast Pump: