Made for Me Electric Breast Pump Support

Support Details

Made for Me Electric Breast Pump

Getting Started

Great to see that you’ve purchased a Tommee Tippee Made for Me Electric Breast Pump. To help you get started and to keep it working effectively, we’ve added all the guidance you should need plus some handy hints, tips, and troubleshooting advice.

Get to know your breast pump. You may be wondering how your breast pump handset fits together. Don’t worry, it will soon become second nature.

You can wash these parts:

Cup - rounded, soft silicone part that fits into the horn to sit comfortably against your breast. Gently massaging to stimulate your milk flow.
Horn - trumpet shaped part that supports the cup while you use the pump.
Body – duck-shaped part that you hold which connects the horn and cup to your bottle.
Duck-bill valve (purple) – small one-way valve that lets breast milk into your bottle but doesn’t let it back through as you move around.
Diaphragm – small, transparent cup-shaped part that keeps the “wet” side and the “dry” side of the breast pump separate. This makes it a ‘closed pump’ system.
Diaphragm cap – seals to the diaphragm.
Lid (purple) – allows you to connect the air tube to the pump and close the pump handset.

DO NOT wash these parts:

Air tube – plastic tube with purple connectors at each end that attach your breast pump to the power unit.

Power unit – small, portable motor that powers the massage and suction features of your breast pump.

Power/mode button – use to turn pump on and off and switch between massage and expression / pump modes.
Increase suction power.
Decrease suction power.
LED display – shows mode, time and charge level.
Air tube connector – connect your air tube to the power unit here.
USB socket – connect this to a USB power source (rated 2A or lower) to recharge. G. Carry loop – makes it easy to move around while using the pump.

Do’s and Don’ts

X DO NOT wash or sterilize the air tube. This can cause bacteria to build up in the tube and will damage the power unit.

X DO NOT wash, sterilize or heat the power unit. This is dangerous and will damage your power unit.

✔DO wash your hands with soap and water and dry thoroughly before handling your breast pump.

✔DO thoroughly clean and sterilize all the parts of your breast pump that come into contact with milk, following the instructions below. Do this before you use it for the first time and after every use.

How do I put my Made for Me Electric Breast Pump together?

Each time you use your breast pump, check all parts of the pump and power unit for any damage. Wash your hands with soap and water and dry thoroughly before handling your breast pump.

Make sure that all parts of the pump have been washed, cleaned and sterilized, and are completely dry.

Place the clear diaphragm in the top of the colored body and push down gently to get a good seal.
Place the diaphragm cap over the diaphragm and push down gently to seal.
Place the purple lid over the top of the body and turn it clockwise until it clicks closed.
Push the soft, silicone cup into the widest part of the horn and smooth its lip evenly over the edge.
Now smooth the lip of the silicone cup around the narrow end of the horn in the same way. Work your way all around the rim to make sure the cup fits smoothly, evenly and securely. The two dimples in the cup should be clear to allow air into the horn.
Push the horn with cup attached onto the colored body until it’s fully engaged and secure. Turn your pump handset upside down.
Insert the purple duck-bill valve. Gently squeeze the sides of the valve to make sure it’s open.
Screw in a Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature or Advanced Anti-Colic bottle. This breast pump is designed to fit all Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature and Advanced Anti-Colic bottles (excludes Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature glass bottles) and Pump & Go milk pouches with adapter rings.
Place the assembled pump on a flat surface. Connect one end of the air tube to the purple lid of the pump body and the other to the power unit. It goes in the hole at the side.

How do I charge the electric breast pump power unit?

The power unit for your breast pump uses a battery similar to the one in your mobile phone. Charge it up so that you can power your breast pump anywhere and even move around while you’re using it.

The power unit will come with some charge in it, but you should fully charge it before first use.

To charge the power unit

Connect one end of the USB cable into your power unit and the other to a USB power outlet (rated 2A or lower), like a mobile phone charger, laptop, USB battery pack, in-car USB socket or USB wall socket.
The LED battery icon will flash to show that your power unit is charging.
When it’s fully charged all three of the LED lights will remain on.

You can attach your breast pump to the power unit and use it while the battery is charging. It just means you need to stay close to the USB power source.

What do the symbols on the electric breast pump power unit mean?|

How do I use my electric breast pump?

The best time to use your breast pump is after the first feeding of the day (unless your breastfeeding advisor has told you something different.)

Get yourself in a comfortable position, sitting, standing or half-lying. The important thing is to keep the pump handset vertical while you hold it against your breast. You’ll also need a flat surface nearby to put the pump and bottle on when you’re done.

Hygiene

Hands washed and dried before touching your breast pump or body? ✔
Breast pump parts washed and sterilized? ✔

Hold the pump handset around the narrow neck of the body. Hold it in whichever hand feels most comfortable. As you use it, you may find it’s more comfortable to cup your hand around the bottle. Do not hold it by the air tube.
Place the soft silicone cup attached to the horn over your breast so that it creates a seal all the way around with your nipple at the center of the hole. You don’t need to cover the hole of your areola or breast with the horn, so don’t force it. It should sit comfortably. If it doesn’t feel right, relax and reposition.
Once you’re ready, press the power button on the power unit. The pump will start with a gentle massage rhythm that mimics the way your baby latches to your nipple to help you begin to produce milk. It will give you 10 short pulses and one longer pump.
After about a minute, the pump will automatically move to more powerful massage settings. If you want to move on onto a more powerful setting, press the “+” button. If you want to move to a less powerful and shorter massage settings, press the “-” button. A more powerful setting doesn’t necessarily make your milk come any faster. Remember, it’s not a race; it’s about what’s comfortable for you.
Once you feel or see your milk, you can switch to Express/Pump mode. This gives you a more regular and prolonged pumping action to help you express milk.
Press the power/mode selection button once to switch to the lowest level in Express/Pump mode. To move to a more powerful and longer pump setting, press the “+” button. To move to a less powerful and shorter pump setting, press the “-” button. The power will automatically shut off after 30 minutes of express/pump mode.

How do I stop pumping with my electric breast pump?

When your milk is no longer freely flowing, press the power button on your power unit to turn off the breast pump.
Disconnect the air tube from the body lid and gently unscrew your bottle from the pump.
You can store your breast milk in this bottle by adding a clean, sterilized lid or nipple and hood (see storage advice). Or decant it into another clean, sterilized bottle or pouch to feed it to your baby.
When you’ve finished using the pump, disassemble all the parts then clean and sterilize as outlined in the cleaning instructions. Don’t clean or sterilize the air tube.
Plug in your power unit to recharge it for next time.
If you want to pause during pumping to change position or move down to a lower setting that’s absolutely fine. It’s okay to remove the pump from your breast at any time to decrease the power levels. You can always come back to it later.
You can use the built-in timer to monitor how long you’re expressing for. The power unit will automatically shut off after 30 minutes of expressing.
The illuminated LEDs and quiet pump mode allow you to use the pump at night without disturbing others when you want to keep the lights low.
Attach the purple carry loop to a belt loop or clip to help you carry the portable power pack around and free up one hand while expressing or moving around.

What’s the best way to store my breast milk?

When you want to freeze breast milk, allow space at the top of your bottle for it to expand. It’s easiest to freeze milk in individual feed quantities of 60-125ml/2-4oz.
Your breast milk may separate out into layers when you store it. Give it a shake to re-mix it thoroughly before feeding your baby.
Thaw frozen milk in the fridge or by standing your bottle in lukewarm water until it has reached body temperature, or use a Tommee Tippee bottle warmer.
If you want to take pumped milk out and about with you, make sure it stays cold or frozen until you need to feed your baby.

How do I use my electric breast pump on the go?

Your Tommee Tippee Made for Me Electric Breast Pump is designed to give you the freedom to express/pump breast milk at home, at work or anywhere that’s comfortable for you. With the portable, rechargeable power pack you don’t need to be connected to a power socket to use it, so you can even move around as you’re expressing/pumping.

Important things to remember:

To keep your breast pump sterile on the go, carry it in a Tommee Tippee Travel and Microwave Sterilizer bag. Do not put the power unit or air tube in the sterilizer bag.
Always store your breast pump handset and power unit in a cool, dry place away from heat and moisture and out of direct sunlight.

Cleaning & Maintenance

How do I clean my Made for Me Electric Breast pump?

Separate each part of the pump handset and wash in clean soapy water. Don’t use water that you’ve used for cleaning other products.
Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
DO NOT wash the air tube or power unit.
If you need to clean the power unit, USB cable or air tube, wipe the outside with a clean damp cloth.

Can I put my Made for Me Electric Breast Pump in the dishwasher?

You can wash the pump handset components in the top rack of a dishwasher. Place the purple duck-bill valve in the cutlery rack or dishwasher pod to keep it safe.
DO NOT wash the air tube or power unit.
If you need to clean the power unit, USB cable or air tube, wipe the outside with a clean damp cloth.

How do I sterilize my Made for Me Electric Breast Pump?

Sterilize all parts of the pump handset using either cold water sterilization, microwave sterilization, boiling water, or electric steam sterilization.
DO NOT sterilize the air tube.
For best results use Tommee Tippee electric or microwave sterilizers

How do I clean my Made for Me Electric Breast Pump?

Separate each part of the pump handset and wash in clean soapy water. Don't use water that you've used for cleaning other products.
Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Troubleshooting

What should I do if using the breast pump is painful?

If it's painful, please seek advice from your Breast Feeding Coordinator or health care professional. If it doesn't feel comfortable please follow the steps for repositioning as detailed in the manual.

How do I place the breast pump on my breast?

When pumping, your nipple should sit comfortably in the center of the silicone cup and will be extended down the tube of by gentle suction. The pump creates a seal around your areola and nipple. You do not need to cover the whole of your areola or breast covered by the horn. Do not force your breast or nipple into the horn.

Don’t tilt the bottle while pumping. Keep it upright to keep your milk flowing into the bottle.

What mode and power setting should I use?

You don’t need strong suction to express milk from just behind your nipple. Use the mode and power setting that feels most comfortable for you. This may be different at different times of day or at different stages of your breastfeeding experience.

Help, my breast pump isn’t working as well as it usually does. What should I do?

If air is getting in around the silicone cup, your pump may not suck milk effectively. Adjust your position and replace the cup on your breast so that it feels comfortable and the pump is expressing milk.

How long does it take to charge my electric breast pump?

Charging time may vary depending on voltage and equipment used, from 3-6 hours. When the power unit is fully charged all three of the LED lights will remain on.

The LED lights on the power unit flicker. Should I be worried?

We’ve put a lot of power into a small portable power unit, so if you use the highest levels you may notice that the LED lights dim or flash. This is nothing to worry about. It’s just more power going to the pump motor.

Why do I have to use a Tommee Tippee bottle?

The Tommee Tippee Made for Me™ electric breast pump is designed to be a perfect fit for Tommee Tippee bottles (excludes Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature glass bottles) and breast milk storage pouches. You may get leaks and spills if you use other brands of bottles and containers that don’t fit correctly.

Will milk get sucked into the power unit?

No. If you have fitted the diaphragm and cap properly, the air tube and pump are separated from your milk and can’t come into contact with the power unit. It’s what’s known as a ‘closed pump’.

Help – there’s no or very little suction. What can I do?

It’s most likely that there’s some air getting in somewhere, which means the pump won’t work properly.

Check that the air tube is connected securely at both ends and there are no kinks in it.
Make sure that the soft silicone cup is securely attached to the horn at the top and bottom and forms a comfortable seal around your breast. Adjust your position if you need to.
Check the duck-bill valve is clean and opens easily. Give it a gentle squeeze if it’s stuck.
Check the diaphragm and diaphragm cap are secure and there are no signs of damage.