A breast pump is a device that allows you to empty milk from your breasts whenever you want to or need to. Then you can store the milk for later. You can also express breast milk by hand ( manual expression). But it takes longer to completely empty a breast this way. Pumps work faster and can be operated by hand, with...

Breast milk can be released (expressed) by hand or with a pump. Then the milk can be stored to feed your baby later. Breast milk can be stored at room temperature, in the fridge, or in the freezer for certain amounts of time. Storing breast milk properly can help keep it safe to feed to your baby. Why store breast milk...

Breast engorgement is the overfilling of the breasts with milk. This can happen when milk isn't being removed well from the breasts by breastfeeding, pumping, or expressing by hand. Severely engorged breasts become increasingly hard, swollen, and tender. The nipples and areolae can become hard and flattened, making it...

A breast pump is a device that allows you to empty milk from your breasts whenever you want to or need to. Then you can store the milk for later. Using a breast pump is a good way to provide the benefits of breastfeeding when you have to be away from your baby. Pumping will help keep up your milk supply. It also...

Some people with diabetes use an insulin pump instead of daily shots to manage their disease. The pumps give them more freedom to eat, sleep, and exercise when they want. A pump can be an important tool in preventing problems like very low blood sugar. But using an insulin pump takes some getting used to. Depending on...

Breast engorgement means your breasts are painfully overfull of milk. This usually occurs when you are making more milk than your baby uses. Your breasts may become firm and swollen, which can make it hard for your baby to breastfeed. Engorgement...

Breastfeeding is feeding a baby breast milk directly from the breast or from a bottle after expressing the milk with a pump. Breast milk provides nutrition for about the first 6 months of the baby's life. Other foods, such as cereal, are then gradually introduced while the baby continues to breastfeed. Experts, such as...

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio waves to make pictures of the breast. It does not use X-rays. An MRI may show problems in the breast that can't be seen on a mammogram, ultrasound, or CT scan. The MRI makes pictures that show your breast's normal structure; tissue damage or...

Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast that occurs most commonly in breastfeeding women; it can be related to tissue injury, infection, or both. Breastfeeding mastitis is typically caused by bacteria that enter the breast through a cracked or sore nipple. Signs of infection may include: Increased pain, swelling...

Learn how to use a breast pump.

Planning ahead may help you keep breastfeeding after you return to work. Here are some things to think about. Employer support. Before your child is born, talk to your employer about your breastfeeding plans. Work out the details of where you can breastfeed or pump, and decide how you will store your breast milk. Also...

Your baby may have signs of a minor illness, such as cold symptoms or mild diarrhea. If so, it's best to keep breastfeeding. Breast milk provides your baby with the best possible nutrition. If your baby is too sick to breastfeed, try cup-feeding. With this technique, you feed your baby collected breast milk. Take your...

Mastitis is a breast inflammation sometimes caused by infection. It can happen at any time. But it's most common during the first 6 months of breastfeeding (sometimes called chestfeeding). It is especially common during the baby's first 2 months.

Provides links to info on cancer. Topics covered include breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and cancer pain. Links to info that can help you make a decision on diagnostic or screening tests. Includes info on treatment choices.

If you are breastfeeding, many things that you eat, drink, or take into your body end up in your breast milk. Some of these things may harm your baby. Tobacco and nicotine. Smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco may reduce your milk production. It also may make your baby fussy. Babies who are exposed to secondhand smoke...

A lot of people bottle-feed their babies. Sometimes it's a personal decision. Sometimes there's a medical reason, like HIV infection or certain cancer treatments. Many adoptive parents bottle-feed. You can bottle-feed using breast milk or formula. Formula can provide all the calories and nutrients your baby needs in the...

Feeding a baby who has a cleft palate can be a challenge. Your baby may have a problem making a tight seal between the mouth and the nipple. But with a little preparation, you can successfully feed your baby with formula or breast milk. For example, use a soft, compressible nipple or a bottle you can squeeze to help the...

Explains what breastfeeding is, benefits, how to plan for it, and how often to breastfeed. Includes step-by-step instructions. Covers common problems and when to call for help.

Includes info on follicle-stimulating hormone test, pelvic inflammatory disease, and semen analysis. Also has links to info on hysterectomy, vaginal yeast infections, and enlarged prostate.

Provides links to info on common concerns of women's health. Includes info on birth control, hormone therapy for menopause symptoms, abnormal pap tests, and fertility problems. Also looks at pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the postpartum period.

Provides links to topics that cover common parenting questions about infant and toddler health. Includes info on how to stop thumb-sucking, how to manage an episode of croup, and whether to give your child antibiotics for an ear infection.