Expressing breast milk by hand is an ancient skill that any mother can learn. However, if you are doing it for the first time, it takes a little patience and practice to become confident at it. You can follow good instructions from a trusted source at The Global Health Media Project: How to Express Breastmilk – Breastfeeding Series - YouTube
If you are unsure, do not hesitate to seek professional breastfeeding advice.
To express breast milk, the kindestCup can be held on the breast by hand so that the reservoir points downwards. In this position, the kindestCup can take the largest amount of breast milk. If the kindestCup is being used to express colostrum, the other, flatter side of the opening is usually more suited for this. The reservoir of the kindestCup will then point upwards. This way the colostrum is expressed directly onto the side where the kindestCup is put to the baby's mouth for feeding. Using this method, the smallest possible amount of valuable colostrum adheres to the surface of the kindestCup and more of it benefits your baby.
No, the kindestCup does not pump or suck milk from the breast. The kindestCup suctions itself onto the breast over a large area and just catches the milk that flows naturally from the breast during breastfeeding.
Normal milk collection containers are small cups that are worn inside the bra. These do not cling to the skin using a vacuum and are therefore also not leak-proof when moving around. In contrast, the kindestCup stays put during all movement and protects the valuable breast milk from leaking out.
The kindestCup is also the only milk collection container that is multifunctional and can also be used for milk collection when hand expressing and for cup feeding breast milk.
The kindestCup is the result of the vision and determination of Melanie Scholz, a scientist with a PhD in biomechanics and mother of two children herself. Melanie recognised the importance of breastfeeding, but did not want to give up her personal interests and ambitions. She wanted flexibility and a way to support breastfeeding without feeling pangs of guilt.
After the birth of her first child, Melanie applied her expertise and experience to develop the kindestCup. She spent countless hours designing the product and creating a prototype. Months later, after the birth of her second child, the final product was completed and was exactly what she had imagined.
The unique design of the kindestCup has been patented by Melanie (US Patent No. 11,260,152)
Yes, the kindestCup is made of 100% food-grade silicone, because when it comes to products that come into contact with your baby and your valuable breast milk, the highest quality is imperative. That's why the kindestCup has been tested for food safety according to the strict standards of the FDA and LFGB and was found to be completely safe. Food-grade silicone is not only highly heat-resistant, but also extremely robust. This means that you can enjoy the kindestCup for a long time without it losing its quality.
The kindestCup is made of soft, food-grade silicone and it has rounded edges, so it's very flexible. Thanks to the large opening, the kindestCup is easy to clean by hand, and it only consists of one single part.
Before first use and after each use, rinse out the kindestCup well with warm water and then clean it with a standard washing-up liquid. It is best if you then let the kindestCup air dry. To sterilise the kindestCup, you can place it in a pan of boiling water for 5–10 minutes.
Depending on the hardness of the water used, cleaning can result in water marks over time. However, this does not affect the functionality of the kindestCup.
Yes, because the generous opening of the kindestCup means that its suction effect is not just limited to the nipple, but also extends to the surrounding area of skin. This means that neither the size of the nipple nor the size of the breast plays a part in the effectiveness of the kindestCup. During its development, the adhesion of the kindestCup was tested by women with different breast sizes, and when used correctly, there is no correlation between the size of the breast and its suction effect. This means that all mothers, regardless of their breast size, can fully enjoy the benefits of the kindestCup.
