EXCLUSIVE PUMPING 101

 

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Also cutely referred to as EP-ing

EQUIPMENT

  • Manual Breast Pump: In my opinion, an emergency back-up in case the electric pump dies. Or if you only need to little freezer stash of breastmilk. I can’t imagine hand pumping for 20 minutes per session up to 12 times a day- which is what you need at the beginning.

  • Single Electric Breast Pump: This is used if you just want a break or supplement with formula (Going back to work? Daddy’s turn?). Also, if your baby will switch between breast and bottle without a problem. Nipple confusion is real and it sucks.

  • Double Electric Breast Pump: Absolutely necessary if you have to exclusively pump. There are so many price points available. I got my Philips Avent Double Electric Breast Pump with a set of bottles on sale.

  • Flange Accessory : This is like wearing the wrong cup size. I had to purchase a different size than the flange cushion included with the Philips pump and it made pumping a lot more comfortable. It depends on the manufacturer, some offer different sized flanges for purchase. Otherwise, you’ll find third-party companies like Pumpin' Pal have made options available for many models (Medela, Lansinoh). Imagine if there were only one-size bras available!

PREP WORK

You breasts are the factory and the pump is the distribution method. Get the factory ready for full production.

  • Eat & Drink & Be Merry: Eat well and at regular intervals, make sure to drink enough water- you’re the source so make sure to take care that you have energy to make all that milk. To encourage supply, galactagogue foods are recommended like old-fashioned oatmeal (not instant) and fenugreek tea. Try to feel content- stress can affect your ability to deal with all the new challenges of motherhood (sleep-deprivation), including pumping. It takes longer for a let-down to happen if you’re tense.

PUMPING

  • Let-down: This is when milk actually starts coming out. To speed up the process so that you’ll begin pumping milk soon after you plug yourself in (my first few “dry” pumps left my nipples in pain and cracked), massage breasts gently for a minute or two to stimulate the glands. I have read that looking at a picture or video of the baby can help. Haven’t tried it- #netflixmarathon.

  • Hands-Free Bra: This was a life-saver for me. I hate to repeat myself, but at the beginning you’ll be pumping every 2 hours. All. Day. All. Night. Add to that, the literal pain of having plastic sucking at your boobs (hard!) and having to hold those torture-devices up the whole time? Just, please, hands-free it and at least watch a movie or read a book. I told you anxiety delays let-down, which elongates the time stuck to the pump.

  • Massage & Heat: Massaging during pumping will help coax all the drops of precious milk out of milk ducts. More milk for Baby! A warmed up heat pad will help open up the milk ducts, increase circulation and also it feels nice.

NO-NO

  • Too much caffeine: This will affect your baby too, and life is so much better when everyone is sleeping well- I didn’t drink coffee at all while pumping (Sleep or Coffee? This was a tough one).

  • Medication: Everything you ingest gets in the breastmilk- talk to a doctor before any medication.

EXTRA STUFF

  • Skin-to-skin increases oxytocin which can help with production and let-down. Not that you need more encouragement to snuggle with your baby.

  • Pumping Times: It’s generally said you should pump for 15-20 minutes. But let your body tell you what you need and pump until your breast is empty- it will feel soft and… deflated- for a lack of a better term. Going by this, I personally needed a good 30-mins depending on how long it took to let down. You’ll know if you’re not emptying your breast enough if you start feeling bumps on your breast which indicates clogs.

  • Pump Settings: My pump had settings for speed and suction. A higher level doesn’t mean more milk. I always used the stimulation button until let-down then used the medium setting.

  • Freezer Stash: After you establish a dependable milk supply, you may find you have extra. You can freeze these in milk bags, which will be good to use for up to 12 months. These are good if you are not available, if you get sick, to supplement when you wean or even to bathe a child- breastmilk is good for a variety of skin ailments like eczema.

My, what a milk factory you will become! Use this time to take advantage of that tired advice to “sleep when the baby sleeps” and take good care of yourself. I found myself overwhelmed and sad. The lack of sleep because of the round-the-clock pump sessions take not only a physical toll but an emotional as well.