Sunday, August 13, 2006

Pumping Rules

Here are the basic rules to exclusively pumping:

1.) Get a Pump: If you are going to do this you will need to invest some money in a pump. We recommend a double electric pump. Hospital grade would be best but as for most they are typically out of most people's price range. Pumpers have used the Medela Pump in Style and the Ameda Purely Yours with success. Some people do manage to get through with a manual pump such as the Avent Isis but according to the "experts" the best way to stimulate milk production is to double pump.

2.) Get pumping: For the first 12 weeks of your baby's life you will need to pump every 2-3 hours, 24 hours a day to establish a good supply. If you were breast-feeding that would be the same amount of times your baby would normally eat in a 24-hour period. You will need to pump a minimum of 15-20 minutes and will need to pump 5 minutes past flow to stimulate milk production. If you don't fully empty, it can decrease your supply or lead to problems like plugged ducts and mastitis. This means if it takes 45 minutes to empty your breasts you have to pump yet another 5 minutes. After the initial 12 weeks you can usually start to drop pumps. Most choose to drop the middle of the night pump first. For most the first pump in the morning will yield the most breastmilk.

After you pump you may want to use a product like Lansinoh to moisturize your nipples. Do not use just before you pump. It is sticky and can cause cuts. Some have used olive oil as a natural lubricant between their breasts and horns. Also letting yourself air dry or putting breast milk on cuts can be helpful. If you wear breastpads make sure you change them frequently.

3.) Storing: Please click on the following link for storage guidelines. Don't forget to date and rotate your stock. It may also be helpful, at a later date, if you include information on the label, such as the amount of breastmilk enclosed, any medications taken (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc.), and if a potentially gassy food was eaten that day. An example of this would be next month when your baby has an upset tummy, you will know that the culprit could be that broccoli casserole you had for dinner before you pumped and know to possibly eliminate that food while pumping.

http://www.lalecheleague.org/FAQ/milkstorage.html

4.) Cleaning and Sterilizing: You will need to clean and sterilize your pump parts daily. A trick us pumpers use is that between pumps we put our pump parts in the fridge in a Ziploc bag. If you choose this time-saving method, then once a day, you will need to either hand wash the parts with hot soapy water and let them air dry or run them through a cycle in the dishwasher.

5.) Supply: There are many things that can either hinder or help your supply.

In our experience this is what can be helpful:
-making sure you get enough calories (200-400 more than when you were pregnant)
-drinking a ton of water
-getting enough rest
-using herbal supplements, such as fenugreek, alfalfa, and/or mother’s milk tea (available at most vitamins stores such as GNC) or blessed thistle (available online) - please check with your doctor before starting one of these supplementations
-some doctors have even prescribed Reglan (metoclopramide)
-oatmeal (not the instant kind)
-relaxing while pumping (make yourself a handsfree bra by simply cutting holes, in an old bra, just big enough to slip the pump horns through)
-looking at a picture of your baby if you are not with your baby
-if your baby will comfort suck this can stimulate production
-warm compresses while pumping
-massage while pumping

This is what can hinder:
-not eating and drinking enough
-not sleeping enough
-not pumping long enough to empty breasts
-wearing underwire bras or bras that are too tight
-skipping pumping sessions (especially in the early weeks)

What do you do if your supply is slipping?

Have a Pumpathon. You will need to increase the number of minutes and sessions you pump in a day. We suggest, if you can, every 2 hours (or as much as your boobs can take) for a full 24 hours. You will likely see an increase in a day or two.

9 comments:

Sabrina_Veils said...

Hi, this is very interesting. Please explain "A trick us pumpers use is that between pumps we put our pump parts in the fridge in a Ziploc bag.". Does this mean instead of washing your pump after every use this is what you do? How sanitary is this? I'm exclusively pumping & washing my pump every 2 hours is becoming exhausting.

Sabrina_Veils said...

Hi, this is very interesting. Please explain "A trick us pumpers use is that between pumps we put our pump parts in the fridge in a Ziploc bag.". Does this mean instead of washing your pump after every use this is what you do? How sanitary is this? I'm exclusively pumping & washing my pump every 2 hours is becoming exhausting.

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Christine said...

I never heard of putting pump parts in the fridge between pumping, and then washing only once a day. My doula said that La Leche League maintains that you can skip one washing, as breastmilk will retain its anti-bacterial properties for eight hours. My solution was to buy a second set of pump parts, so I don't have to wash quite so often. It was worth the small cost. LLL also recommends "power pumping," i.e., keeping your pump around and doing 10 minutes sessions FREQUENTLY, which mimicks the baby's natural way of increasing your supply (by demanding short and frequent feeding sessions) before a growth spurt.

Unknown said...

Hi ,
These breast pumps are good for womens especially those which are working .

Ashley said...

I've been eping since my baby was a week old , He is almost a month old now and I pump every 4 hours usually getting 4 ounces out of each breast which is enough for two feedings. My baby eats about 3-4 oz every 3 hours or so. I knOw it says I should be pumping every 2-3 hours to establish good milk supply but I sEem to have a good supply. By pumping every 4 hours instead of every 2-3 hours will I lose my supply? I am always do stressed about losing my supply later even though I have an abundance now.

Unknown said...

If your baby isn't getting enough creamy hindmilk and you have plenty of milk on hand, you could make a bottle or two of extra creamy milk.

Put your milk in the fridge until the cream rises to the top. Then skim it off into a bottle, fill it with just enough hind milk for a feed and discard what's left over. It means throwing out good milk, but the cream:milk ratio would be higher.

Unknown said...

Hello this is good post from your side.

thank you so much....

Breast Pumps India

Unique said...

Putting pump parts that come into contact with milk in the fridge is to prevent germs etc. I'm glad I learned this trick straight away because sterilizing after ever pump no doubt would be exhausting