As a new mom learning the ropes of motherhood, pumping breast milk can seem like a challenge you’re not ready for. In today’s blog, we will understand Breast Pumping and how to approach it the right way for happy mothers and healthy babies.
What is breast pumping?
Breast pumping is when you express breastmilk using a breast pump as opposed to a baby nursing and latching on from the breasts. Some mothers choose to pump breast milk if they cannot always be near their baby for feeding on demand or if the baby has latching issues.
Mummy Stephanie is wearing it Skye Pump Bra.
Mothers also use breast milk pumping for the following reasons:
- If they have an oversupply of milk and the baby is not emptying the breasts, mothers pump to relieve from the breasts.
- For some women, pumping can also help build milk supply.
- Mothers can continue to work knowing that their baby will still get breast milk while they are gone.
- The father or other caregiver gets the opportunity to take the feeding time with pumped breastmilk and use it as an opportunity to bond with the baby.
- Pumped breastmilk can be used for night feeds that give new mothers uninterrupted sleep while other caregivers handle nighttime duties.
What are the benefits of breast pumping?
Breast milk is the best form of nutrition for babies. It is a complete food for babies in the first six months of their life. In a situation where it is not possible for a mother to breastfeed her baby, breast pumping is the second best option.
Like breastfeeding, breast pumping also releases the hormone oxytocin in the mother’s body. This helps her manage her postpartum emotions better and feel happy and relaxed. Breast pumping also promotes body recovery and helps you get back to normal after giving birth. Regular breast pumping also helps with pregnancy weight loss.
Breast milk is full of nutrients and contains the fats, vitamins, minerals, and proteins necessary for your baby’s health. Breast milk also contains antibodies that help boost the baby’s immunity. It is also gentle on the baby’s digestive system and breastfed babies are less likely to experience colic. Expressed breast milk provides all these benefits for the baby.
Therefore, many mothers choose to pump breast milk in situations where breastfeeding is not possible.
How do breast pumps work?
Breast pumps from different manufacturers can be slightly different from each other. However, all good quality breast pumps have one main common feature – their pumping function mimics a baby’s sucking to draw breast milk.
When a baby sucks, he doesn’t do it in a constant pattern. A breastfeeding session usually consists of short, fast feeds and slow, long feeds. A breast pump does the same by alternating movements.
At the beginning of a breast pumping session, the pump stimulates the breasts with rapid suction movements. It activates the nerves in the breasts and releases oxytocin. Oxytocin signals the mother’s milk production and the milk starts to flow out. This is known as the let-down phase.
After the let-down phase, the expression phase begins. At this stage, the pump draws milk in a slower motion. However, this stage takes longer. A container attached to the pump will begin collecting breast milk.
Most electric breast pumps are programmed to mimic the movements and functions of a baby as described above. Breast pumps also have flanges. The flanges are attached to the breasts reflecting the attachment of a baby. It acts as a shield and helps express milk easily with the help of a pump. Knowing how your breast pump works by carefully reading the user manual will help you use the pump the right way.
How to make breast pumping more comfortable?
Breast pumping may not seem like a very fun activity. However, it shouldn’t hurt either. If you are experiencing pain, you need to stop and examine the cause of the pain. If you experience pain even after the first 10 to 15 seconds of pumping, you need to stop the pump and investigate the cause of the pain.
The most common cause of pain is the wrong size of flanges. They can make pumping painful. The other reason is if the flanges are not attached correctly.
If you experience pain, check the flange size. If the size is okay, remove and reattach the flange so that the nipple is centered. This makes pumping easier.
If you’re still experiencing pain and discomfort, you can ask a lactation consultant who can help you navigate breast pumping.
Sometimes, pain during breast pumping can be caused due to an uncomfortable speed and level of suction. For this, you should check the pump settings and find out which speed levels and suction levels work for you.
Once you know the desirable settings for your breast pump, it’s just a matter of attaching the flanges and letting the pump do its job. But whether you’re pumping breast milk at work or from the comfort of your home, a specially designed pumping bra can make things easier for you.
Mummy Shermaine is wearing it Skye Pump Bra.
The Skye Pump Bra from Lovemère is our first pump bra made to give you maximum comfort during pumping. It has adjustable straps that support your breasts while pumping and help you attach the flanges perfectly. It gives you a complete hands-free pumping experience so you can multitask while expressing milk.
When can you start breast pumping?
You can start pumping breast as soon as possible after giving birth. Some mothers prefer not to start pumping until such time as they can breastfeed directly. Some mothers prefer to start earlier so that both mother and baby can get used to pumping and expressing milk.
In other words, it is completely up to you.
However, soon after delivery, you can expect to pump only a small amount of colostrum (the first milk) at first.
Some mothers whose babies are not latching on correctly may want to pump earlier and more often to build up the milk supply. This is to ensure that their baby continues to get enough breast milk. However, since every woman’s body is different, it can vary from mother to mother.
Although you can pump at any time of the day, early mornings are usually when you’ll get the most milk supply. You can stick to a pumping schedule that works best for you and your other priorities. A set pumping schedule will help you maintain a longer supply.
Some tips for breast pumping
Below are some tips for breast pumping that will help you pump comfortably.
- Do your research before buying a breast pump that works for you. Since there are many electric pumps available in the market, choose the one that suits your needs after research.
- Read the user manual carefully to understand how the pump works. Every bomb is different. Take the time to understand how it needs to be set up.
- Disinfect and sterilize breast pump parts before you use them. The instruction manual will tell you how to do it the right way. Continue to clean and sterilize parts between pumping sessions, too.
- Dressed well pumping bra can make pumping sessions more comfortable. It will also help you pump on the go.
- Find yourself a comfortable place for pumping. Thinking about your baby or looking at a picture of your baby can further promote the release of oxytocin and help improve your milk supply.
- When you pump, make sure both breasts are empty. It usually takes about 20-30 minutes to empty a breast. However, this again can vary for different women.
Even though we are finding more and more support for breastfeeding from all corners, breast pumping is often pushed aside. Recognizing the need for mothers to have more flexibility to take care of their other priorities such as work, we need to normalize breast pumping.
Just as a mother can breastfeed her baby anywhere, breast pumping should also be normalized to the extent that mothers can pump anywhere they want (nursing cover helps!) They are after all just trying to make food for their babies!
Remember that pumping gets easier once you get used to it. Hang in there and know you’re doing your best.
ps Make yourself comfortable with our full range of nursing bras too, if you are latching at the same time. Have a great postpartum experience with us.
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