Pumping Breastmilk for your New Baby

NurseJenIBCLC

3 days ago

3 min read

Some of the reasons we need to pump include:

Separated from baby after delivery. A baby normally gets a bolus of breast milk/colostrum from your breasts right after delivery. When mom is not feeling well or baby is transferred to the NICU, it's important to start pumping as soon as possible.
You have a history of PCOS, Gestational Diabetes, Hypothyroidism, Infertility, low milk supply with previous child, and other medical diagnoses.
The more you stimulate you stimulate your nipples, the more it sends a signal to your pituitary gland that says "make the milk". If you aren't consistently stimulating that hormone, your milk supply generally decreases significantly around month 2-3.
Baby is being supplemented with formula/donor milk, glucose is low, weight loss is above 10% within a few days, elevated bilirubin levels, not enought wet/dirty diapers, etc. Anytime baby is given a supplement, you need to pump for 15 minutes.

Here are the things to consider when pumping:

Using a heating pad or put your baby skin to skin (STS) on your chest prior to pumping
Gentle breast massage and compression during pumping can help milk flow
Changing up your pumping routine
Increasing calories and water intake (there is no magic red Gatorade)
Nipple stimulation or hand expression at random times throughout the day
After pumping, perform nipple stimulation or hand expression for 1-2 minutes
You need to start pumping under 6 hours after baby is born (best 1-6 hours after birth)

Pumping Option A:

Turn pump on fast mode for 2 minutes
Switch to slow mode for 4-5 minutes
Switch back to fast mode
Repeat for 15-20 minutes of pumping

Pumping Option B:

Pump at 9/12/3/6/9/
Then pump right before you go to bed (even if it’s only been 1-2 hours since your last pump)
Pump 1 time between 1am and 5am

Pumping Option C: (Spectra Pump)

Turn to Cycle 70 and L3 and above for 2 minutes.
Then switch to low mode L6 (or higher) Cycle 54
Switch to other settings to see if its more comfortable.
If milk slows quickly during stronger slower flow mode, switch back to fast for 2 minutes

Power Pumping:

Every few days do a power pumping session (not every day)
Do it when you are relaxed.
Turn on pump for 10 minutes, off for 10 minutes, on for 10 minutes for the duration of a longer show 😊

No pumping option is right for anyone.

Tips:

1. You will go through periods of higher milk supply and lower milk supply.

2. You make more milk in the morning than in the afternoon and evening.

3. One breast usually makes more milk.

4. Pumping longer does not always make things better.

5. Using coconut oil in your flanges can help your nipples avoid damage.

6. If you milk still has ice crystal in it, it can be refrozen

7. Don’t throw milk out or pump and dump for mediations, call me first.

8. If you are doing a pitcher method, make sure to cool your milk down to the same temperature

9. Even bottle fed babies go through cluster feeding days. It’s their drink and their dinner.

10. Sometimes you need to change flange sizes, it’s not always about the measurements, it’s about comfort and what flange helps you make the most milk production.

Some supplements that may increase lactation: