Why Pump? How Do I Pump?
The purpose of pumping/expressing is to remove milk from your breasts. This is done for several reasons:
- Your baby isn't doing it at all for that particular feeding (baby in the NICU, you're back to work, etc.)
- Your baby isn't removing all of the milk for that feeding (sleepy or tired baby)
- You want/need to increase your milk production (you're not making all the milk your baby needs or you want to make extra milk for storing)
Dr. Jane Morton has a wonderful video on Stanford University's website. This method of hands-on pumping is the best way to pump. You will maximize your efforts as well as increase your milk production. Dr. Christina Smillie, breastfeeding medicine specialist, says that breasts that make milk can make more milk. Massaging and compressing while pumping as well as hand expression all serve you well by getting more milk out.
More Milk Out = More Milk Made
Watch Hands-on Pumping Video
Dr. Morton: "If you only relied on the machine and not your hands at all, how much milk do you think the machine alone will get out of your breasts?"
Mother #1: "Half"
Mother #2: "Just as much with hand expression as I had already gotten with the pump."
How many times a day do I need to pump?
Pump or breastfeed 8 times every 24 hours. You may divide your pumpings up however you wish as long as you don't go more than 4-5 hours without either pumping or breastfeeding.
Hand Expression is a major part of increasing your milk production.
Milk Storage
Wait...before you buy a pump. After you deliver, your insurance company may give you a pump.
If there are any medical reasons for you or your baby, the lactation consultant in the hospital will request a pump for you.
Medical Reasons for a Breast Pump:
1. Painful latch
2. Damaged nipples
3. Premature or near term baby
4. Baby not latching
5. Difficult or complicated delivery
6. Prior breast surgery
7. Above average weight loss for baby
8. Baby small or large for gestational age
9. Jaundiced baby
10. Medical conditions--you or baby
If you are pumping in the first 4-6 weeks to build up your milk production, you need to rent a hospital-grade pump. The Medela Pump in Style is designed to maintain your production, not build it.
Taking a lecithin supplement will help your baby get more fat from your pumped milk.