Breast Pumping Tips and Info

Sex and breastfeeding?
Yes, we will be (un)covering this question very soon.

Time of pumping matters
• The time of day affect your quantity of milk. Generally, you milk supply is greater in the morning and decreases throughout the day. If your pumping late in the day you may notice you pump less - this is to be expected. Try and get into a regular pattern for you pumping. If you pump at the same times each day your body will adapt and will tend to produce more milk around the pumping time.

Are you using your breast pump correctly?
• Is your nipple centered on the flange? If you have very large nipples, you can order a bigger flange. Some brands offer a flange insert you could try for smaller nipples (my friend did this with a Medela breast pump). You can also wet the flange to create a stronger seal. Try massaging and/or applying a heat pad to your breasts before pumping.

Imagine your with baby when pumping
• Many women find that imagining they are with their baby when pumping will give them a much faster letdown. Looking at a picture of baby can help as can smelling an article of baby's clothing while pumping. Some women will call home and ask to 'speak' with their baby. Just hearing the huff and puff of baby's breath on the phone is often enough to facilitate letdown.

Take care of YOURSELF
• Drink plenty of water. You may not feel thirsty, but your body needs extra fluid to produce baby's milk. Try and drink regular glasses of water each hour. Whenever I forgot to drink water my milk supply dropped off significantly. Get plenty of sleep. One of the advantages of using a breast pump is storage of milk. If your baby drinks from a bottle, have baby's dad take over feeding so that you can nap. My husband took care of 90% of my first childs feeding - using my pumped milk.

Try alternative methods for increase milk supply.
• Herbs can make a huge difference in your milk supply. I used Chamomile while I pumped with my first child and had more milk than I knew what to do with. Meditation and other relaxation techniques not only help you fee well rested, but they can also help you pump more if you practice. Aromatherapy has been used with success by many women. A visitor to this web site told me that her Chiropracter said her back was out of align. After a few visits she noticed that her milk supply went way up. She asked the Chiropracter and he said it is very likely a slightly pinced nerve in her spine was affecting her milk output.