Pointers for Pumping

by Kathy Moren RN, BSN, IBCLC

I have seen such an abundance of patients with problems related to pumping this past month, that I feel compelled to write about it. I am hoping to prevent those reading this from any issues over the holidays, so that you can enjoy your baby and time with your family. Please forgive the bullet points but I could go on and on! I think this will be the most succinct way to get my ideas across. This information is for women with no issues that have a newborn baby that is successfully nursing.

● In the beginning, you do not need to pump. Your mantra should be to “pump for comfort only.” If you are uncomfortable, pump just enough to give yourself relief. I am okay with you feeling heavy, but not hard. If you get engorged when your milk comes in, it might be the only time you get a little extra milk in the beginning.

● Pumping to drain your breasts at this stage will result in your body thinking it has twins to feed and a subsequent uncomfortable increase in your supply that will require you to pump in addition to nursing. It is not a good problem to have.

● Your newborn baby should nurse from both breasts at each feeding. Do not feed from one breast and save milk from the other for a later date. Your baby needs that milk now and will not gain weight appropriately if you do that. If you are working with us, we will make sure you have a great stash of milk in the freezer when the time is right. The early newborn period is not a time to stash milk.

● The speed of the pump generally doesn’t bother women, it is the suction/pressure that does. Pump on the highest speed so you get the job done quickly.

● Always massage with pumping. Don’t hurt yourself but don’t be delicate either. Press and hold different areas of your breasts until the milk stops spraying and your breasts feel soft. This works particularly well in the underarm area. Massage helps to increase your supply and get the job done efficiently.

● Pumping is not supposed to hurt. It should not be torture. You should pump only on the highest suction that is comfortable for you. Dial it down if it is at all uncomfortable and let your nipples heal.

● If you are in pain when pumping, your body has pain response, not the warm fuzzy hormonal lactation response we want. This will cause you to produce less milk.

● If you have any nipple discomfort, lanolin or any nipple ointment and Medela Tendercare Hydrogels will heal them right up very quickly. Wear the hydrogels 24/7, except when feeding or pumping and keep them in the fridge. Send someone to Target or Walmart to get them ASAP. Don’t wait for Amazon prime. You can thank me later!!

● If you are comfortable pumping, increase the suction to the highest suction that is comfortable for you. Moms often never increase it and could. This will get the job done much quicker, and can be done as long as you are not in pain.

● Pumping longer is not better, pumping more frequently is. The frequency will increase your supply if necessary.

● NEVER judge your milk supply by what you get out of the pump. What matters most is how your baby is behaving. Is he voiding and stooling, mostly happy, having periods of sound sleep, acting like a drunk sailor after the feeding? Is this week better than last? If the answer is yes, you are doing fine!

● The amount pumped at each session is not an indication of an increase or decrease in supply. There are way too many variables at play-the type of pump, how long ago your baby last fed and how well he did, how well hydrated you are, and if you are in pain, to name a few. Be happy with whatever amount you get and save it for later.

● The Rumina bra is my favorite hands free pumping bra. A must for working women to prevent undressing and dressing, but equally nice for Mom’s at home.

● When freezing excess milk, do so in 3 oz increments, as that is probably how much your baby will take in his first bottle.

● Freeze milk in bags and lay the bags flat in a gift bag for easy storage. This is a great video about my favorite way to do it!

● Always use your oldest milk first.

● Here a link to an easy chart you can cut out and put on your fridge that lets you know how long your milk is good for if it is fresh, frozen or thawed.

● If using a Spectra pump, please remember that when you turn it on, it will always start on the highest suction that you left it on when you turned it off.

● Tubing does not need to be washed. If you are using your pump correctly, no milk gets in the tubing.

● Wash pump parts once daily. The rest of the time, rinse with cold water to remove the milk and hot water to “sterilize”. Lay them on a drying rack or paper towel to dry. It is okay to use the parts if they are not dry.

● If you get condensation in your tubing, run your pump without the parts attached to the tubing for 5 minutes. The air running through the tubing will dry it out.

● Do not use any other pump parts except the ones made by the manufacturer for your pump - Medela parts with a Medela pump, Spectra parts with a Spectra pump, Ameda parts with an Ameda pump. Pumps might “work” with a different manufacturer’s parts, but they are biomedically engineered to work with only the parts that come with it. Your supply will be affected. Often women assume it is their body’s fault, and not the pumps!

● Avoid using extra attachments that are supposed to make your pumping experience easier. If they are not made by the pump manufacturer, don’t use them. It will affect your supply. They will often advertise that they are compatible with multiple pump brands.

● Once your baby has gone through the 3 week growth spurt, you can start pumping once daily after the first morning feeding to start to stash milk in the freezer. Be happy with whatever you get. You are training your body to produce a little extra milk in the morning. There is no wrong amount. As your baby grows and starts sleeping longer at night, you will get more milk in the morning.

● Don’t pump for a specific amount of time or to get a certain amount of milk. There will almost always be drops of milk still coming out. Stop pumping when your breasts feel soft.

Lastly, do some research and decide what pump you want before you have your baby. Contact your insurance plan to find out where to get it. If you have BCBS or Tufts you can get it here. Don’t let a durable medical equipment provider tell you which pump you can have. They should offer options and you should have time to make an educated decision. Unfortunately, once you open the pump, it is yours to keep. So please make sure you feel well informed and good about your choice. And know that if we see you after your baby is born, we will make sure you know how to use it!