I personally liked to pump while watching my favorite sitcoms. Preparing a snack before I started, so I wouldn’t have to be disturbed when I was in the zone.Making sure I was seated in an ergonomic way (having a comfortable chair that will allow you to lean forward is a must).Creating my own favorite pumping spot that I would return to each time to pump.Listening to calming music (or an audio galactagogue).Some of my favorite ways to keep relaxed when I was breastfeeding or pumping were: Relaxation will help your milk flow freely. Having an underactive or overactive thyroid can cause less milk, as can breast surgeries, poly-cystic ovary syndrome, birth control methods, medications, herbs, and not pumping or breastfeeding frequently enough. By knowing what can affect production, you can stay on track, especially during difficult times. Knowing what can alter your milk production will put the power back into your hands. You should also be cautious about measuring your nipple size immediately after pumping, as your nipples and areola will still be enlarged, and could result in you choosing a much larger breast shield than you actually need.Įditor's Note: Michelle Roth, BA, IBCLC 8. Once you have the correct fit, your nipples will be centered in the breast shield tunnel and be able to freely move during pumping (4). ![]() And you may end up with swelling and even bruising of the areola because too much breast tissue is pulled into the pump. If you choose breast shields that are too big, your breast may not fully drain either. Plus, it can clog your milk ducts, hindering your milk drainage, which is exactly what you don’t want when you are trying to pump more milk. If you choose a breast shield that’s too small, it’s going to feel like you’ve been using sandpaper on your nipples after a few minutes because the nipple is rubbing against the plastic. The breast shield should fit over your nipple and form a seal around your areola. The main rule you need to know about breast shields is that they aren’t based on the size of your breasts - but rather the size of your nipples. If you don’t have properly-fitting shields, you are setting yourself up for pain and failure. Make Sure The Breast Shields Fitīreast shields – sometimes referred to as flanges – are a critical part of the breast pump. That pain may make you skip or shorten sessions, which will hurt your milk supply. Also, you want to be sure you’ve got the pump put together right so the suction works effectively. If you don’t, you could cause yourself some unnecessary pain. Read the instructions carefully before you operate yours. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen moms on the forums talking about getting their expression mode mixed up with the massage mode, or not even realizing their pump had certain features they had been looking for. ![]() This might sound obvious to you, but all pumps are different. Increased milk-producing hormones means a bigger milk supply. Pumping both breasts at once increases the level of prolactin, a hormone responsible for milk production. Your health insurance may cover the cost of the pump, so don’t forget to check your plan guidelines (1). Your insurance provider may have several pumps to choose from, so be sure to do your homework to learn the pros and cons of each. ![]() Get the best possible model you can afford. Higher-end models have better features to make pumping as efficient and painless as possible, like customizable suction levels, massage modes, and variable speed settings. If you skip breast pumping sessions because they’re painful, your milk supply will suffer. ![]() You don’t want to entrust your boobs to a piece of plastic that will feel like a torture device. Here are some tips to get you through the difficult task of selecting the right pump: 1. Without a breast pump, you’re going to be in pain, frustrated and producing such a small quantity of milk, you’ll need to squint to see if there’s any in the bottle. You need the right equipment - the best breast pump - at your side. You wouldn’t try to change a tire without the proper equipment, right? Because that would be insane - you’d be setting yourself up for failure.īreastfeeding is kind of like that.
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