There are lots of reasons mothers decide to pump milk. Sometimes nursing is not going well, and so a mother decides to pump milk and then give it through a bottle. Other times women need or want to go back to work. For some women, pumping becomes necessary when their baby is in the NICU. Still others, cannot breastfeed due to medications they may be taking. They “pump and dump” to maintain their supply so they can breastfeed after they are finished with their medications. This is an article for women who have to (or choose to) pump for the long term.
Very few women who pump exclusively are able to keep up with their baby’s demands past 8-10 mos. However, any amount of breast milk you give your baby is beneficial. Before you can pump effectively, you need to understand the basics about breast milk and how it’s made.
First of all, lactation is a supply and demand relationship. You produce milk based on your baby’s demand. If you are pumping, your baby isn’t demanding milk–the pump is. It seems like a small difference, but your body does know the difference. Secondly, breastfeeding is a hormonal relationship. The “let down” reflex is caused by hormones induced by your response to your baby. You do not have a hormonal response to a pump. Finally, breast milk production also relies on your breasts being “emptied.” A pump is not as effective as emptying your breasts as a baby is. I don’t say this to tell you that you can’t pump, but if you are going to successfully pump breast milk for your baby long term, you have to understand these dynamics.
As soon as you know that you are going to be pumping for awhile, rent a hospital quality pump. Don’t bother going to the store. See a lactation consultant that will help you get a routine going. You need to pump about every 2 hours around the clock. This is about how often newborn babies eat.
If you are having trouble getting enough milk, try these tricks: look at a picture of your baby, or if possible pump near your baby. Even better, hold your baby while you pump. Also, unlike when you’re actually breastfeeding a baby, pumping on a strict schedule is helpful rather than harmful. It helps your body to know it’s “time” to produce milk.
If you want your baby to eventually feed at the breast, you can feed your baby through other things besides a bottle to avoid nipple confusion. You can try a medicine dropper or even a sippy cup with the spill prevention piece removed. However, with preemies, they need help sucking and so both a pacifier and bottle are recommended to help strengthen their muscles. The best way to get a preemie nursing at the breast is to get them strong enough to do so!
Know that once you bring your baby home, pumping is twice as hard as just feeding the baby. It is highly recommended that you get as much help as possible. You will also need to keep pumping every 2 hours to maintain your supply.
Some moms are never able to get their babies to nurse at the breast but are successful at pumping for several months. Remember that even if it doesn’t work out, you are still giving your baby the best nourishment possible for as long as possible.