Exclusive Pumping
Exclusive Pumping Challanges
Mums who are exclusively pumping face challenges such as timing of pumping and having enough milk ready for the next feed. In that regard a lot of Mums will try to get a bit of a stash going so that can stay a few feeds ahead of time in order to relieve that time pressure.
Some Mums report issues with letting down for the pump rather than the baby directly. This is because when a baby sucks at the breast we release oxytocin which is responsible for the letdown of milk. It’s a lot harder to have an oxytocin letdown for a pump than the baby. So, in order to combat that, look at your baby while you pump. Smell something of theirs, cuddle them if you can, even pop them skin to skin with you! If you are at work, you can record a gorgeous video of them smiling and cooing and watch that while you pump. Pumping at work requires that you feel safe as well so a locked door and safe comfortable space to pump is important and your legal right in Australia!
Another tip is to pop a pair of socks over the pumps so you can’t see the output! A bit like the theory of a watched pot never boils, staring at the pump and hoping for a letdown can sometimes turns everything off. You can also pop some ear pods in and listen to some music if the sound of the pumps isn’t enjoyable to you.
Sometimes supply challenges can be present. This can be related to the baby usually does a better job of extracting milk from the breast than the pump. Often when Mums are pumping, they are doing it to a set schedule whereas babies usually feed at all different times of the day, sometimes hourly, sometimes bigger breaks, some cluster feeding and witching hours in the afternoons are all common baby behaviour. Trying to replicate that with your pump rather than staying on exact schedules can help. This mimics what the baby would otherwise do. Therefore, power pumping becomes the equivalent cluster feeding.
What Type of Pump?
There are a ton of pumps on the market! It can become very confusing. Pump needs vary ranging for pumps for occasional pumpers to heavy duty pumps for exclusive pumpers. Consider where and when you are pumping. Do you want to be hands free? Hands free is great for convenience but they tend not to be as strong as powered pumps. If you are exclusive pumping at home, a stronger pump that plugs into the wall may be better for your overall output. You may even have one of each, an on the go pump and a main powerful pump for at home and swap between the two styles depending on your schedule.
Flange size is really important. A lot of pumps come with a 24mm flange, but in my experience the majority of women are not that size and need a new flange size. When you pump, your nipple should be drawn into the flange but not your areola. It should glide in and out easily, not feel like you are experiencing any bruising. Your nipple should also not rub against the flange walls as that can damage your nipple tissue. You can measure the diameter of your nipple but some Mums find that it also increases in size with pumping, so you may consider trialling a few sizes until you find a perfect fit for you.
What else is useful?
Pump parts need to be changed more frequently for an exclusive pumper than the occasional pumper so keep an eye on your duckbills, valves, any moisture in the tubing means the tubes need replacing. If you notice you’re not getting as much milk, try replacing your parts and see if your output increases. Similarly, if you are given a pump from a friend, replace all the parts before you start.
If you are handsfree pumping, a pumping bra may be useful in holding your pumps in place while you are handsfree. Make sure any bras fit snug but in no way cause too much pressure or cut into your breasts as that pressure could lead to pain, blockages or even mastitis.
There are many milk storage bag options including disposable and reusable options on the market. For comfort, some Mums find a little bit of lanolin around the nipple can help with comfort while pumping.
If you are pumping at work and bringing milk home at the end of the day, then a cooler bag with ice packs for transporting milk home is essential. If you are taking items to daycare, make sure everything is labelled clearly so there are no mix-ups.
Another challenge is all the stuff to clean and sanitise can be a challenge. Ideally having a second set of all of your parts ready to use while another set is cleaning can be a great way to not get stressed trying to clean things right as you need to use them!
Having a pumping station ready to go can be helpful too. All your parts, bags, chargers ready and plugged in, water, snacks all on hand can be a great time saver.
Hygiene is really important when pumping. Wash your hands before you start. Keep all of your parts clean. Correctly storing milk depending on when you are using it next. Write the date and the amount of milk on the bags so you know what to defrost first. Additionally, some Mums will store differing quantities of milk so that you can have some more full feed bags and some smaller amount bags for little top-ups when the baby just wants a little more rather than another full feed.
REMEMBER!
Exclusive pumping is absolutely still breastfeeding. Don’t compare yourself to other Mums! Your output is not the only thing that matters. Remember you are providing your baby with amazing nutrition and you are doing great job. You are doing what is right for you and that is all that matters.
If you need help, reach out to an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) for help. IBCLC are there to support you and ALL feeding journeys.