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Dear Kathleen- Leakies ask an IBCLC

December 4, 2013 by 2 Comments
Daily, we receive hundreds of emails and messages from Leakies looking for help and information in their breastfeeding journey.  As so many seek support from us, we are so honored to have the support of Kathleen Huggins, IBCLC and author of The Nursing Mothers’ Companion.  Kathleen is jumping on board with The Leaky Boob to have a regular article answering Leaky questions every month.  The questions will be selected from the huge pool we get in every day to try and help cover the wide range of topics about which Leakies are asking.  These questions are from real moms and represent hundreds of requests for more information in the past two weeks.  Please understand that this is simply the professional opinion of one International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in an informal setting and is not intended to replace the care of a health care provider.  Kathleen is offering support and information, not diagnosing or prescribing treatment.  For your health and safety, please seek the care of a qualified physician and/or IBCLC.  Kathleen does have limited availability for phone or online consultations, see her website for more information.

Dear Kathleen,

After pumping, is it ok to feed the baby that milk and then if baby doesn’t finish to save the rest by putting it in the fridge?

Thanks!

Bewildered in pumping land

 

 

Hi Bewildered!

Pretty hard to work to express milk for your baby and then have to toss it out!  Some health care providers say to dump partially drank bottles, or give it at the next feeding.  I think that placing back an unfinished bottle of breast milk back into the refrigerator is just fine. I would suggest removing the nipple and screwing on a clean lid to keep the bacteria from the baby’s mouth to a minimum.  By using a fresh nipple for the next feed you will keep more germs from mixing in with that bottle of milk. I would recommend using the milk within the next 24 hours.  One very small study of just a few moms found that milk could be placed in the refrigerator for up to 36 hours at 4-6 degree Centigrade.  Storing milk in the back of the refrigerator is recommended. If you use the milk a second time, and there is still leftover milk, it is probably best to dump it out.  When milk has gone bad, it does have a rancid smell.

When pumping or feeding your baby a bottle, be sure to always start by washing your hands well.  Also, make sure that all of the pump parts are washed thoroughly in warm soapy water or in a dishwasher and if wet, left to dry on a clean paper towel. Also, try and store just small amount of milk for your baby; maybe just 2-3 ounces per bag or bottle. In that way, there will be less leftover milk to deal with.Hi Bewildered!  Pretty hard to work to express milk for your baby and then have to toss it out!  Some health care providers say to dump partially drank bottles, or give it at the next feeding, but I think that placing back an unfinished bottle of breast milk back into the refrigerator is just fine. I would suggest removing the nipple and screwing on a clean lid to keep the bacteria from the baby’s mouth to a minimum.  By using a fresh nipple for the next feed you will keep more germs from mixing in with that bottle of milk. I would recommend using the milk within the next 24 hours.  One very small study of just a few moms found that milk could be placed in the refrigerator for up to 36 hours at 4-6 degree Centigrade.  Storing milk in the back of the refrigerator is recommended. If you use the milk a second time, and there is still leftover milk, it is probably best to dump it out.  When milk has gone bad, it does have a rancid smell.

Happy pumping,

Kathleen

 

TLB meme breastmilk storage

 

Dear Kathleen,

As a first time mommy (I have a two week old girl), I’m really struggling to seek out why things to happen and don’t happen… maybe you can help? 

To make a long story short, I wanted to nurse my little one since day one she was born. However, I have flat nipples so not only was it extremely painful when she would latch on, but it was also challenging, frustrating and depressing because I refused to even give her a bit of formula. The pain was so strong when she would latch that I would cry every single time and I knew she could feel my frustration because she would stop and look at me. I even dreaded watching the clock because I knew that in a few minutes it was going to be time to nurse again. As the days passed, my baby lost almost 3 pounds under her birth weight because I thought she was getting enough milk from me but it turns out I was barely making any. That made me so sad; I felt like a HORRIBLE mother so because I wanted her to get better, my husband and I decided we give her formula. After she gained a few pounds (almost back to her birth weight), I tried nursing her AND giving her formula but she would no longer latch on to me. She obviously likes the bottle nipple better because she can actually latch on without struggling. I tried everything I could. I’ve tried pumping and nothing comes out. Maybe one drop– if not, two. I’m honestly broken yet content she’s healthy once again. I’ve humbly given up on nursing because my husband and I feel it’s the healthiest decision for her and I. She won’t get frustrated and I won’t dread seeing her precious innocent face. We’re just bottle feeding her now but a lot of questions are going through my mind such as will be baby still be healthy with formula?

I did everything I could and I STILL am. Even though my milk is drying, I’m striving to keep it going by taking some pills that will help my milk come down. I’m doing this with the hope that once my milk comes down FULLY, I’ll be able to pump and mix it with her formula. 

I welcome your advice and encouragement. 

Love,

Disappointed but hopeful

 

 

Hello Disappointed,

I am sorry that you didn’t get the help you needed and suffered so much both physically and emotionally.  Unfortunately at this point, with your milk nearly gone, you need to make a final decision.

I do have questions for you, but in this Q&A format, I can only wonder.  Did your breasts grew during pregnancy?  Is less than an inch of space between them?  If the answers to these questions is no, then you may have insufficient glandular tissue which limits the amount of milk that can be produced.  That could explain the initial weight loss.

Yes, you can relactate but that takes a lot of time and effort and, in my opinion, you need to make a commitment to either go full steam ahead or let it go.  If you decide to relactate, you will need a rental grade pump and pump at least 8 times every 24 hours including during the night, using a double pump kit for about 15-20 minutes.   While some people may suggest teas, cookies and other herbs such as fenugreek, I think you need bigger guns!  You should consider taking the medication Motilium (Domperidone) that is available through compounding pharmacies with a prescription from your OB or midwife. If you are going to get some, I would suggest getting a month’s worth to start.  The typical starting dose is 30 mgms three times a day but can be increased to 40 mgms four times a day.  You can read more about taking Motilium on Dr. Jack Newman’s website.  Understand that pills, or herbs alone will not restart your production.  Your breasts must be stimulated and drained at least eight times each 24 hours.

If you start the Motilium and want to get more, it may be less expensive ordering it on-line through a New Zealand pharmacy.  There is a less expensive version, Domperon (a generic) that is $.12 per pill.  Under the care of your health care provider and with a prescription you can order Domperon online and delivery takes about 10-14 days to get a shipment.

Being only 2 weeks into this, unless you have insufficient glandular tissue, I think you could bring back your supply with the medication and pumping.  If you decide to move forward and your milk supply is equal to what your baby requires, about 3-4 ounces per feeding, I would urge you to consider an appointment with an experienced lactation consultant. Who knows, your baby may be able to nurse completely or with a formula supplement!

While breastmilk is the biological norm for human infants, your baby needs food and formula will provide her with the nutrition she needs.  What are missing are the live cells that protect her from illness and certain other factors in breast milk that protect against other conditions. As you are finding out, formula is also quite expensive.

While nursing is a loving and bonding experience, you can capture some of this with bottle-feeding. Please be sure to always hold your baby for feedings.  It isn’t long before babies can hold their own bottles and so many bottle-feeding parents take advantage of this.  Bottle-feeding requires both hands and I believe a majority of mothers hand over the bottle to the baby as soon as the baby can hold his own bottle. I think this allows the baby to bond with the bottle instead of their parents.  This may also be the reason that so many bottle-fed babies become overfed and overweight.  Parents simply fill the bottles to the top and the baby just sucks it down.  Consider trying baby-led bottle feeding if you need to continue with bottles and here’s some information about bottle feeding the breastfed baby.

So now the decision is up to you.  I know you will decide what is right for you and your baby, no matter which way you go.

All the best,

Kathleen

 

 

Kathleen-Higgins Kathleen Huggins RN IBCLC, has a Master’s Degree in Perinatal Nursing from U.C. San  Francisco, founded the Breastfeeding Warmline, opened one of the first breastfeeding clinics in  the United States, and has been helping breastfeeding mothers professionally for 33 years.  Kathleen  authored The Nursing Mother’s Companion in 1986 followed by The Nursing Mother’s Guide to Weaning.  Kathleen has also co-authored Nursing Mother, Working Mother with Gale Pryor, Twenty Five Things Every Breastfeeding Mother Should Know and The Nursing Mothers’ Breastfeeding Diary with best-friend, Jan Ellen Brown.  The Nursing Mothers’ Companion has also been translated into Spanish.  Mother of two now grown children, Kathleen retired from hospital work in 2004 and after beating breast cancer opened and currently runs Simply MaMa, her own maternity and breastfeeding boutique.  She continues to support breastfeeding mothers through her store’s “breastaurant,” online at The Leaky Boob, and in private consultations.  

 

 

Filed Under: Article, Articles from the professional experts, Bottle Feeding, Breastfeeding, breastfeeding difficulties, breastfeeding help, breastfeeding support, breastmilk pumping, breastpump, Featured, formula, Pumping, relactating, Relational Resource Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Valentine’s Day Giveaway from Rumina

February 14, 2013 by
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Rumina, TLB sponsor from way back, would like to make this day a little more fun by giving you a chance to win one of their muli-function tops: the Rumina Hands-Free Pump&Nurse Tank.  In a brief interview below, the sisters behind Rumina, Amanda and Dawn, one expecting her first baby, the other 3 months post-partum, share with our readers some thoughts on how babies change your life, and in honor of the Holiday, they describe both their ideal night out and their favorite cheap date.  Enter for your chance to enter the giveaway below.  

Three women of Rumina

TLB:  Amanda, with expecting your first little one, what aspects of becoming a mother make you nervous?

Amanda:   It would probably be the planning for the unexpected, and how can you really plan for that? I’ve been a planner with set time frames and goals for a lot of big aspects of my life, school, my previous career, finances but the one thing my fiancé and I were not planning at the time was a baby. Now I find myself switching gears and trying to create a plan for our baby and I know that the ideas and expectations I have will probably go out the window as soon as the little guy arrives. I hear they have an amazing ability to completely change your life. As a planner, not knowing what that change will look like makes me a little nervous but I’m also really excited. I know I’ll have a lot of help and support around me to take care of the little guy, and I’m so excited to be a mom. So if there’s time to learn to embrace living in the moment, it’ll be when he arrives.

TLB:  Dawn, three months into adding a little one to your family, how does big brother show affection to his new little sister?

Dawn:  This has been a big change for Bryce.  He has had 5 years of undivided attention from my husband and I.  At first, he would just look at her and ask each day, “is she big yet” as he wants to play!  Now, 3 months in, Bryce has to hug and kiss her before he goes to bed each night and is upset if this is missed.  We have also caught him lightly tickling her and say, “who’s the cutest baby” in a baby voice.  My son has a very good heart.  I know that as the days pass, the bond with them will continue to deepen.

TLB:  Dawn and Amanda, describe your ideal romantic date.

Amanda:  Right now, being 6 months and still childless, I think I would have to stretch the ideal romantic date into an ideal romantic weekend. My fiancé and I live in the Pacific Northwest right on the border of Washington and Idaho, we have beautiful  resorts overlooking the mountains and lakes. I think it would be great to have a nice dinner and splurge on a overnight stay in a room with a view. Then before we jumped in the car for the drive home he would “surprise” me with a pregnancy massage in the resorts spa. Now that sounds ideal.

Dawn:  LOL, date?  what is a date?  I used to fantasize about places like Fiji and my husband and I used to travel all over and dance Argentine Tango… man those were the days.  Now I just fantasize about drinking coffee on a Sunday morning without anyone saying my name for 2 hours.  🙂  Ok, if I was to really think hard, my ideal date would be to go wine tasting either at our local wineries or up in Napa like we used to.

TLB:  Dawn and Amanda, describe your favorite cheap date night in.

Amanda:   Our cheap date night, which doesn’t happen very often even for a cheap date, is usually an outing at the dollar movie theatre. In our area we have a dollar theatre that shows movies usually already available for rental but still cheaper than renting. We usually pick up a few candies and sneak them into the theatre too, we’re those kind of people. It’s nice feeling like its still a date without spending $30.00 just to watch a movie.

Dawn –  Our cheap date night was really a date afternoon.  This was before Beth was born and we just had our son.  When our son was at school, we would steal away to the movies for an afternoon show.  Matinees are much cheaper and less crowded!  (of course, I had to play hooky from my day job)!

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 Dawn and Amanda are giving away one Rumina Hands-Free Pump&Nurse Tank to 3 lucky Leakies! 
Winners choose the style, size and color of their choice!

Here’s what you’re getting in the Rumina Hands-Free Pump&Nurse Tank: 

One Tank. Three Essential Functions. The perfect layer for a busy mom’s lifestyle, Rumina Hands-Free Pump&Nurse Tanks have a built-in bra that allows for effortless pumping and nursing without sacrificing shape and support. No longer do moms have to remember an extra garment to change into to pump, Rumina’s tanks offer all day support under your favorite blouses or shirts. With extra length for fashion and layering, Rumina’s tanks provide complete coverage and the soft knit blend of 90% Cotton and 10% Lycra, stretches and recovers to adjust to a new mom’s changing body. Rumina’s Hands-Free Pump&Nurse Tanks take the extra steps and time out of pumping!  Retail Value: $48.00

Styles Full Coverage and Classic Coverage Tanks

Currently Leakies can find Rumina’s Hands-Free Pump&Nurse Tanks, in both Classic Coverage and Full Coverage styles at www.ruminaformoms.com.

_________________________

Good luck to everyone!  Please use the widget below to be entered.  The giveaway is open from Feb. 14th 2013 through Feb. 20 2013.  A big thanks to Dawn and Amanda and Rumina Nursingwear for their ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women; please be sure to visit their Facebook page  or follow them on twitter  (@RuminaAmanda on Twitter) and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity.

This giveaway is restricted to U.S. residents only.

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Pumping 201- working, exclusively pumping, volume, and weaning

October 22, 2012 by
Breast pump, Hospital grade breastpump

Hygeia EnDeare

by Star Rodriguiz, IBCLC
Previously, in Pumping 101, we talked about some basic pumping tips.  In this article, we’ll look at pumping when you return to work or school and pumping exclusively, either by choice or for a health condition. Hopefully, these tips will help anyone facing these situations to successfully provide breastmilk for their child(ren).  Just like before, if a certain situation applies or doesn’t apply to you, feel free to skip to or past it.  

 

Working

This is probably the most common reason that I see for pumping.  Although we touched on it a little in the last article, we’ll go a bit more in-depth here.

First, know that federal law provides all overtime eligible workers (so, typically, anyone on an hourly salary) with the right to pump at work.  You are required to be given a private place that is not a bathroom to pump and reasonable amounts of time to do it until your baby is a year old.  If your state has a better law than the federal one (and you can find breastfeeding laws by state here) then employers have to go by that instead of the federal law.  Most moms should pump for 10-15 minutes every 2-3 hours.  To build up a store, I usually tell mothers that they can pump one time a day when their milk first comes in.  If moms do this fairly regularly in the beginning, even the mom returning to work at 2-4 weeks can have a decent store built up.

Most women pumping in the workforce should be utilizing at least an electric, double sided pump.  If you are pumping for twins, a hospital grade pump may be worth your while since you are pumping for two.  Pumping breaks aren’t usually very long, so you want to pump quickly and efficiently.  However, some women find that their schedule makes it difficult to take full 15-20 minute breaks at a time.  For those mothers, a swing pump or hand pump might work better, just because they can be taken out quickly without a lot of set up required.  For instance, some of my clients have been waitresses that have limited time some nights to pump, law or not.  Those clients sometimes find that using a hand pump for five minutes at a time can help.  Since this does not pump as efficiently and probably will not empty the breast, you will probably need to pump more often than every 2-3 hours, and I always advise that you do pump with a good electric pump at least once a shift.  If you are part time and working 4-5 hour shifts, you may be able to get away with just hand pumping as long as you are nursing often at home.

Many moms wonder how much milk to leave when they are away from their babies.  This can be a hard question to answer.  Some babies will eat as little as possible while separated from their mothers (and will make up for it when they are with their mommy by nursing more often), but some will want to eat more often – usually because they miss mommy and are comforted by her milk and sucking.  It’s good to remember that from 1 month to 6 months, your baby’s stomach is around the size of a strawberry and holds 2-3 ounces at a time.  Most babies will take in around 25 ounces a day until 6 months.  Therefore, store milk in 2-3 ounce increments, use slow flow nipples, and instruct your provider in baby led bottle feeding.  To get a rough estimate of the amount your baby will need, divide 25 by the number of times the baby nurses in a day, and consider about how many feedings your baby usually takes in during the time you will be apart. Most people will try to ensure that they have a couple of extra 2-3 ounces bags per day, too, just in case.

You may be thinking, “Well, MY baby eats/ate WAY more than 3 ounces at every feeding!”  And your baby may have been an exception.  However, a lot of babies are simply overfed by faster flowing bottles or are wanting more milk or to suck out of comfort.

 

Exclusively Pumping Moms/ Moms Separated from Babies

There are many reasons to exclusively pump.  Some moms have babies with issues that cannot latch. Some moms have a history of sexual abuse that makes latching difficult.  Other moms simply prefer to pump rather than latching.

In the colostral phase, when your body is producing small amounts, using hand expression can really help out.  Hygeia has some really awesome hand expression cups that I love (and a great article on hand expression), but you can also express into a small cup or spoon.  Babies take in a very small amount at birth (their stomach size is that of a marble) and colostrum is sticky and can cling to pump parts, making you feel like you’re not getting a lot.  Moms who are pumping should pump about 8-12 times a day (or the amount of times a baby typically nurses.)    You should pump for 15-20 minutes.  Some women can decrease their amount of pumps after awhile, but most have limited success when they pump under 7-8 times a day.

I prefer to have exclusively pumping moms use hospital grade pumps.  You can buy them, but they are quite expensive.  Renting is often a better option.  They can be found for rental in many drug stores, and many WICs also have them.  WIC can be a great pump resource, and lots of women are WIC eligible even if they aren’t aware of it.  Hospital grade pumps have the best control on suction and speed.  Do not assume that cranking up the suction and speed will get you the most milk.  You should start on a low to medium setting and play with it to see what your body responds to best.  Regardless, a double sided electric pump is pretty key to an EPing mom.

If you are pumping for a preemie or a baby with health conditions that might compromise immunity, be sure to ask your child’s provider how they prefer for you to store your breast milk.  Otherwise, many moms use reusable bottles, ice cube trays, or plain zippered storage bags to store their milk.  It can be less expensive than purchasing the breastmilk storage bags themselves.

Another good idea is to get, or make, a handsfree pumping bra.  You can buy some neat ones including PumpEase hands-free pumping bra or a Rumina Pump and Nurse tank or you can make your own by cutting slits into a sports bra.  The handsfree ones have the advantage of being able to be quickly snapped on and off.  They also tend to be prettier.  That sounds like a silly reason, but can be helpful, especially if you are pumping when you intended to actually nurse your baby.

Exclusively pumping moms can sometimes find that they have some chapping of the breasts.  Sometimes this is from the flanges sticking to the skin.  This can be alleviated by using something to lubricate the flanges.  My favorite thing to use is olive oil.  You can also apply lanolin to your nipples between pumpings to help the chapping.  The lanolin used in breastfeeding products will not need to be washed off of the breast when you pump.

 

Weaning Off Pumping

If you’ve been pumping for your baby for some time for any reason and you decide you want to stop, it can be confusing as to how.  Unless there is some medical reason, you never want to stop pumping “cold turkey.”  This can lead to engorgement and sometimes plugged ducts and/or mastitis.  There are a few ways you can stop pumping.  You can cut out a session at a time, every few days (usually, I say every 2-5 days.)  You can also decrease the time spent pumping in all of your sessions.  For instance, if you pumped for 15 minutes every session, you might decrease it to 12 minutes each time, and then, in another 2-5 days, decrease it further.

Please keep this is mind: not all of these time frames will work for all women.  Some may need to decrease more slowly; some can decrease more quickly.  Pay attention to how you feel.  You don’t want to compromise your health by trying to wean too fast.

Some women find that using cabbage leaves, peppermint, or taking over the counter cold or allergy medications can help to dry up their milk more quickly, if you are weaning altogether along with weaning from pumping.

 

 

 Star Rodriguiz, IBCLC, began her career helping women breastfeed as a breastfeeding peer counselor for a WIC in the Midwest.  Today she is a hospital based lactation consultant who also does private practice work through Lactastic Services.  She recently moved to the northern US with her two daughters and they are learning to cope with early October snowfalls (her Facebook page is here, go “like” for great support). 
Filed Under: Article, Bottle Feeding, Breastfeeding, breastmilk pumping, breastpump, Featured, Pumping, Relational Resource, tutorial, Weaning Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Pumping 101: who, what, when, where, and how – part 1

August 7, 2012 by
by Star Rodriguiz, IBCLC
Selecting a pump, fitting flanges, and how and when to pump.

I don’t know many mothers nowadays that go their entire breastfeeding relationship without ever pumping.  For some, it’s a matter of being separated from their baby for things like work or school and needing to pump.  Some moms exclusively pump (Note: I will never, ever disparage a mother’s choice, but as my own public service announcement, I do encourage all moms who can to try to put the baby to the breast before deciding to exclusively pump.  I know there are a wide variety of reasons moms would rather pump, but, for many people, it does wind up being easier to nurse than pump all the time.  Obviously, this isn’t true for everyone in every circumstance.)  Some mothers would just like some time apart from their babies and want to pump milk to do that.  Some elect to pump to donate their milk to other babies that may not be able to get all they need from their own mother for whatever reason.

Whatever your reasons, there is little more confusing to mothers than pumping.  I mean, it sounds simple.  Pump + breast = milk in bottle, right?

It appears to not be that easy for most women, though.  A significant amount of the inquiries I receive have to do with pumping, and the whens and whys and hows.  So this column is going to be a very general guide to pumping.  There will be a part 2 that deals with specific situations, so if you’re wondering specifically about work or school or NICU, that will be addressed soon.

Also?  If you already have a pump, or you know the differences, feel free to be all Choose Your Own Adventure and pop ahead to the rest of the article for some other basic pumping know how.

Choosing a pump:

There are a lot of pumps and brands and they can get very daunting.  There are four main varieties that I see most often.

  • Hospital grade electric pumps.  You need one of these if you are separated from your baby or having a hard time breastfeeding.  People will probably disagree with me on these, but I also think if you want to exclusively pump, or you have twins that you are pumping for, you are best served with this.  That doesn’t mean that pumping won’t work for you in any other way, but this is the best for those purposes.  These pumps are double sided (so you can do both breasts at once) and they are the top of the line.  They are also certified for multiple users.
  • Single user electric pumps.  You probably need one of these if you are pumping on a regular basis (i.e. for work or school that is full time.)  Some moms that exclusively pump or have twins use them, too.  A very, very few are certified for multiple users.   They are also double sided.
  • One sided electric or battery powered pumps.  These are good if you’re working on a part time basis (and I’m saying probably 25 hours or less a week) or just want to be able to pump and go out some times.  They are for a single user, and the motors are typically a little weak.  So, really, if you are pumping a lot, this is not for you.  I am unaware of any of these that are certified for multiple women.
  • Manual pumps.  There are generally two types here: piston pumps and one handed pumps.  I prefer one handed – piston pumps made me feel like I was doing some serious arm workouts.  They can be used in the beginning to relieve engorgement (although I usually hand express first) or to begin building a store (I tell my clients to pump about once a day with one of these as soon as their milk is in, but many of my clients are going back to work really, really quickly.  If you’re not, this may not be necessary for you.)  Manuals are best if you are not going to be away from your baby often.
  • Hand expression.  Ok, it’s not a pump.  But knowing hand expression can seriously help you.  You can use it to express colostrum if you are separated from your baby; you can use it if you forget your pump at home one day; you can use it to relieve engorgement; you can use it if you just don’t like pumps.  In basic hand expression, you put your fingers about two fingertip lengths back from the base of your nipple on opposite sides of your breast, gently press in towards the chest wall, and roll your fingers out towards your nipple.  You may have to move your fingers slightly forward or backward to find the spot that works for your body, but when you find it, you will see milk come out easily.  This video is an excellent demonstration of hand expression.
Editor’s note: When selecting a breast pump use caution with second hand breast pumps.  If you choose a used pump, potentially a significant cost reduction (maybe even free!), be sure that any second hand pump you choose has a closed system and is approved for multiple users and purchase your own personal accessory set.  There is a risk with open system pumps of mold growth in the motor (impossible to see without pulling the pump apart and voiding most warranties) and possible communicable disease exposure.  Even if it is from someone you trust and the pump has been well cared for, open system pumps can have dangerous mold growing that is not visible.  For the health of you and your baby, avoid second hand open system pumps.

TLB's pump of choice, the multi-user, recyclable double electric Hygeia EnJoye

So, ok.  I have a pump.  Now what?

First of all, you need to make sure your flanges fit well.  By flanges, I mean the plastic part that goes directly on to your breast.  There are a million names for them.  Each company has different ways that they size their flanges, but, typically, something around a 24mm comes with it, and sometimes there’s also something around a 27mm.  I refer to these as the littler one and the bigger one.  The 24 mm fits very, very few women in my experience.  The 27 does a little better, but you may have to get an even larger size.  Smaller ones are available, too, but it’s generally a very small percentage of women that need these.

Just like they all have different sizing, they also all have different preferred fits.  Check with the pump’s manufacturer to see what they recommend, but, generally, the nipple should be pulled into the tunnel without a lot of surrounding areola tissue and it should not rub the sides of the tunnel.  Keep in mind that your nipple will probably get a little bigger while pumping.

Image credit

Another good tip is that if you are pumping a lot and the plastic from the flange is making your breast uncomfortable, you can coat the flange lightly with some expressed milk, nipple ointment, coconut oil, or olive oil.  Please note: if you have a preemie or sick baby, check first with your pediatrician before using anything other than breastmilk.  It’s usually not an issue, but it’s never bad to ask before introducing something new into an ill or tiny baby’s food, even in miniscule amounts.

Secondly, do some breast massages before you pump.  It may feel silly to some, but massaging your breasts can help make your milk let down faster.   It’s also helpful to do compressions while pumping; in breast compression, you will put your hand on your breast in a c-hold and gently squeeze it, moving your hand to different areas of the breast to help all of the ducts to release as much as they can.

It can also be beneficial to make sure your flanges are warm before putting them on your breast.

 

How long and how often?

So, once you’ve started pumping, how long do you do it?

I have heard estimates everywhere from five minutes to one hour, and while there’s some variation depending on why you’re pumping, with a decent electric pump, most women can get the majority of milk out in 8-15 minutes.  It may take you longer than that with a manual, and with a single sided electric.  I don’t usually recommend that my moms go longer than 20 minutes, though.  They tend to have some soreness if they are regularly doing over 20 minutes of pumping at a time.  If you’re pumping to relieve engorgement only, you probably just want to pump for a couple of minutes.  And hand expression varies so much by mom that assigning time frames to it is downright impossible if your aim is to empty the breast.

And as for how often, that depends, too.  If you are exclusively pumping or pumping for a preemie, recommendations are usually every 2-4 hours.  This is round the clock, excepting a 4-5 hour stretch of sleep at night.  As your baby gets bigger, you may be able to have a longer stretch of sleeping time at night; this varies per woman.  For someone who is in work or school, every 2-4 hours probably also works.  A good rule of thumb if you are nursing at the breast, too, is to count how many times your baby nurses in a day, and to be sure to make up that amount with a combined amount of nursings and pumpings (so if you nurse 9 times, and you nurse 5 times at home, you should pump 4 times at work.)

As always, every mom’s situation is a little different, and if things aren’t going as planned, seek out the help of a trained professional, like an IBCLC.

 

 Star Rodriguiz, IBCLC, is a breastfeeding peer counselor for a WIC in the Midwest and has just started her private practice as an IBCLC (her Facebook page is here, go “like” for great support).  She also sits on the  breastfeeding task force in her town, is helping her  community’s Early Head Start redefine  their breastfeeding support, and is the  driving force behind a local breastfeeding campaign.  In  the remainder of her free  time, she chases around her nursling and preschooler.
Filed Under: Article, breastmilk pumping, breastpump, Featured, Pumping, Relational Resource Tagged With: , , ,

Snugabell Triple Prize Giveaway: Pumping, Style, and Care

July 7, 2012 by
Drawing from her own personal experience as a pumping mom, PumpEase™ and Snugabell creator/owner Wendy Bell has developed a product and company that offers quality support to pumping moms and now has a new line of maternity/nursing wear, the Toni Top line.  She brings together quality products that combine ingenuity with quality and fashion.  Along with a beautiful giveaway opportunity for Leakies, Wendy answers a few questions, sharing her passion, mothering wisdom, and her favorite pumping while traveling tip.  I’m so grateful for the support of PumpEase™ for TLB and all Leakies and hope you enjoy the interview and giveaway.

TLB:  What was the inspiration behind the name of your company and your products?

Wendy:  The name Snugabell comes from our last name (Bell) and the fact that our girls – Antonia and Michaela – used to ask for “snugs” when they were little, rather than “hugs”.  Actually, come to think of it, they still do!  The Toni Top is named after our daughter Antonia (Toni for short) and PumpEase is a made-up name that we came up with via focus groups and surveys.
TLB:  Where have you breastfed or pumped while traveling?
Wendy:  I am very inspired by moms that take their pumps “on the road”.  Although Snugabell didn’t officially start until my youngest was almost one, I’ve been a freelance patternmaker for over 13 years now so was always “working” even when my babies were tiny.  As a result, we didn’t travel much in those early years and thus most, if not all of my pumping was done at home.  As for breastfeeding – I did it everywhere:  at family’s homes, the mall, friends’ houses, wherever I was when my baby was hungry.
TLB:  What is your favorite travel/vacation tip for breastfeeding/pumping moms?
Wendy:  Bring extra parts for your breastpump:  membranes, flanges/tubes (in your carry-on in case your luggage is delayed or lost), extra batteries and a plug adapter if you are traveling overseas.

 

 

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Wendy is giving away 3 fabulous prize packs:

Pumping Pretty Prize pack:  PumpEase in size and print of winner’s choice and Nursing Mother Goddess Necklace.  $63.00 USD
Breastfeeding in Style Prize pack:  Toni top 3/4-Sleeve Top in size and colour of winner’s choice and Breastfeeding With Comfort and Joy by Laura Keegan.  $101.00 USD
Soothing Care Prize pack:  Bamboobies Value Pack and Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter.  $57.00 USD

Currently Leakies can find these and other great products on the Snugabell website.

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 Good luck to everyone!  Please use the widget below to be entered and have fun browsing snugabell.com.  The giveaway is open from July 7, 2012 to July 15, 2012.  A big thanks to Wendy for her ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women, please be sure to visit their Facebook page or follow them on twitter (PumpEase on Twitter) and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity.

This giveaway is open to international entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: giveaway, Sponsor Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

PumpEase Hands-Free Nursing Bra gift pack giveaway

May 24, 2012 by
Drawing from her own personal experience as a pumping mom, PumpEase™ and Snugabell creator/owner Wendy Bell has developed a product and company that offers quality support to pumping moms and now has a new line of maternity/nursing wear, the Toni Top line.  Along with a beautiful giveaway opportunity for Leakies, Wendy answers a few questions, sharing her passion, mothering wisdom, and how she overcame a breastfeeding challenge in her own journey.  I’m so grateful for the support of PumpEase™ for TLB and all Leakies and hope you enjoy the interview and giveaway.

TLB:  What’s your favorite part about working with pumping/breastfeeding moms?

 

Wendy:  By far the best thing is hearing from a mom that tells us that without our products she would have given up on breastfeeding.

 

TLB:  What’s in the future for Snugabell/PumpEase?

 

Wendy:  We will continue to develop and improve the Toni Top line and further penetrate the market for PumpEase.  We have other projects up our sleeves however they are in their infancy stages so mums the word! 😉

 

TLB:  How has being a mothered impacted your career?

 

Wendy:  It changed the direction of my career entirely.  If I hadn’t had a baby (and there was a time that I thought it might not be in the cards for me), then Snugabell would definitely not exist.

 

TLB:  When you were a pumping mom, where would you set up your pumping station?

 

Wendy:  At my computer.  Always.  🙂

 

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Wendy is giving away a PumpEase hands-free pumping bra (winner’s choice excluding organic); a Do Not Disturb door hanger for pumping moms of their choice; a Breastmilk Storage Guideline fridge magnet, and Breastfeeding with Comfort and Joy by Laura Keegan.  Retail Value: $80 USD.

 

Currently Leakies can find these and other great products on the Snugabell website.

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 Good luck to everyone!  Please use the widget below to be entered and have fun browsing snugabell.com.  The giveaway is open from April 24, 2012 to June 1, 2012.  A big thanks to Wendy for her ongoing support of TLB and all breastfeeding women, please be sure to visit their Facebook page and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity.

This giveaway is open to international entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: giveaway, Sponsor Tagged With: , , , , ,

Rumina Handsfree Pumping and Nursing Tank Giveaway

March 2, 2012 by

Today we have a giveaway from TLB sponsor Rumina Nursingwear.  Read on for details on this opportunity and an interview with the company founder Dawn Alva.  I love this company and had the pleasure of meeting Dawn and her staff this past fall.  Their commitment to supporting moms extends beyond their customers and sales to ongoing support of WIC and Milk Banking.  I hope you take the time to get to know this company and consider using their product knowing that doing so helps them help so many other moms.

TLB:  Tell us about how Rumina came to be, the inspiration, the meaning of the name, and the vision of the company.

Dawn: Rumina was inspired by my infant son. From the beginning, my son and I struggled with breastfeeding. First we had difficulty with latching then he seemed to just get irritated and frustrated at the breast. Eventually after a few months of trying he decided he preferred the bottle. I didn’t want to give formula because I knew of all the benefits of breast milk but pumping came with its own set of challenges.

As a working mom, I had to return to work. Prior to returning to work I was trying to pump every 2-3 hours for about 30 minutes at a time, trying to build up a supply. I was nervous about getting enough time to pump. I searched for a hands-free solution to help but there was nothing available at that time that worked for my body. My nipples weren’t in the “right” location for the holes or the garment didn’t stay up, defeating the hands-free purpose. Plus I hated undressing at work to pump! Every time I sat there holding the pump, I worried about how I could be the mom I wanted to be and continue my demanding job. I became so overwhelmed that after 2 1/2 months of nursing and 4 months of exclusively pumping, I stopped short of my personal hope of at least a year.

The vision of Rumina started after I emerged from my “mommy fog,” I became dedicated to developing a solution that would meet the needs of breastfeeding moms who pump in one comfortable and supportive garment. Our vision as a company is to help moms reach their own unique breastfeeding goals. While I was not able to reach my own breastfeeding goals, it’s truly amazing to hear when Rumina assists other moms reach theirs!

Rumina is a Roman Goddess of Breastfeeding and Women, the Goddess who causes the milk to flow. Her name is related to an old Latin word for breast, rumis or ruma and translates to “the Nourisher”, “She Who Breastfeeds” or “Mother’s Breast”. Rumina is the protectress of all nursing young. (http://www.thaliatook.com/OGOD/rumina.html)

 

TLB:  What would you like TLB readers to know about Rumina?

Dawn:  Rumina is working hard to support our community and establish long term relationships with our local WIC and Milk Banks. We really want to not only support these great resources and amazing organizations but to help increase the awareness and needs of these organizations and offer ways moms can help contribute.  Read more about the WIC Peer Counselor program and how we support it here.

 

TLB:  What has been your personal experience with breastfeeding and how has it factored into developing your company?

Dawn:  My personal experience with breastfeeding was a struggle. The struggle has been a reminder that as we move forward as a company we want to help moms through their own breastfeeding experience. We want to offer great, quality products that helps support hands-free pumping but we also want be a sounding board for moms who are struggling or have questions. We want to provide resources and connect moms to great communities like The Leaky Boob where they can find support and other moms going through similar experiences. Breastfeeding moms are amazing and we have a lot of offer each other!

 

TLB:  What is your favorite breastfeeding and pumping tip?

 Dawn:  There are so many great breastfeeding and pumping tips, like hand expressing after pumping to completely drain the breast and help increase your milk production as well as relaxing while breastfeeding and pumping, something I think I personally forgot…often. But my number one favorite breastfeeding and pumping tip I encourage is to drink plenty of water. Sometimes we moms get so busy and so overwhelmed by baby and life we sometimes forget to drink enough water which greatly help with our overall well-being and milk production.

Dawn and her son Bryce


This giveaway is for one mom randomly selected from the entries to receive a free all-in-one Hands-Free Pumping Bra & Nursing Tank in their size and color preference, a $48 value.  The Rumina Hands-Free Pumping Bra & Nursing Tank has a built-in bra that is the perfect layer for a busy mom’s active life. Wear it on its own or layered under work and casual tops.  The patent pending design is perfect for moms who have to be away from their child but want to continue and give their very best.  The tank has all the functions you’ve come to love in a nursing tank plus all the functionality a breastfeeding mom needs throughout the day.

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This giveaway is now closed.

To be entered, please leave a comment on this post.  This entry is REQUIRED in order to be entered for a chance at the giveaway.  Please be sure head over to the Rumina Nursingwear Facebook page and/or Rumina on Twitter and thank them for their support of TLB and this giveaway opportunity.  Let’s be sure to show our appreciation.

For a second entry share this giveaway in some public forum (Facebook, Twitter, parenting forum, etc.) and return with the url of where you shared it and leave that in a comment (and don’t forget to tag them!).  Please note, you can share it where you like and as many times as you like, but only one will count for a second entry.

Important: only a possible two entries per person, any additional entries will be deleted and abuse will possibly result in all of an individual’s entries being deleted.  Please be patient in waiting for comments to show up as some have to be moderated from the spam filter.  Thank you.

That’s it – two simple tasks and you’re entered twice for a chance at a great giveaway.  Thanks to Rumina Nursingwear for their generous giveaway and sponsorship of The Leaky Boob, providing support for breastfeeding moms everywhere.  This giveaway will remain open through Thursday, March 8, 2012 and is open to international entries.  At the close of this giveaway, Rumina will be offering a discount code for all Leakies so even if you aren’t the lucky winner, you can get your own top for 20% off.  Good luck and have fun!

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Congratulations to Brianna!

“What a great company! Love the name. I struggled with my first daughter going to school full time and pumping and keeping up my supply. Very hard work. Appreciate anything that makes that job easier.”

Thanks everyone that entered!  Rumina has generously offered a 20% off discount code for Leakies this week, it’s good through Thursday, March 15, 2012:

TLB20

Rumina’s support and giveaway is greatly appreciated, it is a pleasure to partner with such a wonderful company.

Filed Under: Breastfeeding, giveaway, Sponsor Tagged With: , , ,

PumpEase Giveaway

December 17, 2011 by

One of my favorite things about The Leaky Boob community is how giving back is just a part of what we do.  From asking questions and needing help to sharing experiences and information, Leakies know how to support other Leakies.

Beth Swan, the winning designer of The Leaky Boob logo has decided to share the love.  With working from home she’s not pumping much these days and has no need of the PumpEase hands free pumping support bra she won as part of her prize for winning the logo design contest.  So instead of having it shipped to her to sit unused, she’s passing it on to a Leaky that can use it!

 

This giveaway is now closed!

This quick giveaway for a free PumpEase is super simple, just leave one comment on this post and you’re entered!  (One entry per person please.)  

Huge thanks to Beth for passing this along to a Leaky that can use it and to Wendy from PumpEase for sponsoring the logo design contest.  We appreciate all the support!  Good luck everyone, the giveaway is open through Tuesday, December 20th.

 

Congratulations to the winner, Sunny, who commented:

“I could get some work done while pumping with one of these!”

Thanks to everyone that participated and to PumpEase and Beth Swan for their generosity.

Filed Under: Breastfeeding, breastmilk pumping, breastpump, giveaway, Sponsor Tagged With: , ,
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