It’s time to pump again, or maybe it is your very first time. You may be at home and baby is sleeping or it may be your first day back at work. Wherever you are and whatever your situation, the important thing is to get that milk out for you baby. While it seems like a simple thing to sit down and pump out milk, there are a number of things that can be done to help you stimulate your let-down and have a more effective pumping session. This way, you will know that you are getting enough milk and your time won’t be wasted.
For more effective pumping a double breast pump is best and you want to make sure you are comfortable with the operation of your pump before you begin pumping. If you are pumping because you are returning to work, it is a good idea to begin pumping a couple of weeks before you go back so that you can get used to the routine and the feel of pumping in the comfort of your own home. Also, do not sit down to pump right after your baby has emptied your breasts because you probably won’t get much milk. Wait at least 20-30 minutes after nursing before you begin to pump.
The first ingredient to a successful pumping session is a relaxing environment. You need to be relaxed in order to have a let-down. Especially if this is one of your first times pumping, you may feel nervous or unsure of yourself. You may even feel silly being attached to this milk-sucking machine, even though you are alone and no one can see you. Our senses are integrated with each other and with our entire bodies. Pumping and encouraging let-down can be a full sensory experience. Our brains are wired to take sensory information and translate that into a physical response. Different sounds, sights, and physical stimulation can play a role in relaxing you and helping the let-down happen. Do whatever you need to do to promote relaxation by using as many of your senses as possible.
Sounds
What we hear has an affect on how we feel. In order to feel relaxed you need to create a relaxing atmosphere, especially if you are doing your pumping at work. Play some of your favorite relaxing music if you are able. Sit in a comfortable chair and ensure that you will have complete privacy. This may be more difficult if you are pumping at work, but you may be able to have the music via your computer and earphones (if your office is private and you can pump there).
If you’ve ever heard a baby cry while in a restaurant having dinner or in the checkout aisle at the grocery store and had a let-down happen on the spot, you will know the effect sound can have on your body. Capture the sounds of your baby cooing and crying on tape and then play them back instead of relaxing music. Your letdown may be stimulated by your baby’s sounds and, just like in the restaurant or the grocery store, you may find that hearing your baby has the desired effect of causing your milk to flow.
Sight
Think of relaxing visual stimulation and you probably think of low lighting and maybe soothing colors or familiar or sentimental objects. Try lighting some candles if you are able to help you feel relaxed and stress free. You also may pump in a room with soft pleasing colors or you may want to have an object that has some special significance for you sentimentally or spiritually to help you feel in a safe relaxed frame of mind. Of course as with sound, the sight of your baby may help encourage a let-down. If you are home try pumping while you watch your baby sleep. If that isn’t an option, then have a picture of your baby with you that you can look at while pumping. Just seeing your favorite little face may be all you need to get the milk flowing.
Smell
While there may not be much you can do to stimulate the sense of smell, having some fresh flowers nearby may help. If you are able to, burning some incense may help you relax enough to encourage a let-down. A very power smell for you may be to have a piece of your baby’s clothing. There are very few smells more pleasing to a mother than her sweet baby’s smell.
Touch
To help you extract as much milk as possible, you can also help physically stimulate a let-down. If you are able to have a warm bath or shower before you pump, great, although this may not be very practical. Try this before your first pumping session if you can. It is easier to apply a hot or warm compress to your breasts just prior to pumping. This will encourage your let-down. Massage your breasts while you pump, although you may find this difficult if you are using a double pump.
The effectiveness of your pumping sessions will determine the amount of milk you have to leave for your baby. It is important that you are relaxed while pumping and the amount of support and encouragement you get from the key people in your life is a factor in your overall level of comfort when pumping. Dad’s support in your choices to breastfeed or return to work are crucial in your own feelings of wellbeing. Without that encouragement, you will likely have anxiety over your decisions. The other main area of support is from your boss and professional work environment. Is your workplace flexible enough to allow you the time and privacy needed to pump for your baby? Do they value the family unit and what you are doing for your baby? This will certainly affect how efficiently you will be able to extract milk. Other important people in your life may include your parents and siblings, your spouse’s parents, or close friends. How much they support your decisions will have an impact on your level of confidence in your choices.
You have the best source of nutrition for your baby and you have decided to get it to your baby no matter what. Pumping allows your baby to get all the nutritional and health benefits that your milk has to offer. Pumping your milk may feel intimidating and awkward in the beginning, but with the proper preparation and support, you can relax and pump your way to the let-downs that will nourish your baby for a lifetime.
