What’s the Deal with Pumping?

I get a lot of questions about pumping:  When should I start to pump? How often? What if I have to exclusively pump? How does the pump work? Should I start to save to go back to work? When and how?

These are all great questions, I will touch on them briefly to set your mind at ease about that milk machine! 

The breast pump is a breast milk remover when breastfeeding isn’t an option, which can be for various reasons. The pump uses similar mechanisms to breastfeeding in that there are two phases of vacuum:  one to mimic an infant stimulating the breast, and one to mimic an infant swallowing during letdown. Not everyone uses the stimulation phase (short sucks) to stimulate and the letdown phase (longer, pulling sucks) for letdown. It is good to be aware of the difference regardless.

If effective milk removal is established at the breast, you don’t have to worry about the pump until you would like to introduce a bottle (you can always book a bottle consult if you need help with bottling). Life can have other plans and you may need to use it sooner if the breastfeeding initiation isn’t seamless! 

As far as pumping to save and pumping to go back to work:  these are topics I cover in my pumping class! This class also covers traveling and pumping, weaning from pumping, and increasing supply. Use the contact page to book!

My classes are ALWAYS less than an hour. I don’t think we can retain much from going any longer than that and I KNOW better than to keep a pregnant or postpartum person longer than that :)