Breastfeeding Tips & Breast Pump Guide | Lactation Connection

As a retired IBCLC with 30+ years experience in breastfeeding support, I am not sure that power pumping is the best method for increasing milk supply for every mom.  The method has limited scientific research and can cause moms quite a bit of frustration with such ridged and lengthy pumping sessions. Not to mention friction when dry pumping . While nipple stimulation does sustain hormone signals, research supports that regular extraction is the source of increasing milk supply.  Apart from moms who are relactating or inducing lactation, cluster pumping is a better method than power pumping because there is more milk to extract every 2 hours than there is when pumping again in 10 minutes. For clarity, I have outlined the power pumping method and cluster pumping methods below for moms with babies under six months below. While we are listing these times as pumping, nursing sessions can and should be used in place of these when possible. Power Pumping  60 minutes session once...

At Lactation Connection, we are frequently asked which setting mom should use on the popular Spectra S1 and S2 breast pump  to get the most milk.  While settings are important, flange size is equally important. Your goal with your Spectra flange size is to engage the milk sinuses which are located an inch behind the nipple.  So it is really important that the flange allows the nipple to move freely without drawing in too much tissue.  You can use the guide below or a silicone nipple measuring tool . What about the settings?  Cycle pumping is recommended by Spectra when using the S1 or S2. Below is the procedure to start using the Spectra pump effectively.         Cycle 70 (Massage Mode) for 5 minutes        Cycle 54 (Expression Mode) for 5 minutes        Cycle 70 (Massage Mode) for 5 minutes        Cycle 38 (Expression Mode) for 5 minutes  Some moms leave their pump on hig...

Your body makes milk on a supply and demand basis. Although we don't need ounce markers on the side of our breasts to know the baby is getting enough, we tend to fret over milk supply.   Here is a comprehensive guide to ease your worries and address your concerns. Is my baby getting enough? When your baby is first born, his wet diapers should increase daily. On day one, he should have at least one, day two, he should have two, up until day six. After six days of age, they have six to eight pale wet diapers daily and three to four "cottage cheese and mustard" stools. Other ways we can tell the baby is getting enough milk is that he makes quiet swallowing sounds at the breast. The breast feel full before the feeding and softer afterward. The baby seems satisfied after twenty minutes of swallowing. Babies may loose 7-10% of their birth weight, but begin regaining at day 6 and gain 5-7 ounces per week on the average until 6 months of age. The stools can change at 4-6 we...

Our previous post gave information on how to increase your milk supply while pumping,  In addition, there are ways to increase the milk output from the supply mothers already have.  1.  Massage While Pumping.  Using a hands-free pumping bra or using the pledge of allegiance hold pictured here can give you the freedom to massage your breast while pumping.  This can assist your milk output provided that you are doing it in a relaxed manor and not watching the bottles anxiously. Mother using pledge of allegiance hold with Ameda Elite Breast Pump .  2. Reposition Breast Flanges.  Instead of just sitting and double pumping for 10-15 minutes, take advantage of the anatomy of your body.  You can engage more milk ducts if you re-position your breast flanges a.k.a. breast shields every 3-5 minutes during your pumping session. 3.  Pump Up the Volume.  Studies on mothers of premature babies show that lis...

Every Lactation Consultant will tell you breast milk quantity is based on supply and demand, but with today's busy mom taking the baby to bed with you all day to suckle is not an option.  You can increase your milk supply while at work or with your breast pump at home. First make sure you are already getting the appropriate stimulation for your baby's age.  If your nursling is under 6 months, you should be nursing and/or pumping at least 8 times per day while using a quality double electric pump such as the Hygeia EnJoye or Ameda Purely Yours or Ameda Platinum breast pump for a full 10-15 minutes per session.  If your nursing is 6-12 months, you should be stimulated at least 5 times per day.  For over 12 months at least 2-3 times per day.  If you are already following the above protocols for sufficient stimulation of the breast, you will need to increase the number of pumping sessions to increase milk supply using a breast pump.  Research i...

     The truth is fenugreek is a great tool to boost milk supply in most moms.  However, in the two decades that I have been helping nursing moms, I get this comment a lot, "Fenugreek didn't work for me."  How can it be that an herb with such great success stories doesn't work for a large number of mothers.  In most cases, the answer is in the quality, dosage or delivery method.      Many moms buy Fenugreek at a local health food or grocery store in brands that are not stored or bottled in the best way to keep them at full potency.  Also, shelf life factors into this so buying from a store that doesn't cater to the largest market for Fenugreek, nursing mothers, will not have the best turn-around.  It is always a good practice to check the expiration date on any herb before using.  Fenugreek capsules work best when taken in a quality brand like Nature's Herbs or Nature's Way Fenugreek and in the appropriate dosage or...

Motivation as in anything is extremely important in breastfeeding and even more important is tenacity when inducing lactation.  The success rate for the following protocols according to Nemba in the 1994 Journal of Trop Pediatrics was 89%.  In this study 33 of the 37 women nursed their babies for 9 months or longer. These mothers began with a 100 mg single priming dose of medroxyprogesterone (Depo Provera).  After 7 days, they began 25 mg of chlorpromazine 4 times daily or 10 mg of metoclopramide (Reglan) 4 times daily until adequate lactation was established.  Frequent pumping before infant's arrival and/or frequent suckling afterward is encouraged.  A supplemental feeding device is necessary until adequate lactation is established.  Inducing lactation is a gift of time and love! Breastfeeding an adoptive baby is more than about breastmilk.  It is about bonding.  Skin to skin contact is essential.  Use a lactation aide to feed donor milk...