Breastfeeding Tips & Breast Pump Guide | Lactation Connection

Just like a birth plan, sometimes, breastfeeding does not go to plan and some moms may need to supplement.  This does not have to mean the beginning of the end of breastfeeding if caution is used in how you supplement. Supplementing Baby at the Breast Often supplementation is only necessary for a short term while mom is regaining her milk supply or baby is having a frenotomy to release a tethered tongue to facilitate milk transfer. And the best method for supplementing formula is doing so while keeping the baby at the breast.  However, Supplemental Nutrition Systems are often expensive and difficult to clean so short-term feeding tubes are the preferred method in these cases.  In the case of supplementing a newborn, the best option is a 5FR feeding tube that is 36" long.  Don't opt for a shorter tube such as 15" because the shorter the tube, the faster the flow of milk and babies need to latch and use their tongue and jaw just as they would when exclusively breastf...

  Every mom wants to get the most out of the time she spending pumping!  One of the best ways to make sure your pump is effective is to ensure your breast shield flange size is optimal.  An optimal fit engages the milk sinuses by compressing the areola the right way without causing nipple pain. The infographic above shows you what to look for when you are pumping.  Most pumps including the best-selling Spectra breast pumps, include a standard flange size which is often 24mm.  Many moms find that is too large and opt for the 20mm breast flange .  And there are a few who need a larger 28mm or 32mm flange size .  But there are moms who until now had to look for another option if they needed smaller than a 20mm size.  Spectra has finally come out with a Spectra 16mm breast shield just for those moms! In addition to using the right size flange, making sure your pump is functioning at the optimal suction level is so important.  Use your pump at t...

Planning to pump for an 8-hour workday will depend on various factors such as your work environment and breaks. However, here's a general sample pumping schedule for an 8-hour 9-5 workday and some tips to make it work for you.  Make sure to make a plan for your pumping space ahead of time so you have what you need for cleaning your parts and storing your breast milk. 7:00 AM - Nurse before you leave for work. 9:00 AM - Start of Workday: 10:00 AM - First Pumping Session: Allow at least 15 minutes for at least 10 minutes of pumping with a quality double electric breast pump and 5 minutes to set up and put up your supplies. 12:30 PM - Lunch Break: Eat before your next pumping session so that there are no more than 3 hours between emptying your breasts.  This will help ensure a healthy milk supply and offset clogged milk ducts. 1:00 PM - Second Pumping Session: 15 min (Of if you baby's child care is on your work campus, you can opt to nurse during your lunch break instead of pump...

If you are looking to supplement your baby at the breast due to low milk supply or other feeding difficulty, you know that traditional SNS or Supplemental Nursing Systems are expensive and hard to clean. Moms opt for at-breast supplementation because it makes getting back to breastfeeding much more likely and suckling at the breast is optimal for the infant's tooth and jaw development.  Skin to skin feeding is also a bonding experience that should not be overlooked.    Because of the expense of SNS systems and the efforts of leading lactation experts such as Dr Jack Newman and many lactation consultants, many moms have opted to use a DIY method using 6FR or more commonly 5FR feeding tubes . The upside to using these feeding tubes is that it is much more cost effective as an SNS or LactAid system cost is usually $50-$75.  The down side to the DIY supplemental method is that it can be messy and you have to know what you are looking for before you buy the parts to get t...

Pregnant and nursing mothers need to be aware that m ercury can pass to fetus and through breastmilk. Canned tuna in particular is under scrutiny. James E. Rogers, PhD, director of Food Safety Research and Testing at Consumer Reports made this statement regarding tuna, “From can to can, mercury levels can spike in unpredictable ways that might jeopardize the health of a fetus.” . The FDA states that fetuses, infants and young children are more vulnerable to the potential effects of mercury due to their small bodies, metabolism and speedy growth. According to Thomas Hale, PHD founder of the Infant Risk Center renown for his work with how foods and medications, supplements and foods pass through breastmilk, states that "Developing fetuses, young infants and children are particularly sensitive to the toxic effects of methylmercury on the brain and nervous system. It is thus especially important that women of childbearing age, and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, be equipped...

A common fear for moms who rely on heavily on their breast pump is what do your do when you can't plug in your pump?  For example it seems that power outages have become increasing more common. Of course there are some great rechargeable breast pumps out there like the new Spectra Synergy Gold Rechargeable, but if you don't have a high quality rechargeable pump, you need some other way to express. Manual expression can have a learning curve so knowing how is a great tool and the tried and true method is the Marmet Technique of manual expression .  Although I have linking it here, remember that in a power outage, you may not have access to view technique so it is good to practice before you need it.   Did you that major breast pump brands offer conversion kits to turn your regular breast milk collection kit into a manual pump?  Spectra Manual Adapter Kit  uses your current Spectra brand flange, valve and bottle to convert to an effective one-handed manual pu...

Lactation Connection will be celebrating 30 years serving nursing mothers in 2023. It is hard to believe how time flies!  When I started this business in 1993, the only quality breast pumps were the ones you had to rent and hands-free pumping bras were non-existent! The good news is that moms today have great choices in breastfeeding products so if you are a new mom or mom-to-be, here is a list of essentials for nursing and pumping today! 1.  High Performance Breast Pump There are quite a few good breast pumps on the market, but the most innovative are not the wearable breast pumps.  We have seen those come and go for example a company called WhisperWear.  The reason wearable pumps don't stand the test of time is that they have to operate on regular batteries which until we get a better portable power source reduce the suction as the batteries weaken so until technology catches up, you are better off with an electric breast pump that plugs in or uses a lithium ion r...