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Make Pumping Pleasurable

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We see and hear a lot about the “Mommy Wars” online so when I was asked to attend a “Mommy & Me” style group to speak about something as personal and potentially emotional as making and pumping breast milk, I will be honest – for a minute, I got nervous!  Nevertheless, armed with handouts, knowledge, a smile, and my “boobie ball”, off I went to talk about Creating a Positive Pumping Routine.

There were about ten women in the group with their costume-clad babes (it is almost Halloween, you know!) and as we went around introducing ourselves I learned that we had quite a diverse group.  Moms with low supply & over supply, pump lovers & pump haters, exclusive feeders & inclusive feeders – the whole meal deal!  Now I was getting really nervous.  With so many “types” of mom in one place, at one time… surely a battle royale would erupt, right? Obviously, we would end up sitting in puddles of tears and milk and formula, bottles and names being thrown at each other with equal gusto… my fate as the facilitator of this talk was clearly DOOM. 

mom types

Oh, wait.  You know what I forgot? There are no “types” of mom!  We are all just “doing the best we can” moms and when we are given the chance to talk freely and ask questions, we surprise ourselves and each other.  The talk went off without a hitch and the kindness and support that was extended from one woman to another was a beautiful thing to see.  I even got to answer some pretty excellent questions about pumping!

Why talk about pumping?

Chances are, if you are a breastfeeding mother you will need to pump milk at some point.  There are many, many reasons a woman might choose to/need to pump her breastmilk.  Some of the most common reasons are:

  • to increase milk supply
  • to alleviate engorgement
  • to allow dad/partner to participate in feeding
  • to re-claim some “me time” (aka. to be able to leave the house on your own for more than one hour!)
  • because baby cannot/will not latch
  • because of nipple damage due to breastfeeding
  • because you are getting ready to go back to work/school

No matter what your reason is for pumping, chances are that it is not your favourite activity.  Personally, on a scale from 1-10 [1 being “It’s the worst” and 10 being “this is the most fun I have ever had”], pumping to me was a solid 1.  It was the pits!  It is exposing, it is time consuming, the pump makes weird sounds, and that nasty-wasty pump just isn’t as good at getting that milk out as baby-dearest.  Hmmmm… exposing, time consuming, weird sounds, inefficient… that sounds STRESSFUL!

Stress is a lactating woman’s arch nemesis.  Making milk (lactation) requires hormones – the hormone prolactin signals our bodies to make milk and the hormone oxytocin lets the milk flow.  Lactation also works on a supply and demand system – the more your baby (or pump) demands (ie. the more milk that is drained from your breasts), the more supply your body will make.  So here is the trouble with pumping.  Women with perfectly adequate milk supply try to squeeze in a pumping session (which is stressful!) and find that they can “only” pump a few ounces (or maybe less) and this causes them stress.  As she sits and waits for that next “let down”, she begins to get impatient or anxious.  Doubt begins to creep in… and with doubt is more stress.  Stress blocks the release of oxytocin… less oxytocin released means less milk is flowing… less milk flowing gives us more stress… more stress blocks oxytocin… Well, you see where I am going.

It is because of this vicious circle that it is so important to create a POSITIVE pumping routine.  Making time and space for yourself to pump comfortably and confidently is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a successful pumping session.  Your pump is not your baby but there are ways that you can create a routine that will make it easier for you to get your milk flowing.

pumping breast milk

Location, location, location.

Set up a pumping station in a quiet and pleasant corner of your home (or office) and place a picture (or two… or more!) of your baby in a visible spot.  Going back to the same spot time and again to pump will send a cue to your body and mind that it is time to produce and express milk.  You will also be able to set up and clean up more quickly because your pump and attachments will be handy.

When you are choosing your pumping spot, try and pick somewhere that does not leave you staring at the dirty dishes in the sink, your lofty laundry pile, or other sources of stress.  Maybe you have a spot where you can look out a window?  Maybe you would like to pump in your child’s nursery?

Make pumping pleasurable.

Let’s be honest, pumping is not anyone’s favourite hobby but it CAN be a positive experience if you engage your senses.  Your pump might be a machine, but you certainly are not!  Take the time to create the time and space you need to pump in comfort.

Sight: Select a favourite photo of your baby – or, even better, a photo of you nursing your baby—to help stimulate an emotional response.  Looking at baby’s little face, toes, or fingers and really allowing yourself to enjoy that sensation is a great first step towards a successful pumping session.  Get that oxytocin flowing, mama!

Sound: For some people, turning on a soothing meditation CD is just what they need to get those juices flowing (excuse the pun!).  For others, it might be a children’s song, a favourite lullaby, or even the simple sound of your baby babbling and playing on their own.  Incorporating whatever sound(s) you associate with your baby or with a loving feeling can help foster a calm and comfortable environment; perfect for pumping.

Smell: Love that new baby smell?  Include a pair of baby’s PJs in your pumping kit, or her stuffed toy or his hairbrush.  Maybe there is another scent that really elicits relaxation from you?  Why not make a scent-jar for your pumping kit?

Taste: Whether you’re nursing or pumping, producing and expressing milk is thirsty work!  Before you sit down to pump, make yourself a tall glass of lemon water or a hot cup of lactation tea.  Besides the fact that you should hydrate while nursing/pumping, the comforting action of sipping on a preferred beverage (or nibbling on a specific snack such as lactation cookies) is just another way of inducing a state of calm which helps ensure a more productive pump.

 

Use your hands.

 Touch: Use your hands when you pump!  Gently massage your breasts before starting your pumping session and use hands-on techniques to maximize output while you are expressing milk.  Some moms will even lightly run a comb or baby brush over their breasts while pumping to simulate the feeling of little baby fingers stroking the sensitive breast tissue.  Check out this amazing video on hands-on pumping techniques for more information:

Pumping doesn’t have to be a chore.  It can be a little oasis of productivity and self-care in the middle of a busy baby-filled day.  Making time and space for yourself is important.  I’d love to hear how YOU feel about pumping and what your tips and tricks are for making the most (milk) out of a potentially uncomfortable situation!  Comment below or give me a shout on Twitter or Facebook

Pump on, mamas!  Pump on.



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