The Complete Guide to Exclusively Pumping
I've been wanting to write this post for a while now, and I'm so excited to finally sit down to do it. I've talked openly about my experience with breastfeeding over the last year, and without rehashing every gory detail, I'll just sum it up with, it's hard.I knew I wanted to breastfeed long before I ever got pregnant. The practicality combined with the health and financial benefits made it a no-brainer for me. However, once Finn was born, I realized that my chest size would be a huge hinderance to our success. I was told at the hospital to refrain from pumping for as long as I could - the one bad piece of advice I received from our nurses. (The thought was that nursing would improve milk supply more naturally than pumping, but I'm convinced that had I started pumping earlier, my milk supply would have never suffered. But this is a story for another day.)After a month of exclusively breast feeding, I whipped out my breast pump and never looked back. Finn took to a bottle quite easily and for a while, I was waking up every three hours to pump and build my supply. I continued this for 8 months, and I'm quite proud of that accomplishment. I learned a lot about pumping and the strategy it takes and I hope that my tips can help any other new moms out there.
A couple things before I dive in - first, be sure to check with your insurance company to see if they provide free breast pumps. I was lucky enough to skirt the cost this way. Second, I realize that some mamas choose other ways to feed their babes, and you are completely right to do whatever is best for you and your situation. I found that pumping exclusively was the best for Finn and me, and had I not changed my game plan, I doubt that Finn would have eaten so well for 8 months.
Pump Quickly and Often
My pumping strategy took some time to master, but what I found worked best was to pump immediately after Finn had a bottle. I was following his eating schedule as much as I could. This ended up being about every three hours, and I would stop whatever I was doing to ensure I pumped. Usually a pumping session would fill a 6 oz bottle, but if I was short, I would pump again 60-90 minutes later to ensure a full feed.The thing about pumping, or breastfeeding for that matter, is that the more you feed, the more milk your body produces. If for whatever reason I had to skip a pumping session, I knew I would have to make up for it later on. Sticking to an every three hour rotation was key.
Be Over-Prepared
I remember those first few months going back to work. I was carrying all the bags. I needed my work stuff, and Finn's stuff for daycare. I also needed my breast pump and a lunch pail for storage. I would also bring my pump with me if I knew we would be out for longer than three hours, which, as Finn got older, became more frequent. I highly suggest purchasing a pump with a car plug or batteries. The ability to pump on the go was a game-changer for me.Also, make sure you EAT! Fueling your body is key to getting enough milk. I learned this the hard way when I slipped back into the bad routine of skipping breakfast. My milk supply suffered for about a week and when I started eating those extra calories, it bounced back. Water is key, too. Keep a water bottle in your pump bag and there's no excuse!
Perfect Your Strategy
Give yourself the time to figure out the best strategy for you and your body! I realized that marathon pumping worked best for me, but other women I talked to swear that pumping quickly for five minutes and then taking a five minute break and then repeating this worked best. Whatever gives you the best supply, do that! It may take a while to figure it out, but it'll be worth it.
Pump Time is You Time
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed those 30 minutes of pumping time, especially at first. When I went back to work, the private room gave me the ability to look through pictures of Finn if I was missing him, catch up on books and podcasts, and just give me some quiet time away from everyone.
Stress Doesn't Help
Remember, stress only dries up your milk supply. If pumping is becoming too stressful for you, supplementing with formula is another great option. I don't know why I had such a hard time giving Finn formula, but once I realized he needed it, I was at peace.You've already grown this baby for 10 months, stressing over being able to breastfeed is just silly. You've done enough, mama, and if you're body is telling you that you no longer can supply food, you should listen to it. I pumped for about a month longer than my body wanted to. By the end, I was pumping maybe one or two full bottles a day. At that point, I was supplementing with breast milk instead of formula. It got to be too much, and I knew it was time to stop. Listen to your body, it knows what it's doing.