Pumping Tips

1. Start and End your workday empty. Before you clock in and after you clock out, pump. That will give you the first few hours of work and the few busy hours right after work empty. If you start full or end full, it can be very detrimental to your supply.

2. Stay on schedule. Pump at regular intervals. Dont skip pumping sessions, and if you must, manually express to keep your supply up.

3. Choose a good pump , cheap pumps can cause injury (yikes),low supply (double yikes) mastitis from lack of emptying (triple yikes). So don't go there. Invest in a good pump.

4. Make sure you are using the correct size flanges. Ask a lactation consultant to take a look. Consider using a soft flange like this one to make pumping more comfortable.They are made for medela pumps and are called soft fit breastshields (used to be known as flex shields)

5. Keep a photo or video of your baby nearby. Consider a sound bite of the baby suckling too. These cues will help.

6. Consider Power Pumping breast milk to increase supply. Power pumping is where you pump for 10 minutes take a break for 10 minutes then pump for 10 minutes then take a break and continue this pattern for 1-2 hours. Even if little is coming out, it will signal your brain to increase supply. (it is mimicing a baby going through a growth spurt and doing frequent feeds).

7. Only use Breastmilk Storage Containers

8. Consider using a galactogogue (milk stimulating herb) to increase your supply. This only works if you are frequently expressing breast milk with a pump or by nursing. Can make you sick if you are one to skip pumping sessions/ emptying.

9. Store your breastmilk in a cooler with icepacks so that you do not forget your expressed breastmilk at work.

10. Keep your local lactation consultants number on speed dial for questions and support.

Pumping breastmilk can be a challenge but hopefully these tips have helped you.

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