Will pumping before birth help with milk supply?
First—please check with your doctor about pumping before birth.
As far as milk supply, there is no benefit from pumping before birth.
Pumping could potentially send you into labor, so it is highly discouraged before 37 weeks which is considered full term, however babies still get many benefits from the last three weeks of pregnancy. It’s really unlikely to put you into labor, but I feel obligated to mention it.
If you or your baby have certain conditions that put you at higher risk for separation, collecting some colostrum before delivery could be helpful. The best way is hand expression, and you are going to be getting just drops at a time which is fine! In the first few days a baby’s feedings are only around 5 ml each.
Again, pumping before birth is NOT going to help with your long term milk production and supply. At best you can become familiar with your pump and save a little colostrum to have on hand when baby comes, which are both great. I never want anyone to stress about this though as you have enough to worry about at the end. Bottom line: if you want to you can try pumping or hand expression before birth but it is not at all a requirement to have a successful breastfeeding journey!
What’s in your pumping bag?
I saw this super cute bag on Amazon and it almost made me want to pump at work again (side note—I have a tote bag collection, slash problem).
Ever since the pandemic, the standard back to work after 12 weeks has changed into many different variations. There are so many different situations including working from home and nursing full time, working from home and pumping, or working away from home like "normal".
For those of you working outside the home, let's talk about what's in your bag. Of course you'll need your pump and all of your parts (don't forget those duckbills or valves!!!) Then you'll have to decide what you are going to do with your collected milk. Are you going to transfer it into other bottles or containers-perhaps directly into freezer bags? If you are pumping directly into whatever you are going to store it in, you'll probably need more sets of those unless you only pump once in the day, like if you work less than a full day shift.
You’ll have to decide where you are going to store the milk that’s pumped. Ideally, you have a fridge that you have easy access to, that feels totally safe and secure. If not, you could use a cooler, maybe an insulated lunchbox. Milk can stay in the cooler for 24 hours (in case you forget to take it out when you get home… #mombrain.) There’s also a cool new product called the Ceres Chill that is designed specifically for keeping milk cool on the go, and you can even pump directly into the container!
Another consideration is how you are going to clean your parts in between pumping sessions. You could put them in the refrigerator, following the theory that any milk residue won't go bad if it's in the fridge like the rest of your milk. If you have the space you could do a quick wash and air dry. Or in a pinch you could leave the parts in your cooler bag.
You might have extra sets of parts, and you could bring multiple sets to work. Then at night you could just put all of them in the dishwasher if you have one.
If your baby is under 3 months you'll want to be more careful about cleaning pumping parts and bottles. Once you hit 3 months you can relax a little bit because baby's immune system is more developed.
Here's another thing: it can be hard to respond to the pump and have a letdown in the middle of your workday. A lot of moms find success with looking at pictures or videos of their baby, or even bringing a blanket or onesie that smells like baby.
I've given you a lot of options and information. Let me sum it up here, you are going to need:
*there will be variations depending on what pump you have.
Pump
Power cord if you don't have a battery powered pump.
Tubing
Flanges
Valves
Backflow protectors
Storage bottles or bags
Back up hand pump
Cooler with ice pack—if you don't have access to a fridge or you might want it if you have a long commute.
Cleaning brush or wipes
Bag for wet parts to store in fridge.
Paper towels just in case
Pictures/videos of baby or baby blanket or clothing
Snacks
Water
Did I miss anything? Let me know! You can submit a comment, email me at margo@mamamilk.org, or find me on Instagram or Facebook.
If you are having trouble maintaining milk supply after going back to work, first of all, don't feel bad because I hear this all the time, and second of all I'd be happy to do a virtual consult and help you figure out what is going on.
How a baby carrier can support breastfeeding
I would recommend a baby carrier for any new parent, and here are some great ways that it can benefit the breastfeeding relationship. You can wear your baby from day one; many new parents are nervous about it but there is no need to be. Snuggle that baby!!!
Keeps baby close so that you can spot early feeding and hunger cues.
Boosts your milk supply! You take in baby's smells and movements and your body responds by making milk.
Soothing to baby, and happier babies are usually better at feeding (this is a bit of a chicken and egg thing but definitely goes both ways!)
Super convenient so that you can have more time and flexibility to respond to baby's needs.
My absolute favorite carrier for the first few months is the Baby K’tan! What I love most about it is you can just wear it around the house and you can pop baby in and out as needed for feeding. This was soooo helpful with my second son who had some challenges that resulted in very frequent but short feeds. I found with the more structured carriers that it was hard to take him out and breastfeed right away, then put him back in easily. That was really important for me while managing my 3 year old also.
Another option is a stretchy wrap like the Moby or Boba. This is similar to the K'Tan and has a benefit that it can be adjusted to fit any parent (with the Baby K'Tan it's important to have the right size based on the adult wearing it). A lot of people find the wrap a little inconvenient though. As with most things breastfeeding, do what works best for you.
If you want something that is a little more substantial, we loved the Baby Bjorn that we got from my sister in law for our first baby. It was so easy to get him in and out and it was especially great and comfortable for Dad.
The Baby K’Tan saved me because I broke my ankle when he was only 10 weeks old. It wasn’t too long before I could hobble around the house with my babe in the Baby K’Tan.
What’s your favorite baby carrier? I would love to hear, let me know in the comments!
RSV in a newborn
A few years ago, at 3 weeks old my little Cooper came down with RSV. It started out as just some congestion then just got worse and worse for a few days when I decided to take him to the doctor. We went to our regular pediatrician's office which is in the hospital. They thought he was working too hard to breathe so they sent us down to Emergency. They did a whole respiratory panel and he was positive for RSV. Nobody was really clear about how serious it was. I was shocked to hear that we would be admitted and have to stay for at least 24 hours.
Little did I know we would have to spend 4 nights in the hospital including 2 in Pediatric Intensive Care. I must have brought him in at just the right time because he really declined after we went to the Emergency Department and then to the Pediatric Inpatient floor. He was even worse by the morning so we were moved to the PICU. Covid was just starting to come into the US, I'm thankful this was before everything shut down. In the PICU he was put on high flow air and I couldn't breastfeed for about 36 hours. He was sustained on just IV fluids during that time.
I'm interested to learn more about breastfeeding and situations like this but I believe we had great care and in hindsight I don't think there was anything different they should have done. You know how us lactation people can be skeptical though & The hardest part was not knowing how long this was going to last. I pumped during that time and then he was able to return to breastfeeding soon after coming off of the high flow. It wore him out at first but he kept getting better and better. After one more night in the regular pediatric inpatient unit we were ready to go home.
What a crazy time. Ever since this experience he has been super healthy.
Anyone else experienced RSV with a newborn?
Would love to hear your story! Thank you for reading ours.
Having your partner help with feedings
I hear this so much, I'd say I hear it more often than not. The breastfeeding parent wants the other parent to help with the feedings for a few different reasons, most commonly so that the partner can bond with baby, or so that the mom can rest. I'm open minded and I know that some families make this work just fine, but there are some risks to the breastfeeding relationship that I want you to know about.
First of all, your partner is going to bond with your baby. Feeding is not a requirement for bonding.
There are many other ways to care for baby and show love. My favorites are diaper changes, bathing and tummy time. In fact, the partner has the opportunity to show baby that love does not always have to be related to food.
Looking for one on one support? Click here
Regarding resting for mama, I hate to break this to you, but it is not going to give you much extra rest.
It would be recommended that you pump anytime you "miss" a feed, so if your partner is giving baby a bottle, you would want to pump around that time.
Now, if you have an abundant milk supply, you may be able to work around this, but again the general recommendation is to pump when baby is getting a bottle so that you are mimicking the demand and supply cycle.
Another big issue that can come up is either Another big issue that can come up is either baby having a hard time taking the bottle, or starting to prefer the bottle and refuse the breast. Crazy that it can go one of two extremes, right? It's tough to predict which way it will go and each baby is so different. If breastfeeding is going well, by trying to have a partner help with feedings you may end up causing yourself unnecessary stress.
If you are still thinking you might want to incorporate regular bottle feeding by a partner, here are some tips:
Wait at least 3-4 weeks. This way, baby will have a chance to get better at breastfeeding (they may not have mastered it by then, but some will be close). This is also a good strategy for pumping because if you start pumping too soon you could accidentally get an oversupply. By feeding directly at the breast as much as possible in the early weeks, you are getting in sync with baby and your body is going to figure out how to produce exactly what baby needs.
Consider what life will be like after your maternity leave. With so many people working from home now, will there be times when your partner has an opportunity to feed baby while you are working?
Have your partner use a slow flow nipple and do paced feeding. I like either Dr. Brown's or these Evenflo ones as they have a gradual slope from the
Use this opportunity for some self care. Perhaps go for a long walk, do some shopping, leisurely errands, get a haircut...many possibilities. You could feed baby right before you leave and leave a bottle of previously pumped milk for baby, then pump when you get home (assuming you are gone for 2-3 hours or so, if longer than that you might need to pump while out). This way you get to really take a break from baby, if that is something you are after.
Your baby may have an easier time taking the bottle if you are not around.
5. Pump right before you go to bed. If your partner is doing a middle of the night feed, you want to make sure you don't get too engorged and risk clogged ducts. It may be unavoidable for you to get up in the middle of the night, or pumping before you go to bed might be enough.
These are all IDEAS, every family and baby are different and this is not a substitute for working with a lactation professional. At the end of the day you need to do what is best for your own family and situation. I would be thrilled to help you in the process, without judgement, just information
Silicone “pumps”: what you need to know
If you are a breastfeeding or expecting mama, you've probably heard of the Haakaa. It's a device made of silicone, that can be used in a few different ways by applying some suction and pressure to the nipple. It is NOT a substitute for an electric pump.
A lot of moms will use the silicone pump to collect milk on one breast while feeding on the other. This is a great way to collect some extra milk if you want some for an occasional bottle while separated from baby, build up a small emergency supply in the freezer, or baby is having transfer issues at the breast and you need to get them some additional milk.
Another great use of a silicone pump is to help clear up a clogged duct. You can fill it with warm water and epsom salt, and then put it on with suction and let your nipple soak and release some milk. Here is a video showing your how:
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How to Use a Haakaa
I love that the silicone pump is available for mamas now. They are an in between from passively collecting leaking to doing a pumping session with an electric pump. Using it frequently may increase your milk supply, which could be good or bad depending on your own situation. I'm always happy to help with milk supply management if you could use some individual attention to your situation.
Click below to take a look at my calendar :)
My baby is sleeping through the night!
Has your bay recently started sleeping longer at night? This does not mean you need to pump!
Do I need to wake them up?! Do I need to pump?!
These are very common questions. My short answer is, hopefully not. I'm a big fan of sleep, especially for moms.
There are some situations where you might need to wake baby up: if there are any weight concerns in the first few weeks, in which case you would be working with your pediatrician and/or a lactation consultant. (I'm available to work with you if you don't have a lactation consultant!)
If you are trying to relactate or seriously increase your milk supply, you might wake up to pump, but not just to increase for building a stash-only if you seriously need to increase your supply, in which case I also recommend working with a professional.
Other special cases might involve waking up baby or waking up to pump.
In general though, if your baby is healthy and starts sleeping through the night, you get to too!
As long as you continue to feed on cue, your baby is going to keep getting what they need. You don't need to wake them up, you don't need to wake up to pump, and you aren't going to lose your supply.
If your baby starts sleeping through the night or a longer stretch suddenly, you may wake up in the middle of the night feeling full or engorged. In this case pumping would not be recommended, because that is going to make your body keep thinking that it needs to produce that much at that time.
Instead, you could hand express just for comfort, not to empty. If you are desperate you could pump, but just know that you are going to keep having to pump.
If it's first thing in the morning and you are up before baby, you could pump-this is a great time to pump once a day to build a stash (this is assuming you are at least 3-4 weeks postpartum).
You might notice after a period of time that you wake up feeling not as full or engorged. Lots of times this causes moms to worry that their supply is decreasing. It's not! This is part of the adjustment process as your baby gets older and your body figures out exactly what they need, when they need it.
Notice how there were a lot of "if, but's and "assuming.."s in this post? It's because babies and families are so unique. This is why it's great to work with someone individually. If you are unsure whether your baby is getting enough or having trouble managing your feeding routine, I would be happy to help. Click here to check out my calendar.
Momcozy review
I've been trying the Momcozy wearable pump and wanted to share my thoughts on it. It seems people are starting to notice that it is an option that is much cheaper than the Willow or Elvie.
First of all, I am here to say that wearable pumps are the way of the future- and I'm only realizing this after trying it myself. I've tried it while driving and it is such a GAME CHANGER if you are someone who spends a good amount of time driving and needs to pump.
I have not tried the Willow or Elvie personally, but a few things I know are 1. They are about $500 which is a pretty significant purchase for most people, 2. They are not meant to be a full time pump, 3. The Willow especially has very specific sizing needs and can cause pain and damage if not sized correctly.
The million dollar question-is the Momcozy a good alternative??? Here are my thoughts:
1. It is definitely cheaper, although the price on Amazon is a bit misleading because it's sold one at a time. I tried just one of them, but if I were going to use it regularly I would definitely get two.
2. The flange is silicone, which I love. There was no discomfort at all. The only thing is you have to make sure it is fully and securely closed before starting to pump—1 did have some leaking the first time I used it but I think that was a user error.
3. You can take it fully apart to clean which is nice.
4. They come with handy bra strap extenders so you can put them in a regular nursing bra-so convenient.
In conclusion, I do think this is a great option!
Especially if you are not sure how much pumping you are going to be doing or you know you just need to find a way to fit in a little more pumping into your busy life. Just like the Willow and Elvie, I would not use the Momcozy as a regular full time pump, for relactation, or for a serious push To increase your milk supply.
Productivity for new moms
I'm totally guilty of feeling bad for not being more "productive" in life.
As a mom, snuggling your baby and taking care of yourself IS productive! Also, I'm working on letting go of the need to be
"productive". We are not robots in a factory! We are humans and our purpose is to *experience* our human lives.
One of my least favorite things I hear from new moms is "my baby won't let me put them down so I can't get anything done". Ughhh and it's not that mom's fault it's like we have these cultural and societal expectations that we have to "get things done".
TLDR: it's ok to *just* snuggle your baby!
Let me repeat that...Snuggle. Your. Baby.
But who is going to tidy up the living space, do the dishes, clean the bathroom, cook dinner, etc? Here are some ideas to make your life easier in the early postpartum weeks:
Accept help from partner, friends and family.
Hire a postpartum doula
If breastfeeding is challenging at all, seek out support. Feeding challenges can really impact daily life and stress but it doesn't have to be that way!
Order takeout
Use paper plates
Freezer meals don't have to be homemade, it's ok to have frozen pizza! Or use a meal service. Nourish is one specifically for postpartum families. (Use the code nourishfam for $10 off each meal bundle).
Figure out the bare minimum tasks you need to do in a day and don't worry about other stuff (like take out trash, dirty dishes to kitchen)
Babywear
Don't worry about building a freezer stash
Don't worry about a schedule or routine for baby, nurse on cue, nap on cue
Get and use Amazon Prime - did you know you can do a free 30 day trial?
Hang in there mama, this phase won't last forever.
Becoming a Lactation Professional Part 1
I get asked about this all the time so I want to give you some info. The lactation professional is not like other careers where you can just go to a college or do a "program" in most cases (there are a few).
The credential that is most highly regarded is the IBCLC, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
Unless you are already a healthcare provider spending a portion of your time with breastfeeding dyadic (like a postpartum nurse), achieving the IBCLC is HARD.
In general you need 14 specific health science college courses (unless you are already a recognized health professional). You also need 90 hours of lactation specific education and 5 hours of counseling education.
Additionally you need clinical hours, and there are three different pathways ranging from 300-1000 clinical hours. For most people the hours are the hardest part to complete.
I did Pathway 1 and got most of my hours through volunteering with La Leche League.
and getting my hours through volunteering with La Leche League. I need 1000 hours total. Pathway 1 is for volunteers or recognized health professionals working with breastfeeding stars.
Pathway 2 is for students in a college level Lactation program (there are very few of these). Pathway 3 is available for people who can find an IBCLC mentor to work with, it is structured but not part of a college program.
Once you complete those requirements you get the pleasure of taking a big scary test!
Not sure about the IBCLC?
There are several other credentials out there which are easier to obtain, yet do not have the recognition of the IBCLC. One is the CLC-Certified Lactation Counselor, which is what I have. It is a 52 hour course plus an exam. I completed mine in 2017 and it was a week long course, and I know that due to Covid they have made some changes. the CLC is the most widely recognized in the US, other than the IBCLC.
The CLC course is offered by Health Children Project and the test is administered by ALPP.
Some other credentials are:
CLE - Certified Lactation Educator: this is accredited by CAPPA
CBS - Certified Breastfeeding Specialist: accredited by LER
WIC Peer Counselor - WIC has their own training program for their peer counselors
In most cases the education hours that you do for these programs would count towards your 90 lactation hours, so in some ways they are a "stepping stone"
What you want to pursue depends largely on your future goals. If you are already a birth worker looking to add another feather to you cap and offer even more support to your clients, then any one of those would be good.
If you are not already in the field, very few people work full time in lactation with something other than the IBCLC. Even for an IBCLC, if you are not an RN, it can be hard to find a job, and the best option may be a private practice.
Like I said above, the CLC is the most recognized credential in the US other than the IBCLC. With the CLC, you may have opportunities in medical practice settings or you could have a private practice which is what I'm doing right now.
I love hearing about others' paths in this field, drop me a comment below and let me know what you are doing!
