Pumping advice from a pumping expert: Tips on the right pump to pumping how-to's

June 15, 11:17 AMEarly Childhood Parenting ExaminerAngele Sionna

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Pumping is something lots of moms must do for a variety of reasons. But what pump is the right kind for you? How do you know if you even need to pump? Are there any secrets to more successful pumping? I went to Gina Ciagne, CLC and Director of Breastfeeding and Consumer Relations at Lansinoh Laboratories, for some advice for all moms to be and new moms who need pumping advice.

Examiner: Do you have any personal experience with pumping? Tell me about it.

Gina: I am proud to say that I am a mom of two breastfed children for whom I pumped after retuning to work. I returned to work full time after the birth of each of my children—four months after the birth of my first child, and three months after the birth of my second child.

I continued to nurse my children at home and whenever we were together, and provided them with expressed breastmilk at daycare. I was able to breastmilk-feed exclusively and never supplemented. It was an important goal that I strived for, and worked hard to achieve.

Although it was hard to leave my babies after my maternity leaves were over, I knew by pumping, I could leave a part of myself behind, which was reassuring. Pumping with my first child was a challenge, because although my employer (a large international institution in D.C.) was in theory supportive of my breastfeeding and pumping, they did not accommodate it or make it easy. I was left to my own devices.

Luckily, I was able to afford my own pump and mini fridge, and found a clean, sanitary place to pump—a closet! I had inquired as to whether there were pumping rooms, but was told there were none. Imagine my surprise when many months into pumping a colleague asked if I knew about the pumping room in our building! Apparently, they checked the list and designated space, but no one knew about them and very few people had ever used them.

After having my second child, I was working for the government, and they, again in theory, were understanding, but had no accommodations in my building or plans to make any accommodations. I was lucky in that I had a private office where I pumped, but there was no guidance or accommodation for those who did not have an office. I ended up lending mine out whenever I heard of a mom needing a place to pump. I breastfed for 15 months with my first child (eight months pumping), and breastfed for 17 months with my second child (12 months pumping).

Examiner: Pumping is something many moms don't think about until they return to work. But it's something that is necessary for many moms. Talk to me about the need for pumping and what different pumping options are out there for moms.

Gina: Pumping is a way that a mom can keep up her milk supply and leave behind her expressed milk while she and her baby are apart. If she is returning to work or doing another activity that will keep her and her baby apart for a sustained period of time, she will need to pump her milk.

There are options for expressing milk, including manual or hand expression, or using a manual or electric pump. If the time apart will be regular and for several hours, it will be important for her to stimulate her breasts to signal them to keep making milk and also pumping out the milk so a caregiver can feed it to the baby when mom is not there. Using a double electric breast pump is an efficient way to pump both breasts at the same time—an ideal situation, especially when a mom’s breaks during the day may not be very lengthy.

It is important for a mom to consider her situation when thinking about going back to work. It can be emotional and daunting to think about leaving one’s baby, so it is helpful to think about how you will handle it a few weeks ahead of returning to work. Familiarize yourself with the pump and how it works; determine your preferred way to pump; and start establishing that freezer stash.

Planning ahead can help minimize the stress of going back to work because you will know that you have milk set aside for your baby, and he or she can get the benefits of your milk even when you are apart.

Examiner: Do moms need a manual pump and electric pump? Why or why not?

Gina: Making the choice between a manual or electric pump depends on the mom and her situation. If she is going back to work full time with little breaks throughout the day, a double electric pump may be the best option for her. Pumping both breasts at once is time efficient. And because these pumps are highly powered, they can help a mom maintain her milk supply.

For a mom who will only occasionally be apart from her baby, say for the night out or running errands, a manual pump may work best for her. Some moms like having both, so they can have the option when they need it. If a mom is going on a day trip and is unsure about the electricity situation where she is going, she may bring along her manual pump.

Examiner: What are some new electric pumping features that make pumping easier?

Gina: There are many types of electric pumps for moms to choose from, but there are some key features that make a big difference in comfort and performance. When I was nursing, using a pump that was high-powered, efficient, and intuitive was very important. Other key attributes for me included being easy to set up, use, and clean; and being able to keep up my milk supply with no problem.

I experienced the nightmare of my milk backing up into the tubing and motor of an expensive, well-known pump. It caused mold. So I also wanted to make sure I had a closed system pump, which ensures that no milk gets into the tubing or the motor, and will not cause mold.

Being able to separately control speed and suction are also key, because a mom can adjust for her comfort level and can mimic how her baby feeds at the breast. Easy clean up is crucial, especially for moms with time constraints, such as a set amount of time for a pumping session. Using an electric breast pump that has very few parts will help a mom be as time efficient as possible while pumping, and lower the chances that she has misplaced or forgotten one of the small pump pieces.

Examiner: Share a few pumping tips that all moms could benefit from.

Gina: Pumping is never going to be the same as breastfeeding, and many moms have a love-hate relationship with their pumps—no matter what pump it is. But, because they want to keep breastfeeding and feeding breastmilk, moms every day are making the effort to pump their milk.

Because you are essentially tricking your body into letting your milk down when pumping, it can sometimes be helpful to have a photo of your baby to look at or even a recording of her cooing or laughing. These sweet reminders of your baby can be very helpful when trying to relax enough to get your milk to flow.

Breastfeeding is based on supply and demand. The more you empty your breasts (by feeding the baby at the breast or by expressing milk with a breast pump), the more milk your body with make. In order to keep up your supply and have enough milk to leave behind for your baby, try to pump during your baby’s regular feeding schedule.

For instance, if your baby normally would breastfeed every three hours, try to pump every three hours while you are apart. If for some reason you can’t pump every time your baby would nurse, try to pump for a little bit to stimulate your breasts to make milk. Also, having spare parts at work—such as flanges, bottles, diaphragms, and valves—can be helpful in case you leave any of the parts at home.

Examiner: Any tips for coping with the need to pump if you want to feed baby breast milk but baby won't breastfeed for whatever reason?

Gina: Breastmilk is specifically designed for a baby by his mother, and it contains the essential nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and immunity-building properties the baby needs to grow and thrive. Breastmilk is the ideal food for baby, and although it is preferential to have the baby fed at the breast, there are many variables. These include challenges the baby may have, such as difficulty or inability to latch on.

In cases like these and others, mom can express her milk and feed her breastmilk to her baby with a bottle or a cup. This mom is to be commended, because pumping and breastmilk feeding take a lot of time and effort. I would encourage all moms to seek out a lactation specialist or La Leche League leader who can be so helpful, especially when a mom or baby is facing challenges.

So many of the issues that a breastfeeding mom faces can be avoided, especially if she has the support and backing of a professional who can help guide her through some rough spots. Moms can find a certified lactation consultant in their area at www.ILCA.org (International Lactation Consultant Association website) or find a La Leche League leader in their area at www.LaLecheLeague.org.

Examiner: What about caring for your breasts while pumping and/or breastfeeding? Anything moms can do to make their nipples less sensitive?

Gina: Breastfeeding should not be painful, but in the early weeks of breastfeeding, along with swelling and engorgement, nipples can become sensitive and sore. With that said, some moms experience no nipple pain, while others experience some discomfort.

Nipple soreness and pain are often cited as major reasons women stop breastfeeding. Proper positioning of mother and baby is important, because it can prevent sore nipples and insufficient milk supply. If your nipples become sore or cracked, Lansinoh HPA Lanolin can be applied to soothe, heal, and protect sensitive nipples. And because Lansinoh is ultra-pure, medical-grade lanolin, it contains no preservatives, therefore, it does not have to be wiped off prior to breastfeeding the baby.

Pumping itself should not be painful, but when a mom is full with milk, she can experience some tenderness and soreness. It is important to remember that you do not need to have your pump on full speed and suction to get a lot of milk. Every mom is different, and her body will respond to the pump differently.

That is why choosing a breast pump that has separate speed and suction dials is preferable, so each mom can find a setting that is best for her. Also, be sure that your breast flange (the cone that goes on a mother’s breast and draws the milk out) is the right size for you. Your nipple should be centered in the tunnel and not rubbing on either side.

There is nothing a mom needs to do to de-sensitize her nipples, although it is helpful to avoid soaps or creams directly on her nipple or areola. This can dry out the nipple and deplete natural oils that moisten the skin.