Breastfeeding & Pumping Tips for New Moms

Whether you're exclusively pumping or breastfeeding, or doing both, these simple tips for both methods will ease your mind as you dive into your milking journey. It's all about what baby needs and helping momma make the goods.

Increase milk production

• Get a lactation nurse and visit regularly.
• Drink coconut water.
• Pump or breastfeed every 2-3 hours. Don't skip sessions.
• Pump on time, even if nothing is coming out.
• Power pump: 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off, for 20-40 minutes. Go up to an hour if you need it. It mimics cluster feeding.
• Let baby cluster feed and sleep feed (eating in their sleep), it will help your production. 

Decrease milk production

• Feed as needed, no pumping in between.
• Only pump to relieve engorgement, not until empty.
• If baby is eating foods, give food before breastfeeding.
• Use cold packs to relieve engorgement.
• Stop sleep feeding, unless it's a normal feeding time. No more comfort sucking all night.

Get a let down

• Whether pumping or feeding, bend forward so the breast hangs by gravity. 
• Use a lactation massager or hand massage the top of the breast, from armpit to center chest.
• Use warm a compress 10-15 minutes before you pump or breastfeed.
• Smell your baby (specifically their head). Baby releases oxytocin, the love hormone, telling your body that they need you. Its strongest right after birth and wears off as they get older.
• When baby's crying, you get a let down. So if baby doesn't want to feed, but is crying, pump instead (though baby will most always want to feed when crying).

Latching and fitting

• A deep latch from baby shouldn't hurt. They don't really even suck, they massage with their tongue to make milk flow. You should hear long, big gulps from baby.
• A proper pump flange fit shouldn't pinch or hurt, it shouldn't feel like anything but a light vacuum.
• Measure your nipple with a silicone measurer for the best flange fitting.Click here to see.

Balance breastfeeding and pumping

• Always breastfeed before pumping and only pump after if you still feel full (unless you're trying to increase production).
• Pump on schedule when baby's not around or not awake.

At night 

• At night is when you produce the most milk, wake up and pump if baby is asleep, even for just 10 minutes.
• Fresh breastmilk is good at room temperature for 4-6 hours (8 hrs max), so leave it in the bottle by your bed and go to sleep.

On the go

• Pump before leaving home, fresh breastmilk is best at room temperature at 4-6 hours, but can go up to 8.
• Breastfeed when out as needed, bring the breast cover and burp cloth ALWAYS.
• Frozen breastmilk is good until the last bit of ice defrosts and it stays good for 2 more hours after it hits room temperature. On a hot day I take a frozen solid milk bag and by the time I need it, it's defrosted. 
• A cup of hot water works just as well as a portable milk warmer.