By Rebekah Scroggy, RN BSN, IBCLC
Recent research found that out of 19,719 mothers, 91% have used a breast pump.
The study, which intended to discover the impact that pump use had on the duration of breastfeeding, found that using a breast pump increased the duration of a breastfeeding journey by around 21 weeks:
"Pump use was associated with longer breastfeeding duration; the greatest magnitudes of association were found among non-Hispanic Black and Native American participants, groups disproportionately affected by breastfeeding inequities."
We also know that parents often report that they struggle to find the right support when it comes to their pumping journey. If you're a breastfeeding mom, you know this isn't rare! The pump space has changed so much over the last few years, and with so many new pumps on the market, it can be overwhelming to try and figure out which one is best for you AND how to use it.
BUT, as an IBCLC, I am always here to help you and support you in your journey.
Here are my top tips for pumping:
- Get Flange Sized! This is a great first step but know that your size can change! You can size yourself at any time, but I usually suggest to my clients to size your nipples around 2 weeks post-partum since birth can cause some swelling. However, if you need to pump earlier go ahead and measure! Most of the major breast pump companies come with a 24mm and 27mm flange size, but as more research is coming out we are finding out that more people have smaller nipples in the 13-17mm range.
- Learn how to use your breast pump! There are so many different breast pumps and different settings, it is important to find the settings that work best for YOU. Generally, I recommend to start your pump for around 2-3 minutes on the Massage mode, switch to the Expression setting for 7-8 minutes and then repeat.
- How long to pump? It can be confusing to figure out how long to pump for. Generally, I recommend to pump about 20 minutes. Some moms find they can pump for less and get enough milk out, while some moms pump closer to 30 minutes. If you are noticing that it is taking longer than 30 minutes at most of your pump sessions, work with an IBCLC to troubleshoot if there are any issues.
- Learn how to store your milk! You have done so much hard work getting your milk, let’s make sure it’s stored properly too. Check out "The 'do's and don'ts of breastmilk storage" article on our Baby Feeding Central page!
- Pacefeeding your baby is a big part of pumping! Once your milk is pumped and stored, safely feeding your baby is the next step. Use a slow flow nipple and let baby control the flow, this will help prevent overfeeding at the bottle.
- Pain is not normal and a red flag. Reach out to an IBCLC if you are ever having pain while pumping. Start low on the suction levels and go up to what is comfortable.
And most importantly, remember that no matter how you feed your baby, you are doing a great job!
Resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breast-milk-preparation-and-storage/handling-breastmilk.html
https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-mothers-are-in-the-labor-force/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/sucky-history-of-the-breast-pump-180980653/
https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(24)00295-6/abstract