The nitty gritty on pumping

Breast pumping is a common practice nowadays that is becoming more and more accepted as moms return to work and desire to increase their supply. But let’s be honest, is it that easy? To simply pump instead of breastfeed? Yes and No.

If done correctly, pumping can have many advantages. One of the main ones is that it allows you to provide breast milk for your baby without being physically there or if medically incapable of breastfeeding (some NICU babies)

. Dad or caregivers can feed your baby with the pumped milk. It also allows you to increase your milk production by supply and demand; the more milk out, the more milk produced. It’s a nice way to provide your breast milk your baby and monitor how much is being consumed which gives many early Momease reassurance that their baby is eating. A pump is also nice to release engorged breasts early on if only used to provide relief, not to empty the breast.

On the other hand, pumping alone does not increase milk supply. There are many other factors that play along such as hydration, hormone production, and lifestyle. Pumping can lead to a DECREASE in supply or an OVER supply if not careful and can even cause engorgement. Breast pumps tend to have many small parts and pieces that need to be cleaned after each pump. This can be time consuming and a hassle. Not to mention how expensive they can be. The baby provides a natural stimulation to the breast that promotes oxytocin and prolactin release to draw out milk. A breast pump may not be able to fully simulate that.

All in all, breast pumps can be an essential tool to nursing Momease if used with the proper knowledge and balance. Nothing can ever beat the instinctive nature of a baby on the breast, but technology has advanced and allowed pumps to be a great, close second!