breastpump Archives - Lactation Link

Mar 20

3 pumping tips to get more milk out in less time

By Lindsey Shipley | Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding support, breastfeeding tips, motherhood, Recommended Products

Okay pumping mamas, this post is all about you! Whether you are pumping to store just a little extra for a night out or you’re a full-time working and pumping mom, having the know-how to get the most out of your pumping sessions is so valuable. Our lives as mothers are so busy that truly the minutes count! So if I were to share a few tips that may shave a few minutes off your pumping routine, you’d be all ears, right? I get questions and comments all the time from pumping moms like this:

“Can I pump just a few times a day but for longer periods and still keep up my milk supply?” or

“I have a really good milk supply and don’t have the time to pump, I’ll be okay going 5-6 hours between pumping sessions, right?!”

{Clip and Pump hands-free pumping accessory}

My response is always the same. Frequent breast stimulation (every 2-3 hours you’re away from baby), is what maintains your milk production. It’s based off supply and demand. So you can’t get away with pumping less often but you can make your pumping sessions as efficient as possible. Who doesn’t want to get more milk out in less time?! Keep in mind, as baby gets older and is feeding less often, you’ll want to pump at least as often as your baby is breastfeeding.

I know that you don’t want to spend your life hooked up to a machine that goes ee-ah-ee-ah for any longer than you need to! I remember pumping when I went back to work as a labor and delivery nurse and I was a little overwhelmed when I started but pretty soon I had a system down and I flew through my pumping routine! Today I’m partnering with Bravado Designs to “hook you up” with 3 tips to help you get the most milk out in the least amount of time during your pumping sessions. Let’s be honest, we’ve got other things to do, right?!

#1 – Get familiar with your pump and it’s parts

If possible, get to know your pump before you ever need to use it. It can be frustrating trying to figure out how to work something for the first time when you need to use it right then! Becoming familiar with it a little while in advance can help ease any of those worries and create confidence with the pump. Get the pump out of its box, read the instructions, take apart the parts and put them back together a few times, plug it in, power it on and off, and learn any of the functions.

Just for you: Did you know you can get a free breast pump through your insurance? Click here to get it ordered.

Cheat sheet: The flange is the circular part of the pump that touches your breast and you want to be sure you have the right size! When you start pumping, check to be sure there’s just a little bit of space all the way around your nipple as it goes in and out. You can also book an online consult with us to make sure you have the right size!

#2 – Go hands-free

Did you know that pumping alone just provides suction, but when a baby is breastfeeding they are applying suction plus compression? So pumping by itself can leave out compression altogether. There’s a way around this! Research shows that using your hands (doing breast massage + compression) while your pumping gets the most milk out. This is where going hands-free with your nursing bra comes in handy! The clip and pump hands-free pumping accessory from Bravado Designs is a great option because it easily attaches to any nursing bra so you don’t have to completely switch bras every time you need to pump.

Here’s how it works:

Just for you: You can get 15% off your total purchase with the code ‘LLINK15’ on bravadodesigns.com. They also have great maternity and nursing bras and tanks. Here’s a few other posts that show some of my favorite nursing bras: Best Nursing bras and tanks || Nursing bra myths debunked

Cheat sheet: I have step-by-step video tutorials on hands-on pumping inside my Pumping and Storing Breastmilk online course. Want a sneak peek inside my courses? Try my free mini-course here.

#3 – Establish a routine

Set reminders for your pumping breaks! It’s easy to get into work or travel mode and forget about the clock! Setting a reminder on your phone for specific times can help you remember to pump every 2-3 hours. Frequency in pumping is the most important thing when it comes to maintaining your milk supply when you’re away from your baby.

Pumping: Use the hands-on pumping technique for 10-15 minutes (depending on how much time you have). Use the clip and pump accessory to save you time.

Washing the parts: A quick wash with hot, soapy water for the parts that come in contact with your breastmilk is recommended by the CDC. If you’re using a shared pump, wipe it down with a disinfectant. You can let your pump parts air dry on a paper towel.

Storing the milk: If you’re at home, remember that breastmilk is good for 5 hours at room temperature, so don’t feel like you have to rush it to the fridge if it’s the middle of the night. When you go to store it, you always want to label it with the date (you’ll always use the oldest milk first), and if you’re using a shared fridge (like at the hospital or work), you’ll want to add your initials, too. As soon as you can, get it stored either in the fridge or freezer, not on the doors and as far back as possible.

Cheat sheet: In a pinch and don’t have time for a full 10-15 min pumping break? A 2-5 min hand expression session over a sink or with a towel on your lap will help until you can get your pumping session in.

I hope these 3 tips on pumping were helpful! Thanks to Bravado Designs for partnering on this post. You can get 15% off your total purchase on BravadoDesigns.com with the code ‘LLINK15’. Share your pumping tips with me in the comments — would love to hear!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lindsey Shipley, RN, IBCLC

Nov 23

How to pump breastmilk as a teacher

By Lindsey Shipley | Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding support, breastfeeding tips, motherhood

Hi mamas! I’m Lacey Parr, a certified lactation educator and mom of three. I am super excited to interview a mom today who worked full-time as a high school teacher and pumped while at work for all four of her children. We’ve heard from our support forum and clients that being a teacher can be one of the more challenging professions when it comes to pumping at work – the kids are always depending on you! Mandi Boyd has done it successfully through 4 babies – sharing her tips and experiences below.

What influenced your decision to express your milk?

I chose to pump because I wanted to continue breastfeeding. I fell in love with the bonds formed and convenience of breastfeeding while on maternity leave. I knew it would be difficult if not impossible, to continue if I didn’t pump. Another major reason was due to the fact that we would be able to save a substantial amount of money if I expressed my milk. Pumping just made more sense for our family financially. Another motivating factor was guilt. I, like many mothers, harbor guilt for all sorts of things (i.e. not having a perfectly clean home, lack of made-from-scratch meals, kids watching too much t.v., etc. ). I felt guilty that I wasn’t staying home with my children all day! However, one thing I could provide was breastmilk. So pumping was an easy choice.

How did you prepare to express milk at your job before the baby arrived?

Before each of my babies were born, I informed my supervisor that I would be pumping when I returned from maternity leave. I share an office with another teacher and I also told her about it. I already had a small refrigerator in my office and a sink that had hot water, so I was lucky to have those so close. I also made sure I had my breastpump ready to go before returning to work.

How did your workplace support your decision to express milk at work?

My supervisors when my oldest and youngest were born were very supportive. When I informed them I would be doing it they both told me if I needed anything to let them know. The single most important and supportive person at work was my office mate, Amy. Pumping would have been much more difficult had she not been so supportive. Anytime my pumping ran late, she would let my students in the classroom and see that they started their assignments. She graciously gave up her office whenever I was pumping for my privacy.

{Petunia Pickle Bottom Parkway Tote}

What tips and advice do you have for other teacher moms who plan to express milk at work?

If you don’t have your own refrigerator, buy one. I bought a small one for about $60. It’s worth it not to have to share with anyone and risk getting your liquid gold thrown out! Plus you’ll have something close by to keep your lunch/drinks cold too.

If you don’t have a sink in the area you are pumping, buy extra milk containers and a simple plastic dishpan to throw them in the fridge until you wash. That way you can have enough to pump all day with out having to wash everything until the end of the day.

Set up procedures in your class to allow for when your pumping may run over into classtime. I always had a bellringer (a short assignment) on the the board when the students arrived to class. They knew to begin the assignment as soon as they arrived.

If you receive kindness, reciprocate it. People will always do more when they feel appreciated. For Amy, my office mate, I offered and covered her classes often. I thanked her everyday, wrote her notes, gave her simple gifts, brought her lunch, and became her friend. She has since told me that those kindnesses meant a great deal to her.

Use your pumping experience as a teaching opportunity. Whenever I returned from maternity leave or began the new school year, I would explain to each of my classes about my choice to breastfeed and that I would be pumping in my office throughout the day. Whenever they asked questions, I was honest. I shared the joys and convenience of breastfeeding with them. I saw my secondary students as future parents. It was my hope that my commitment and sacrifice would make an impression on them. I have encountered several former students the past few years who’ve reported that they are breastfeeding!

And most of all, it’s worth it. To be able to instantly reconnect with my babies everyday, provide them with the best nutrition, nurse on-demand when I was with them, and save a ton of money by FAR outweighed any inconvenience I encountered while pumping.

I hoped you loved this interview as much as me! I know personally that her example has inspired others to create goals for breastfeeding and see them as attainable! I also appreciated her emphasis on the savings that breastfeeding can bring. By expressing her milk for her 4 kids, she saved her family close to $10,000! We have a whole class on Pumping and Storing Breastmilk that can help you with all the information you need to safely express, store, thaw, and deliver breastmilk to your infant successfully. If you need a breast pump, you can get a free one through your insurance here.

Any experiences expressing milk in the workplace? Share in the comments.

I’ve created a free e-mail course to help you get breastfeeding started on the right foot! Click the image below for more info.