Tips on how I increased my milk supply

Pumping can be incredibly discouraging. It’s tiring. It’s tedious. It’s time-consuming. You can’t just strap the flanges on and let the machine go full speed on your boobs and expect good results. Pumping is an active process that you have to engage in. If you watch your LO (little one) nurse, they tend to vary in speed and depth of their suckle, so what makes you think you can pump at one speed and suction for a full 40 minutes and have the same outcome? The answer is you can’t. And honestly, you have to be in the right mindset with all the factors in place for it to be a good pump session. Being positioned wrong, having the wrong bra, being dehydrated - these all can have an impact on your output. So I’ve put together some tips that have worked for me and a few of my friends.

But first, disclaimer: The content on my website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

So not all of these will work instantaneously. It’s going to take some time and a whole lot of patience to see changes. Be kind to yourself, mama. You’re going to do great, you ARE doing great. You are a great mama no matter how baby is fed, whether it’s breastmilk for formula. But if you’re really wanting to breastfeed, I hope these tips help you toward that goal!

Seek assistance from a lactation consultant

Before you discharge from the hospital, ask to speak with the lactation consultant. You want to make sure that you get your baby’s latch assessed. If your baby’s not latched correctly, it can really do some damage to your nipples making breastfeeding harder than it already is. If you plan on pumping, it’s a good idea to bring your pump in to be sized for the correct flange. It’s also good to ask how to pump to get the most out. Sometimes you think that something is meant to be easy, one click of the button type of thing, but pumping is much more than that. Write all your questions down before you deliver, so you get the most out of the session. When you go home and you need help troubleshooting it, see if you can speak with a lactation consultant at baby’s follow up appointment. You can always ask for help.

Ensuring you’re using the correct flange sizing

As I mentioned above, using the correct flange size is important. You won’t be emptying your breast effectively if it’s too big, and it can really damage your nipples if it’s too small. This is one reason to bring your pump when you deliver. Sometimes using lubrication like approved nipple balms can help prevent chafing as well.

Using thermal packs to help with your letdown

I find that when my breast are “warmed up” (literally…) they put out the most milk. That’s why I like to pump after a warm shower. If not, I’d say invest in some thermal packs that you can just pop in the microwave and place on your chest before you pump. Sometimes that helps with the letdown, and it can actually make it feel a little better. My letdown is very painful, so the heat packs really help relieve that pain.

Hand expressing to help stimulate your breast

In the earlier days of lactation, right after birth, you’ll notice that your milk is super thick and can look gold. This is that nutrient dense colostrum you’ve heard about! It’s extremely hard to get out with a breast pump on those first few days, so the best way to collect it is by hand expression. The important thing to remember when using your hands to express milk is that you want your fingers to be at the BASE of your nipple, and instead of “pressing” your fingers together to “squeeze it”, you want to press STRAIGHT BACK against your chest and COMPRESS forward. If you squeeze at the nipple, you’re going to get sore, but you’re also pinching off the milk ducts where the milk would come out. Always hand express after pumping because the pump will leave behind some of that fatty hind milk!

Tips from my experience on starting breastfeeding: The learning process

So I did a thing… I started coursework towards becoming an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)! I think it’s just a small step toward broadening my career toward women’s health, and I am learning through courses and personal experience on what works for myself and mommas. You would think that breastfeeding comes easy because so many healthcare providers will say things like, “it’s natural” or “it’s our innate ability” or even “you’re born to do this!”

But the truth is, breastfeeding is a working relationship between a mother and her baby.

I know one thing, most of the time the issue with breastfeeding is due to a lack of knowledge about how to start or how to keep going. So I’m going to just go over how I started breastfeeding and what I did to make sure that when my supply regulated, it would be enough to feed Mav every day + more for a freezer stash.

But first, disclaimer: The content on my website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Related Readings: A Mom’s Review of the Spectra S1 | Make pumping more comfortable | My breastfeeding journey at 3 weeks

The Q&A

How did you even start breastfeeding? Is there a right way or any recommendations for the first latch?

Get that baby skin-to-skin as soon as they’re delivered! Your hospital team will most likely do this anyways because it helps calm baby and regulate the temperature as soon as baby hits that cold, out-of-the-womb fresh air. This will start the sensitive period with the baby, which is also sometimes known as the Golden Hour. (I personally don’t like calling it that because the Golden Hour has a different meaning in the military when it comes to medical attention). The sensitive period includes a few steps to include the birth cry, a quiet alert state, body stability, and the initiation of the first feeding. You’ll want to be patient with baby during this first hour. Give baby all the “welcome to the world” cuddles. Holding baby and allowing baby to wake up and take in all of the senses of your body will help prepare baby for the first latch. Once baby starts showing the cues such as stepping or crawling toward your breast, rooting or suckling on their hands, then they’re ready to try and feed. Making sure you’re in a good position to support baby’s head correctly, and the body so you don’t get tired is important.

What are some of the benefits of breastfeeding right away after delivery?

There are many benefits that come along with breastfeeding right after delivery to include: oxytocin release, stable blood sugars for baby, colonization of good bacteria between mom and baby, and limiting cold stress. Oxytocin is good for momma because that’s what helps the uterine contract in order to deliver the placenta and to contract the uterus after delivery. This is important because having a boggy (soft) uterus can lead to bleeding, which can be life threatening. Most hospitals have a standard protocol for running Pitocin after delivery to help with this process, but it’s always better to get it naturally by cuddling baby! Colostrum is great for helping with baby’s blood sugar because it’s so packed with all the nutrients baby needs. Babies tend to be pretty sleepy and calm after delivery, as you are going to be after laboring all day! Remember that baby worked hard too, so the colostrum is perfect for filling their little tummies so they can continue to sleep.

Skin-to-skin promotes good bacteria growth between the momma and baby which helps with keeping baby safe and helping fight infection. It also gets baby to be familiar with who momma is by the smell of your skin. This also helps regulate their temperature more effectively than the warmers. Babies still have trouble regulating their temperature even months after birth, so it’s important that they have you help them maintain it.

When did you start pumping or expressing milk for baby?

I started right away. I asked to be with baby for at least an hour, and they let me stay with him until he was done feeding. This is because my baby had to go to the NICU to be monitored for his respiration. Once I was transferred to the postpartum unit, I was given a hand pump to help express colostrum to give Maverick through the night. Colostrum is like a shot of nutrients for baby. It may not be a lot, but know that it is enough for baby!

I started pumping as soon as my milk came in a few days later. In the first few weeks, your supply hasn’t regulated yet. Your body works off of supply & demand, so if you’re not removing that milk enough either by pumping or by nursing baby, then you will likely notice a decrease in your supply. The problem that some women can run into if they’re choosing to breastfeed and pump is an over supply of milk. I’ll admit that I was very paranoid about having a low supply and then returning to work struggling to keep Maverick fed, which is why I started pumping 1-2 times a day in the beginning.

Mav wanted to eat at White Sands and I mean… I couldn’t say no

Do you feed on demand or on a set schedule?

I feed on demand when I am with Maverick. Every day I’m with him, I really try to hone in on his hunger, elimination, and sleepy cues. It may seem like I feed on a set schedule because Mav is like clockwork and feeds every 1.5-2 hours. Now at night, he’ll have a 5-6 hour stretch of sleep, but by then my boobs are so full I wake him up and make him feed. Feeding on demand is the best way to regulate your milk supply. If I miss a feeding with him because he’s napping, I will pump with my Spectra S1, which I’ve reviewed in a blog. But remember, your baby is your best pump. So if you can manage to wake baby up enough to feed, try that (unless you need sleeps too, then pump and sleep girl.)

Do you recommend sleeping or waking up to pump at night?

You’ll read a lot about “MOTN pump sessions”. MOTN stands for Middle Of The Night. In the first 2 months before Maverick slept longer stretches, I would be up every 2 hours to feed him anyway. Now that he sleeps longer stretches, I try to feed him right before I go to sleep and then he wakes up around 2-3 to have a sleepy feed session. If he doesn’t wake up, my boobs will be aching enough to wake me up to pump, so I’ll pump. If your milk hasn’t regulated yet, I would recommend doing a MOTN pump to keep your supply up. The longest most IBCLCs recommend for not pumping or nursing is no longer than 5 hours. With that being said, the best time to pump is in the early, early morning. After a few weeks of pumping, you may notice that your breast feel fuller in the morning, and this is due to a higher prolactin level at that time. So if you’re trying to build a stash, it’s best if you do force yourself awake to get that milk, girl!

What would you recommend if I don’t want to start pumping that early, but still want to make bottles just in case?

Bottles are great for those times where you’re on the go and you really can’t feed baby, or if your partner wants a turn to bond with baby through a feeding. If you aren’t wanting to start pumping early on, you can always catch your letdown from the other breast while baby feeds. This can be done using breast cups or the infamous Haakaa. The Haakaa is a non-electric, hands-free way to catch your letdown. It’s a silicone breast pump that uses suction as it’s method to draw out milk as baby is feeding. I’ve been able to catch up to 4 oz in a Haakaa in the early morning.

When would you seek help from a lactation consultant or certified lactation educator?

BEFORE YOU DISCHARGE THE HOSPITAL. It’s so important that you go home feeling confident in starting your breastfeeding journey, even if this is going to be your fourth kid. You want to make sure your baby is latching correctly so both of you are comfortable and you save your nipples from a whole lot of pain. You want to know the different positions. You want to know the importance of skin to skin. All of these questions can be answered by your healthcare providers, to include your OBGYN/midwife, RN, and lactation specialists. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER in breastfeeding, and you can never have enough.

That’s all folks ~

… for now! Like I said, there’s so much to breastfeeding that you’ll always have something new to learn. I’m working on making a printable for pumping sessions and tracking baby’s daily stats of diapers and feedings. I’m also making a few graphics for how to store your pumped breast milk.

Breastfeeding: Getting comfortable for a pumping session

Isn’t it such a crazy thought that your body makes the perfect nutrition for your child every day? It still boggles my mind when I think about how my breastmilk changes to fit Maverick’s needs on a daily basis. That’s why I believe that if I can pump milk for him, then I’ll do that. In my previous post, I said “fed is best.” Some moms may have a different opinion on whether [exclusive] pumping is considered breastfeeding, and in my personal opinion, it is. Breastfeeding is hard. Pumping is hard, and it can be discouraging in the beginning if you aren’t getting “enough”. So to try and make your sessions a little more relaxing, make sure your environment is set up so you can just chill for 20-40 minutes while you pump.

How I started pumping to start building my supply

I started hand expressing as soon as Maverick was born and I tried to get him to latch. When he was admitted to the nursery, I started hand expressing and manually pumping to try and get colostrum for him as supplementation to breastfeeding. In the beginning, Maverick was jaundiced, so we did breastfeeding, expressed milk, and then formula to supplement. You always want to start with breastmilk first if you plan on supplementing with bottle feeds. I wasn’t getting very much out in the beginning, but by day 5 my milk came in. That’s when I started using my Spectra S1.

I would pump about an hour after feeding him or 30 minutes before I knew he was going to wake up again. Luckily Maverick is like clockwork and wakes up at 2 hours on the dot, so it’s been easy to guesstimate when would want to feed. I wouldn’t get very much in the beginning when I’d pump. I’d actually get more from my letdown in the Haakaa. But the more I pumped, the more I got. I’ve learned that my biggest supply comes early in the morning around the 0600-0700 feeding. That’s because Prolactin is highest throughout the night, which is what stimulates milk production. So in the morning before I start pumping, I make sure that I have everything I need so I don’t have to get up or be interrupted.

Related Reads:

> What is hyperbilirubinemia?

> Our breastfeeding journey

Setting the scene for your session

First off, you want to make sure you’re comfortable where you’re pumping. Whether it’s in your glider, on your couch, or cuddled in your bed. If you’ve got a pump that can’t be wireless, then this is even more important. I’ve found that when I’m uncomfortable on my couch because I sink into the crevices, I stop my session a lot sooner. Have your blanket and pillows if you need them, and adjust yourself so your legs aren’t asleep by the time your session is over.

If you’re like me, then you know nursing and pumping make you a savage hungry beast, also a dehydrated one. It’s so important to stay hydrated if you’re breastfeeding or pumping, and it’s also very important to maintain the appropriate amount of calories. I know a lot of women postpartum want to get back to that “pre-pregnancy” body quickly, but don’t let your focus on losing weight effect your supply. So choose a water source that helps you easily keep track of how much water you’re drinking, and have nutritious snacks that help with milk supply. I’ve tried Munchkin’s Lactation Cookies and Milky Mama’s Emergency Brownies. I noticed an increase in my milk supply when I was eating them, but it is important to be aware of how much sugar you’re taking in when you indulge in these treats. I’ve also made lactation cookies! I’ll post the recipe in another blog soon!

Now that you’ve got your environment set and your snackies on the side, let the pumping commence! The first night I tried pumping at home was awful. Not only was it in the middle of the night, but I didn’t have a hands-free pumping bra. Trying to hold two flanges up to your tatas when you’re half asleep is ROUGH. I invested in a Lansinoh bra and 3 Kindred Bravely bras. The Lansinoh bra is great if you’re just going to pump, otherwise it’s very difficult going back and forth between a nursing bra and that bra. The Kindred Bravely bras are worth the money though! There are two clips: one for pumping and one for nursing. So it makes it very easy if your little one is attached to you during a pump session.

Before you attach those flanges to you, make sure you have some lubies for your boobies. I hadn’t realized that pumping can be super uncomfortable after a few sessions and nursing in-between. To prevent chafed or cracked nipples, slather on some nursing safe lanolin. It helps prevent your nipples from getting sore due to all the suction that goes on. If you’re new to breastfeeding, you might still be getting used to the little one constantly trying to tear your nipple off (I’m 4 weeks in and it’s still a battle), so the lanolin helps heal those small cracks too. The one I use now is from Honest Company! It’s a lot easier to apply than the one I was using from Medela. I find that it glides on a little easier which is nice when your nips are super sensitive.

And lastly, make sure you have something to entertain you for those 20-40 minutes that you’re pumping. Use this time to read a book, catch up on a show, or like me, write a blog. Pumping has become a part of my “me” time, so make the most of it!