Weaning from the PumpUltimately, supply is managed through the process of supply and demand. An empty breast produces milk faster than a full breast. When a breast is full, the protein FIL (feedback inhibitor of lactation) is present in higher concentrations and signals production to slow. As well, as the breast fills, the walls of the aveoli stretch and do not allow prolactin to enter. These two things combine to slow production. The other aspect that is important to understand when trying to lower supply or wean is that your body will usually continue to produce as much milk as is being removed; that is lactation works on the basis of supply and demand. The other factor that comes into play is storage capacity. Some women are “blessed” with a large storage capacity which is great in that they can often pump less often but maintain supply, however, it also often makes it more challenging to reduce their supply and wean. Read More… Critical Factors in Milk ProductionIt is very important for all women to understand the basics of lactation whether she is breastfeeding or pumping; and perhaps more important for women who are pumping. What follows are some of the keys aspects of milk production that are critical to understand when exclusively pumping. Understanding how lactation is initiated and regulated can help you establish a strong milk supply and maintain that supply with a breast pump.
Correctly Fitting Breast ShieldsMany pumping moms don’t realize that the flanges or breast shields they are using may not fit them properly. Ill fitting flanges can result in soreness, abrasions, edema, reduced let-down, and reduced milk supply. Read More… FAQs- Ask Yours Now!One of the things I would like to do with this website is add more “how to” information and provide information that will assist the many women who visit the site. When I was EPing, information was critical and finding support from other women who were also EPing was invaluable; yet this information and support were not always easy to find. So here’s your chance to get questions answered!! Use the comment form below to ask whatever you like (as long as it relates in some, even remote way to EPing, lactation, breastfeeding, even parenting) and I will do my best to answer your questions or locate the answer for you if it is something beyond my scope of knowledge. I hope that this post will grow into a valuable resource as it progresses! And now here’s the disclaimer-please remember that I am not a medical professional. The information provided on this site is of a general nature only. It is not intended as a replacement for medical advice. Any actions taken as a result of information obtained from this site are done so at the risk of the reader. It is recommended that you discuss your plans with your doctor and your baby’s doctor before taking any actions Pumping for Your PreemieThe shock and stress of having a baby born prematurely is difficult in and of itself to deal with. The frequent trips to the hospital are exhausting. And the worry you feel about the health of your son or daughter can be overwhelming. If you had hoped to breastfeed your baby, you will no doubt want to use a breast pump to initiate and maintain your supply until your baby is strong enough and developed enough to start short attempts at breastfeeding and hopefully eventually transition to exclusive breastfeeding, but until this point, a breast pump will be a necessity. The requirements of expressing breast milk in the early days and weeks post-partum can add additional stress to what is already a difficult time, but having good information on how to best establish your milk supply will assist you to build a strong milk supply and provide the best nutrition possible for a pre-term baby: mother’s milk. Read More… What Women Wish They Had Been Told, But Did Not HearEvery woman who has difficulties breastfeeding a baby will have a different experience. And every woman who has difficulties breastfeeding a baby will need different things from those who surround them. But all women who have difficulties breastfeeding require support, compassion, and empathy. Accurate information is also crucial in order to make it work- especially if you are having difficulties. Read More… The Comfort of NumbersOften you will hear a new mother say of bottlefeeding, “I like the fact that I know how much my baby is eating.” And indeed it is true. When using a bottle to feed a baby, whether it be formula or breast milk in the bottle, you have peace of mind of knowing your baby is getting a certain amount of food. In fact, this is often one of the positives formula companies offer when comparing the benefits of breastfeeding and formula feeding. However, this reliance on numbers- the comfort one feels knowing how much a baby is eating and the comfort a woman can feel knowing just how much milk she is producing- can also serve to make it more difficult to transition to exclusively breastfeeding. Read More… Why Women Choose to Exclusively Pump Breast MilkExclusively pumping breast milk is best thought of as an alternative to formula feeding. While there are some women who decide to exclusively pump even before their babies are born, they are by far the minority. Instead, most women who exclusively pump fully intended to breastfeed and believe strongly in the benefit and value of breast milk. When confronted with difficulties or situations that make breastfeeding difficult or impossible, these women turn to the use of a breast pump to ensure their babies receive breast milk. Read More… What does it mean to exclusively pump?It is commonly recognized that breast milk, in most cases, is the best possible nutrition for an infant and more and more women are choosing to breastfeed their babies. But what happens if breastfeeding is not possible? Many people would suggest that the only alternative is to bottle feed formula. But, due to the improvement in breast pumps over the past decade or so, more and more women are making the decision to exclusively pump. Read More… The Unplanned PregnancyFrom the moment the home pregnancy test read positive, I began making plans for my pregnancy. I began to dream of the wonderful moments that I hoped I would experience over the next 40 weeks: the ultrasound, hearing the heartbeat, the first kick, the first time my husband would feel the baby move, the joy of finding out if it was a boy or girl, endless hours pouring over baby name books, my last day of work before my maternity leave, the baby shower, the anticipation of those last few weeks before giving birth, the excitement of finally going into labour and knowing that soon I would meet my precious baby. Read More… Next Page » |
 
 
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