Exclusively Pumping

Are you ready for the truth?

admin — Sun, 30 May 2010 19:43:25 +0000

I have come across another fabulous blog post, this time by Gina at The Feminist Breeder. Her article, “When It Comes to Breastfeeding, We Can’t Handle the Truth” is a great discussion about what is really wrong with breastfeeding in our society. I’ve always encouraged women not to feel guilty about not breastfeeding, but instead to be angry at a society and medical system that devalues breastfeeding and fails to support moms and babies. (more…)

Bottlefeeding and Obesity- Reduce the Risks

admin — Sun, 16 May 2010 18:31:59 +0000

I’ve mentioned it numerous times on this site- it is easy to overfeed a baby when bottlefeeding. Bottlefeeding has often been linked to an increased risk of obesity, but it has never been clear as to whether it is what is in the bottle or the delivery method that creates this link between bottlefeeding and obesity. A new study recently published in Pediatrics suggests that it is indeed the delivery method that makes the difference. Read here for a brief overview of the study. (more…)

EPing in the News

admin — Sun, 16 May 2010 18:12:21 +0000

There has recently been more and more attention paid to the option of exclusively pumping. Time.com ran an article recently called Mothers Who Opt for Breast Milk, Not Breastfeeding and Pumping it Up was recently played on some local ABC affiliates. (more…)

Guilt vs. Regret

admin — Sun, 16 May 2010 18:01:20 +0000

I recently came across a post on the blog Bees and Beans written about guilt vs. regret when it comes to breastfeeding or more accurately not breastfeeding. This is something I’ve talked about for a long time and feel that JoEllen has done a wonderful job discussing the difference and why so often it is regret, and not guilt, that a woman feels when she has been unable to breastfeed. I would add that many moms who have had difficulty breastfeeding and end up bottlefeeding also deal with a lot of grief. Our society, however, doesn’t recognize the emotional impact of breastfeeding and so many moms are left feeling as though there is something wrong with them or that what they are feeling and experiencing is not normal. But it absolutely is! (more…)

U.S. Health Care Reform and Pumping in the Workplace

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:53:08 +0000

As a Canadian, I am grateful for the fact that Canada has a one year paid maternity leave. But as many of the visitors to this site are Americans, I thought it was important to pass along information about the recent U.S. Health Care Reform and its support for working mothers who are breastfeeding and pumping. (more…)

Breastfeeding: Take Two- the book!

admin — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:42:31 +0000

Well, I’m diving in and will write this book. I’ll be posting information here for awhile, but will eventually start a new website for the new book once it is closer to completion. If you’re interested in sharing your thoughts and ideas about breastfeeding after difficulty, contact me. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject and will be collecting some personal stories to share throughout the book.

This is a subject that is very near to my heart. Exclusively pumping is important to me and I am so thankful that I was able to EP in order to provide my son with breast milk, but truly I think that most women who EP wished to breastfeed and I’m hoping that this book might help women to find the experience they had hoped for the first time around and help to highlight the importance of determining your own success.

Oh, and what do you think of the working title- Breastfeeding: Take two?

Index Now Available for Exclusively Pumping Breast Milk

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:19:16 +0000

Exclusively Pumping Index

An index has been written as an addition to Exclusively Pumping Breast Milk. If you have purchased the book, you will find the index helpful to quickly locate specific information. If you haven’t purchased the book, you may find the index useful to determine whether the book will be of value to you. The index will be included in a future 2nd edition of Exclusivley Pumping Breast Milk, but for now will be available through the link provided above.

An oldie but a goodie- why keep going?

admin — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:45:07 +0000

Here is an article by Diane Wiessinger that I came across a number of years ago. Diane highlights the many gifts of breast milk as your baby ages. Sometimes this is just the boost and motivation you need to continue on; and sometimes it is the reassurance you need to allow yourself to wean knowing you have provided a special gift to your little one.

Weaning from the Pump

admin — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:45:46 +0000

Ultimately, 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. (more…)

“How to Make Breastfeeding Difficult”

admin — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:24:04 +0000

There are many things in our society which serve to make breastfeeding difficult for a new mom. Here’s an article from Linda Smith sharing her ideas on How to Make Breastfeeding Difficult. Be sure to avoid them! Do you have any of your own to add to the list?