Relaxation and Pumping Techniques

When your baby starts to suckle at the breast (or the breast is stimulated by pumping) a message is sent to the pituitary gland in the brain. The pituitary gland then releases two hormones: prolactin and oxytocin. Prolactin tells the body to produce milk and oxytocin causes the muscles around the alveoli to contract. The release of milk from the breast is called the let-down or milk-ejection reflex. It may take several seconds or several minutes of nursing or pumping for this release of milk to occur. When the milk lets down, you may be thirsty or experience leaking from the other breast. You may also feel tingling, fullness, pressure, or tugging in the breasts. It is also perfectly normal to feel nothing at all! If you do not feel your milk-ejection reflex, then listen for your baby’s swallows while nursing. If you are pumping, you may see milk spraying or dripping into your collection containers.

Pain, stress, tiredness, lack of support, embarrassment, or lack of confidence can affect your milk-ejection reflex. The following techniques will enable you to relax and allow your milk to flow.

Techniques to Help You with Your Milk-Ejection Reflex

· Release all tension. Prior to pumping, take several deep cleansing breaths and relax your shoulders. Close your eyes and think peaceful thoughts. You will notice more milk when you are able to relax. If you need something quick to relieve stress, Distress Remedy has been used by many mothers for its calming effects. Distress Remedy is a homeopathic tincture that is taken orally to assist with the milk ejection reflex. Distress Remedy has a sweet taste, is quick and pleasant to take.

· Drink fluids. Before pumping, prepare a beverage to drink. Some women find a warm beverage such as chamomile tea to be relaxing. Raspberry leaf tea prior to nursing or pumping enables the milk ejection reflex to be more effective. Drinking water prior to nursing or pumping is also an excellent choice!

· Eat high protein, nutritious snacks at home and at work. You may find that you are hungry more often when you are producing milk for your baby.

· Try massaging the breast in a circular motion or stroke the breast toward the nipple prior to pumping. Or, you can take a break after 5-7 minutes of pumping to do breast massage and then resume pumping for another 5-7 minutes. This will result in a larger volume of milk expressed.

· If your milk supply is low, read Increasing Your Milk Supply. By increasing your production, your pumping efforts will be rewarded with more milk expressed.

· Gently roll the nipples to stimulate the release of oxytocin and prolactin (the milk-making hormones). You can wet your fingers with warm water first. Women who gently hand express a few drops of milk prior to pumping find that they obtain more milk during pumping sessions.

· Listening to music or reading a good book at work can relieve tension and assist with milk flow.

· When you are using a breast pump, it is important to be fitted for proper size breast shields (also called flanges). When shield size is too small, moms may feel soreness at the base of the nipple and they don't feel like the breast is getting completely drained. Milk volume problems can be related to lack of good drainage. Medela offers larger shields for those women who need them. In my experience as a lactation consultant, I find that roughly 50% of women need the larger shields for their pumping comfort and efficiency. If you have questions about breast shield size when pumping, read Proper Fitting of Breast Shields.

· Look at a picture of your baby while you pump. Think of your baby — how he looks, how he feels, how he smells and sounds.

· Conditioning is a key in helping you with the milk-ejection reflex. Pump in the same place each time. Limit distractions. Try to pump at the same time your baby would be nursing if you were at home.

· You can moisten the breast before placing the shield on for pumping. This will create a better seal.

· Family and employer support can make a world of difference!

Pumping Techniques

Always wash your hands before pumping. When expressing milk for your baby, you will need to pump as often as the baby would be nursing (about every 3 hours). Pumping is a learned technique. At first you may not obtain a lot of milk. Keep practicing and be patient. You will get better and your efforts will be rewarded!

The amount of milk that can be pumped in one session varies with each mother, time of day, stress level, etc. It is common for one breast to produce more than the other. The key to expressing breastmilk and maintaining your milk supply is to pump on a regular basis while you are separated from your baby.

Janet Talmadge, BA, IBCLC
Lactation Innovation, Naperville, IL

Web site: lactationinnovation.com

(630) 357-0028

Changing the world, one healthy breastfed baby at a time!