The Let-Down: Breastfeeding

I have created a massive breast milk stash three times. This does not mean much except I have a routine that I followed early and great support.

Foundation

Your body and milk production are interwoven. Sleep, diet, exercise, and stress all play a part. I won’t pretend to have the magic solution to breastfeeding, but I will offer some reassurance and practical tips.

Breastfeeding is hard and messy and frustrating and painful initially. If it is not directly with sore and cracked nipples, it is indirectly with uterine contractions and hormonal changes. While all of this is worth it to provide nourishment for your little one, a fed and healthy baby is the ultimate goal.

Clinical Pearl: Think about your breastfeeding journey like your birth plan. You have an idea of how you envision it looking, but you remain flexible with the reality of what happens.

Breastfeeding Tips

When trying to increase milk supply for a freezer stash, remember supply and demand. The more you pump or breastfeed, usually the more you produce. I will add that it is important to establish your milk supply from the beginning by breastfeeding on-demand, hand expressing after pumping or breastfeeding, having skin-to-skin time, and staying hydrated. I started pumping when I felt engorged, about 3 days postpartum with my second and third babies. I did not pump on a schedule because I was feeding on cue until about 6-8 wk. I was either breastfeeding or pumping every 2 1/2 to 3 hr. Once I started sleep training and needed to maintain my milk supply after baby was sleeping through the night, I would pump right before I went to sleep and right after the morning feed or pump once in the early morning about 3 hr before the scheduled first morning feed. I was not worried about pumping prior to a feed and my milk supply, because I have always had a strong let-down. I actually had to pump some prior to breastfeeding with my two oldest because my let-down would cause them to choke.

Clinical Pearl: The let-down reflex can be induced more than once during a pumping or breastfeeding session if your breasts are stimulated long enough.

Pumping

So in essence, there is enough milk if you pump prior to feeding your little one. Relax and allow your let-down to occur. “Relax.” I cringe as I recommend this. I know from experience that is easier said than done especially if your breastfeeding is not looking like how you envisioned. Allow me to offer a few ways to relax while breastfeeding:

• Put your phone away
• Roll your shoulders down your back
• Take parallel breaths
• Have a designated space with an ergonomic chair and your water and snacks within arm’s reach
• Pray over your baby

Go ahead and get a manual pump. I prefer it for individual breast pumping. It is very efficient and much easier to do while moving about, but I have not tried the hands-free breast pumps. If you have a Spectra Baby USA breast pump, try using the following settings: 70 speed/3 suction (squiggly lines) for 3 min or until milk starts flowing, 38 speed/5-8 suction for 15 min or until milk slows, massage breasts for 30 sec in a circular motion, 70 speed/3 suction (squiggly lines) again and may increase suction if comfortable until milk flows again, 38 speed/5-8 suction until milk flow slows, and 54 speed/highest comfortable suction for a few minutes to end pumping session. FYI: the suction goes up to 12! I rarely use it that high and when I do, it is not for long.

Check with your medical insurance to verify if any breast pump is covered and at what frequency – good to know when planning for more babies.

Support

Support is so necessary. If you deliver in a hospital, they usually have free weekly groups that meet for support and education. Ask about available resources prior to discharge. La Leche League has a ton of resources and local gatherings to support  moms with their breastfeeding journey. Also, Breastfeed Atlanta has many services including a milk depot where donor milk is accepted, processed, and distributed to babies in the community.  As with any journey, there will be highs, lows, and plateaus, abundant grace to you mama.