Exclusive pumping
The patented expression is to give the baby only expressed milk and not
direct breastfeeding.
In practice, you express breast milk with a breast pump and then pour
the milk into a bottle. You then bottle-feed your baby or use a nasogastric
tube if he is premature. Just like with breastfeeding, you follow the pumping
routine every time your baby needs to breastfeed, or you can express a lot of
milk and keep it in the refrigerator to warm it up when your baby needs it.
In most cases, exclusive pumping is done when the baby is not getting
enough milk, as with regular breastfeeding. This can happen if you don't have
enough milk or if your baby is not breastfeeding well.
Why will you pump exclusively?
Exclusive breastfeeding is not for everyone. Although it is recommended
to feed your baby directly from the breast for the first six months, sometimes
this is not possible. As a result, you have no other choice but to express your
breast milk and bottle feed it. The most common reason for exclusive pumping is
when your baby doesn't latch on properly. The latch is a way to attach the baby
to the breast during breastfeeding. Your lactation specialist may advise you to
express milk every few hours or on a schedule.
When distance separates you from your child. In some cases, a situation
may arise that will separate you from the baby for a long time. You may need to
return to work before it's time to wean your baby (that is, to get your baby
used to food other than breast milk). If you are in this position, pumping and
leaving the expressed milk with the caregiver is almost inevitable. Pumping
allows you to breastfeed your baby even when you are not at home.
If you've tried your best to breastfeed but it's not working, pumping is
the best option for breastfeeding your baby. However, there are other reasons
why you might want to adopt this practice. They include the following:
- Child adoption
- Congenital condition
- Breast anomalies
- Weight loss strategy
- Infant illness
- Oral anomalies
- Maternal choice
How to pump breast milk
Pumping may seem strange if you've never done it before. You can always
turn to experienced moms for suggestions to help you. To do this best, start by
finding a comfortable, distraction-free space. When collecting milk, it is
important to be relaxed. Some moms prefer looking at pictures of their babies
or listening to relaxing music.
Others get better results by hand pumping for 1 or 2 minutes before
using the pump. The touch of the hand causes stimulation, which contributes to
the production of a sufficient amount of milk. Remember to drink plenty of
water or other liquids.
Choose a breast pump. Different breast pumps are suitable for different
situations. For quality pumping, match your needs and your baby's needs with a
pumping system that suits them. You can appreciate how efficient the pump is,
how easy it is to move, and how loud it is.
You may find that a hand pump works best if you only need to pump
occasionally. They tend to be small, cheap and easily transportable. If you
pump more often, choose an electric or dual electric pump. They are recommended
if you have limited time to express and express milk three or more times a day.
Electric breast pumps operate automatically and silently, and they
usually mimic or mimic a baby's sucking during breastfeeding. The dual electric
pump can be large and comes with a wallet-like carrying bag.
Another type of pump is the hospital pump. This pump is only used in a
hospital setting when you are separated from a premature baby. Another case
where this type of breast pump can be used is when you need strong stimulation
to produce enough milk. Since you can't buy it, you can find a hospital that
rents it if you need it.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of exclusive pumping?
Advantages. Exclusive
pumping has certain advantages, including the following:
- Bonding: Breastfeeding
requires privacy and can take your attention away from other family members.
Pumping allows your baby to feed without taking you away from your family.
- Someone
else can help: Unlike breastfeeding, which involves only the mother, pumping allows
you to trust someone else to feed while you rest or do other things.
- Non-stop work: With exclusive pumping, you can do the hard work and successfully
breastfeed your baby.
- Protect your milk supply: If you can't breastfeed for a while, pumping helps
control your milk levels.
Disadvantages. Exclusive pumping
also has some disadvantages, including the following:
- Expensive: Most good pumps are slightly more expensive. When you factor in other costs, such as buying bottles and sanitizers, direct breastfeeding is much cheaper.
- Lots of Extra Cleaning: Extra tools used for pumping require regular
cleaning to protect you and your baby from germs.
- Time-consuming: Unlike picking up your baby and holding the breast for feeding,
pumping requires additional steps, such as defrosting frozen milk stored in the
freezer.
- Lifestyle changes: Since it is recommended to express milk at least
once a night to ensure good milk production, waking up every night can change
your sleep habits. Also, it can be annoying to wake up every night to pump on
your own.
When you start rocking exclusively, it's normal to feel overwhelmed.
Seek professional information and create a schedule that works for you and your
child.
If you must use a lubricant, consider olive oil and lanolin. The use of lubrication helps avoid teat damage and reduces friction.