First, why would you want to prevent the pump? Well, let's start with it is not the baby. It is not warm and cuddly and instead is cold and plastic and hard. It is not free and can not be popped on in a park. Instead it is constantly attached to a wall socket and usually used in a closed room separated from family, colleagues, work partners, home partners, and in general a very isolating process. It does not hide the results and it does not feed on demand. Instead it shows how much or how little or how in between your body is on that day at that moment in that time. In doing this it often increases anxiety, the push to make more which causes stress and then in turn decreases your milk production, and makes a mom 'chase the milk trail' as I often put it. And finally it is not free. In order to provide adequate stimulation and emptying of the breast one will need a high powered specifically designed hospital grade pump and there is nothing cute or easily portable about this.
So then, How do you prevent the pump?
Preventing the pump is not something you will see publicized by Gerber or Playtex or Medela or Ameda or EvenFlo or anyone making nipples, bottles, advertisements for your television, or the swing your baby loves. Preventing the pump, like all preventative medicine, is often low profile preventative action that produces high reward for those who search it out. Preventing the pump involves indepth, family specific breastfeeding education. Basically, it involves a plan for feeding your baby.
WHAT? A plan to feed my baby?
Yes, just as you planned your pregnancy and carefully chose those physicians who will take care of you while you grow that beautiful baby inside you there are many who guide you through making plans in conjunction with your wishes, wants, and dreams on how to feed your baby.
This is best done with an IBCLC well versed in the normal pregnancy and the many pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, IUGR, preterm birth, and proper management of c-sections for breastfeeding.
With an IBCLC a plan can be made for the perfect birth and then a plan for 'Oh My God What Happened Now? ' situations. A plan should include education on what an appropriate blood sugar is for a breastfeeding baby, appropriate supplementation and when and what should be used if needed, management of jaundice, and skin to skin 'when and where' it should be done. This plan should also include a discussion of pumps and which ones are most appropriate for situations like oversupply at 7-10 days or babies in the NICU or babies who have difficulty with the first latches in the first 7 days or traumatic births.
This plan should also include follow up within 48 hours of birth as well as follow up at 5-7 days postpartum and 2 weeks postpartum as mom and baby build their breastfeeding relationship and grow through the first two milestones of oversupply at 7-10 days postpartum and baby regaining birth weight by 2 weeks of age.
If you plan to prevent the pump then when you need the pump the correct pump will be used.
In preventing the pump you ensure your best chance at a positive breastfeeding experience!
In preventing the pump you ensure the best possible bonding experience with baby!
In preventing the pump you also prevent loss of money on pumps that are not appropriate or damaging to the breast when used inappropriately!
In preventing the pump you will achieve your dreams!
For more information on prenatal lactation consultations and preventing the pump please visit
Best Wishes!
Lisa Weinshenker, RN, IBCLC
A practice of consultation and
sisterhood support for breastfeeding
families.
Nice and informative Blog Post!
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