5 Steps to Successful Exclusive Breast Pumping-Step 3
Author: Connie
Step 3: Stick to a Schedule
Setting a schedule will benefit both you and your baby. Your body will produce milk at the rate that you express it. If you pump at one time this day and another time the next day then your body doesn't know how to produce the milk or if you still need it. I was uncomfortable at first. I suggest starting out pumping every three hours. When I did this it was very difficult, because many times when I needed to pump the baby was hungry too. At first I had my husband home to help, but once he went back to work I had to figure out how to feed or entertain the baby while I pumped. My style of pump does not lend itself to holding my baby while I pump. As a matter of fact there are few things I can hold while pumping. I also learned that I need to be sitting upright with a support on my back, usually in a chair, so that my arms and back did not hurt. I had to be creative and think of ways to attend to my son's needs while I expressed the milk. During this time I would sometimes sit on the floor on a pillow and lean against the wall. Then I could put the baby in a bouncer, lean him on the boppy or lye him on the floor. This way I could feed him or entertain him if he needed me while I was pumping. Again I will admit that this wasn't easy and it was often stressful, but I also knew it would be short-lived. I realized that my son would soon eat less often making my life easier. I later adjusted my pumping schedule and now I only pump four times a day. This works great for us now. My son has adjusted to the schedule and usually is sleeping or napping while I pump. At about six months I put him on an eating schedule around my pumping schedule. It worked great and we are smooth sailing now probably all the way to the twelve month mark.
It is so important to stick to the schedule. As I said before this will keep you more comfortable. I believe it also helps your body produce milk best. Your body knows what to expect and when to produce. It would be pretty much the same way if you were nursing. Your child would eat at about the same time and consume about the same amount. The first eight weeks were the most uncomfortable for me. I had the most problems usually with the same breast. The main issues were getting chapped, tenderness and milk duct clogs. I researched a lot and was able to solve the problems, but I think sticking to my schedule better would have prevented the clogs and some tenderness. If you really want to do this realize that you will have frustrating issues, but also realize that your body will adjust and you can do it. This advice is from my personal experience. Yours may be completely different and you may have no problems at all.
In the beginning I tried to stick to my schedule to a tee. I think this helped my body get adjusted to lactation since this was my first child. Now I can adjust the schedule when needed. This doesn't mean I skip pumps or go huge amounts of time in-between pumps. I try to pump with in the hour. For example, in the evenings I pump at 6pm. Most days I do this right at 6, but sometimes the baby maybe fussy, I may need to go somewhere before or after, or I may need to get supper going. When this happens I either pump one hour earlier or later. To explain this better, my pump time is 6pm so I pump between the hours of 5pm and 7pm; an hour before or an hour after the scheduled pump time.
Keeping to the schedule is not easy, but it is necessary and requires planning. Realize that this will affect not just you and your baby, but your family too. Your family needs to understand the importance of sticking with the schedule. This means when making plans to go out you need to either make a plan to pump before, after, or in a private place where you are going. If I knew I was going to be somewhere away from home for a while I would plan to pump in the car or call ahead and ask the place if there was a private place where I could pump with a door that locked and an electrical outlet. Most places where glad to help me and were honest if they did not have an appropriate place.
I have a list of all the items I need to pack with my pump so that I have everything I need when pumping somewhere else. I keep this list with my pump and it includes: timer, icepack with bottles and lids, bra, towel, horns, paper towels, bottle adaptors, notepad, pencil, and Ziploc bags. Depending on your needs and pump your list could be completely different from mine. I just did not want to be hours away from home, sit down to pump and realize I don't have a part I need to pump. The list works for me. I have a specific area set aside at home where I keep my pump plugged up and ready to go with all the needed parts and accessories. I also wash all the parts right after pumping. This gives them time to dry in time for the next pump.
Another suggestion is to try to plan on leaving for outings or running errands right after pumping. This will give you the most time before you have to be back to pump the next time. It always takes longer than you expect to do anything. Give yourself plenty of time. There is nothing worse than standing in line to pay for groceries knowing you will still have to load and unload them at home with sore breasts. I will say again, give yourself plenty of time, or get someone to do it for you.
Here is a look at my current pumping schedule:
6am-20 minutes
Noon-30 minutes
6pm-30 minutes
11pm-20 minutes
I pump shorter amounts of time at 6am and 11pm so that I can get a little more sleep at night. My son sleeps through the night, but I still have the pumping schedule to keep up with. When pumping, I use a timer. This way I am not constantly watching the clock and driving myself crazy. I can read, make notes, or watch TV. During the last 10 minutes I massage from my arm pit down my breast to help the process along and make sure that I am empty when time is up. Sometimes I have to pump longer if I am not empty, but the timer gives me a pretty close time schedule.
When you get ready to set your schedule think about your work schedule if you will be going back to work. Next blog I will share with you how I changed my schedule from every three hours to what it is now. I did this to accommodate my work schedule the best.
Connie Albright is the developer of Parenting The Tyke.com where she offers tips, articles, blogs, resources and product reviews for parents of children ages birth to fifth grade.
Visit her site today at www.parentingthetyke.com.
Setting a schedule will benefit both you and your baby. Your body will produce milk at the rate that you express it. If you pump at one time this day and another time the next day then your body doesn't know how to produce the milk or if you still need it. I was uncomfortable at first. I suggest starting out pumping every three hours. When I did this it was very difficult, because many times when I needed to pump the baby was hungry too. At first I had my husband home to help, but once he went back to work I had to figure out how to feed or entertain the baby while I pumped. My style of pump does not lend itself to holding my baby while I pump. As a matter of fact there are few things I can hold while pumping. I also learned that I need to be sitting upright with a support on my back, usually in a chair, so that my arms and back did not hurt. I had to be creative and think of ways to attend to my son's needs while I expressed the milk. During this time I would sometimes sit on the floor on a pillow and lean against the wall. Then I could put the baby in a bouncer, lean him on the boppy or lye him on the floor. This way I could feed him or entertain him if he needed me while I was pumping. Again I will admit that this wasn't easy and it was often stressful, but I also knew it would be short-lived. I realized that my son would soon eat less often making my life easier. I later adjusted my pumping schedule and now I only pump four times a day. This works great for us now. My son has adjusted to the schedule and usually is sleeping or napping while I pump. At about six months I put him on an eating schedule around my pumping schedule. It worked great and we are smooth sailing now probably all the way to the twelve month mark.
It is so important to stick to the schedule. As I said before this will keep you more comfortable. I believe it also helps your body produce milk best. Your body knows what to expect and when to produce. It would be pretty much the same way if you were nursing. Your child would eat at about the same time and consume about the same amount. The first eight weeks were the most uncomfortable for me. I had the most problems usually with the same breast. The main issues were getting chapped, tenderness and milk duct clogs. I researched a lot and was able to solve the problems, but I think sticking to my schedule better would have prevented the clogs and some tenderness. If you really want to do this realize that you will have frustrating issues, but also realize that your body will adjust and you can do it. This advice is from my personal experience. Yours may be completely different and you may have no problems at all.
In the beginning I tried to stick to my schedule to a tee. I think this helped my body get adjusted to lactation since this was my first child. Now I can adjust the schedule when needed. This doesn't mean I skip pumps or go huge amounts of time in-between pumps. I try to pump with in the hour. For example, in the evenings I pump at 6pm. Most days I do this right at 6, but sometimes the baby maybe fussy, I may need to go somewhere before or after, or I may need to get supper going. When this happens I either pump one hour earlier or later. To explain this better, my pump time is 6pm so I pump between the hours of 5pm and 7pm; an hour before or an hour after the scheduled pump time.
Keeping to the schedule is not easy, but it is necessary and requires planning. Realize that this will affect not just you and your baby, but your family too. Your family needs to understand the importance of sticking with the schedule. This means when making plans to go out you need to either make a plan to pump before, after, or in a private place where you are going. If I knew I was going to be somewhere away from home for a while I would plan to pump in the car or call ahead and ask the place if there was a private place where I could pump with a door that locked and an electrical outlet. Most places where glad to help me and were honest if they did not have an appropriate place.
I have a list of all the items I need to pack with my pump so that I have everything I need when pumping somewhere else. I keep this list with my pump and it includes: timer, icepack with bottles and lids, bra, towel, horns, paper towels, bottle adaptors, notepad, pencil, and Ziploc bags. Depending on your needs and pump your list could be completely different from mine. I just did not want to be hours away from home, sit down to pump and realize I don't have a part I need to pump. The list works for me. I have a specific area set aside at home where I keep my pump plugged up and ready to go with all the needed parts and accessories. I also wash all the parts right after pumping. This gives them time to dry in time for the next pump.
Another suggestion is to try to plan on leaving for outings or running errands right after pumping. This will give you the most time before you have to be back to pump the next time. It always takes longer than you expect to do anything. Give yourself plenty of time. There is nothing worse than standing in line to pay for groceries knowing you will still have to load and unload them at home with sore breasts. I will say again, give yourself plenty of time, or get someone to do it for you.
Here is a look at my current pumping schedule:
6am-20 minutes
Noon-30 minutes
6pm-30 minutes
11pm-20 minutes
I pump shorter amounts of time at 6am and 11pm so that I can get a little more sleep at night. My son sleeps through the night, but I still have the pumping schedule to keep up with. When pumping, I use a timer. This way I am not constantly watching the clock and driving myself crazy. I can read, make notes, or watch TV. During the last 10 minutes I massage from my arm pit down my breast to help the process along and make sure that I am empty when time is up. Sometimes I have to pump longer if I am not empty, but the timer gives me a pretty close time schedule.
When you get ready to set your schedule think about your work schedule if you will be going back to work. Next blog I will share with you how I changed my schedule from every three hours to what it is now. I did this to accommodate my work schedule the best.
Connie Albright is the developer of Parenting The Tyke.com where she offers tips, articles, blogs, resources and product reviews for parents of children ages birth to fifth grade.
Visit her site today at www.parentingthetyke.com.
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