Breast Pumping At Work to Increase Supply

Although the days of needing to always be with your baby to breastfeed are over, there are still some challenges every mother encounters when breast pumping. Being able to maintain breastfeeding with the help of a breast pump is incredibly useful and increasingly essential, but it can be difficult to maintain.

Increasing your supply and finding the time are two of the most common challenges faced by breastfeeding mothers. If you want to be able to feed your baby breast milk while having the flexibility to be away from your baby occasionally, here are five things you can do to make it work:

1. Pump at Work

Although it might take some planning, pumping at work is a great way to keep pumping through the day and maintain your supply. Thanks to the federal Break Time for Nursing Mothers law, employers must provide basic accommodations for breastfeeding mothers. This means your place of work should have a private space to pump or breastfeed and give you the time to do so. You should also check your state laws to make sure because the rules change depending on whether you are paid hourly or you are a salaried employee. Your supervisor will be able to help you find a place, get you the time to pump, and the rest is up to you!

2. Pump A LOT

The more you pump, the more milk you will make. If your breasts are full, this is a signal to your body to stop making more. To trigger milk production, a signal should be sent to your body that your breasts are empty and production needs to start. A popular technique is cluster pumping which means pumping every five minutes for repeated stimulation. This isn’t practical for many mothers, especially at work, but when it is possible, give it a try!

3. Eat Healthily

Maintaining a healthy diet is critical to maintaining a healthy milk supply. Make sure you are getting enough calories, and are staying hydrated by drinking water and other clear liquids. If you can, start eating a bit more. Some breastfeeding women need to add about 450 to 500 calories per day to their diet. Of course, the kind of calories you are adding is important, just like when you were pregnant.

4. Stay Calm

Soothing and calming sounds can sometimes help produce more (and fattier milk) if listened to while pumping. If you’re looking to increase your milk production, this is a simple but fun way to make the experience more enjoyable. Relaxing while you pump is important, and particularly if you are pumping at work, don’t check your phone or respond to messages and calls while you’re pumping. Additionally, focusing on the task at hand sometimes makes the task and its outcome more stressful. Try not to think about how much milk you’re producing, and avoid any other stressors.

5. The Right Gear

Your pump, the breast shield, and the speed of suction will all affect how much milk you can get while pumping. It’s important to keep the machine clean and replace anything that needs replacing right away. Sometimes you can rent a hospital-grade pump for a week or month to get more milk when pumping.

The Joy of Breastfeeding

No matter how much or how often you pump, these tips will help you on your nursing journey and let you and your baby enjoy it every step of the way. If you’d like more information about this or other similar topics head over to our site!