Both breastfeeding and pumping are excellent ways to feed a baby breast milk. Breast milk is the natural food for infants, and pumping can offer benefits that are similar, although not identical, to providing breast milk directly from the breast.
Breastfeeding or offering formula in a bottle are not the only ways to feed your baby. Moms can decide to exclusively pump and give their baby all the benefits of breastmilk without having to nurse.
If this is you, rest assured, it's not just your imagination: Most women don't get as much milk from a breast pump as their babies do from nursing. Women's bodies respond differently to babies versus pumps, and it can have a huge impact on your ability to nurse long term.
But no need to worry: Baby still receives most of the important nutrients needed. Furthermore, there are benefits to pumping entirely, if that is what works best for you and your baby. Babies that take in breast milk that is pumped still receive all of the same immune-boosting power as babies that feed at the breast.
Sometimes milk doesn't let down as quickly or as much with a machine. Pump suction is also not always as effective as a baby's mouth at getting milk out of the breast. As a result, depending on the person, exclusively pumping can result in less milk production than breastfeeding.
How Many Calories Does Pumping Milk Burn? Pumping milk burns the same amount of calories that nursing burns. Pumping milk burns anywhere from 200 to 600 calories per day. This will also vary from mother to mother, pumping session to pumping session, and the number of pumping sessions per day.
Are there any disadvantages? Exclusively pumping is harder than breastfeeding. It can feel very time consuming and overwhelming to pump, bottle feed and sterilise equipment while juggling a hungry baby. Being tied to a pump at regular intervals can be limiting especially when away from home.
At work, you should try pumping every three to four hours for around 15 minutes a session. This may sound like a lot, but it goes back to that concept of supply and demand. Your baby takes in milk every few hours. Pumping that often will ensure that you're able to keep up with their needs.
Problem 1: Decreased milk supply
But if she is pumping and then skipping breast feedings, pumping may decrease milk supply.” When milk supply drops due to a parent pumping instead of putting a baby directly to the breast it can in turn result in an insufficient milk supply for a growing baby.
Can pumping decrease milk supply? Pumping itself does not decrease your breast milk supply. In fact, it can help boost it. But if you are having trouble with low milk supply, the first step is to check that you are using the right breast pump.
Once your mature milk has come in, be sure to pump for at least 20 – 30 minutes per session (or until you no longer see milk expressing from your breasts). It's typically easier to tell when you're done with a nursing session – after all, your little one simply detaches and stops eating!
The first few days: Your breast milk coming in
The hormones will get you on track with starting to produce milk. Around day three after your baby's birth, your breast milk 'comes in' and your breasts may start to feel noticeably firmer and fuller.
It may only take your baby about 5 to 10 minutes to empty each breast and get all the milk they need; however, this is different for everyone.
Understanding the Role of Prolactin
Interestingly, prolactin levels have a typical 24-hour cycle — just like the human body's circadian rhythm. Prolactin peaks in the early morning hours around 2-5 a.m., while the lowest prolactin levels happen in the late afternoon to early evening.
Only your milk—not formula or donor milk—has the one-of-a-kind antibodies to lower the chances that your baby becomes sick with COVID-19.
For many moms, 10-15 minutes of pumping is long enough. Once a week, add up the milk you pump in a 24-hour period. Write it down and compare your totals each week. You'll know right away if your production drops.
So – is it okay to just pump and not nurse? Yes. Exclusive pumping is a perfectly valid option for feeding your baby.
Experts agree that you should put your baby's breastfeeding needs first and pump after breastfeeding. Roberts recommends delaying pumping until about two weeks after birth, or when your milk supply is established. “Once you are ready to start pumping, nurse your baby, then pump afterward,” she says.
Avoid going longer than 5-6 hours without pumping during the first few months. When pumping during the night, milk yield tends to be better if you pump when you naturally wake (to go to the bathroom or because your breasts are uncomfortably full) than if you set an alarm to wake for pumping.
Do I need to pump in the middle of the night? Most women do not need to pump during the period of time that their baby is sleeping at night. However, some women may find that long stretches without breastfeeding or pumping can result in a lower milk supply.
Healthy infants who breastfeed effectively are often thought to be more efficient than the expression of milk either by hand or with an electric breast pump. Breastfed infants have been shown to remove 50% of the total volume of milk removed at a breastfeed in the first 2 min and 80% in 4 min [31].
This varies quite a bit. Some moms have a goal of pumping for three months, some for six months, some for a year or more. Personally, I exclusively pumped for 14 months. (I did a poll on how long people planned to exclusively pump on instagram, and the average answer was about 9-10 months.)
Try burping your baby every 2 to 3 ounces (60 to 90 milliliters) if you bottle-feed and each time you switch breasts if you breastfeed. Try burping your baby every ounce during bottle-feeding or every 5 minutes during breastfeeding if your baby: tends to be gassy. spits a lot.
Kissing your baby will change your breast milk
When you kiss your baby, you are sampling the pathogens on her skin, which are then transferred to your lymphatic system where you will produce antibodies to any bugs. These antibodies will then pass through your breast milk to your baby and boost her immune system.
When he stops suckling and swallowing, or when he falls asleep, you'll want to switch him to the other breast. If he hasn't released the first breast, simply slip your finger into the corner of his mouth to break the suction (and protect your nipple) before removing him from your breast.