- Babies who are efficiently nursing will work better than a pump any day. When that isn’t possible, pumping is needed. There is no shame in needing to find alternative ways to feed a baby.
- Massage your breast before you pump. This will help increase prolactin and make more milk.
- Supply and demand is needed. The more the baby nurses, and the more stimulation to the breast and the more milk is expressed, is how more milk is made continually.
- You can use a little rest vibrator that will help increase milk removal, while pumping or nursing
- Relaxing as much as possible, and looking at the baby photos of the baby or even hearing baby sounds, can help with a letdown
- Your baby will get what it needs from you. When you eat and drink well, replace your vitamins and minerals, you are staying strong for your baby. This is replenishment for you.
- Making sure you have a working pump when pumping can matter. If it’s used or secondhand and not working well, check the valves and tubing to make sure everything is working well.
- Set small milestones and then celebrate every time you meet one
- Confirm you have the correct lining sizes for your nipples if you aren’t getting enough from the pump. It can make a difference
- Remember, pumping, hand, expressing, and building supply can be tedious. But make sure you have good support as soon as you realize something isn’t right to get back on the path that you want.
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