• 0Shopping Cart
Spectra Baby USA
  • About
    • About Spectra
    • Want to Collaborate?
    • Spectra News
    • Product Testing Panel
  • Need Help Pumping?
    • Lactation Assistance
    • Mama Blog
    • Flange Fitting Guide
    • Spectra Education
  • Shop
  • Support
    • Contact
    • Instruction Manuals
    • Instruction Videos
    • Learning Library
    • Warranty Information
    • Insurance Coverage?
    • FAQ’s
    • Authorized Dealers
  • Login
    • My Account
    • Vendor Login
    • Become a Vendor
  • Search
  • Menu
  • 0 items

5 Tips For Preserving Milk Supply While Learning to Latch

September 13, 2021/0 Comments/in Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding tips, Exclusively Pumping /by sherley

 

By Melissa Portunato MPH, IBCLC, RLC

You’ve done everything right the first few weeks with your new baby. You are exclusively nursing on demand, starting every feed with skin to skin, and have surrounded yourself with all the breastfeeding resources and support you can find. But you still have pain while latching and your nipples just really need a break. It’s OK! Take a break if you need to but you still need to keep up with your milk supply to ensure baby continues to receive the endless benefits of breastmilk. Keep your baby close. Keep your milk flowing. Keep your baby fed. And breathe. It will get better.

Here are 5 practical tips to help you preserve your milk supply while you are working on that perfect latch.

#1 Get Nakey

Skin to skin is an important way to sustain your breastfeeding hormones and continue bonding with your baby. Mama’s chest is a newborn baby’s natural environment. During skin to skin, oxytocin (happy good feeling hormone) will be released and make sure your milk ejection reflexes stay on point. Skin to skin helps relieve stress for mom and baby. It promotes healing and encourages an easier transition back to breastfeeding. Skin to skin should be done on your bare chest and with baby only in a diaper. Try to do skin to skin any chance you can get. You can even do it while pumping for quicker and easier letdowns. So get all cozy and enjoy those extra newborn snuggle sessions.

#2 Get on a pumping schedule

If your baby is not directly nursing from your breast, maintaining a pumping schedule will ensure your milk supply stays up to meet baby’s ever-changing nutritional needs. Ideally, you should be pumping when baby is feeding. This will keep you on the same schedule, signaling your body to make exactly enough breastmilk for your baby. Don’t ever go past 4 hours without pumping. This can start signaling your body to make less milk and your supply will start to tank. For maximum milk output when pumping, use a hands-free bra and massage your breasts while you pump. Moms who use double breast “hands-on pumping” can express double the milk compared to moms who don’t. If you don’t have a hands-free bra you can make one by cutting holes in an old sports bra. Wah-lah!

Cyclical pumping can help keep your supply soaring too! Spectrababy USA pumps start on expression mode. Switch between expression and massage mode every few minutes or after a letdown. This will allow you to pump similar to your baby’s natural rhythm at the breast, quick bursts of suction (massage mode) to stimulate letdowns and a slower deeper suction to mimic nutritive sucking (expression mode). Start with the massage mode, then alternate between the two modes throughout your pumping session for better stimulation and to see more milk.

#3 Treating nipples and breasts

If you are reading this blog post,and working on baby having a better latch, then you might be dealing with sore nipples. Sore nipples can be caused by a variety of different reasons; like when baby has a shallow latch, is tongue tied, recovering from a revision, or it can also be a sign of infection. If you have discharge coming from your nipples, deep breast pain or red streaks on your breasts, call your doctor. You might have more than just the typical sore nipples.

To care for sore nipples, hand express a few drops of breastmilk and let your nipples air dry. If you have cracking or scabbing, wearing breast pads can make them worse. Expose them to fresh air as much as you can. In your daily shower wash nipples with non-antibacterial soap, let air dry and then express a few drops of liquid gold on them immediately after. Breastmilk will help treat sore nipples and keep them healthy as well.

#4 Alternative Feeding Methods

While you and baby are working on the latch, you can try alternative feeding methods like using a small medicine cup, spoon, or a syringe to feed your baby. Alternative feeding methods such as these can help avoid adverse reactions from using a bottle. Too many bottles within the first 6 weeks can lead to breast refusal altogether. Babies can quickly get accustomed to the fast-paced flow of an artificial newborn nipple. Even those are fast compared to nursing directly from the breast. Cup feeding can be a good option. Did you know a newborn baby will lap up breast milk from a medicine cup just like a little kitten? Really! It’s pretty cute to watch. Try cup feeding if you are not directly nursing from the breast.

If it doesn’t work out using an alternate feeding method or just the idea is daunting “paced bottle feeding” will be the way to go. Paced bottle feeding is a method of feeding your baby that mimics baby nursing at the breast. You will start with the bottle teat at baby’s nose, wait for baby to open wide and bring baby to the bottle. Let baby suck a few times, and gently pull the bottle back. You will continue this process throughout the feed. Pausing in between to burp baby. With paced bottle feeding, baby can control the flow of milk better and it can prevent overfeeding. Unlike, with traditional bottle feeding when baby will simply gulp, gulp, swallow;  pace bottle feeding allows baby to pause in between like when breastfeeding.

#5 Think Twice Before Grabbing a Nipple Shield

Hey, a nipple shield can save a breastfeeding relationship, absolutely 100%! But’s important to work directly with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant when doing so. Nipple shields are infamous for low weight gain, clogged ducts, low milk supply and a ton of other breastfeeding issues even Mastitis. If you are using one, make sure it’s the right size and baby’s weight is being monitored closely by your pediatrician or an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Nipple shields are not intended for long-term use and should be approached with caution. Even with inverted nipples, most draw out with nursing or pumping so a nipple shield is still not necessary. Like with anything, there is always an extra special circumstance when mom might need a nipple shield, but for the most part – just say no to nipple shields.

We make milk by supply and demand so if you are not nursing your baby directly from the breast, pumping will be crucial to keeping up with your milk supply. Learn more about choosing the right Spectrababy USA breast pump here. Keeping up with your milk supply while working on baby’s latch is hard work. It’s important to have the support of your family, friends, and your pediatrician. Our Spectrababy USA certified IBCLCs, can help you jump over your breastfeeding hurdles, cheer you on when you need it most, and help you meet all your breastfeeding goals. Schedule your complimentary consult here. 

Preventing and Treating Clogged Ducts

September 7, 2021/0 Comments/in Breast Pumping, Breastfeeding, Exclusively Pumping /by Melissa Portunato

 

By Melissa Portunato MPH, IBCLC, RLC

Ouch! Clogged ducts can be extremely painful but completely treatable. How did you even get them in the first place? A clogged duct can be caused by a variety of different reasons from prolonged time without milk removal, shallow latch, restrictive clothing, or even stress. Read our IBCLC’s tips below on how to manage them, find relief, and when to call the doctor.

What’s a clogged duct anyway?

We all have around 15-20 milk ducts in each breast. A “plugged” or clogged duct can occur when a milk duct that leads to the nipple gets clogged. It usually onsets gradually and can be associated with a hard, often painful lump. You can experience tenderness, little or no warmth, and you might even feel the location shift as the clog makes its way out of the breast. With proper care, most clogged ducts subside in around 2-3 days. Clogged ducts are most common during the first few months of breastfeeding when your body is getting insync with the demand of your growing baby. They are also common during the weaning process. The key to remember with clogged ducts is that they need to be getting better, not worse!

I have a clogged duct! HELP!

The fastest way to treat clogged ducts is by frequently nursing or pumping. Vary your nursing positions while trying to aim the baby’s chin at the affected area. Try nursing in the “dangling feed” position. Lie baby flat on the bed and lean your breast over your baby to nurse, aiming baby’s chin towards the clogged duct. This breastfeeding position can help position your nipple farther into the baby’s mouth for more effective milk removal.

If you are exclusively pumping, pump every 2-3 hours without going any longer. Practice massaging your breasts while pumping. You want to start massaging above where you feel the clog and gently towards the nipple and stop once you reach the areola. Hand expressing before and after pumping can help drain milk more effectively allowing you to completely empty your breast.

You can use a warm compress before you nurse or pump to help with milk removal. Alternate heat and cold on the area affected. If you find you have a milk blister, avoid trying to squeeze because it can make things worse. The milk blister or bleb will naturally draw out as the clog subsides.

Mastitis or Clogged Ducts?

Not all clogged ducts lead to mastitis and even mastitis can be infectious or non-infectious. If your clogged ducts are getting worse, you develop flu-like symptoms, your breast is hot, red, and tender then it’s time to check in with your doctor. In some cases, antibiotics will be required.

Preventing Clogged Ducts from Happening

Wear loose clothing, and go braless whenever possible. Stay away from bras with underwire, a wire-free supportive bra is best. Keep your baby close to you and feed at early breastfeeding cues. Cracking or bleeding nipples are more susceptible to infectious mastitis since bacteria will be able to easily enter the breast. Routinely washing in the shower using a non-antibacterial soap can help prevent infection. Never go more than 3-4 hours max without pumping or nursing. Massage and compress while you nurse/pump and if nursing varies your positions. Eat healthy and stay hydrated. Clogged ducts are more common and more difficult to treat with a lowered immune system.

Clogged ducts are common and treatable. If you feel they are not improving after a few days, it’s time to seek medical attention. In some cases, clogged ducts can lead to an infectious case of mastitis so it’s necessary to reach out to your doctor if you are getting worse or symptoms are not improving. It’s especially important to nurse frequently during this time and get plenty of rest. Treat it like you have the flu! Rest, hydrate, and nurse/pump often!

Have a clogged duct and need advice? Send us an email at ibclc@spectrababyusa.com and one of our IBCLCs will be happy to chat with you. You’re doing the best you can! Take care of yourself and pump on.

Source: 

Blocked duct and mastitis. International BreastFeeding Centre. (n.d.). https://ibconline.ca/information-sheets/blocked-ducts-mastitis/.

 

Recent Posts

  • When and How To Drop A Pumping Session
  • A Guide to Pumping on Vacation
  • Do I Have Elastic Nipples?
  • Navigating the Formula Crisis
  • Paced Bottle Feeding

Products

  • Grey Tote Spectra Tote $43.19
  • accessories-image-2 CaraCups Wearable Milk Collection Inserts $64.99
  • duckbill valve in hand Duckbill Valve Set $14.49
  • 9- Volt Portable Vehicle Adapter 9-Volt Portable Vehicle Adapter $11.99

MOM SUPPORT

  • Flange Fitting Guide
  • Lactation Assistance
  • Instruction Videos
  • Mama Blog

CONTACT

  • Customer Care
  • Warranty Support
  • Mom Support Line
  • Spectra Education

SIGN UP

  • My Account
  • Vendor Login
  • Become a Vendor
  • Authorized Dealers
  • Avoid Fraud

SERVICE

  • Careers
  • Return Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Shipping Policy
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Envelope
Scroll to top