Milk Pumping Problems You May Encounter
Like all things, pumping does come with some problems. Some women find it easier to pump milk while others do not. There are many factors that can lead to this. For example, if you are nursing full time, the amount of milk you pump is likely to be more than if you were not nursing. This is because the baby stimulates milk production better than a pump.
If you have stopped directly breastfeeding and noticed a decline in the amount you pump, this is normal and shouldn’t be anything to worry about. Some mothers will not be able to pump enough milk out after a breastfeeding session. This too is normal because the baby has just fed and your breasts may need time to reproduce milk and get used to the demand that is being put on them.
There are stories of mothers who have a difficult time pumping when they are away from their child. This can be stressful for a mother who knows she has to produce a certain amount of milk per day in order to keep her supply up. Some psychologists believe that this is because the mother misses her child and her body is not used to providing milk without the baby present.
Some breast pumps have attachments that allow a mother to place a picture of her baby on the pump. This allows the mother to see her child, which will help her along and induce milk flow.
If you want to establish a good supply of breast milk for your baby to have while you are away or for the purposes of weaning, you can begin pumping breast milk as early as one week after delivery. You can do this while continuing to nurse your child through direct breastfeeding. In the first few weeks after delivery, your breasts are usually producing more milk than your baby needs, and you can store this milk for later use. Also, the first few weeks after delivery are when your breasts slowly get used to how much milk it needs to produce regularly. You can encourage more production by pumping during this period.
After about two to three months after delivery, you may notice that your milk supply is going down. This is normal for many moms, and it is nothing to worry about. Continue pumping and directly breastfeeding as much as you can. Your breasts should continue to produce milk, though not in the same amounts as before. This can be because your body is regulating milk production.
There are other reasons for a drop or decline in milk supply. It could be due to hormonal changes you are going through. If you’ve started menstruating again or if you are pregnant again, your body may signal your breasts to stop producing the same amount of milk. This is because in both situations your body is preparing itself for another baby. It is natural that it will lessen the amount of breast milk it produces.
Page Two: More Reasons for a Decline in Milk Supply (Milk Pumping Problems You May Encounter continued)
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