oh baby!
The Key to Expressing More Breast Milk For
Your Baby
by Matia Bryson
Relaxation while using your breast pump is
essential to expressing more breast milk for you baby. It is important to
eliminate influences in your nervous system that elicit the “fight or
flight” response. You probably know the “fight or flight” response shuts
down excess circulation to the extremities, sending adrenalin through your
system, causing cold hands, slowing your digestion, and basically stopping
any “unnecessary functions” such as your milk let-down in order to send more
blood rushing to the heart and running muscles.
Eliminate Anxiety about Your Breast Pumping
Identify the source of your anxiety and eliminate it if
possible. How? Talk about your worries openly with someone who will listen.
Have a laugh about it if you can. If you have been holding back, have a cry
about it, too. Do the best you can to fix the problem then move on. Next,
try to distract yourself. Are you anxious about filling your bottles? Don’t
watch them. Find something else to do with your eyes. Look at pictures (not
just one) of your baby. Put pictures of your baby in a slide show or folder
on your computer, if you pump at your desk. Read something light and
diverting. Call a friend on the telephone and just chat. Eat a high protein
snack. Have a drink, like raspberry leaf tea or a mother’s herb tea, or
plenty of refreshing, cool water. Forbear from working while you are pumping
if it contributes tension.
Ease Pain or Discomfort before Using Your Breast Pump
Take Advil or Tylenol thirty minutes before pumping if
you have any pain of any variety. Are you too hot or too cold? Fix that. Do
some of you muscles tire while pumping? Practice proper posture to prevent
your back from tiring. Do some neck rolls. Extend your legs out in front of
you and alternate flexing your heels and pointing your toes. Try a heating
pad on the shoulders and back. Have someone massage your back while breast
pumping. Has the breast pump always been uncomfortable or painful? Start
with the lowest vacuum. Maybe you should keep it there. Some mothers have
had better milk output by lowering the setting for greater comfort. Do you
have fit issues with your funnels? One-third of all women who breast pump
find they can get better results with larger size funnels. Try lanolin on
your nipples to make them softer. If necessary, talk to the breast pump
distributor or manufacturer. Talk to a lactation consultant. Consider
switching to a better quality breast pump even if you have to rent one
short-term to see if it makes a difference.
Use Visualization
As you are setting up your breast pump, imagine or
visualize that you are preparing to feed your infant. Imagine the noises
your hungry baby makes, and how he looks, putting his hands to his mouth,
turning his head toward you. Imagine the peaceful feeling that comes over
you when the milk lets-down. Visualize his little hand gripping your
clothing or finger. Imagine his weight against you and the feel of his soft
skin and blanket. Add as many details as you can, incorporating your five
senses and positive emotions. Some women have success with relaxation
scripts about lying on the beach or about waterfalls and rivers or imagining
themselves as fountains of milk. You can also buy relaxation script
recordings that are very well done with music or nature sounds.
Actively Relax Until Your Milk Lets-Down
Practice the relaxation techniques you learned in your
childbirth class. Breathe deeply from the belly. Close your eyes. Practice
progressive relaxation: breathing slowly and deeply, consciously relaxing
every part of your body, first tense the muscles of the feet. Hold for a
slow count of five, and then relax. Next tense the muscles of the lower
legs, hold for a slow count of five and then relax. Repeat with other muscle
groups as you move up your body to your head.
Continue breast pumping for a minute or two after the
milk stops dripping. Do not be surprised if you can get a second or third
let-down in one session with your breast pump. Eliminate anxiety,
discomfort, or tension of any type to ward off the “fight or flight”
hormones. With practice your let-down will come quicker and the quantity of
your expressed breast milk will increase.
References: www.kellymom.com/bf/letdown.html
Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC
http://www.geocities/Wellesley/4092/relax.html Diane
O’Brien Juve
About the Author:
Matia Bryson is the mother of seven previously breastfed
children and publishes
http://www.babylovesyourmilk.com
breast pump information at the Baby Loves Your Milk
website.
Read more articles by:
Matia Bryson
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Source: www.iSnare.com
