This week, we held an important teleclass, generously sponsored by Lansinoh and expertly facilitated by Gina Ciagne, Certified Lactation Counselor and Lansinoh’s Vice President of Healthcare.
Participants ended this informative teleclass with practical tips that moms could implement immediately in order to make their breastfeeding experience a positive one for both mom and baby!
In case you missed it, you can find the link to the recorded teleclass HERE.
Gina walked participants through preparing for breastfeeding before baby arrives, tips to overcome some of the most common breastfeeding issues (like mastitis, engorgement and milk supply concerns), preparing to return to work as a breastfeeding mom and how partners and other friends and family members can support a new mom’s breastfeeding goals.
Some great resources that Gina suggested were
- http://kellymom.com/ (Great recipes for nursing moms)
- https://www.lansinoh.com/community/ask-our-experts (Ask the experts)
Also during the class, Gina discussed a little about the best way to introduce pumping, so we thought we would share the following article, which was originally posted on the Lansinoh website:
Pumping Basics – when, where and why
Pumping (or expressing) is a great way to provide milk for your baby when you need to balance breastfeeding with all the other things going on in your life. These tips, and a little practice, can go a long way in getting the most out of your breast pump.
The Pumping “Why”
Life happens. Some moms plan to exclusively feed their baby from their breast. But there are times, either planned or unexpected, when breastfeeding moms need to be away from their baby.
Pumping generally falls into two “whys”: extra breastmilk for occasional use (such as when you have an appointment), or building supply for when you need to be away for longer stretches of time (such as going back to work).
The Pumping “When”
Many moms find they have the most success when they pump first thing in the morning. Resting has allowed their milk supply to replenish and is likely to be abundant. For easy and safe storage, we offer Lansinoh® Breastmilk Storage Bags and Lansinoh® Breastmilk Storage Bottles.
Going back to work takes a little more planning because you’ll want to have an ample amount saved in advance. To build up supply, pump daily after your baby has nursed. This ensures you have drained all the milk and signals your body to make more. You can store the excess in your freezer.
When you’re back at work, pump at the times when your baby would be feeding, then safely store the milk and bring it home to add to your freezer stash. Also see our Back-to-Work Checklist for more tips.
The Pumping “How”
Remember learning how to breastfeed your baby? For some of us, it happened quickly and easily, while for others it took a little more practice before it became second nature. Here are some tips to get you started, but remember it might take some time to get the hang of it:
- “Wake up” your breasts by massaging or leaning over and gently shaking them.
- Wash your hands and take a few deep breaths to relax. This is key to getting your milk to flow freely (let-down reflex). Some moms find looking at a photo of their baby and listening to soothing music helps.
- Close your eyes, shut out the world, think of your sweet baby—this has been shown to help with let-down and milk flow.
- To pump, center the nipple in the flanges (the cone-like parts that go on the breast). Your breast needs to completely fill it to form a vacuum. Tilt the tunnel slightly downward so the milk flows naturally into the bottle.
- Plan on a 20-minute pumping session, but this could vary – some moms take more or less time. Don’t get discouraged if your output initially seems low. By pumping, you’re telling your body to keep producing milk and you’ll begin to see an increased amount.
- To build up your freezer supply, try pumping after nursing and add in extra sessions when baby is sleeping.
Give yourself a pat on the back! Pumping does require extra effort, but you’re doing something wonderful for your baby. We’re here to support you. If you have any questions, Ask Our Experts.
Founded by a breastfeeding mom, Lansinoh has been committed to helping moms succeed in breastfeeding for 30 years. Famous for its award-winning cornerstone product, HPA® Lanolin, today Lansinoh is the market leader in breastfeeding accessories. Lansinoh’s commitment to drive innovation and maintain the highest quality standards in the industry has led to an expanded product offering that includes premium toddler mealtime and baby toiletries products, all designed to help moms, babies and families live a healthy life. The Lansinoh family of brands, which are available in more than 25,000 retail stores nationwide, includes breastfeeding accessories and the mOmma® bottle feeding system. For more information, please visit www.lansinoh.com, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/lansinohUSA or facebook.com/mOmmaUS, and follow us on Twitter at @LansinohUSA and @mOmmaUS.
Gina Ciagne, Certified Lactation Counselor and Lansinoh’s Vice President, Healthcare and Media Relations is a nationally recognized expert on breastfeeding. As a Certified Lactation Counselor and La Leche League International-trained breastfeeding peer counselor, she has worked with and provided advice and support to thousands of breastfeeding mothers around the world. A sought after speaker and media resource, Ms. Ciagne is a frequent contributor to The Huffington Post, and has appeared on The Bump, CNN, Fox News and many other radio and television news programs. In her role as Vice President of Healthcare and Media Relations for Lansinoh, Ms. Ciagne oversees the company’s outreach to and engagement with healthcare communities.She received her masters degree in Public and Community Health at Trinity University, and is the mother of two breastfed children.
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The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog contributor’s. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Writers may have conflicts of interest, and their opinions are their own.
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