Hand Expression!

I field many, many questions about pumping from parents, but a lesser known topic that I'd love families to ask about - hand expression! If you forget your pump or it malfunctions, if you find yourself in an emergency situation without power or without your baby, if you just need some "relief" from feelings of fullness or discomfort, hand expression is a useful skill to have for every breastfeeding parent!

I love all the videos from Global Health Media. Here is a fantastic one on hand expression...

https://globalhealthmedia.org/videos/how-to-express-breastmilk/

Insurance Coverage!

I want to make sure everyone knows that I am able to get insurance coverage for some plans (up to 6 sessions or beyond, if needed!) through my connection with The Lactation Network!

https://go.lactationnetwork.com/4thTrimesterBaby

What is wonderful about this is that I can do things like visit a family prenatally to plan ahead, see a family multiple times and tweak care plans each time, follow up for visits related to pumping or planning to go back to work, and more. I can follow these families throughout their journeys, at no out of pocket cost to them. TLN is always working to bring more plans on board as well, so hopefully even more coverage as time goes on? Please share with your networks, or, if you are a family who has seen me under TLN, use those follow-ups!

"Supplementing"? Start Pumping!

If you are told to start "supplementing" for any reason, start pumping! Pumped/expressed milk is the best supplement, followed by donor milk, and then by formula.

So many parents are led to believe they must start formula when asked to supplement. If babies start having formula and the parent is not pumping, that is when milk supply is at risk. Regular removal of milk (by an efficient baby ideally, or by a pump) is critical to build/protect supply, especially in cases where baby is struggling at the breast. As an IBCLC, it is so much easier to help get a struggling baby to breast with a robust milk supply already in place!

Here's a great article on "Hands On Pumping"

https://med.stanford.edu/newborns/professional-education/breastfeeding/maximizing-milk-production.html