Breastfeeding is the best way to feed your newborn baby, but sometimes circumstances prohibit your ability to do so. If you're a full-time worker, as well as a new mother, you may not have the energy to spend all night getting up to feed your baby. You may also have problems getting baby to latch on properly. However, if you're not wanting to spend money on formula every month, you can always try pumping your milk.
Breast Pump Options
If you are planning to pump for an extended period of time your best option is an electric breast pump. These pumps give you the opportunity to get milk out faster, and are much easier on your hand. With the electric breast pump, you can pump anywhere in about 15 minutes time per breast. Some pumps offer you the option of a battery pack. The battery pack is a great option to have because you can pump even if you loose power for an extended period of time. It also comes in useful when you are out for a day and need to pump in a more unusual place, like a mall bathroom. Manual pumps on the other hand are more useful for someone who is only going to be pumping occasionally. These require you to physically pump the milk by hand and can take much longer or be less effective.
Dual pumps are another wonderful option for those who are considering pumping full time. This means you can pump both sides at once instead of having to alternate sides with the single pump. It is a great time saver and if you get really good at pumping, you can be feeding your baby or reading a book, while the pump does all the work.
If you are serious about wanting to pump, you will most likely want to purchase your own breast pump. Pumps can run as much as $300.00 for a non-clinical grade pump. The clinical grade pumps run as much as $1200 to purchase. Renting one of these pumps can cost around $360.00 for a six month rental. If you are planning to pump for more than six months it is more cost effective to buy your own pump, however the clinical grade pumps tend to have more power to them and can get more milk flowing quicker.
Increasing Milk Supply
If you are pumping from the beginning you may not need to worry as much about increasing milk supply, but if you decide a few weeks into raising your newborn to pump instead of using formula, you may have a lower supply of milk. There are many ways that can help you increase your supply. Different things may work well for different people.
Fenugreek and Mother's Milk Tea - Fenugreek is an herb that has been shown to help increase milk supply. This can be found at health stores like GNC. It's just a big pill you take a few times a day. Mother's Milk Tea is an option for those who like to drink tea. It is a combination of different herbs that have been shown to increase milk supply. It isn't the best tasting tea in the world, but with some milk and honey in it, it's passable as a drink.
Oatmeal- Oatmeal is a great option for increasing milk supply. It's inexpensive and it is a great way to start out your morning for breakfast.
Increased Pumping Schedule- Another way to help increase your milk supply when pumping is to pump more often. If you were breastfeeding, you would be feeding whenever your baby was hungry. If you're pumping, pump on schedule with your baby, when she's done eating you can pump. If you are running out of milk when pumping on that schedule, try pumping every 3 hours around the clock for a time. Another option is to do an hour of pumping for 15 minutes and stopping for 15 minutes and alternating for a total of an hour. You typically don't want to pump for more than 15 minutes at one time though because it just makes you more sore and you aren't really getting much after that first 15 minutes anyway.
Benefits of Pumping
One of the biggest benefits to pumping full-time is not having to always be the one to feed your baby. If you want to go to the store alone, you have the option of leaving a bottle of milk behind for your husband to feed her. You can also let other people feed your baby while you get the occasional and much deserved full night of sleep. You also save more money by pumping than you would by using formula. Another benefit is getting a chance to catch up on your reading. When you're stuck sitting in one place for 15 minutes many times a day, you can pick up that book you've been wanting to read and enjoy a few minutes of free time.
Downside of Pumping
The bad thing about pumping is it really isn't fun. It can be painful at times and leave you wanting nothing more than to quit. For some people it can cause more cracked and bleeding nipples. You can't really pump as easily as breastfeed in a public location because it is much harder to keep the pump and both breasts covered up. Sometimes it feels like you aren't pumping enough to make it worth while or feed your baby.
The Choice Is Yours
With all the options out there today, the choice is really yours on how you choose to feed your new family member. Breastfeeding is a great and low cost option, but can leave you feeling very tied to your newborn. Formula is an expensive but easy way to feed your baby. Pumping is as expensive as you make it based on the equipment you purchase and can give you some extra freedom. Whatever you choose, make the choice that fits you and your family best.
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