PDid You Know Using A Ibreast Pumpi To Express Milk For Your Infant Can Be A Learned Skill? P PbOne Of The Challenges Pumping Mothers Face Is To Elicit A Let-down Or Their Milk Ejection Reflex In A Reasonable Amount Of Time.b P PBreast Pumps And Your Baby Do Not Remove Milk From Your Breast By Suction Alone. Compression And Stimulation To Your Breast, And Specifically To The Areola And Nipple, Causes A Message To Be Sent To Your Body To Cause The Muscles Within The Breast To Contract, Ejecting The Milk In What Is Commonly Called The Let-down. Even With All The Recent Innovations In Breast Pumps, Your Body Can Tell The Difference Between An Infant Feeding And A Breast Pump At Work.p PbIf You Can Associate Your Let-down With An Action You Can Control--a Stimulus Or A Cue--you Can Reduce The Time It Takes For Let-down To Occur With Or Without Your Babys Help.b PpYou May Remember The Research Of Dr. Ivan Pavlov, Who Would Ring A Bell Every Time Food Was Presented To A Dog. In Time The Dog Would Salivate On Cue At The Mere Sound Of The Bell. PpbHow Does This Translate To Breastfeeding And Breast Pumping? You Can Use Cues To Program Your Milk To Let Down. Bp PYou Can Choose Cues That Are More Meaningful Than A Bell Ringing And That Can Serve A Double Purpose Such As Keeping You Hydrated, Comfortable Or Relaxed. Your Chosen Cues Can Incorporate Your Five Senses. Their Effect Is More Potent If Used Before Let-down And At The Beginning Of When Your Milk Lets Down While You Are Nursing Your Baby. Then You Can Repeat These Same Cues In An Entirely Different Setting When You Are Using Your Breast Pump In The Absence Of Your Baby.p BrpHere Are Some Examples Of Cues:pol LibUse Your Breastfeeding Pillowb--the Kind Worn Around Your Waist--with Your Baby, And When You Use A Breast Pump, You Can Also Use It To Support Your Back Or The Collection Bottles.brli LibHave The Same Thing To Drinkb, Like Herb Tea Or Water, In The Same Cup Or Sport Bottle. Avoid Excessive Caffeine, Which Can Increase Baby Fussiness And Anything Hot Enough To Scald Baby. Accidents Happen.brli LibHum Or Singb A Favorite Song. Make Up A Milk-letting-down Song. Sometimes Silliness Can Be Effective. Brli LibMentally Record This Program To Play Back In Your Mind When You Are Using Your Breast Pump. BWatch Your Baby Nursing. Mentally Note The Changing Sucking Pattern And The Jaw Movements. Note The Quick Bursts At The Start Followed By Longer Draws As The Milk Lets Down. Observe The Tingling Sensation In The Breast If That Is What You Experience. Watch The Little Muscle Wiggling In Front Of His Ear. Hear And Feel The Little Puff Of Air From His Nose As He Swallows. Bbrbli LibMake A Sound Recordingb Of Your Baby Fussing Before Nursing, Followed By The Settling In Noises And Feeding Sounds. Use A Portable Player With Headphones To Listen To It Privately When You Are Breast Pumping. You Could Also Try A Playlist Of Relaxing Music.brli LibTouch And Smell Clothingb Or A Blanket With Babys Unique Scent On It. When Using Your Breast Pump, Have The Clothing Ready In A Sealed Plastic Bag And Open It, Touch It, And Smell Itbrli LibLooking At A Picture Of Your Babyb Is Some Common Advice. Have You Seen How The Top-of-the-line Breast Pump Kits Will Have A Transparent Pocket For Your Babys Picture? More Helpful Perhaps Would Be To Have Several Pictures Of Your Baby Including Some Taken From Your Point Of View, Over Your Shoulder, While Nursing.brli LibSit In The Same Chairb And Room Where You Do Most Of Your Breastfeeding When You Are Breast Pumping At Home.liolpKnowing That You Can Improve On Your Breast Pumping Skills Is Good News. By Associating Your Let-down With Cues You Can Reduce The Time It Takes To Express Your Breast Milk. Typically Mothers Will Find They Get Better With Practice And Repetition Without Making Any Conscious Effort To Improve At All. P BrbDisclaimer: None Of The Content Above Should Be Construed As Medical Advice And All Breastfeeding Mothers Should Strive To Educate Themselves As Much As Possible From Multiple Sources And Consult With Doctors And Lactation Specialists As Needed.brbr Notice: This Article May Be Copied As Is As Long As This Notice And This Live Link To A Href"http:www.babylovesyourmilk.com"the Breast Pump Information At The Baby Loves Your Milk Website A Are Preserved. Request Permission First From Webmasterbabylovesyourmilk.com Before Making Changes Or Additions.bbr
