It isn’t always under ideal conditions that you need to nurse your child. This is a natural act, and there is a closeness between mother and child that is no doubt fostered through this physical expression of maternal love. But it’s hard to remember as much when you’re on a subway full of questionable characters and the baby gets hungry.
However, if you have a breast pump at home that you use, you may be able to get through this difficulty with a minimum of hassle; just pull the pre-pumped milk from your purse, and the issue disappears. Granted, you could keep a bottle full of formula with you as well, but this will definitely be much less healthy than bottling breast milk you produce.
For one thing, there’s a stronger nutritional component to mother’s milk, because your child shares much of your DNA. For another, there are more healthy vitamins and minerals that your baby needs. Even the best formula can’t compare. If you can feed your child with your breast milk primarily in their earlier years, do so.
Some experts say that it’s healthiest to breastfeed a child until they’re two years old. Multiple schools of thought exist on this, but there are studies which demonstrate associated benefits of long-term feeding. If you’re in it for the long haul, you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble by using breast pumps. We’ll explore a few other ways here.
Getting Over Soreness
If you’re experiencing pain in the nipples, breast pumps could help provide relief. Instead of compounding the soreness as the baby nurses, you pump the milk, feed the baby from a bottle, and return to normal feeding once your nipples aren’t so raw. Also, petroleum jellies help to reduce the discomfort associated with raw nipples.
Setting Your Body Up For Success With The Right Foods
Certain foods will give your body the fuel it needs for better breast milk production. Eat these, and be ready to pump. Breast pumps help your body get “used to” producing milk regularly at predictable times. Basically, when you start pressing, grab the pump and finish the job. Sometimes your baby is hungry simultaneously, sometimes this isn’t the case.
For problems that don’t involve diet, but do involve breast milk production, increasing your milk supply may well require a little help from professionals such as those in the hyperlink. You’re more likely to see the kind of production you need if you combine how you eat and when you pump, retaining such habits as consistently as you can.
Think of breast pumping like a workout regimen. Also, keep in mind that—like working out—you’re likely to be fatigued after you pump. You’re extracting hundreds of calories quickly, and your body must replenish.
Be smart about preparing yourself for this fatigue by giving yourself a little time after each session to recover. You might want to eat a little bit and take a cat nap; it will depend on your responsibilities and flexibility. Don’t be surprised when pumping and feeding wear you out.
A Clearly Superior Option
In the past, if you wanted to help with breastfeeding, you’d need a wet nurse. This was not really ideal, and the milk of a wet nurse from the world of yesteryear would still not be as healthy for the baby as that which comes from the baby’s mother. By contrast, breast pumps can help you control breastmilk production, reduce pain, and better nurture your child.
