When it comes to breastfeeding, every woman swears by a different strategy. Now, while this may be the case, that doesn’t always mean that any given strategy is the right strategy. This can lead to quite the debate, and have mothers everywhere touting their own breastfeeding tips above all others.
That’s why, today, we’ll be showing you absolutely everything you need to know about power pumping. Whether you’re just hearing this term for the first time or are someone who is using it yourself, you’ll definitely want to pay close attention.
We’ll be going over quite a bit of information, but don’t panic, because everything will be broken down into easy-to-read sections. This way, if you know more than others, you can feel free to jump around if you need to.
What Exactly Is Power Pumping?
When you hear the phrase power pumping, we bet that you’re silently comparing it to an intensive workout. While this is not exactly what power pumping is, trust us on this one, sometimes it might feel like one.
Power pumping is when you pump in intervals, usually of around 10 minutes per session, over the course of an hour. So when we say power pumping, we really mean power pumping.
How does power pumping work?
As a concept, it’s not really that difficult to understand. The whole principle of power pumping, like we mentioned earlier, is essentially pumping for 10 minutes and resting for 10 minutes, then repeating the process the next day.
How long is the typical session?
Now, obviously, you can’t do this all day long, right? Most power pumping pros tend to power pump over the course of one hour, and they do so once per day. This avoids the need to pump multiple times a day, making it perfect for busy moms.
In a nutshell, this is how power pumping work as a concept. Now, keep in mind that everyone has a different strategy for actually doing the pumping, so be sure to follow a plan that works well for you.
The Science Behind Power Pumping
Now that you know what power pumping is, you’re probably curious about whether or not it works. With anything baby related, we know how careful you’ll want to be, so we’ll break down the science behind this for you.
Do doctors support power pumping?
The best place to start is obviously with doctors and their opinions about power pumping as a practice. So do health care professionals believe that power pumping yields results? Absolutely! You can take comfort in knowing that power pumping is both safe and effective.
When should I begin a power pumping session?
Knowing where to start is very important. This is due to the fact that starting too fast can lead to a reduced milk supply, which is not great for your infant. This is why we always recommend starting after a breastfeeding session; this way, even if you do manage to run low on milk, at least your infant was able to get the nutrition they need beforehand.
How long does power pumping take to get results?
A lot of you probably want to see your milk supply increase the next day, but you need to be patient with power pumping. As we mentioned earlier, it’s an efficient way to increase your milk supply, but when push comes to shove it can take about 4 or 5 days to see results.
Keep in mind that everyone is different, so in some cases, it can take up to 2 weeks before you notice an increased milk supply. Always be sure to care for your body, and don’t push your body too hard.
What are the best practices for power pumping?
Power pumping is not always the easiest thing to do, and while we’ve given you the science-based facts, we want to spend some time on the things that can make power pumping a breeze. Now, with that being said, we have a nice little list for you.
Here are some ways to make power pumping more effective, and some power pumping tips you should definitely try out:
- Try to make a game out of it by either pumping or resting when a song changes
- Try to watch TV to pass the time, and pump during the commercials while resting during the actual show
- Always make sure that you power pump after a breastfeeding session
- Use a high-quality breast pump that lets you comfortably pump for a long time
Power pumping is probably not the most exciting thing to do, so we always recommend getting a bit creative with your methods. If you want to see how other mothers are doing it, be sure to check out this tutorial.
Pumping for such an extended period of time might lead to discomfort. Any symptoms typically reduce over time, but there are a few ways that you can manage or reduce any painful issues that you might experience.
Who Is Power Pumping Right For?
If you’re still with us at this point, you might be wondering if power pumping is a good fit for you. In this section, we’ll be taking a look at who benefits the most from power pumping.
Mothers who have low milk storage
Every woman is different, and as with anything this applies to breast milk concentration. So if you’re someone who doesn’t usually have a large supply of breast milk, don’t panic, and start pumping. It might take some time to notice results, but power pumping can give you a boost if you need one. You should always speak to your doctor beforehand, but power pumping may be the solution that you need.
Mothers during the first 2 months of an infant’s life
An infant is going to get very hungry during the first two months of pregnancy. Usually, if all goes well, an infant will tend to slow down once they grow a bit older. Therefore, if you’re working with a really young infant (1 to 2 months old), it might be time to start power pumping to bring up your milk production.
Anyone who wants more milk
When you really think about it, power pumping can be useful for all mothers. Whether you have a low milk supply, or just want to make sure you have the milk you need for your infant on hand at all times, power pumping is a great way to get the job done.
Recap
Power pumping is something that may sound intense, but it’s not really an horrible practice. As a relatively new technique there isn’t a whole lot of research out there behind its efficiency, but enough people seem to swear by it to consider power pumping a very valid practice.
You can begin power pumping at any time, but you shouldn’t have to do it forever. For example, be sure to ramp up your power pumping during your child’s rapid feeding periods. As your child’s milk intake declines, you can reduce the frequency of your power pumping sessions.
We know that went over a lot of information, so please feel free to use this post as a guide. We know how hard it can be to keep yourself up to date when you have an infant to take care of, so please feel free to stop back if you need to.
Once you’ve mastered power pumping, you’ll be able to spend less time worrying about when and where to pump, freeing you up to spend as much time as possible enjoying the early months of your little one’s life.