As a mother, I’m so concerned about my breast size. But I’m not alone. New moms want to know if pumping breast milk will increase breast size.
So, let’s address the question right away…
So does breast pump increase breast size? No, it doesn’t increase or reduce breast size. The process of pumping involves stimulation through suction techniques, which does not have any relationship with breast size.
However, if you would like to increase breast size you can do daily massage to enhance firmness.
You can as well opt for enlargement products, which are readily available in the market, but it is not recommended due to side effects.
How to make best use of breast Pump
Using pump to express breast milk from your breast on frequent and regular basis can greatly assist to establish, increase and maintain your breast milk supply.
It doesn’t matter whether you are doing the pumping during and after breastfeeding or completely pumping for your baby, complete emptying of breast milk will stimulate your breast to produce more milk.
I have listed 11 tips on how to make best use of pumping for more breast milk production.
1). Use the Right Breast Pump
To achieve good results, ensure that you use hospital grade pump or electric breast pump that is of high quality. Using a two-battery powered pump can be good for occasional pumping,
but it cannot be powerful enough to achieve a consistent and healthy breast milk supply.
If you need to save time, you can opt to invest on double pump, which is best for those moms doing exclusive breast milk pumping.
2). Use the Pump Correctly
Every breast pump comes with a manual on how to use it.
Ensure you carefully follow all the instructions for you to achieve best results. Make sure the pump is functional to avoid troubles during pumping.
3). Make Sure Your Breast Flanges Fit
Ensure to have a pump that has shields that fits properly on your breast. Pump Shield or Flanges are the pump parts that run over your nipples and breast.
Having breast pump that are over-sized or too small flanges can cause your nipples to turn sore or even bring damage to breast tissue.
4). Prepare a Snack and a Drink
Pumping process can make you thirsty or hungry. So having a drink and some snacks besides you can be of great importance.
Ensure they are within reach for easy grabbing as the pumping continues.
5). Get Ready to Pump
Hygiene is paramount when it comes to breast-feeding. Ensure you properly clean your hands and select a storage container that best suits your needs. The storage container should also be very clean to avoid milk contamination.
6). Make Yourself Comfortable
Relaxing while pumping your breast milk. Ensure you express enough milk for your baby.
Remember you will not be pumping for five minutes but for 20 to 30 minutes. So make yourself as relaxed as possible by choosing a position that you are comfortable.
7). Pump Often
If your baby will take the breast, breastfeed first and then pump after each feeding.
If you are exclusively pumping, express your breast milk as often as possible to stimulate the production of breast milk. Aim for every 3 hours if you can.
8). Spend Some Time in Direct Skin-to-Skin Contact with Your Child
A kangaroo care study that was published in 2011 indicated that, if spend most time in direct skin to skin contact with your little one can rise the amount of milk that you can pump.
In case your baby is hospitalized and may not be able to breastfeed, just talk to nurses to allow you to apply kangaroo care technique as your baby will not be intolerant to it.
9). Apply Warm, Moist Heat to Your Breasts
It is advisable that you place a warm and wet cloth on your breasts before you begin pumping breast milk. The heat that is exerted on your breast will help you have more flow of milk.
10). Your Baby Can Help You Pump More Breast Milk
Ensure you are very close to your baby as you pump, you can as well hold her in your arms.
Try to imagine that you are breastfeeding. Look at the picture of him or even try to imagine the usual baby coos or crying.
Hold one of the clothing and bedding that have the smell of your baby. By doing this, you will be able to get more stimulated through reflex action and breast milk flowing and flowing.
11). Pump for 10 to 15 Minutes on Each Breast
In case you choose to pump one breast at a time, you need to be switching back and forth between your breasts especially if, the flow of milk reduces to zero.
If you are engaging the two breasts both at the same time, ensure you pump until there is no flow of milk.
You can rest for a few minutes the continue with pumping. It is advisable that you do massaging on your breast as the pumping continuous ,this allows more milk to flow.
Will the size of breasts affect the amount of milk you produce?
Though your breast may appear bigger as you move towards delivering and during breastfeeding, the size of the breast is irrelevant as far as milk production is concerned.
It is surprising to note that a mother with small breast can have the same amount of milk as that mother who have bigger breasts.
Therefore, this should not worry you because God’s creation are special and unique.
What about nipple size and shape?
For mothers who are experiencing latch and engorgement issue , shape of breast and nipple size could have an impact.
Some babies can find it very challenging to latch on a big flat or nipples that are inverted. This should not worry you because your baby will get used to it after sometimes.
Why do I have more milk in one breast than the other?
Having different amounts of milk on each breast might be attributed to the difference in the size of milk ducts. It can also be because of previous injury or surgery.
The force of letdown in your breast can also be the reason, as this makes your baby to pull away forceful letdown and switch to the other breast.
The letdown can also affect how your baby latches as he/she attempts to control the letdown
Will breastfeeding change how my breasts look?
Towards the final stages of your pregnancy and immediately after birth, your Areola will start turning dark and increase in breast weight. The changes is a body adjustment in readiness for breast-feeding.
If it happens that you have heavy breast then it is advisable to have more support in order to comfortably carry them.
Having a change in your breast nipples during pregnancy and after birth is a normal thing that should not worry. These are the best memories that you need to keep for a remainder of motherhood.
3 Challenges of pumping breast milk
Breastfeeding is designed in such a way that as a mom, you are able to respond well to baby’s cues from the latches, and no any kind of complications like latches caused by inappropriate supplementation.
This indicates that you are in a good position to produce enough breast milk for your baby.
Your baby will get all the nutritional requirements and your body will adjust to milk supply in amazing ways with no complications.
If your breastfeeding is progressing well, your breast milk supply will adjust and respond to baby’s needs within the first three weeks.
It can happen that you need some milk when away from your baby, you can choose to do breast milk pumping as many times as you may want.
You can pump at least after every two weeks or so and store it in a stash and baby will still benefit even when you are at work.
It is worth noting that excessive pumping to fill your freezer, will most likely bring many troubles to you and your baby.
1). Breast filling up fast
Some mothers normally do excessive breast milk pumping such that if they skip the act, their breast will fill up immediately. If you do empty your breast, it can cause clogged milk ducts and mastitis.
This can occur due to other reasons which require you to seek medical attention immediately.
Mastitis and milk ducts that are clogged can be very uncomfortable. As for mastitis, you need to seek medical treatment. This mastitis will make you have flu like symptoms, body aches and fever.
I am sure no mom will want to experience this, and some may opt to reduce pumping which is the opposite of wanting to pump more milk.
2). Excess Supply of Breast milk
If your baby is pulling away from breast milk or coughing and choking, it can be a sign that you are producing a lot of milk.
This behavior should not be worrying, as it is very common, especially when your body has not fully adopted to your baby’s needs.
After a short period of time, your body will start adjusting to the production of milk to suit what the baby needs at that particular time.
However, if the pumping process is causing you to make a lot of milk then expect it to continue happening.
3). Baby Stomach Discomfort
When you are producing a lot of breast milk, it can cause your baby to develop gas, stomach discomfort and fussiness.
Your baby can refuse breast milk if breast has too much milk. Though the breast can be very best for your baby.
Sometimes, it can turn out to be unpleasant to your little one. Pediatrician can sometimes mistake these symptoms with other medical problems, which can lead to wrong treatment or early weaning of your baby.
It is worth remembering that not all moms are the same. Each mom out there is unique and capable to make the required amount of breast milk.
You just need to be confident with your body’s capabilities to make the exact amount of milk that your baby needs.
Don’t ever bother yourself just because you are producing insufficient milk, this is because the amount you produce, is just okay for your baby.
