Loretta Anderson IBCLC Lactation Consultant In Brisbane, Qld

Little Tweaks That Make A Huge Difference

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Breast Pumps – 3 Steps To Pump Success!

Breast Pumps – 3 Steps To Pump Success!
Reading Time: 6 minutes

Breast pumps can be tricky.

Many mothers either struggle to get enough, or they are able to get the milk, but it takes forever! Don’t worry – I’m here to help! 

You see, many mothers can be disappointed when only small amounts of milk are expressed. And immediately question their milk supply.

They call me in tears, saying “if this is what the pump is getting – my baby is certainly not getting enough!”

This is a totally normal reaction, don’t worry! But it is also not entirely true, let me explain. Your baby’s sucking powers will beat any electric pump every day of the week!

So even if you’re struggling to express with your pump – it doesn’t mean your baby is not getting enough. And it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with your supply, either!

Your baby has two distinctive advantages working for them. 

First, the close skin to skin contact during breastfeeding makes your body release a hormone called oxytocin. And guess what oxytocin does? It helps to squeeze your milk out of the cells in your breasts. Brilliant!

The second advantage your baby has over pumps, is what I call “the double action”. When a baby sucks, they use two actions to remove milk. They compress the breast and they suck. (A pump, on the other hand, only sucks.)

So remember these two advantages. Because here’s what this means:

Even if you’re struggling with your pump right now, don’t worry! I’II show you what to do to get more milk while pumping!

All you have to do is follow the steps below, and you’ll start getting much more from every pumping session. 

Mother getting milk with a manual breast pump isolated on a white background

Step #1: Critical Preparation – Breast Massage

Your pump doesn’t have the two advantages your baby has (double-action sucking power and hormones working in their favour). Therefore, you need to help your pump do its work. 

And the first step is breast massage.

If your breast is tight, the milk can be a little stuck. This makes expressing hard work for your pump. The solution? Breast massage.

Breast massage helps loosen your breast tissue. This allows for the pump to suck the milk out with much more ease. (This step alone can drastically increase the amount of milk you’re able to express!)

Here’s what you do:

  • Start by cupping your breast in one hand, so the entire weight of your breast is in your hand.
  • Then use the pads of your middle three fingers to rub in a circular motion around the entire breast so the breast shakes. (Shaking is the result you are looking for.)
  • You can use a little massage oil or cream to help your fingers move over your breast.

Do this for about a minute or two.

Just be gentle and don’t hurt yourself. And don’t worry – you can’t do this wrong!

Now your breast is a little softer, it’s time for the next step. 

Step #2: Hand Expressing (But With A Twist)

Remember I said that your baby breastfeeds with two actions; compressing and sucking?

Well, you are going to do some compressing to help bring your milk towards your nipple. This is very similar to hand expressing, but with one small trick!

Here’s what you do or check out my video:

  • After you massage your breasts (step 1), the next thing to do is locate your areola. (The areola is the dark area surrounding your nipple.)
  • Next, place your thumb and forefinger about 2 cm away from your nipple. (Every woman has a different size areola, so this may be on the edge of your areola, further out, or within the areola. It doesn’t matter – as long as you find a comfortable place.) 
  • Now, before you squeeze your fingers together, you need to do this one little TRICK: Push your fingers back into your breast tissue (pushing towards your back). Do this firmly, but without causing any pain.
  • What this does, is compress your breast tissue. This allows milk to escape from the cells its stored in, and into the tubes that lead to the holes in your nipple.
  • After you have pushed back, you need to squeeze forward and bring your fingers together until they rest behind your nipple. 
  • So the action is push back, then squeeze forward. Repeat until you can see a few drops coming out. 
  • Do this quickly, but shallow at first. Then, squeeze firmer after about 15 seconds. You warm up with the shallow squeezes, and this warmup will then allow you to go a little deeper without experiencing any pain.  The deep squeezes will produce the milk. 

Tips:

  1. If you don’t get anything, don’t worry. It may take you a few minutes to get this going.
  2. If after five minutes nothing is happening, go back to step 1 (breast massage).
  3. If you can see a few drops – this is all you need! 

These two steps – massaging the breast and hand expressing, perfectly imitate your baby’s natural advantages. By doing these two steps – you will be able to get far more effective milk removal from your pump!

So now, let the pump take over!

Step #3: Pumping

It doesn’t matter whether you have an electric pump or manual pump. The mechanics are the same. Not sure which pump to buy, check out my blog on Choosing The Right Breast Pump.

Just place the cup on your breast and check if the nipple is right in the middle. (If it is off centre your nipple may rub on the inside and this can hurt.)

Sometimes its hard to get a good look from where you are. So at the beginning, you can ask your partner to check for you. (Soon this will become second nature to you and you won’t need any help.)

Once you’ve got everything positioned… All that’s left is to start the pump!

How long should you pump for?

Great question! Pump for about 10-12 minutes each side if you are using a single pump. If you are using a double pump you can pump for approximately 15 minutes all up, this is pumping both breast together. (If you’re not sure which pump to get, double or single, click to read my blog on Choosing The Right Breast Pump.)

Basically if you do both together you will cut down your pumping time. But it doesn’t matter if you use single or double you will get the same result. See what works for you best. You may want a free hand to read more blogs!  

Pumping for longer than 10-12 mins each breast or more than 25 minutes in total is enough. Pumping for long sessions can cause pain and is not good for your breasts. (Don’t worry if  you have been pumping for longer, just try the steps above and you’ll be able to quickly cut down your time on the pump.)

Step #4: When You’re Not Getting Enough Milk

If you’re still struggling to get to your pumping goals, I have an ace up my sleeve. This is a great trick… and it’s so EASY!

For this trick to work, you will need to be pumping one breast at a time.

While you’re pumping, hold the pump cup in place with one hand. Then place your other hand on the top of that breast, palm down. Keep your hand away from the pump.

Now… (are you ready…?)

Squeeze your breast by bringing your fingers in towards your palm! And HOLD the squeeze for about 30 seconds. 

Have a look at my quick video to get a visual of how it’s done!

Why does this trick work so well?

Squeezing the breast puts pressure on the cells and tubes that hold your milk. Just like squeezing a piping bag filled with icing. You are squeezing this towards the opening.

This is not at all difficult! You may even see milk squirt from your nipple into the pump cup!

And when you hold the squeeze, you’re pushing the milk through the tubes towards the nipple.

But if you squeeze and let go too quickly, you won’t get the full effect. Because the milk will retreat back from the tubes and into the cells.

Therefore, the HOLD is the most important part! (Hold and release and repeat. Only hold for a minute then let go and repeat).

What About Double Pumping?

You may be wondering how to make this trick work if you’re double pumping. And the answer is – you can’t. Because when you are double pumping, both of your hands are busy.  

So what do you do? Simple. Follow steps 1-3 (breast massage, hand expressing + compression, then regular pumping.)  Double pump for ten minutes. Then stop. And finish off with pumping one breast at a time with the SQUEEZING trick! 

How Much Milk Should You Get?

The exact amount you should aim for will vary based on the reason why you are pumping. (Is it for top ups?… Full feeding sessions?… Solving a problem like low milk supply or slow weight gain?) 

That’s why I wrote a full guide for you on this subject. You’ll find it right here in these blogs: put links in

  • How to Cut Down Formula
  • Low Milk Supply How to Recognise and Treat
  • Baby Not Gaining Enough Weight? Start Here

What Pump Should You Get?

Now that you have the 4 steps to pumping success, you can use them every time you pump. However, you may wonder which is the best pump for you?

There are vastly different pumps on the market. Some are electric. Some are hand pumps. The motors are all different. The sucking patterns are all different.

So which one is best?

Read my guide to Buying The Right Pump to find out.

https://lorettaanderson.com.au/choose-right-breast-pump/

Good luck, and please let me know if you need further assistance! (Leave a comment below, or text me at 0414 403 208 if you’d like to get started on a personalised plan!

Quick note: These tips apply to you no matter what the reason is you are breast pumping. Whether it’s to solve a problem (like breast engorgement, damaged nipples, etc.) or to make feeding easier for you and your partner. 

That being said, if you are pumping to resolve a problem, I recommend supplementing this information with instructions specific to your problem. Please contact me for more information or Give me a call (or text me) at 0414 403 208, and I’ll help you figure it all out! 🙂

Breast pump cartoon drawing line

Filed Under: Damaged/Painful Nipples, Expressing, Milk Supply Tagged With: Week 1

How To Drop Formula And Fully Breastfeed – Without Extra Pumping!

How To Drop Formula And Fully Breastfeed – Without Extra Pumping!
Reading Time: 12 minutes

Breastfeeding doesn’t always come naturally. In fact, most mothers are struggling in the first few weeks! 

One of the most common struggles is worrying about milk supply, or more specifically, not having enough.

Once worry sets in many mothers may think about giving extra milk. It may even be offered in hospital for medical reasons. Generally it is not needed.

The tricky thing is, once formula is introduced the amounts almost always increase.

But don’t worry, it’s not your fault. We can turn this around with the 6 Steps below! Keep reading!

Now let’s see if we are on the same page.……

Is this your reality?

Your baby is guzzling milk from a bottle even after you have breastfed………you are devastated! You ask yourself, “Am I ever going to keep up and meet my baby’s insatiable appetite?”

At each feed you are breastfeeding for as long as you can. Giving a small amount of expressed breast milk then giving the rest of the feed as formula?

After the breastfeed you need to pump milk ready for the next feed which is just around the corner!

You are stuck in an endless loop of pumping, cleaning bottles and fitting in crucial sleep!

It’s a crazy merry-go-round that you can’t jump off! You feel stressed and exhausted! Am I right?!!

Children's Playground equipment - merry go round spinning very fast

This is not sustainable! It’s just too hard to breastfeed, then pump, then bottle feed and then do it all over again and again!

Quite often you begin to miss breastfeeds.  After all you need a break! I hear you AND I don’t blame you………..let’s face it, someone can help you with bottle feeding!

BUT if your mind and body are just yearning to put your baby to the breast then I have the answers!

If fully breastfeeding is your goal then formula has to go!

I know you must be thinking, HOW? How do you cut down the formula and still meet your baby’s needs.  

The answer is in the 6 steps below.  But, to reassure you,  the plan does not include extra PUMPING! Although some pumping IS needed, it is only until the formula stopped!

Why Pumping More Is Not The Answer

As I promised, the ANSWER is not to PUMP more milk! You may be asking, “why don’t you need to pump more milk?” Good question.  There are three reasons why pumping is not the answer:

Reason # 1 – Hormones Are Not Helping

A pump doesn’t compare to skin to skin contact from your beautiful baby.  When your baby cuddles into your breast your body releases a hormone called oxytocin.  This hormone helps you pump more milk!

You see, a pump is plastic and does not feel the same as your baby.  So you don’t release oxytocin as well and this reduces the amount of milk you express. 

 So the breastfeed is the best way! I will go into this more in just a minute!

Reason # 2 – Pump Not As Strong As Baby

Mechanical pumping is not as strong as your baby breastfeeding. More specifically, the pump ONLY draws the milk out by a sucking action.  

Whereas your baby, on the other hand, compresses the breast tissue with their mouth, jaw and tongue. Then draws the milk out at the same time! This is double the work of the pump.  Your baby is the best!

So we want to use your baby to increase your milk supply rather than more pumping! Do whatever works best, am I right?

Reason # 3 – No Time!

You may be thinking that you could just pump more. This will produce more milk and THEN you can cut down formula!

But realistically you just don’t have time to pump more.  Remember that merry-go-round………breastfeed, pump, bottle feed and bed!  Not much time to fit more pumping in.

To add to this, when you do pump for a long time, and I mean more than half an hour in one session, your breasts may become painful.  They may swell and cause problems with latching.

For these three reasons, mechanical pumping is just not as effective as the sucking and swallowing action of your baby breastfeeding.

So the PROBLEM is how are we going to get off that merry-go-round, cut formula and fully breastfeed? Well the SOLUTION is…………………. More EFFECTIVE BREASTFEEDING!

Better sucking and swallowing = more milk = increase in supply!

So lets’ minimise the pumping, focus on the breastfeed and get into the PLAN!

Plan Design Guide Mission Objective Solution Concept

We are in! This plan will get you fully breastfeeding. It is FULL-ON, but usually only for a week or so! So let’s make a commitment together, you in?

First, Let’s go over your GOALS. These will help with your focus and show you there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Goals with wooden cubes

Goal #1 – Watch Your Baby

As you move through the steps you need to watch your baby breastfeeding. More specifically you will see your baby become more alert and sucking and swallowing will be more frequent.

This means your breast milk supply is INCREASING! (even though you can’t see it).  Step #2 will give you more on this!

Goal #2 – Amount Of Formula Decreasing

Keep track of the amount of formula you are giving. The goal is to watch this number decrease. This means your baby is taking more milk out while breastfeeding! (Again, you won’t see this extra milk your baby is getting!)

So let’s dive into the steps to drop formula and fully breastfeed!

Step #1 Timing the breastfeed

First, you will still need to top up with formula when you start this plan.  But don’t worry, formula will decrease as we get into the plan.

Now to the timing of the breastfeed. This step is making sure you breast feed, give the top up and put you baby back to bed in around an hour!

Le me explain why I chose an hour! You see, it’s tiring being a new human out in this world.

Your baby is still very little. And as a result – he (or she) has very limited amount of energy when they are awake.

That is why babies under 6 weeks can only stay awake for about one hour before they “tire out”! 

It might not seem like hard work to you… But maintaining body temperature and developing all other bodily functions is a massive, tiring job for your baby!

And that leaves very little energy for feeding. And adding to your baby’s tiredness is the digestion of formula. This is where the problems start.

You see, formula is harder to digest than breast milk. A baby that is having formula will use some of their precious energy on this digestion and will be tired for the next breastfeed.

This creates a negative loop: sleepy breastfeeding (baby takes less milk) – more formula needed – sleepy breastfeeding!

So we need to make sure the breastfeed is super efficient. This is why, in step #2, I will give you ALL MY STRATEGIES to get a tired baby to suck well and drink more!

Each breastfeed will get better and better! Your baby will gradually take more and more milk from the breast! And at the same time – INCREASING YOUR SUPPLY –WITHOUT PUMPING!

Here is the break down of how each breastfeed will look:

  1. Breastfeed as soon as your baby wakes, any side. Leave nappy to the middle of the feed. If you first check and change their nappy there’s a good chance a lot of their energy will be wasted on crying. Therefore, it is much better (at least over the next week) to breastfeed first.
  2. Change nappy after the first breast (this will wake baby up….not done yet!)
  3. Head over to the other side. (And maybe back and forth again….more about the breastfeed in Step #2!)
  4. This should take about 45 minutes in total
  5. Offer your expressed breast milk as a top up first
  6. Next offer formula to fill baby up (This is where we will see the numbers decrease!)
  7. Wrap and settle baby back to bed
  8. All done in an hour!

These steps above will change as we remove the top ups. The breastfeed will go for the full hour. (Your baby won’t be sucking for the whole hour but the whole process of both breasts, nappy and back to bed within an hour!).

So now let’s see how to manage the breastfeed so your baby takes heaps of milk out and increases your supply. (Leading to less pumping, YAY!)

What I’m talking about is focussing on the sucking and swallowing during the breastfeed. So here goes!

Step #2 Focus on the Swallowing!

Focus on the Swallowing means WATCH YOUR BABY SUCKING.

You see, your baby sucks at the breast then swallows the milk.  But your baby needs to suck quite hard to pull the milk through the breast, out the nipple and into their mouth.  A big job and very tiring!

So, you are watching for big sucks rather than little nibbles. Pay close attention to them. What is your baby doing?

  • Is your baby’s sucking pattern deep and rhythmical?
  • Is your baby’s jaw opening wide? (You’ll know it is when you see movement at their temple)

Those two points are the signs of a good, strong suck which has the ability to extract the milk out of the breast.  

But if the sucking changes to little flutter sucks or nibbling, or if your baby actually falls asleep, it’s time for a break. 

You see, sucking at the breast is so tiring that your baby can only do it for up to 20 minutes at a time. With formula, this may be quite a bit less, more like 5 minutes before they’re are exhausted!

Once the action slows down, the sucking becomes ineffective and doesn’t have enough “drawing power” to extract milk from the breast.

When that happens, your baby may come off by themselves. Or you can do 2 tricks to get the Nibbles to turn into bigger sucks. Let me explain:

  1. While your baby is breastfeeding cuddle your baby into you. This pushes their mouth into your breast giving them a little nudge – – Bigger sucks!
  2. To help your baby further and change those nibbles into sucks you can use a simple trick – – Breast Compression. Place your hand on your breast, at the top away from their mouth. Give a squeeze and HOLD for a minute or until your baby moves into big sucking. You can repeat this as often as you like!  This one trick can increase your supply AND why you don’t need to PUMP more!  (See Video!)
  3. Listen for swallows – Lean in and listen. You will hear a click or breath out your baby’s nose. To get a better idea of the noise you can drink out of a water bottle and listen to what it sounds like.  Swallowing a smaller amount of milk is a quieter noise and a big gulp or larger amount of milk is much louder.

If all this pushing and squeezing does not produce a swallow, it’s time to take your baby off!

And now… it’s “daddy time”!

Now you can recognise a big suck and stimulate your baby to suck well (by squeezing your breast!

You are on the way to increasing your milk supply.

You are helping your baby suck effectively to remove more milk with big sucks! (This means Less pumping!)

Up next is how to manage the 45 minute breastfeed to make the most of your baby’s precious energy.

Step #3 Taking a Break and Switching Sides

This step will explain what to do throughout your 45 minute breastfeed. A hint, you will be using BOTH BREASTS!

You can also incorporate your new squeezing techniques, from Step #2, into the breastfeed.  

Firstly start the breastfeed as soon as your baby wakes, leave the nappy until the middle of the feed (as I mentioned above).  This means your baby can use all their energy on the breast feed.

Next, watch your baby at the breast and make sure you are seeing swallowing. Follow step # 2 over and over again to keep your baby swallowing.

In the 45 minute breastfeed your baby will have a few goes at the breast incorporating both sides.  

Your baby may be on each breast somewhere between 5 and 20 minutes and can switch sides between each go. You may even use both breasts twice each!  Great stimulation!

Here’s how the breastfeed will look:

  1. Watch your baby sucking
  2. When you see the swallowing slow down, implement step # 2, pushing your baby in and squeezing your breast. Repeat this a few times over a few minutes.
  3. If baby remains sleepy and not responding (that is moving from nibbles to big sucks) it is time to take your baby off.  
  4. By taking your baby off you allow them to rest their jaw, wake up a little and then get ready to go back for more swallowing (Only a few minutes).
  5. When you take your baby off lie them on the floor (on a mat or blanket), you can also check and change the nappy.
  6. Your baby will wake, look around, suck on their hand then cry.  This is your cue to start the breastfeed again on the other side (it may only be a few minutes then back into it)!

You will keep repeating this process over and over until you have completed approximately 45 minutes.  

It may seem weird to do this, BUT, it is the only way to keep your baby alert and to swallow as much milk as possible.  

This is the key to increasing your supply. (Not more pumping!)

But remember the goals above, you are looking for change. The change you will see is your baby getting more and more alert as they take in more and more breast milk.

THEN you will notice the formula amounts dropping (keep track of formula numbers!).

As the amounts of formula decrease your baby will have less to digest and more breast milk. Remember it is much easier to digest breast milk…..This means more energy for breastfeeding!  

Next step is about the top up of extra milk. You will still need to use breast milk and formula until your baby takes over the job of Fully Breastfeeding (maybe a few days!)

Step #4 Top up

After you have breastfed for 45 minutes, taking your baby off in response to their swallowing, it is time for the top up.

Firstly, offer your breast milk, this is from your last pumping session.  I will explain about your pumping in step #5.  Offering your breast milk first means you can give less formula.

Once you have given your milk, assess if your baby still wants more and if so give formula.  

Your baby feeds very quickly from a bottle and finds it difficult to stop the flow.  This means they may take more than they actually need.

To fix this offer small amounts of formula, about 10 mililitres first then repeat this amount until your baby is full enough to settle easily.

If you are not sure how much to give head over to my blog “How much top up to give your baby.”

Remember goal #2 is taking note of the amount of formula you are giving.  You are trying to decrease this amount each day. This will happen naturally as your baby takes more milk while breastfeeding!  

Once you have breastfed and topped your baby up it is time for bed.  Try and finish all this within an hour, but remember this is a guide and may take a little longer.

Now on to pumping, yes there is a little pumping to be done, but not much!

Step #5 Pumping Time

Once your baby is in bed it is pumping time.  (Because you are making the breastfeed efficient you have a little more time for pumping!

This pumped milk will be ready to use for the next top up.  

I have written an awesome blog on pumping, its called 3 Steps to Pumping Success. If you flip over here you can get all the tips to pump effectively and get more milk out!!

But before you pump, Here is a BIG TIP – You may not notice an increase in the amount of milk you pump.  

This is very NORMAL!  As I have stated it is not about the pumping it is about the breastfeed.  

Your baby will be taking out more and more milk during the breastfeed. You won’t see this milk but your supply is increasing.

It is a hard concept to grasp, I know! As I have said all the way through this blog, it’s not about the pumping!

Your baby is better at getting the milk out. We just had to get the breastfeed right so your baby can help you increase your supply.

But you still need to pump while you are still using formula.  Let me explain, if you are using milk that is not coming from your body (formula). Then you need to remind your breasts to make more milk.

This where pumping is necessary! Pumping will stop once the formula stops!  Happy days!

Now on to the final step, making sure your baby is getting enough with all this sucking and swallowing at the breast!

Step #6 Nappy Time

Final point and most important – Count Nappies! What goes in, must come out. By counting nappies and knowing what is normal will do the trick!

As you decrease the formula and manage the breastfeed, it is time to count the poo and wee.  

So here is the deal, if you continue to maintain the right amount of poo and wee, then we know for SURE you baby is still getting enough to eat! Even though you can’t see your milk!

Here is the low-down of expected poo and wee for a baby between 1 and 6 weeks (Check our my blog, Is Your Baby Getting Enough Milk?):

Wee – Your baby will have a wet nappy whenever you change it. Generally about 6-8 each 24 hours.

Poo – Your baby will poo on average 3-4 times each 24 hours. It will be soft, yellow and look like there are little lumps in it. Poo is a little more individual for each baby. So you may not meet the 3-4 average.

If your baby does one poo per day it will be a big one, filling the bottom of the nappy.  If your baby does 8 poo’s per day they will be smaller.  

The bigger the time frame between poo the bigger the poo.

Bring it all together

So now you can:

  • Assess your baby’s sucking and swallowing.  
  • Manage the breastfeed in about 45 minutes by taking your baby off and on in response to their sucking and swallowing.
  • Fit in some pumping.  
  • See formula decreasing.

All this can happen within one week!  Just keep following the goals and keep monitoring the changes.  

Formula decreasing and breastfeeding increasing coupled with the right amount of poo and wee means it’s WORKING!

One more tip, weigh your baby at the end of the week to make sure the weight is increasing.  Check out my blogs on slow weight gain here.

What’s next?

If you have been able to remove formula altogether then it is time to decrease the breast milk top ups and breastfeed for a little longer (about an hour).

You are trying to get your baby full and satisfied from a breastfeed alone.  You can go slow by giving a top up of your breast milk every second feed and see how you go.  Then drop more top ups until you are fully breastfeeding.

A Final Point…………

Sometimes plans go a little south! Don’t worry. Just hang in there, I know this plan is FULL-ON! But it should only be for about a week.  

Just keep watching for your goals!  Or contact me for more support. I have supported thousands of mothers through this tough time! You got this, or you’ve got me!  

Young mother breastfeeds her baby. Breast-feeding.

Filed Under: Emotions & Mindset, Expressing, Milk Supply Tagged With: Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6

How Soon Can You Give Your Baby A Dummy?

How Soon Can You Give Your Baby A Dummy?
Reading Time: 3 minutes

You may have heard that using a dummy can get in the way of breastfeeding. But is that true, or is it just a myth? 

After working with more than 17,000 newborns in my long career as a midwife and lactation consultant, here’s my advice to you: 

Unless your baby was born prematurely, I recommend you steer clear of pacifiers in the first 4-6 weeks. And here’s why:

Why You Shouldn’t Use A Pacifier In The First 4-6 Weeks

A young baby can suck for a maximum of about 15 minutes before they get tired and need a break. Which means that even 5-10 minutes sucking on a dummy can tire a baby under 6 weeks out.

So, if you let your baby suck on a pacifier before a breastfeeding session – you are setting yourself up for trouble.

Because even five short minutes of sucking on a dummy before breastfeeding can leave the muscles of your baby’s jaw so tired… your baby won’t be able to extract milk property from the breast! 

And that’s where things get really dicey. Because what does a tired, hungry, frustrated baby do? They cry, of course! 

So now you’re holding a frustrated, tired, fussy baby. They won’t feed. They won’t sleep. What do you do?

Well, what most mums do – is give the baby the pacifier again! 

It’s a natural instinct. And within that moment – it usually helps, too! But here’s the problem.

Yes, the baby eventually falls asleep. But since it’s sleeping on a  stomach that’s far from full – this sleep session will be short and light. And when the baby wakes up…

… they wake up more tired and more cranky than ever!!

The only way to break this cycle? Not let the pacifier tire your baby out before they are fed! So if you absolutely need to use a dummy, here’s what I recommend: 

How to use a pacifier (without interfering with your breastfeeding) when your baby is under six weeks old: 

  1. Feed First –  Dummy Last!


    During the first few weeks, every time your baby wakes – no matter how soon after the last feed – it is best to feed first! 

    Baby’s up? Go to the breast and follow the steps of this feeding plan 

  2. Before The Dummy – Can Your Baby Fall Asleep? 


    When you follow my feeding plan, your baby will settle after a short pat, and more often than not will just go off to sleep.

  3. Baby Won’t Settle? 


    If your baby doesn’t settle within a few minutes, and after you’ve fed them on both sides, you can confidently give the dummy a go!

    Wrap your baby and use the dummy to help them settle.

  4. Don’t Place It Back In!


    Important!

    Once your baby settles, take the dummy out and put it aside. 

    Don’t keep placing the dummy back in! 

    If your baby won’t settle and you need to keep putting the dummy back in – the baby is probably still hungry! Put aside the dummy, and follow the steps I explain here in the “What To Do If Your Baby Does Not Go To Sleep” section)  

Remember, managing a newborn baby is a balancing act. It’s all about getting the things that need to be done (feeding, changing the diaper, etc.) – before they tire out.

That’s the key for content, well-fed, sleeping babies. If you stick to that you probably won’t even need a dummy! (Again, I recommend following this feeding plan to make this as easy and natural as possible for you.)

What About Using Dummies After The First 4-6 Weeks? 

I’m not a huge fan of dummies and pacifiers, but then again – I’m not there in the middle of the night when you’re tired out of your mind and your little bundle of joy won’t stop crying!

So here’s what I recommend. 

With every day passing beyond the first six weeks, your baby will have more and more energy. As this happens, dummies may very well become your close friends! 

Beyond the first six weeks, and as long as you offer the pacifier after your baby has fed, there shouldn’t be any problem.

“My Baby Can’t Live Without The Dummy!! What Should I Do?”

If your baby just can’t live without their dummy –– then you need to look at what else is going on. I recommend following this feeding plan and making sure you’ve got a good latch by using Loretta’s 7 Simple Steps For A Perfect Latch.

If that’s doesn’t help, don’t hesitate to contact me for personalised support! Give me a call (or text me) at 0414 403 208 and together we will figure it all out!

Yours,
Loretta

P.S. I DO recommend dummies for premature infants (born before 37 weeks) 

Here’s why: The “tire out” effect that applies to babies that are carried to term doesn’t apply to premature babies – because they are tube fed. And here, a dummy gives you an advantage:

Giving premature babies a dummy helps them learn to suck while having tube feeds. And when it’s time to go home – that’s when you replace the dummies with real breastfeeding! 🙂 

Mother breastfeeding her baby falling asleep breast closeup

Filed Under: Damaged/Painful Nipples, Engorgement, Latching, Milk Supply, Timing of Feeds Tagged With: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 5, Week 6

Blocked Ducts – How To Treat, When To Seek Help

Blocked Ducts – How To Treat, When To Seek Help
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Signs Of Blocked Ducts

If you have one or more of the following symptoms, you probably have a blocked duct: 

  1. A firm area on your breast that feels like a lump. (It can be small or large. Sometimes it can even cover half of your breast!)
  2. A red area on your breast
  3. An area on your breast that feels hot
  4. Breastfeeding is suddenly painful
  5. Despite continuing breastfeeding, the symptoms above have not gone away. 

Most mothers face blocked ducts at least once in their lives (Yes, it’s that common – you can find out why it happens here – 5 Most Common Causes For Blocked Ducts – And How To Prevent Them!)

So if you’re experiencing one of more of the symptoms above – don’t panic!

How To Treat Blocked Ducts

Follow the process I explain below, and you should be able to resolve this painful situation in no time.

The block often disappears right away when you follow these steps. If it doesn’t, you may need to repeat the process for a few days until the block is relieved. So here’s what to do:

1. Don’t Try To Fix This With More Pumping

Many mothers try extra pumping to relieve a blocked duct. The problem is, pumping is hard work… and it’s not an effective solution.

In fact, the best way to resolve a blocked duct is… to carry on breastfeeding!

This is because your baby is designed to suck perfectly on your breast and nipple. And they’ll do a much better job than any electric pump. There is a “but” though… 

BUT… 

In order for breastfeeding to relieve the blocked duct, you need to make sure your baby’s latch is “spot on”.

It’s simple – a strong latch releases much more milk, and therefore will have the power to remove the blockage. 

If you see a small mouth just around your nipple, you are looking at a weak latch. Your baby may be nibbling (and usually falling asleep). If this happens, start your latch again, and follow my 7-Step System For A Perfect Latch which I explained in this blog post:

How can you tell if your latch is strong? Look at your baby’s mouth while breastfeeding. If their mouth is wide open and coverers some of the dark area around your nipple – you have a great latch!

https://lorettaanderson.com.au/second-feed-and-beyond/

2. Breastfeed On The Side With The Lump First

Until the blockage is resolved, you’re better off to breastfeed on the side with the lump first. I know this sounds counter intuitive, so let me explain:

Your baby’s suck is extra strong right after they wake up. However, because babies have such limited energy, their “sucking power” diminishes within minutes. 

In other words, your baby might not have enough energy to help clear the lump if you start with the second side first. 

If you have a good latch, continue to the last step.

3. If Your Baby Isn’t Feeding Very Well

Of course, my recommendation to rely on breastfeeding rather than pumping to relieve the blockage won’t work if your baby is not feeding well. 

If that’s the case, pumping the sore breast after the breastfeed can help clear out the lump. Make sure you follow my three steps for How To Use An Electric Breast Pump The Correct Way to get your blocked duct cleared soon and with as little pain possible.

https://lorettaanderson.com.au/how-to-use-an-electric-breast-pump-the-correct-way/

4. Make Sure You’re Not Switching Sides Too Soon

When breastfeeding, you want to carry on with the same side until you have drained that breast as much as possible.

Otherwise, you’ll waste your baby’s “sucking energy” on the side that isn’t blocked. Makes sense, right? But how can you tell whether your breast is drained or not?

It’s easy. 

All you have to do is feel your breast after the breastfeed.

Not the lump, but the rest of the breast. 

Lift the breast and give it a shake. A breast that is drained will move a little like jelly. If your breast feels firm, it is probably not drained. If that’s the case, offer the same side again. 

5. Breast Massage

Lumps can be pretty stubborn at times. And if yours has been lingering for a few days, the next thing to add to the mix is breast massage.

You see, when you massage as I explain below, what you are doing is loosening the lump. This, in turn, helps your baby drain and reduce the size of the lump more effectively.

In other words – you and your baby are an unstoppable team!

So the goal with breast massage is movement. You want to shake your breast around and loosen the lump. The blockage may clear in one go, or it may get smaller day by day (if it gets smaller each day it is clearing!)

Massage before you feed your baby.

Also massage before you pump (if you need to.) And a quick massage in the shower once a day will help too!  

Steps For Effective Lump-Loosening Breast Massage

  1. Massage just before you breastfeed, for approximately five minutes.
  2. Massage to your comfort level. Start gently and increase pressure as your pain eases. Too sore? Then ease off. (Don’t hurt yourself – breast massage doesn’t need to be painful to work!!!)
  3. Start by lifting your breast with one hand by cupping underneath your breast.  This makes it easier for your breast to move while massaging.
  4. Next, use the pads of your middle three fingers on your other hand and feel around your whole breast until you hit the edges of the lump.  It will be quite a bit firmer than the rest of your breast tissue.  If you can’t find the edges, don’t worry, just massage over the red area or firm area on your breast.
  5. While still holding your breast, massage in a circular motion around and over the lump with your fingers.  Push and rub until you get around your whole breast. Your breast needs to shake as you do this. (Remember – the goal is movement, and shaking will loosen the lump – as will the pressure of your fingers.)
  6. Continue to massage around your whole breast if you feel other lumps just do the same massage over these.
  7. Once finished, breastfeed your baby.
  8. Your baby will get more milk and the blockage will begin to clear or clear completely. 

How Long Does It Normally Take For A Blocked Duct To Clear?

A lot of mothers expect the lump to clear immediately when they massage. They’ll stay up (sometimes all night) massaging their breast – without result.

Don’t do it. Give your body some time. Just make sure you are seeing these signs that show you are going in the right direction: 

Signs that your breast lump is resolving:

  • The red area on your breast is fading from red to pale pink and going back to normal skin colour 
  • The lump area is getting less painful
  • The lump is getting smaller (after feeds or generally) 

What If It Gets Worse?

Following this process, the lump should clear up in 1-5 days. 

If it lingers beyond that, or if you’re seeing any of the following symptoms – it’s time to pay your doctor a visit.

  • The redness on your breast has spread, and is now covering most of your breast.
  • The pain in your breast is increasing.
  • You have a headache across your forehead (usually coupled with other symptoms as everyone gets headaches!)
  • You feel like you have the flu such as achy body and tiredness.
  • You have a temperature that is creeping up and could be over 38.5 degrees celsius.
  • You are shivery and shaky.

These symptoms can appear at anytime while you have the lump and in some cases may even appear before the lump can be felt. 

If you have any of the symptoms above, I recommend you see your local doctor. If you are looking at a wait of over 24 hours before you can be treated – don’t wait. Head to your local hospital to be checked.

While not common, in some cases blocked ducts do lead to mastitis. And the sooner you catch mastitis – the faster and less painful the treatment period is. 

But don’t get ahead of yourself. If you suffer these symptoms, see your doctor for a conclusive diagnosis. Always good to get straight on to this, and better safe than painful! 🙂 

In almost all cases, following the five steps I described above should do the trick!

Filed Under: Engorgement, Expressing, Latching, Milk Supply Tagged With: Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6

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Loretta Anderson, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and midwife.

If you are struggling with breastfeeding (or just feeling a bit overwhelmed) – don’t go at it alone. I'm here to help.

Call me now at 0414 403 208 and let’s figure it out together!

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  • ✓ Everything You Need To Know About  Avoiding Blocked Ducts 
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What Other Mums Say

“Loretta was the difference between throwing in the towel, and continuing to breastfeed!

Her warm and welcoming personality made a difficult time much better.

She custom-tailored all the information to OUR needs, and after she left, I felt empowered to continue on my breastfeeding journey…

And haven't looked back since!

I can't recommend Loretta highly enough!

If you are considering a lactation consultant Loretta should be at the top of your list!”

Lauren McKey

“I saw you once last year about recurrent clogged duct, and just wanted to say THANK YOU for the fantastic advice!

I've been able to clear all my lumps/clogs since then without it ever reaching full-blown pain stage again!

I really appreciated how you made me feel confident in breastfeeding my son Luke and trusting my instincts.

You are great at what you do!”

Jess Duncan

“Half an hour after calling her, Loretta was at my front door with a calming smile.

The previous two weeks of bf had been an absolute nightmare and I was ready to give up. But after just two hours of Loretta's help and advice, we haven't had a single issue with breastfeeding since!

We are unbelievably grateful for Loretta's continuing support through text and calls. She is quick to help me with any queries at any time. We could not have come this far in our breastfeeding journey without her!

Thank you again Loretta!!”

Kate

“As first-time parents, we were completely overwhelmed.

All the advice we were getting from people around us only turned up the pressure… Then we met Loretta, and finally, everything felt much more relaxed!

She showed me the best position for baby Cooper and how to latch and get the best results from each feed.

She's incredibly motivating and was a total life-saver for us!

Loretta is amazing! I would absolutely recommend her services.”

Sally

“I never expected breastfeeding to be so hard at first.

My son couldn't latch properly and I had significant pain while feeding. I knew I wanted to continue breastfeeding but didn't think I would be able to.

I had multiple people try to help me with no luck. Then, just one session with Loretta changed everything!

My son has been breastfed for 12 months now, and still going!!!

All thanks to Loretta's non-judgemental and supportive approach, combined with her knowledge and expertise!”

Gemma

“Loretta has been the best lactation consultant I have seen!

If I hadn't called upon her, I would have given up breastfeeding a long time ago.

With Loretta's help, I was able to resolve my milk supply problems, and exclusively breastfeed my baby until he was 14 months old!”

Leanne

“Loretta was instrumental in making breastfeeding work for our family.

Thanks to her incredible support, breastfeeding is now just an easy and enjoyable part of our daily life!”

Anna Turnbull

“Loretta was the difference between throwing in the towel, and continuing to breastfeed!

Her warm and welcoming personality made a difficult time much better.

She custom-tailored all the information to OUR needs, and after she left, I felt empowered to continue on my breastfeeding journey…

And haven't looked back since!

I can't recommend Loretta highly enough!

If you are considering a lactation consultant Loretta should be at the top of your list!”

Lauren McKey

“I saw you once last year about recurrent clogged duct, and just wanted to say THANK YOU for the fantastic advice!

I've been able to clear all my lumps/clogs since then without it ever reaching full-blown pain stage again!

I really appreciated how you made me feel confident in breastfeeding my son Luke and trusting my instincts.

You are great at what you do!”

Jess Duncan

“Half an hour after calling her, Loretta was at my front door with a calming smile.

The previous two weeks of bf had been an absolute nightmare and I was ready to give up. But after just two hours of Loretta's help and advice, we haven't had a single issue with breastfeeding since!

We are unbelievably grateful for Loretta's continuing support through text and calls. She is quick to help me with any queries at any time. We could not have come this far in our breastfeeding journey without her!

Thank you again Loretta!!”

Kate

“As first-time parents, we were completely overwhelmed.

All the advice we were getting from people around us only turned up the pressure… Then we met Loretta, and finally, everything felt much more relaxed!

She showed me the best position for baby Cooper and how to latch and get the best results from each feed.

She's incredibly motivating and was a total life-saver for us!

Loretta is amazing! I would absolutely recommend her services.”

Sally

“I never expected breastfeeding to be so hard at first.

My son couldn't latch properly and I had significant pain while feeding. I knew I wanted to continue breastfeeding but didn't think I would be able to.

I had multiple people try to help me with no luck. Then, just one session with Loretta changed everything!

My son has been breastfed for 12 months now, and still going!!!

All thanks to Loretta's non-judgemental and supportive approach, combined with her knowledge and expertise!”

Gemma

“Loretta has been the best lactation consultant I have seen!

If I hadn't called upon her, I would have given up breastfeeding a long time ago.

With Loretta's help, I was able to resolve my milk supply problems, and exclusively breastfeed my baby until he was 14 months old!”

Leanne

“Loretta was instrumental in making breastfeeding work for our family.

Thanks to her incredible support, breastfeeding is now just an easy and enjoyable part of our daily life!”

Anna Turnbull

“Loretta was the difference between throwing in the towel, and continuing to breastfeed!

Her warm and welcoming personality made a difficult time much better.

She custom-tailored all the information to OUR needs, and after she left, I felt empowered to continue on my breastfeeding journey…

And haven't looked back since!

I can't recommend Loretta highly enough!

If you are considering a lactation consultant Loretta should be at the top of your list!”

Lauren McKey

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If you are struggling with breastfeeding (or just feeling a bit overwhelmed) – don’t go at it alone. I’m here to help.

Call me now at 0414 403 208 and let’s figure it out together! (Prefer text? Message me on WhatsApp!)

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