Sometimes situations come up where nursing from the breast is difficult. These may include, but are not limited to the following: latch issues (baby won't latch well on the breast), cracked and sore nipples (resulting from poor latch), mother discomfort with nursing (physical pain or emotional discomfort with using her breasts for feeding). Any or all of these can contribute to moms resorting to pumping milk from the breast and feeding it through a bottle.
Pumping and feeding is certainly an adequate way to nurse a baby, when nursing from the breast is not possible. However, moms should be informed that exclusively pumping, without baby nursing at all from the breast, can result in a diminished milk supply. Milk supply is created through supply and demand. As more milk is drained from the breast, the body in turn makes more milk to ‘keep up’. The body will generally not let down as well or as completely from an artificial pump as it will from a baby on the breast. For that reason, supply will eventually diminish if baby is not put back to breast, or if pumping is not increased adequately to reflect baby’s needs. Pumps can help maintain supply for finite time periods, when skin to skin nursing is not possible; however, it rarely makes a complete substitute. Babies are much better at draining a breast than any pump will be, hospital grade or otherwise. Therefore, if pumping and feeding is your only means of breastfeeding, be aware that supply can diminish if not carefully monitored. Pump more often to increase supply. Pump for longer periods. And If at all possible, re-introduce the breast to baby, as it is the BEST way to stimulate milk production and adequately drain the breast. The more often baby is put to breast, the more likely milk supply will fall into the right place.
Below are some good articles and resources on pumping and feeding from KellyMom.com (the author is an International BoardCertified Lactation Consultant):
- For more information on pumping and feeding, what to expect in terms of output when pumping, and ways to increase milk supply while pumping, read the following article:http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/pumping_decrease.html
- For more information on establishing and maintaining a good milk supply when baby is not nursing directly from the breast, read the following article:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/maintainsupply-pump.html
- For a complete list of articles on pumping and milk supply, look to the following:
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/
