I always assumed I’d be a nursing mom. I wanted to feed my babies breast milk, and nursing seemed like the most straightforward way to make that happen.
Then my first born refused to latch. Like, every feed started and ended with both of us red-faced and in tears, and so I became an exclusive pumper.
And exclusively pumped again when my second baby followed in her big brother’s footsteps.
So imagine my surprise when my third baby immediately latched and nursed like he’d been doing it for years.
Kids. Keeping you on your toes from their first day on planet earth and beyond, am I right?
But once I recovered from the absolute plot twist that was my third child, (did I mention I was on birth control when he was conceived?) I realized my experience with pumping actually made my nursing journey easier.
Here’s what I discovered:
Pumping for Nursing Moms: Three ways a breast pump can improve your nursing experience
Pumping can help manage discomfort
As an oversupplier (someone who makes more milk than her baby needs), I almost always felt full, even after a solid nursing session. And while I couldn’t force my baby to eat more, I could bust out my pump right after I nursed to finish emptying my breasts. I found that if I pumped within 10-15 minutes of finishing a nursing session, I could remove the remaining milk and related discomfort without cutting into what my body would make for the next nursing session.
There were also times when I started to feel full or even engorged before my baby was ready to nurse. This was especially true when I returned to work. I would try to time my last pump of the day so that I still had a full two hours before I was home to nurse. But I was also a preschool teacher at the time, and sometimes I had to take my break earlier than normal. Cut to me in the car on the way home from daycare feeling like I was about to burst!
In those moments, I used a portable pump for about 10 minutes just to relieve the discomfort until I was able to get home, get settled, and nurse my baby boy. This pump (discount code: MOWTP15F) was my go to when I needed to be mobile, but had to get that pump in.
No matter how much milk you make, you don’t have to live with discomfort. Using a pump to empty your breasts or relieve pressure will make nursing less stressful and more enjoyable.
Pumping can give you a much needed break (mentally and physically)
Let’s be honest. Being the only one who can feed the baby is absolutely exhausting because everything revolves around their need to eat. It felt like there was never a time when I wasn’t feeding, holding, burping, rocking, or changing the baby. I have never felt more sleep-deprived, showerless, and overstimulated.
Enter the breast pump.
I realized I could swap a nursing session for a pumping session in those moments when I was at the end of my rope.
When I needed rest (and what mom doesn’t), pumping allowed me to make milk for my baby and let someone else do the feeding while I napped #winning.
When I felt “touched out”, my pump emptied my breasts just as efficiently and effectively as my baby. Bonus: there was also no grabbing fistfuls of my skin and hair like my baby was fond of doing #babynailsaresharp
When I craved time to myself, pumping gave me permission to hole up in a dark room with a blanket, a snack, and my favorite television show, child-free #cuetheangelssinging
Sometimes just knowing you have the option to swap a nursing session for a pumping session is all you need to keep going. When I was in the “feeding the baby around the clock” phase of nursing, I purposely planned one pumping session at the same time every day so I had a break in the day I could look forward to. Even the occasional pumping session can help you take care of your mental and physical well-being without sacrificing your supply or your connection to your baby.
Pumping can help you reach your short and long-term nursing goals
With my first two babies, pumping was the only way I could meet my goal of feeding them breastmilk. With my third, pumping allowed me to protect my mental and physical health by providing “breaks” from nursing, so I could keep feeding my baby the way I wanted to for as long as I wanted to.
Pumping can do the same for you. Whether you want to nurse for three days, three months, or even three years, using a pump as part of your overall nursing plan can make meeting those goals possible!
Some moms struggle to meet their short and long-term nursing goals because they don’t make as much milk as their baby needs. If they aren’t able to supplement or increase their supply, they may not be able to feed their babies as long as they would like. But a pump can help!
Some moms don’t necessarily want to nurse for an extended time, but they do want to feed their baby breastmilk as much as possible, especially when they return to work or go out of town. Once again, pumping can help you meet this goal.
By adding in a few short pumping sessions, or using the other strategies I talk about in my workshop, Increasing Supply and Building a Stash, nursing moms can reach their feeding goals, and stay sane while doing it!
The Easy Button for Nursing Moms
As someone who’s been an exclusive pumping mom and a nursing mom, I know how challenging it can be to feed your baby. No matter which path you choose (or are forced into), it's overwhelming to be solely responsible for your little one’s literal survival.
That’s why I created The Ultimate Pumping Course—to help moms like you feed your baby the way you want to.
Inside The Ultimate Pumping Course you’ll find an entire section devoted to nursing moms, to help you:
- Confidently nurse from day one
- Increase their nursing supply and build a stash
- Incorporate pumping into their nursing schedule
- Navigate common nursing struggles like nipple confusion, triple feeding, and clogs
- Nurse and pump on the go with sample schedules for work, daycare, and travel
- Pump and nurse pain free
- Safely wean and transition to regular milk.
No matter how you choose to feed your baby, The Ultimate Pumping Course provides the support and solutions you need to nurse, pump, or both efficiently, effectively, and confidently. Get The Ultimate Pumping Course and take the stress out of nursing and pumping
