Have you noticed a drop in your lactation? To maintain it at a satisfactory level, it is essential to continue to drain your breasts regularly. To achieve this, there is an unstoppable technique: power pumping. We take stock with Carole Hervé, IBCLC lactation consultant.
Expressing milk several times a day at regular intervals would help stimulate lactation, especially for mothers who notice a slight drop in speed. Indeed, it often happens to young mothers not to have as much milk as at the beginning of breastfeeding. The reason: baby spaces out feedings more often because he is suddenly sleeping, he refuses the breast… However, this does not mean the end of breastfeeding because it is possible to promote lactation. What does the Power Pumping ? Is this technique effective and how to go about it? Find all the advice from Carole Hervé, IBCLC lactation consultant, to increase your breast milk supply.
What is power pumping?
Power pumping (extreme draw in French), is a protocol that aims to stimulate the lactation of the nursing mother. Developed by IBCLC lactation consultant Catherine Watson Genna, this process increases lactation in 48 to 72 hours. This technique of over-stimulation can be used as soon as the lactation decreases.
- Place the breast pump in a place you pass often: living room, dining room, kitchen.
- Several times a day, express your milk 10-20 min, pause for 10′, then 10′ pumping, 10′ pause and finally 10′ pumping.
- Before you begin, consider massaging your breasts to promote milk expression.
How much milk can you express per day?
Breast milk is an evolving food: it gradually adjusts to the baby’s needs. A woman produces on average 750 to 800 ml of milk per day.. Power pumping will not increase the quantities that remain stable once lactation is established, but will induce a stimulation to restore lactation.
“Frequently and repeatedly draining the breasts is very effective.”
How efficient is Power Pumping?
“Frequently and repeatedly draining the breasts is very effective.” This reproduces the rhythm of the baby’s feedings and thus stimulates milk production. “At the same time, it has been shown that gentle breast massages before pumping and listening to relaxation music are all ways to optimize milk production. explains Carole Hervé.
When to do power pumping?
It can be interesting to do power pumping when the mother notices a drop in her lactation, in particular because her baby spaces out the feedings more, sleeps longer at night, or in the event of a nursing strike. This technique will thus make it possible to raise the lactation.
Testimonial: “I tested the Power Pumping technique following a nursing strike”
“When my 7 month old daughter went on a nursing strike due to teething, I thought that was the end of my breastfeeding. I was deeply saddened. So I called in a lactation consultant who recommended that I try the power pumping technique. Within two days, I regained my original lactation, I was delighted! I was able to continue breastfeeding my baby as I wanted“, relates Aurélie, 34, mother of Héloïse.
Thanks to Carole Hervé, IBCLC lactation consultant, author of My tailor-made breastfeeding at Albin Michel editions and Choosing to breastfeed at First editions