Crying Over Spilled Milk

At no other time in your life does that cliché hold more weight to it than when you become a breastfeeding mother. Even more so if you are a pumping mom. And, dare I say, even more if you suffer low supply.

There may be no use in crying over spilled milk, but if you reach that point in motherhood, you certainly understand it. I would guess that likely every mom that has pumped has a story to tell about spilling milk and the lament that followed.

I remember one time when I was having a discussion with my sister-in-law as I sat at the table pumping away (yeah, no shame, but really, I did cover myself and block most from view). We were discussing how we both manages to have decent supplies and stating we hardly had a pump session that resulted in less than 5 oz. (times change, and fluctuate, because I can tell you, I've had many since then that were significantly less). In any case, some how, the strap that held the collection/storage bag onto my pump released and the almost full bag dropped to the floor, landed on it's side and ejected almost all of it's contents. After the cleanup and my return to pumping, I was able to squeeze out only another ounce. I was upset. A pumping session that would have resulted in 6 oz. left a meager 1 1/2 oz. At that time, I'd never had such an empty bag after a pumping session. The sad thing is, I was more bothered by my sullied reputation for not pumping a respectable amount. I know I did in fact pump a nice amount, but the loss, in my mind was more about the low total than the actual loss of the milk. Believe me, I know how bad that admission sounds. It makes me seem like a truly horrible person. Even then, I probably didn't realize the real reason I was upset, thinking it was the loss of the milk, or I was in denial about the real reason. The fact of the matter was though, that at the time, I didn't need to pump. I was pumping to create a stash that hardly got used. I was a stay at home mom with my first baby and hardly a reason to leave him. There were all of two times in his exclusive breastfeeding stage where he received bottles. At the time, not only did I not need a sizable stash, but if I lost any, I could always pump more. I had no reason to really be affected by it.

If I'm going to be completely honest I have to admit that I've always taken for granted the fact that I respond well to the pump and that I have oversupply. At least with donating, some good can come of my over-sized ego and sheer narcissism. Even better, those traits drive my competitive side so I try to pump more and donate more, so it's actually resulting in good, right? At least I can try to convince myself of that. Regardless, today, I experienced a huge change in my reaction that maybe means I'm more human than I thought.

I had just finished pumping and was moving the bag of freshly pumped milk to the refrigerator pressing the zipper on the pouch closed as I walked. My three year old appeared in my path and before I knew it, he was reaching up and squeezing the bottom of the pouch expelling milk in the process out of the small portion of the zipper yet to be sealed. Milk squirted out the top of the bag and splattered on the floor. A pain shot through my chest as I looked stunned at what had happened. Tears welled behind my eyes and I started to get choked up. I was so saddened by the situation and couldn't help but to glare at my child who smiled as if proud of what he had done. He then proceeded to lick the milk of the floor and declare, "It's mama milk!"

I certainly have come a long way. In reality, the amount that was spilled was probably less than half an ounce, but it seemed like it may as well have been my whole stash at the time. Things sure have changed over this journey from my first views of breastfeeding, to meeting more breastfeeding and struggling mamas, and now to having participated in donating milk over the past year and a half. I certainly have grown in my views and opinions. I've also learned a lot. I'm much more upset about the loss of milk because I know what some mamas go through to provide it for their little ones. I only hope that I can share that knowledge and the knowledge that even a small amount can be a big help.

Cookies and Milk

I recently received an unexpected surprise. A sweet mama by the name of Kathryn contacted me after seeing my milk donation page, Life Saving Milk, on Facebook and told me about the lactation cookies she makes and wanted to know if I was interested in trying them out. I was thrilled! Many breastfeeding mamas are familiar with lactation cookies, especially if supply has been a problem and they are seeking ways to give it a boost. While the cookies don't make guarantees or medical claims, it's often an easy thing to add to your diet (after all, who doesn't like cookies?) that may help give your supply that little boost it needs.

Kathryn runs a small home-based business, Mason's Milk and Mommy's Cookies, making lactation cookies which she started making for a friend who had supply issues. Kathryn is a milk donor herself. One thing she has made sure to do is make cookies available for mamas (and their babies) that may have food allergies or sensitivities as she and her friend both have certain restrictions in their diets for their little ones. Read more about her story here. She also runs and maintains a Facebook page with the same name as her business.

It is very difficult to decide which variety to choose as she offers over 20 varieties of cookies! Many of these varieties are available free of allergens (as needed) and organic whenever possible (this is slightly restricted if allergies are a concern). Comparatively, Mason's Milk cookies are priced significantly lower than some popular commercial brands and according to Kathryn, contain far more galactagogues (supplements, often in the form of herbs and seeds, that may boost milk supply). While certain galactagogues may work individually, many mamas find that they work better in combination with others (of course, it's always a good idea to check with a lactation consultant or health care provider to see if any of these should be avoided should you have any medical conditions that cause them to be contraindicated). Kathryn also offers a dry mix in addition to all the premade cookies so you can make some up yourself.

I decided on the American cookies (blueberries, white chocolate chips, and cranberries) and received them  a few days after they'd been shipped out and I was pleasantly surprised at the speed of delivery. As recommended, I transferred the bag of cookies to a zip top bag to maintain freshness. I forgot about the recommended schedule for the cookies, which is available on the website, and went to munching. They were delicious! Certainly difficult to maintain the one cookie a day (after the first couple of days) recommendation. What can I say, they are yummy and I have no self control.

After my limited exposure (and my slip-up on the consumption schedule) it's hard to say if they helped boost my supply. It was also that time of the month and I, like many women, experienced a dip in supply so sadly, it was a bad time to judge that. I suppose I'll have to think about getting more cookies.

For the most part though, for a breastfeeding mom with supply issues, one that wants to boost supply for donating, or really, any mom that wants a good excuse to eat tasty cookies, I'd definitely say check them out.  Use caution though, as I mentioned before, certain galactagogues can be contraindicated so be sure what you are getting. Also, if donating to a milk bank, they may have restrictions about consumption of supply boosting supplements so be upfront with them about what you are taking, even in the form of cookies or teas. Happy munching!

Pumps, Pumps, Pumps

It seems these days that when a mom is expecting and planning on breastfeeding, a breast pump soon becomes a "must have" item. A lactation counselor I know says it's actually better to wait until after the baby is born to find a pump that will suit your needs when they arise. Part of this is because in the first couple of weeks it's important to establish breastfeeding with the baby and not worry about pumping. If needed, that can come later. Some women never have need of a pump. With new changes to healthcare requirements, pump ownership may become more popular. And of course, if you are like me, you'd encourage pump ownership simply for the sake of donating. This was the main use of my pump with my second.

I received my pump as a gift from my mother-in-law. She's an IBCLC and made sure to get me a high quality pump. I use a Medela Pump In Style Advance. It really is a wonderful work horse. It's the only pump I can comment on as far as quality and how it works since it's the only one I've used, but it's not the only pump out there. It is very popular for a reason, but there are other choices.

The first thing to think about when you are considering a pump is that some moms don't respond to the pump well or at all. That's ok. Our bodies are made to respond to a suckling baby, not plastic cones mimicking the movement. Unfortunately, many women don't realize this and think that if they only pump a small amount that they are having supply issues. Pumping small amounts is never an indication of supply problems. The normal amount women pump is 1/2 - 2 oz. for both breasts combined per session that lasts 20-30 minutes. Many women find that as time goes on, they respond better and better to the pump (usually after multiple daily pumping sessions), but not all women find this to be true. It's important not to be discouraged. If you need to pump and provide expressed milk for your baby, consider increasing the number of pumping sessions. If you are simply building a stash or pumping to donate, just go with whatever works into your schedule. Any little bit helps. No matter your pumping situation, if you encounter problems, low yield, pain while pumping, etc., always seek the help of a lactation consultant. They are trained to not only help with breastfeeding, but also pumping and may be able to help you with positioning, making sure parts are sized correctly for you, etc.

So, when comparing pumps, here are a couple of things to consider. Think about what you want and what will work best for you.

Type of Pump
There are two basic types of pumps hospital grade and personal. Hospital grade pumps are typically the most powerful pumps available. They are owned by hospitals and other pump locations/nursing centers and typically rented out. Most moms don't use these for an extended period of time - usually only if providing for a baby that must remain in the NICU. If a pump is needed for extended use, like for moms that go back to work or those donating, a personal pump is usually preferred. These are a bit less powerful and vary based on manufacturer, but they are smaller and more convenient to carry around.

Pumping Mechanism
There are three different types of "pumping mechanisms" as I'll call them for pumps. Pumps come in manual, single electric, or double electric. A manual pump is just that. It is a pumping mechanism with a "trigger" like you find on spray bottles. The top attaches to a bottle or other collections container. As you pull on the trigger, milk will be drawn out and collected in the container. Manual pumps are great for their compact size and affordability  Many moms will get one of these as their starter pumps or if they are only going to be pumping a limited amount. Single electric pumps are electric pumps that will pump one breast at a time. They are electrically run so they are more powerful than a manual pump. Pumping may take more time since only one breast can be pumped at a time, but the cost savings can be a bonus. Double electric pumps allow for pumping both breasts simultaneously. These pumps are the most popular for working moms and other moms that pump multiple times a day because of the time savings. Some offer the ability to pump only one or both breasts at a time which is a nice feature.

Pumping System
Electric pumps come in one of two types of systems. This is a very important aspect to examine when choosing a pump and is often the most overlooked. Pump systems are either open systems or closed systems. While the style of system may or may not affect the efficiency/efficacy of pumping, it makes a difference to many moms who may be looking for a deal on pumps. An open system pump is a single user pump. It should always be purchased brand new and never sold or donated. With proper use, no milk should ever get into the electronics, but it is built without a mechanism to block any contamination of the parts so it they are never to be given to another user for hygienic purposes. Many "experiments" have been done where pumps of this style have been opened up and growths found which can not be cleaned out. It sounds gross, but since the pumped milk never comes in contact, it doesn't affect the milk, but it can pose health risks if shared by another mom. Similar to toothbrushes - you can reuse yours over and over, but you wouldn't want to use someone else's. These pumps may be more affordable or effective depending on the manufacturer and since some moms plan to use pumps for multiple children (and often run it down anyway after multiple kids), the single user requirement is a non-issue. Closed system pumps have a sort of cut-off that prevents anything from entering the electronics chamber in the unlikely event that milk or other contaminants go beyond the pump attachments. This is the system used for hospital pumps which is what allows them to be rented and used by multiple moms. Each mom simply purchases a new attachment kit. In the case of closed system personal pumps, these pumps can be used by multiple moms, purchased used, sold or donated after use. In most cases, these pumps are safe to use as long as the new user purchases their own pump attachments. Users may find that these pumps are more expensive than others depending on the manufacturer.

In addition to what I mentioned above, different pumps will have additional features or traits that make them more able to tailor to your needs. Some of these features may include a battery pack, car hook-up, and hands-free features. Some pumps come with parts and additional "goodies" that should factor into cost such as storage bottles, bottle cooler, and pump attachments.

In many cases, moms find that you pay for what you get. As a general rule, more expensive pumps are often more efficient and easier to use, but that doesn't mean there aren't other good quality pumps at lower prices. It's a good idea to talk to pumping moms that will have the same type of pumping requirements or habits to see what they use and which ones they like. Another option is to consult a lactation consultant as they will be able to help you choose a pump that suits your needs as well. Happy pumping! And remember, if you have extra stash or can donate some extra pumping time, NICU babies and other babies that are unable to get milk from their own mom will greatly appreciate your efforts and donations.