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Milk Production Is Natural

Milk production is typically a natural occurrence. For the most part, you do not have to do much for your body to begin changing immediately following birth. Immediately after delivery, the hormones in your body start to transition. The body stops producing progesterone and starts producing hydrocortisone, insulin, and prolactin - all hormones that signal the body to produce milk or colostrum. Colostrum is the substance that provides nutrients for the baby until milk fully comes in. The process is fascinating, but again, it requires no work on your part. As you begin to produce more milk, you will notice your breasts may appear to grow, and may even be tender for some time.

You may have heard the term insurance-covered breast pump upgrade in your breast pump research. However, during pregnancy so many terms are flying at you, it can be hard to take it all in. Many times, expectant moms do not think of questions about their breast pumps until after they start pumping. Between preparing to welcome a new baby into the world and your home and all the new products that come with that, there is often not enough time to consider all the details about your breast pump and if a breast pump upgrade is right for you and your options on how to pay for that upgrade.

While breast pumps are now usually covered with no copay under the Affordable Care Act, your insurance provider may only cover certain options. If you are looking for a specific breast pump like the Elvie, Spectra S1 or Medela Freestyle Flex, you may have to pay an upgrade fee. But before you get out your credit card, consider if you would like to use your HSA or FSA funds to pay the upgrade fee. Let’s take a moment and review the basics.

Motherhood is a special journey. There are ups and downs but most of all, as a woman you get to know yourself and connect with your new baby. A feeling unparalleled by any other life experience! Part of the new mom experience is breastfeeding. Making the decision to breastfeed is a big step and it’s a decision that will require support from your immediate support system – other parents, caregivers, grandparents, and family.

Deciding whether or not to breastfeed is only the first step.

Welcoming a new baby into your home and life is an amazing experience. And while the love and joy new moms feel has not changed in generations, baby tech certainly has. Everything from strollers to car seats to baby monitors have come a long way in the past few years. But no product has seen more advancements than the breast pump. For example, the folks at Medela have continued to push themselves to produce the best breast pumps possible, with quality and safety being their priority. Medela’s new Pump In Style Breast Pump and Freestyle Flex Breast Pump are two great examples of improved technology marrying sleek design to create lightweight, easy-to-use pumps that are perfect for the modern mom.

While breastfeeding creates an irreplaceable bond between mothers and their babies, some mothers struggle with it for a number of reasons – and there is absolutely no shame in this.

Every mother has her own unique journey, and this is something you should come to expect and embrace. If you’ve felt discouraged from previous attempts and are considering just switching to formula, take a step back and reassess your options.

This is the reason breast pumps exist. They offer a sound alternative for mothers who find difficulty in nursing, and it often makes the most sense for working mothers as well. When faced with the choice between breast milk and formula, breast milk has many additional benefits for mom and baby.

Considering your child’s development

There have been numerous studies on how breast milk contains vital nutrients, minerals, and antibodies for an infant’s physical development, but research from the University of Virginia and the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences has also shown links to psychological and cognitive development as well. This holistic approach is similar to what Maryville University’s human development and family studies students are taught, given the intricacies of the field. Development is taken to encompass physical, emotional, and social contexts, and approaching studies this way provides a better understanding of a child’s individual growth. This is something that parents who work longer hours may come to appreciate in the long run when they make the simple decision to continue feeding their child breast milk. Mothers, in particular, can find comfort in knowing that they will be able to succeed in providing their child with these benefits even while they’re away at the office with the aid of a breast pump.

A match made for working mothers

We went into detail answering the question ‘Why Do I Need a Breast Pump?’ and said how double electric breast pumps like the Evenflo Double Electric Breast Pump are a great option for working mothers as this helps pump an extra supply of milk to give to your baby’s caregiver while you are away. Once you pick up on its proper use, you will soon learn how to accumulate a sufficient supply with ease before storage. Renowned IVF expert Dr. Rita Bakshi assures that this also gives you a sense of relief for when you find that you have an oversupply of milk which you will need to pump as soon as possible to avoid heaviness or engorgement. When your baby is fed your milk even if you are not nursing yourself, this bridges the distance and may help you feel more connected to your child.

Breast pumps help dismiss any feelings of guilt that may arise in mothers who either cannot nurse their babies as well as they want to, or for mothers who need to get back to work. One simple, handy device can serve as the conduit between you and your baby, and between your baby and their future development.

Article submitted by Alicia Matthews

For the exclusive use of yummymummystore.com

Disclaimer: The author of this article used research available on various reputable websites to compile the piece. The article contains information that may be supported or disputed by an individual lactation professional. The information and content provided on this website is for informational purposes only. Any advice or information provided on this website does not create a professional relationship, is not an aid to making medical decisions, and is not marketed, promoted or otherwise intended to be used to diagnose any disease or other condition, or to cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent any disease. This website is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice or persuade readers in any one particular direction. The information on this website is made available with the understanding that the content and service providers are not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological or any other kind of personal professional services through this website. Nothing on this website is intended to replace the advice of a healthcare professional, medical diagnosis or treatment. The information provided by Yummy Mummy is intended to educate and help mothers find information and services that they might need. Any action taken by a user in response to information obtained from this website is at the user's discretion. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Pumping & Your Motherhood Journey

Breastfeeding your baby is a wonderful part of the motherhood journey and growth of your little one. At times it can be sweet and comforting and others difficult and frustrating, but one thing it shouldn’t be is halted by an inability to pump when you are away from your little one. Therefore, a good quality breast pump is essential. But finding the best breast pump for you can be confusing given the wide array of options.

There are several great pump options out there. And the new Medela Pump In Style with MaxFlow™ checks all the boxes for a best-in-class electric breast pump. The new Medela Pump In Style offers a smooth and efficient pumping experience for mom. This breast pump is inspired by a hospital grade breast pump and consists of few parts. This means assembly is quick, simple, and cleaning is easy. The components used to make the Medela Pump In Style are BPA free, so you and your baby are safe during pumping and feeding.

When it comes to pumping, the best breast pump is cognizant of the bond nursing creates between a mother and her child. Offering the best, Medela Pump In Style has the 2 phase expression technology. This makes expressing similar to a baby’s sucking rhythm. This is made possible by combining speed and vacuum during preprogramming of the pump. The Medela Pump In Style has been proven to increase milk volume.

Convenience is also an important factor when evaluating the best breast pumps. In between errands and daily schedules, the best breast pumps must be good for expressing when the need arises. Medela Pump In Style comes with a battery pack for when you’re away from power, or when power is out. So, no matter where mom is, when she needs to pump, she can.

Looking for Insurance for your Breast Pump?

Making investments in your motherhood journey is a must for the modern woman. And ordering a breast pump through insurance is no different. Yummy Mummy is here to help moms get the best breast pump for them through insurance. Moms can order online or call us at 855-87-YUMMY to place their order. Just pick your pump and enter your information. We will take care of the rest and ship the pump to your door.

Disclaimer: The author of this article used research available on various reputable websites to compile the piece. The article contains information that may be supported or disputed by an individual lactation professional. The information and content provided on this website is for informational purposes only. Any advice or information provided on this website does not create a professional relationship, is not an aid to making medical decisions, and is not marketed, promoted or otherwise intended to be used to diagnose any disease or other condition, or to cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent any disease. This website is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice or persuade readers in any one particular direction. The information on this website is made available with the understanding that the content and service providers are not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological or any other kind of personal professional services through this website. Nothing on this website is intended to replace the advice of a healthcare professional, medical diagnosis or treatment. The information provided by Yummy Mummy is intended to educate and help mothers find information and services that they might need. Any action taken by a user in response to information obtained from this website is at the user's discretion. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

With the recent wildfires in California and hurricane season, we wanted to share some advice to make sure that your milk supply is safe if the power goes out.

1) Know what is considered safe for your milk: According to the Mayo Clinic and CDC, freshly expressed breast milk can be kept at room temperature for up to four to six hours depending on the temperature of the room (when in doubt, go with four). Breast milk can be stored in a properly insulated cooler with ice packs for up to one day.

2) Be prepared: If you live in an area that you think might lose power unexpectedly, it might be best to purchase a manual pump or familiarize yourself with hand expression to avoid engorgement. You might also want to consider getting a car adaptor or battery pack for your electric breast pump. And don’t forget to stock up on batteries.

3) Get the word out: If you have a generator or other back up system and are part of a mommy group or have friends that might be pumping and storing milk and can help out in an emergency, let them know.

Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms

To help raise awareness and spark interesting and helpful conversations around World Breastfeeding Week and Breastfeeding Awareness Month, we asked a few trusted partners to tell us about their favorite breastfeeding resources and what advice they would give to new moms help them reach their personal breastfeeding goals.

Melissa Kotlen, RN and IBCLC at Mount Sinai Hospital, Labor & Delivery shares the following:

As a labor and delivery nurse and a lactation consultant, the best advice I give to breastfeeding moms before leaving the hospital with their babies is to give a gift to themselves and find a lactation consultant. Whether they have an issue with anything from latching to milk supply to engorgement to thrush, there is help and support everywhere—many IBCLCs (International Board Certified Lactation Consultants) make home visits, and the ease of someone coming to their home surely beats the stress of having to get up and out to make it to an appointment in an office. The best way to find one is to ask friends or family for recommendations if they’ve had positive experiences, but if you don’t have that opportunity, the International Lactation Consultant Association has a “Find a Lactation Consultant” directory. I always recommend doing your homework and setting up a time to speak with a consultant before you have the baby so you’re not scrambling last minute. This way, if concerns arise, she will be in your back pocket and ready to roll.

Leigh Anne O’Connor, IBCLC, LCCE recommends these trusted sites for new moms:

There is a staggering amount of information at our fingertips. It can be overwhelming for anyone, but for new parents it can be 1000% more crushing. As a parent and lactation consultant (IBCLC) I see firsthand that much of the information can simply be marketing or just a single person’s opinion. To help sort through the muck and mire that we call the information superhighway I have come up with a short list of reputable websites specific to infant feeding.

For Breastfeeding

https://kellymom.com/

https://lllusa.org/

https://breastfeedingusa.org/

Low milk supply

https://www.lowmilksupply.org/

http://www.mobimotherhood.org/

To find a Board-Certified Lactation Consultant

https://www.nylca.org/

https://uslca.org/resources/find-an-ibclc

Donor milk

https://www.nymilkbank.org/

http://hm4hb.net/

http://www.eatsonfeets.org/

Safe Formula preparation

https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/formula-feeding/infant-formula-preparation-and-storage.html

Elina Arulraj, IBCLC, offers this advice:

1) Do your best to “Keep Calm and Carry On”.

The idea of wanting to feed your baby and having trouble nursing/feeding your baby can cause debilitating stress and anxiety. Know that if you are willing to put forth the effort (and know it may take a good amount of work but it will be short term) to bring your milk supply up and you are willing to feed your baby in ways that won’t disrupt breastfeeding, you have time to put it all together. A Lactation Consultant can guide you through building your milk supply and the type of ways that would work best for you and baby to achieve this.

2) Get help EARLY!

Develop a game plan for what you can do to get off to the best start possible while in the hospital and avoid the common pitfalls. We can give you information tailored specifically for you based on the events of your labor and gestational age of your baby when born. Even setting up a virtual or a phone consult prior to your hospital admission can make all the difference in setting you up for success. I do this often with moms and I find it makes the subsequent weeks much easier on the mom and baby to achieve whatever breastfeeding goals she may have.

3) Be informed about COVID-19.

If you have questions about breastfeeding in the time of Covid, this is a great summary.

And finally, Risa Klein, CNM, suggests checking out this article on breastfeeding and mental health on SheKnows.com. It is important to remember that whatever you are going through, you are not alone.