A Practical Guide to Exclusive Pumping - Schedule and Tips From a New Mom

Breastfeeding is commonly discussed as one of the most beautiful, natural things our body does, yet we rarely hear about the absolute nightmare it can be. As a new mother to a beautiful baby boy who's already almost one whole year, I know from personal experience just how difficult breastfeeding can be. This wisdom runs contrary to the perfectly manicured photos we see on social media, which portray breastfeeding to be some glamorous and effortless way to bond with your baby. Sure, this may be the case for some new mothers, but my story was a bit different. You see, I'm an exclusively pumping mother whose baby decided it was time to wean and I'm just doing my best to follow his lead as we mothers always do (pun fully intended). Every time I pump, my mind runs rampant around the notion of what it truly means to do this exclusively, and now after more than 1000 hours of pumping time logged, I'm ready to share my experience in the hopes of helping others. This article will cover everything from how often I pumped to how I kept my milk supply going strong and how to make sure pumping parts are being cleaned properly. 

Like so many other babies, my little boy had trouble latching on from the get-go. Not only is this frustrating for a hungry baby, but it's also pretty painful (ok, let's be honest here, agonizing) for the new mother. We chose to nip it in the bud and consult a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) both in and out of the hospital. Despite their helpful tricks and tips, we were unable to establish healthy nursing, but I remained determined to give my baby all the extraordinary benefits of breast milk. That's when I decided to give us both some relief by pumping to provide my baby the milk he so desperately craved via bottle. My exclusively pumping (or EPing) adventure officially began two weeks after giving birth when I decided to rent a hospital grade double electric pump from a local pharmacy. 

In the spirit of transparency, I'll go ahead and admit that it can be so hard to sit still and pump when there's so much to do as a new mother. That being said, I knew how important this liquid gold was to my baby's well being. Every session lasted 15-20 minutes, and because many experts recommend pumping a few minutes past when the milk stops flowing to encourage a second letdown, I would often add an extra 5 minutes.

• Staying Hydrated - Shockingly enough, our precious breast milk is almost 90% water (that nutrient-packed 10% really packs a punch!), so staying hydrated is vital. I made it part of my pumping routine always to have a glass of water, and I consciously carried a bottle of water (or even better, coconut water) in the diaper bag for those on-the-go moments. 
• Eating Well - As the old saying goes, 'you can't pour from an empty cup,' breastfeeding and pumping women indeed need extra calories to keep up with the demands of their baby. I noticed a definite spike in my supply on the days where I nourished my body with full meals, especially when those foods are known to help with lactation. For a healthy breakfast, I loved to soak steel-cut oats the night before (or cook them in the morning if I forgot to soak, which, let's face it, happened a lot) and add milk, nuts, seeds, and fruits to start my day off on a good note. Another trick I loved was always keeping healthy snacks and drinks like dried fruits, granola, trail mix, nuts, lactation smoothie and seeds in my diaper bag and on my pumping table. 
• Pumping Frequently - Frequent pumping sends a signal to your body that it needs to produce more milk, hence the supply and demand notion. Some experts suggest a method called 'power-pumping,' but I personally never gave it a go. 
• Resting - Before you laugh out loud, I know how difficult it is to rest as a new mother. Yes, it's the most rewarding work in the whole world, but it's also extremely depleting, which is why it's super important to get rest whenever and wherever you can. On the days where I took time to pause and restore, I felt emotionally and physically more powerful, and my milk supply stayed strong. 
• Not Stressing - Again, it's hard not to stress when you constantly have a zillion questions and concerns about your new bundle of joy crowding your mind, but it never did me any good. I personally had a hard time not stressing about my strict pumping schedule and whether or not I was making enough milk to feed my baby. However, this tension made me feel miserable, and it negatively affected my supply, so it was in everyone's best interest that I found a way to let it go.