Paula Tripp's question about long-term pumping and a gradual diminution in
milk obtained is a common reaction. I work with many mothers who pump
long-term after having gone back to work afte rthe birth of #1 or #2 baby
(usually by the time #2 or #3 comes around, they have figured out that is
NOT how to raise a baby and they make other changes so that being away so
many hours a day is not part of the experience). As the baby begins to take
other foods and/or breastfeeds for shorter (but highly effective) periods
and/or for fewer of them and begins sleeping longer at night--all this
usually after 6 months or so--nearly all my moms report a gradual decline
in the amount of milk the pump is able to obtain.

Keep in mind that the pump is not as effective as the baby in stimulating a
let-down response. Therefoer,e what might be far less obvious with the baby
can be noticeable with a pump--besides the fact that the mother actually
sees the milk she is getting out.  I reassure the mother that this does not
mean she cannot nurse any longer. She simply will not have to continue to
pump and can go on to nurse as long as she wishes.

In situations where the baby is from a highly allergic family, we do talk
about ways to avoid exposing the baby to cow milk until at least the first
birthday anniversary. (Careful selection of solid foods helps with this.)

Re: the piece I wrote about childbren and LC practices, that derived from
an (original) post to KB about the topic. She asked--and got permission--to
print it in the VLCA newsletter, which is probably where you saw it.

All posts to LACTNET should be handled in the same manner, regardless of
the author.  If you wish to distribute elsewhere, ask for permission to do
so, in order to correctly cite the source.




Def. of LC service: "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities
brilliantly disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC - [log in to unmask]