Jean writes:
In addition, I try to "Watch my language" and completely avoid the phrase
"Empty your breasts". I think it's too loaded, as well as being
physiologically inaccurate. I also like to tell them that milk is made more
rapidly in the hour after "10-15 minutes of thorough milk removal."
Jean,
I work primarily in the NICU setting, where women are looking at what is coming out of their breasts. After their milk is in, I teach them to pump and massage until all of the drops are completely gone for 2 minutes, up to 30 minutes (to give the skin a break). If it takes longer, I ask that they pump again sooner than they had planned. I realize that there is always milk there, and I do tell them that. I find that the phrase, "empty your breasts" gives them a visual image that they can easily understand. I explain that more frequent pumping (we call it cluster pumping) can be helpful in boosting up supply as needed.
I also have found problems when someone has mentioned any time limit on pumping of 10-15 minutes. Many of these women need more time than that to finish pumping. As you stated, if milk is left in the breasts, it will down regulate supply. I find quite a few of my mothers have low milk supply from being told time limits for pumping. I always ask about that when I need to assess a low milk supply. I find if I can catch this problem quickly enough, just increasing the time to whatever is needed until there is no more flow for two minutes works pretty well to increase milk supply.
I apologize if I was not clear enough.
Maureen Allen
-----Original Message-----
From: Kermaline Cotterman <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thu, 9 Feb 2006 18:06:19 -0700
Subject: Tell about FIL, in simple terms
Maureen writes:
<Mary Kay,
I tell them that the meds will not help unless they are
breastfeeding/pumping adequately. The meds are to HELP, not to replace the
act of breastfeeding/pumping. I say, "Breastfeeding/Pumping frequently and
emptying your breasts to the last drop will drive milk supply up, nothing
else will work.">
I have begun to suggest the "pill mentality" in reverse. I try to explain to
the moms (in the simplest way consistent with her particular educational
level, more for those with higher education), that one of the natural
substances in the milk itself will actually work like a medicine to tell the
breast to slow down the milk production if the milk is left in the breast
for too long a period.
So, therefore, to prevent this from happening, it's necessary to keep the
milk moving, removing at least some of it at least X # of times in 24 hours
(depending on whether she is establishing a supply for a premie at the
beginning, or trying to rebuild supply at some other time, and also what's
realistic to accomplish in her 24 hour situation.)
In addition, I try to "Watch my language" and completely avoid the phrase
"Empty your breasts". I think it's too loaded, as well as being
physiologically inaccurate. I also like to tell them that milk is made more
rapidly in the hour after "10-15 minutes of thorough milk removal."
Jean
***************
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, OH USA
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