Marianne Vanderveen-Kolkena <[log in to unmask]> asked:
>With a few colleagues, I'm pondering about whether the muscles in the nipple openings are better trained after a while, causing less leakage?
Or is it a matter of a better imprinted MER and a better balanced
production, that causes the diminishing milk loss?
And why do some women keep leaking milk: imbalance in production,
heavy MER or loose muscles, that cannot be trained?
Or *can* you train them...?! ;o) And if so... how? What excercise
should we do and what fitness machine should we buy? hahaha
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.<
Hi Marianne :)
Are familiar with *block feeding,* when a mother keeps the baby on one
breast for a set number of hours before switching to the other side?
This *trains* the breasts to produce less milk, because there is less
frequent stimulation. it usually starts with 2-3 hour blocks,
progressing upwards as necessary. Some mothers end up switching
breasts at 4hr intervals, while others do so at 6hrs or 8 hrs. Let the
baby nurse as often as he wants, but only on that one side until it is
time to switch to the other breast. If the unused breasts becomes
uncomfortable, express or pump ONLY enough milk to relieve the
discomfort.
You asked about *exercises* to *train* the muscles in the nipple
opening to leak less. This is something than cam be done using
bio-feedback.
I leaked a lot when I was nursing. Looking back, I now realise that I
had an over-supply. I never left the house with at least one change of
clothing for ME, as well a for the baby!
I invented this *exercise* as a way to combat the problem. It is easy
to do and requires no special equipment. You are welcome to share it
with everyone, as long as you send/print it in it's entirety and
acknowledge my authorship.
>Norma Ritter, IBCLC, RLC, teaches a technique to mothers to help them learn to mentally control their milk ejections by associating them with the motion of turning a water faucet on and off. It was initially taught to mothers who had problems with leaking and wanted to be able to stop milk ejections from happening so quickly. However, along the way, she also found that the technique works well for mothers who want to have more milk ejections!
STEP 1: Arrange for a comfortable place to nurse in the kitchen. As
soon as you notice your baby's nursing cues, start nursing and turn
the faucet ON in the kitchen sink.
STEP 2: While you nurse, think about the water running and the feeling
of the milk flowing through your breasts.
STEP 3: When the baby stops nursing, turn the faucet OFF.
STEP 4: Make a point of noticing that when the sound of the running
water is no longer there your milk is also no longer flowing.
STEP 5: Whenever you have a spontaneous milk ejection but your baby is
not ready to nurse, turn any nearby faucet on. Your milk will start
running, so have a pad handy to mop it up, or collect it in a cup.
Don't hand express, but just let it run. After a minute or so, turn
the faucet off. When you have done this a few times, you will notice
that your milk will stop letting down when the water stops running.
STEP 6: Continue this routine for a day or two, whenever you get the
chance, to let your body become accustomed to the sound of running
water when your milk lets down.
STEP 7: When you feel that the association has been made in your mind
between the running water and your milk ejecting, stop actually
turning the faucet on. Instead, use your hand to make the motion of
turning an imaginary faucet on. When baby has finished nursing or you
are ready for the milk to stop flowing, make the motion of turning the
faucet off.
STEP 8: Eventually, you will be able to simply make the motion of
turning the faucet on or off with your hand - or even just imagine
doing it - and your milk will start or stop flowing. <
Hope this helps!
warmly, norma
Norma Ritter, IBCLC, RLC
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