I would like to second Pat Bull's comment about knowing the difference
between abuse and misuse of devices, including pumps.

Before I throw out the idea of helping a mother with exceeding sore nipples
to maintain a supply while she "rests" her breasts from baby for a day or
two, I ASK her if we can try a pump in my office with me observing
carefully.  I have found (with a good intermittent fully-automatic
pump--NOT (repeat NOT) with anything less--often what was excruciating with
the baby can be managed with minimal difficulty with the pump.

Why?

1) Positioning of flange on pump may be different from how she was holding baby.
2) Pump does not do what a baby does on the breast and in some cases may be
something mother can tolerate when nursing the baby is not possible AT THAT
MOMENT.

Once mother is assured that she can still get her milk out to give to baby
while healing, often her relaxation is both audible and immediate and with
that, she is also better able to contemplate returning baby to breast.

I do not think it is possible to determine if a pump will work without
attempting it.  When I do so, I ask the mother's permission to "try an
experiment."  I then say, "I do NOT want to make you hurt more; but I am
wondering if pumping--on minimum pressure--is something you could manage
while you let this breast/nipple/both breasts/nipples heal before going
back to total breastfeeding.  What do you think of this idea?"

If she is totally against it, we don't do it.  But if she is willing, we
try it.  Again, I think the most important part of this is my watching VERY
CAREFULLY what the nipple/breast do in response AND her face when the
pressure is begun.  I NEVER suggest this over the phone to a mother whose
equipment I am not familiar with.

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"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly
disguised as impossible situations."
Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Ferndale, WA USA) [log in to unmask]
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