You can just ask outright if she will feel comfortable exploring that
discomfort with you. You can tell her that many moms in our society
feel that way at first, just because we are not a breastfeeding culture,
and when they try breastfeeding, they generally find they like it. You
can say that pumping is certainly an option, but since direct bf is so
much easier, you hope she will at least give that a try for the first
few days while she is in the hospital. You can tell her since colostrum
is hard to pump, she can bf the first few days, and then start pumping
on day 3 or 4 if she still wants to.
I usually see moms who intend to exclusively pump when they are already
postpartum. I set them up with a good hospital grade rental pump,
recommend they pump 8+ times a day (not necessarily evenly spaced), and
let the baby lick or nuzzle their nipple once a day or so, to help them
maintain their milk supply. Many of them find that this
licking/nuzzling leads to the baby self attaching, and the mom decides
to bf instead. Some don't let the baby anywhere near the breast, they
are too uncomfortable. I have been successful in helping moms to
maintain milk supplies by pumping for a year or more (up to 2 years in
one case). Establishing a generous supply by week 2 seems to be the
key. I tell moms to pump as often as they need to to obtain at least 20
oz/day in the second week, and 32-36/day by the 6th week or earlier. I
also like exclusive pumping moms to use the very most effective electric
pumps (have had the best results with the 10 lb, metal piston and motor
Ameda Lact-e pump and a dual hygeinikit). Some moms cannot initiate or
maintain a good supply with the purchased pumps, or the lighter weight
plastic piston rentals. After 6 weeks postpartum, they can usually
gradually reduce number of pumping sessions per day until they find the
minimum they need to maintain that quart a day output. Many moms are
able to pump 5 times a day and get that quart, again if the supply was
initially calibrated high. This seems to be more sustainable over the
long term than 8 or more pumpings a day.
Perhaps this mom will be willing to expose herself to breastfeeding
moms, and desentize herself...
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