Power to the Pump! (Power-Pumping)

Power-Pumping has been invaluable to me as I've tried to build my milk supply.  It's been especially fantastic for those times when my already "established" supply has dipped for some reason.

What is power pumping?

Power pumping is pretty much normal pumping but on an alternative schedule.  Instead of pumping for your regular 20 minutes (or whatever you do), you modify the schedule to mimic a baby who is frequently nursing to stimulate milk supply.  This is something that happens naturally with breast fed babies during their growth spurts.  It works by continually emptying the breast signaling the body to make more milk more quickly.

The idea is to set aside some time, about an hour, and alternate pumping and resting at specific intervals during that time.  Some moms swear by 20 minutes pumping, 10 minute rest, 10 minute pump, 10 minute rest, 10 minute pump, and end.

Often this is done once per day for about a week to stimulate an increase in milk supply.  Other times a day, or even a weekend, is set aside for a pumping boot camp.  During boot camp you power pump for as many feedings a day as you can handle.  I usually try to do 4 a day over a weekend.


How do I manage the power-pumping time?

Pumping is already stressful enough, so how do we add in this extra pumping and keep track of how long we are resting etc?  Well, the best advice I ever got was to turn on the TV and pump during a favorite TV show or movie.  You can pump during commercials, and rest during the show.

Something else that worked for me when I rented movies was to pump during one scene, and rest during the next.

If you've mastered laid-back pumping it can be nice to lie back in the dark listening to your favorite music.  Pump during one song, rest during the next.

You get the idea - find something that will distract you from the pump, but still provide you cues that are a little more friendly than an alarm!