Power pumping extraction technique

23 February, 2024 LactApp UK Comments 0 Comment

Biologist and IBCLC Catherine Watson Genna first proposed power pumping extraction techniques as effective methods for achieving a rapid increase in breast milk supply.

These techniques are used to achieve, within 48 hours, an increase in milk production that allows providing a rapid response in case of emergency, such as a sick baby, premature babies, and so on, and also in the case of having to separate from the baby with no breast milk reserves or in the case of babies who temporarily stop breastfeeding, when the production has decreased a lot, or when babies don’t accept artificial milk.

In addition, these techniques are used to test the mammary gland to assess whether the breast’s production capacity is insufficient for exclusive breastfeeding, if hypogalactia is present, or if milk supply can be restored with a relactation process.

Before performing power pumping techniques, it is advisable to assess the situation of the mother-baby dyad individually. The following considerations should be taken into account:

These stimulation techniques require help because they can be very exhausting despite what they may seem. The mother should be advised to have family support to help her with the baby during the process.
Try to place the breast pump in a space that is comfortable for the mother, does not cause her to stay away, and allows her to remain connected to her baby.
She doesn’t have to put the milk in the fridge each time if she doesn’t want to or clean the pump after every pumping session; breast milk can be put into the fridge at the end of pumping, about every hour.
In addition, she should continue to breastfeed her baby as normal.
The mother shouldn’t worry about not giving the baby enough milk in the process, as babies can easily achieve a milk letdown, which, on the other hand, is very difficult for the breast pump. So, the baby will continue to feed normally, and, in fact, this will help stimulate the breast to produce more milk.

All power pumping techniques increase blood prolactin levels. At the same time, by expressing a lot of milk from the breast, the FIL (Lactation Inhibiting Factor) does not remain inside the breast, to which the mammary gland responds by increasing the milk supply.

For power pumping to be as effective as possible, it is essential to have an electric breast pump, preferably a double one. This way, it has been shown that the milk ejection reflex (or let down) is more powerful.

If the mother does not have a double breast pump, it can also be done with a single breast pump, but bearing in mind, that the technique may be less effective. In this case, when performing the different techniques, remember that with a single breast pump, since you have to pump first one side and then the other, the mother will have to spend twice as much time (the guidelines below are designed for a double breast pump).

There are many proposals on the initial method for increasing milk supply. Choosing one or another will depend on each mother’s preferences and possibilities. This type of pumping is exhausting, so her comfort takes priority. There is no evidence that one option is better than the other, nor that one or the other will increase milk supply sooner.

Method A

One hour once a day, perform extractions of 10-12 minutes followed by a pause of the same length until one hour is completed. Repeat once a day for 2 or 3 days.

Example:
6:00 – pump
6:12 – break
6:24 – pump
6:36 – break
6:48 – pump
7:00 – end of pumping

Method B

Start by pumping for 10 minutes once every hour for 2 days. At night, a break of 4-6 hours is taken so the mother can rest.

Example:
6:00 – pump
6:10- break
7:00 – pump
7:10 – break
8:00 – pump
8:10 – break
(….)
22:00 – pump
22:10 – break for sleeping

Method C

Pump for 20 minutes, rest for 10 minutes, pump for 10 minutes, rest for 10 minutes, and pump for 10 minutes. Complete one hour this way. This is done 1 hour a day or a maximum of 4 times a day.

Example:
6:00 – pump
6:20 – break
6:30 – pump
6:40 – break
6:50 – pump
7:00 – break

Method D

Pump every half an hour for 5-10 minutes, for 3 hours, and then repeat after 3-5 days.

Example:
6:00 pump
6:10 break
6:30 pump
6:40 break
7:00 pump
7:10 break
(…)
8:30 pump
8:40 break
9:00 last pumping

Method E

Pump 15 minutes, rest 5, pump for 10 minutes, rest 5, pump 10, rest 5, and finish with a 5-minute pumping.

Example:
6:00 – pump
6:15 – break
6:20 – pump
6:30 – break
6:35 – pump
6:45 – break
6:50 – pump
6:55 – end

Method F

Pump for 10 minutes; after half an hour, pump 10 more minutes; after half an hour, pump 5 minutes; after half an hour, 5 more minutes; after half an hour, another 5 minutes; and after half an hour, 5 more minutes.

Example:
6:00 – 10 minutes pumping
6:30 – 10 minutes pumping
7:00 – 5 minutes pumping
7:30 – 5 minutes pumping
8:00 – 10 minutes pumping
8:30 – 5 minutes pumping
9:00 – 5 minutes puming
9:05 – Last pumping

Whenever these methods are used, the mother should be vigilant and carefully observe her breasts because if the breast is overstimulated and the baby does not latch onto the breast or feeds less, then the mother could suffer an uncomfortable increase in milk supply that could lead to obstructions or mastitis. Therefore, if one of these techniques is started and milk production increases, the mother needs to make sure there are no lumps, milk retention or discomfort in her breasts during the following days.

If there are poor results after performing power pumping, this could indicate that hypogalactia is present, which prevents exclusive breastfeeding.

In summary, these breast stimulation techniques can be very useful in certain circumstances, but they should only be recommended when an urgent increase in breast milk supply is needed. Less exhausting methods should be offered when a mother wants to achieve a relactation, for example.

Power pumping extraction technique

23 February, 2024 LactApp UK Comments 0 Comment

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