Oops, I just Pumped and My Baby is Hungry.

pumped-baby-hungry-adorable

Don’t sweat it!

Remember, our bodies are designed to be amazing! God thought of everything and our bodies respond to the needs of our babies.

The concept of “emptying the breast” can be a bit misleading, but have no fear, our breasts were designed for the purpose of feeding our children. And this is still true even after pumping.

The breast is never truly emptied. Think instead of the milk being extracted from the breast as a supply and demand issue. It’s true that milk production is constant. When the breast is less full, the production speed picks up, and as the breast gets fuller, production slows.

Imagine a factory is making and selling a widget. While the widget is in demand, the factory is working quickly to satisfy its customers. If the demand for the widget decreases, so does the speed of production, and the excess stored.

Your baby will also begin to eat closer together as it gets later in the day. There’s a reason for this too. The fat content of your milk is higher which aids your baby in being able to sleep a longer stretch.

So if you just pumped and are trying to build a freezer stash, don’t double whammy your efforts by giving your baby a bottle. This hinders your efforts of creating a stash but, more importantly, tells your body to slow production. Even if you think you’re “empty” when your baby wakes up to eat, go ahead and nurse him. The feeding may take longer but if he’s alert and has a correct latch he’ll still be getting something.

To avoid the longer feedings, try pumping after he eats. Then the baby is satisfied and your stash is able to grow, even if it’s just a little at a time.

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”
Psalm 139:14

Related Topics:

6 Tips and Tricks for Efficient Pumping
Prayer, Perseverance, and the Path to 100% Breast Milk
Fed is Best

Other Articles by Lil Dino Mommy:

Finding Out I’m Pregnant 
Announcing My Pregnancy

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Lily

Thanks for this, so many misleading articles out there. Some say to wait 30 mins after pumping to feed, but what if baby cannot wait 🙉

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