Breastfeeding is a beautiful journey that nourishes your baby with the perfect blend of nutrients and antibodies. But for busy moms, pumping allows for flexibility and convenience, ensuring your baby receives the benefits of breastmilk even when you’re not there.
Whether you’re a seasoned pumping pro or just starting out, mastering the process of pumping, storing, thawing, and feeding breastmilk empowers you to confidently navigate your breastfeeding journey. Here’s your comprehensive guide:
Pumping Essentials:
Find Your Rhythm: Establish a pumping routine that works for you. It could be several short sessions throughout the day or longer stretches that fit your schedule. Consistency is key to maintaining milk supply.
Choosing Your Pump: A high-quality breast pump makes a world of difference. Hygeia Health offers a comfortable, efficient, and quiet hospital-grade pump that is free to many through insurance. Consider your needs – portability for on-the-go pumping or a hospital-grade option for frequent pumping sessions.
Perfect Latch & Positioning: Proper positioning and latch ensure optimal milk flow and prevent discomfort. Your baby’s mouth should be wide open, with their chin and lower lip flanged outward. Their tongue should be positioned over a large portion of your nipple and most of the darker area around your nipple, called the areola). This ensures they get enough milk and prevents nipple pain for you. If you’re unsure about your latch, don’t hesitate to ask a lactation consultant for help.
Storing Liquid Gold: Safeguarding Your Breast Milk
Fresh is Best: Freshly pumped breast milk can be stored at room temperature (up to 77°F) for up to 4 hours. This is ideal for short outings or pumping between nursing sessions.
Refrigerator Storage for Later: For longer storage, refrigerate breast milk in the back of the refrigerator where the temperature is most stable. Properly stored milk can last up to 4 days.
Deep Freeze for Long-Term Storage: Breast milk can be stored in the deep freezer (at 0°F or below) for up to 12 months. However, milk quality can degrade over time. Label containers with the date to ensure you use the oldest milk first.
Adding to your Storage: Small amounts of expressed milk may be added to the same refrigerated container or even a frozen container. The key is that the milk you want to add is cooled in the fridge beforehand. Don’t add body-temperature milk to cooled or already frozen milk.
Hygeia’s Storage Solutions: Invest in high-quality breast milk storage bags or containers. Hygeia Health offers a range of leak-proof, BPA-free storage options to keep your precious milk safe, including a cooler bag for temporary storage on the go.
Thawing Treasures: Warming Up Breast Milk Safely
Never Microwave: Don’t even think about it. Not only does microwaving destroy nutrients in breast milk but it can also create hot spots that could burn your baby’s mouth.
Gradual Thawing: The safest method is to thaw frozen breast milk in the refrigerator overnight or generally 12 hours. For quicker thawing, place the sealed milk bag or container in a container of lukewarm water, but never in boiling water. This kind of heat can damage the nutrients. It is also important to not let it thaw at room temperature.
Temperature Check and mixing: Before feeding, test a drop of milk on the inside of your wrist to ensure it’s lukewarm, not hot. Be sure to swirl the milk in the bag or bottle as the milk can separate during storage and you want to blend all the fats.
Limited window: Once you’ve thawed milk and left it at room temperature, you want to feed it to your baby within two hours. If that doesn’t happen, do not refreeze the milk. It’s time to pitch.
Feeding Time! Delivering the Goodness
Room Temperature or Chilled?: Either is fine! Breast milk can be fed to your baby at room temperature or chilled. Some babies may even prefer cooler milk. You can also warm the milk to body temperature but it’s not necessary.
Fresh vs. Thawed: If possible, prioritize using fresh or refrigerated breast milk over thawed milk. Thawed milk may have a slightly different taste or smell. It’s still perfectly safe for your baby; however, it will store longer and you can’t refreeze it once thawed, so save it for later.
Bottles and Nipples: Choose bottles designed for breastfed babies to help prevent nipple confusion. Experiment with different nipple types to find one your baby takes comfortably.
Hygeia’s Feeding Accessories: Hygeia Health offers a variety of bottle and nipple options to ensure a smooth transition between breast and bottle feeding.
Embrace the Journey with Hygeia Health
Juggling motherhood and breastfeeding can be demanding, but pumping empowers you to provide your baby with the irreplaceable benefits of breast milk. Hygeia Health is here to support you every step of the way.
We offer a convenient insurance-covered breast pump program to eligible mothers. Our hospital-grade pump is designed for comfort, efficiency, and portability, making it perfect for busy moms.
Click here to apply for your free breast milk pump today!
With the right knowledge, tools, and support system, you can confidently navigate pumping, storing, thawing, and feeding breast milk. Happy pumping, mamas!
September is Neonatal Intensive Care Awareness Month (NICU Awareness), a time to recognize the incredible strength and resilience of NICU families. For mothers of NICU babies, breastfeeding can be a source of comfort, connection, and nourishment.
Challenges Faced by NICU Moms
NICU moms often face unique challenges in all aspects of mothering a newborn, but specifically, breastfeeding a NICU baby can be particularly difficult. These challenges may include:
Separation from their baby: Being unable to hold and feed baby can be emotionally taxing.
Pumping challenges: Maintaining milk supply while baby is in the NICU can be physically demanding.
Stress and anxiety: The stress of having a baby in the NICU can impact a mother’s milk supply as well as the overall ability to breastfeed.
The Benefits of Breastfeeding a NICU Baby
Despite these challenges, breastfeeding a NICU baby offers numerous benefits and is still very possible. Some of these benefits include:
Colostrum: The first milk produced after birth is rich in nutrients and antibodies that can help protect your baby from infections. While baby may not be able to latch, a mom can pump and the colostrum can still nourish baby.
Reduced risk of infections: Breast milk contains antibodies that can help protect your baby from infections, which are common in NICU babies.
Improved growth and development: Breast milk is specifically designed to meet your baby’s nutritional needs and can help promote healthy growth and development, which are all the more necessary in premature births and NICU babies in general.
Stronger bond: Breastfeeding can help you bond with your baby, even if they are still in the NICU and you cannot have skin-to-skin contact.
Support NICU Moms
Supporting a mother of a NICU baby can make a world of difference. By offering your support, you can help a NICU mom feel less alone and more empowered to care for her baby. Here are a few ways you can offer your support:
Be there for her: First and foremost, offer emotional support, a listening ear, and words of encouragement.
Help with practical tasks: Helping with what seem like simple household chores, errands, or childcare for older children can make a world of difference to a stressed NICU mom.
Respect her feelings: Understand that she may be feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed. Avoid making assumptions or offering unsolicited advice.
Connect her with resources: While you do have to be careful about unsolicited advice, it can be helpful to be sure she is connected with information about local support groups, lactation consultants, or other resources that can help her.
Celebrate her strength: No matter how small, take time to acknowledge her resilience and the challenges she is facing. Let her know that you appreciate her strength and courage.
How Hygeia Health Can Help
At Hygeia Health, we understand the unique challenges faced by NICU moms and are here to give the best support.
Support resources: We offer resources and support to help NICU moms on their breastfeeding journey. Our website provides information on breastfeeding and pumping, and our customer service team is available to answer your questions.
Lactation assistance: Access an expert anytime, anywhere for assurance and support on your breastfeeding journey. We partner with Nest Collaborative to provide virtual breastfeeding consults covered by most insurance plans at no cost to you.
Get a free breast pump: We believe that every mother should have access to the tools and support they need to breastfeed their baby. That’s why we offer a free breast pump to NICU moms through our NICU Mom Support Program. Our high-quality breast pumps are designed to make pumping easier and more efficient, allowing you to focus on bonding with your baby.
Let’s work together to support NICU families and celebrate the incredible strength and resilience of these amazing mothers.
Hygeia Health is thrilled to announce that its innovative Hygeia Express breast pump has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Product of the Year by babyMaternity magazine in the coveted category of Breast Pumps & Accessories.
“The Hygeia Express breast pump is more than just a product; it’s a partner for modern mothers, offering unparalleled comfort, efficiency, and portability,” stated Kelly Cuellar, Vice President of Sales at Hygeia Health.
Hospital-Grade Suction Meets Portability
This esteemed recognition underscores the Hygeia Express’s exceptional performance, comfort, and portability, making it the ultimate choice for modern mothers. Designed with hospital-grade suction and gentle comfort in mind, the Hygeia Express caters to the needs of multitasking moms by offering optional wearable milk collection cups.
“This breast pump for on-the-go moms is amazing! I really like that it has hospital-grade strength and that it’s so comfortable to use,” said one of the moms in a review.
As a cordless, lightweight champion of convenience, the Hygeia Express empowers mothers with the freedom to pump anytime, anywhere. Its whisper-quiet operation ensures discreet pumping, allowing moms to seamlessly integrate breastfeeding into their busy lives.
“This breast pump is perfect for travel and it’s so convenient to use. I think this would be a perfect baby shower gift. I highly recommend it for any new mom,” shared another enthusiastic mother.
Real Moms Love the Hygeia Express
The Hygeia Express’s innovative technology mimics a baby’s natural suckling pattern, ensuring efficient and comfortable pumping sessions. Its superior design and quality have earned it widespread acclaim.
“I love this design and the quality is excellent! Great product!” said another review.
The babyMaternity Magazine Advantage: Real Parent Tested
The babyMaternity Magazine’s Awards Program stands out by involving a diverse panel of expectant mothers, new moms, and baby caregivers in the product evaluation process. This comprehensive approach guarantees that the awarded products truly meet the needs and expectations of real parents.
Join countless happy moms who trust and love the Hygeia Express. See if you qualify for a 100% insurance-covered pump today…
World Breastfeeding Week may be coming to a close, we have only kicked off National Breastfeeding Month, with the theme of “Nourish, Sustain, Thrive”. While all breastfeeding is celebrated this month, this blog post will highlight the specific awareness weeks that will be taking place. Let’s acknowledge the unique experiences of different communities and learn how we can better support them.
Indigenous Milk Medicine Week
Dates: Aug. 8-14
Indigenous cultures have long recognized the healing properties of breast milk. Indigenous Milk Medicine honors this tradition and emphasizes the importance of cultural sensitivity in breastfeeding support. Learn more.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week
Dates: Aug. 15-21
The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community faces unique challenges, including language barriers, cultural expectations, and limited access to culturally competent care. Raising awareness and providing culturally appropriate support is essential. Learn more.
Black Breastfeeding Week
Dates: Aug. 25-31
Black women have lower breastfeeding rates compared to other racial groups. Addressing systemic racism, providing culturally sensitive care, and creating supportive communities are crucial steps toward improving Black breastfeeding outcomes. Learn more.
Workplace Lactation Awareness Week
Dates: Sept. 1-7
Supporting breastfeeding mothers in the workplace is essential. Creating lactation rooms, offering flexible work arrangements, and providing education on breastfeeding and pumping can make a significant difference. Learn more.
By working together, we can create a world where every mother has the support she needs to breastfeed. Hygeia Health is committed to supporting mothers on their breastfeeding journey. Our breast pumps are designed with comfort and efficiency in mind, but we know that a great pump is just one piece of the puzzle. We believe in providing comprehensive support, including education, resources, and community.
Let’s continue to celebrate the power of breast milk in the month of August, but we will advocate for policies that support breastfeeding families every month of the year.
Newborn photos and swaddles are adorable, but what about YOU, mama? When it’s time to nurse your little one for the first time, what will you need by your side?
Breastfeeding Essentials for a Smooth Start
Let’s address the pump question: Most hospitals provide lactation consultants and pumps for postpartum use. Breathe easy! Call your hospital beforehand to see what breastfeeding supplies they offer and confirm lactation consultant availability. These experts are there to answer your questions and help you achieve a successful breastfeeding journey.
Now, let’s explore additional items to maximize your breastfeeding comfort during those precious hospital days:
- Nursing Bras and Tanks: Easy Access
Who needs modesty when you’re a superhero fueling your newborn? Choose bras and tanks that prioritize easy latching and skin-to-skin contact.
Products to check out: Bravado Designs, Kindred Bravely, Bodily
- Nursing Pads: Leakproof Protection
These lifesavers absorb leaks and safeguard your clothes. Disposable or washable options are available, so pick your preference.
Products to check out: Lansinoh disposable or Lansinoh Washable, Bamboobies,
- Nipple Cream: Soothing Soreness
Breastfeeding is natural, but soreness can happen. Lanolin-based creams are popular choices to soothe any discomfort or cracking.
Products to check out: Lansinoh, Earth Mama Angel Baby, Mother Love
- Feeding Pillow: Positioning Perfection
A nursing pillow can be a game-changer, especially for first-time moms. It provides support and frees up your arms for optimal baby positioning during feeds.
Products to check out: My Brest Friend, Twin Z Pillow
- Pajamas, Gowns, or Robes: Comfy Clothes are Key
Embrace comfort above all else! Pack loose-fitting clothes that grant easy access for breastfeeding. A robe that layers over your nursing bra or tank can be a lifesaver, too.
- Water Bottle: Stay Hydrated
As a breastfeeding mama, hydration is crucial. Pack your favorite reusable water bottle and keep it within reach. You’ll thank yourself later!
Remember: Your milk supply takes a few days to come in fully. Initially, your body produces colostrum, often called “liquid gold.” This amazing substance is exactly what your newborn needs. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see a massive “milk” supply in the first 48 hours. It’ll come after the colostrum, but let that newborn drink up the gold while it’s there.
Bonus Tip: Some insurance plans cover breast pump accessories and replacement parts. Let us help you check your coverage and consider getting a hospital-grade pump through insurance. Hygeia provides a variety of accessories that compliment your Hygeia breast pump. Check out our pump and accessories on our website.
