NICU Parents Guide for Pumping and Breastfeeding

TIPS • Allow 20-30 minutes of quiet time for pumping. • RELAX The most common cause of low milk supply are fatigue and infrequent pumping. (the more you pump, the more milk you produce) To help relax, keep a picture of your baby nearby during pumping, or think of your baby and visualize him or her nursing at your breast. Pump at your baby’s bedside or after holding your baby. • Keep a log of how long you pump and how much milk was obtained. A written record will help you pick up early and drop in the number of sessions, time spent pumping or volume of milk obtained, so you can make changes before a real problem develops.