Motif’s goal is to make sure we listen to moms’ needs and to continue improving our products to match the needs of today’s busy, on-the-go mom. So, moms asked, and we listened by presenting a portable version of our most powerful pump, the Luna! So what makes the battery-powered Luna so special? In this blog, our in-house lactation director and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Ashley, will explain why it’s such a game changer to breastfeeding and pumping moms!
Breastmilk has a wonderful shelf life. Unlike most foods and beverages, breastmilk retains live cells and enzymes that actually fight off foreign microbe growth. If left out, environmental bacteria and other microbes that land in the milk are eliminated by these cells. For this reason, unpasteurized human milk can be left out for up to 4 hours at room temperature before needing to be refrigerated, unlike most other items at 2 hours.
If breast pumping or expressing milk, you may occasionally notice that your milk is not always white. While this can be confusing or even upsetting to some, it is actually quite normal to see different color variations, and rarely is it cause for concern for baby ingesting or an indication of something wrong.
Breast compression refers to the mother hand expressing while the baby is attached and feeding, or while the mother is pumping (hands-on pumping). This technique allows more milk to flow without solely relying on suction. It is particularly helpful in cases where a baby is too sleepy to finish a feed after the letdown response, a milk duct contraction-induced flow, or in instances when a mother is relying on pumping.
As an individual lactation consultant outside of a hospital setting, I get the privilege of following the journeys of many mothers with breastfeeding. I have often been asked, “What do you think is the most common problem?” or “What’s something you think I should know ?”
5 Tips for Talking to Relatives About Pumping & Breastfeeding
Even though awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding is growing, it can still be a hard topic to discuss, especially with loved ones who may not have firsthand experience with it. While it is ultimately your decision to breastfeed and breast pump or not, it can be an intimate topic that your friends and family members feel embarrassed talking about. Prepare yourself to confidently talk to relatives about breastfeeding and pumping with our tips below.
One of the major challenges for moms returning to the workplace after maternity leave is maintaining a healthy, routine breast pumping schedule. Moms need a private space as well as time away from the demands of the job every few hours to pump in peace. It can be difficult to talk freely about breast pumping in the workplace, but ultimately, employers benefit from supporting their working moms. What’s more, the law mandates that employers provide sufficient space and resources for moms to pump.
There are many sources of information out there about the health and bonding benefits of breastfeeding for the baby's immune system. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), asthma, obesity, ear infections, common colds and infections, and more. But there are just as many crucial benefits and health implications for the mother!
