We recently featured our client, Vanessa, who overcame many unexpected challenges in not only her birth plan but also in the first few months with her new daughter, Anastasia. Because of the Breastfeeding Resource Center, Vanessa was able to access resources for lactation support–such as our Pump It Up Program–that enabled her to find success and support on her breastfeeding journey.
New parents might be separated from their babies for a variety of reasons that would necessitate pumping milk, from returning-to-work to unforeseen emergencies. Access to quality breast pumps can positively impact a lactating parent’s ability to continue to provide milk for their baby. The Pump It Up Program subsidizes the cost of a hospital grade pump for low-income families and enables the purchase of kits for donated Spectra Pumps.
“I believe in the power of breast pumps. I learned this lesson in the years working with families who had infants in the intensive care nursery for weeks and months: increasing milk supply is more elastic than I had previously thought,” shared Georgette Bartell, Pump It Up Program sponsor and longtime supporter of the Breastfeeding Resource Center. She added that the standard teaching is that milk supply is established in the first 10 to 14 days with breast/chestfeeding and/or pumping approximately eight times a day to produce 20 to 25 ounces a day. But, a supply of 10 ounces a day two weeks into breast/chestfeeding isn’t failure–it’s actually a start.
“What I found was that for many new parents, it took longer and a quality pump was critical to make that happen. Consistently exclusively pumping or combined with breast/chestfeeding, the supply would grow over time.” Georgette explained. “It can be hard to stick with it which is why writing down how much one gets at each pumping session is so important. When those numbers increase little by little, the parent knows they’re on the right path. Many new parents have achieved a full supply after one, two or even three months!” Georgette also advised there are many reasons a new parent’s milk supply might be low, including physical and hormonal factors, and a visit with one of the BRC’s IBCLCs is invaluable.
Dr. Joshua A. Rabinowitz, DO, FAAP–Chief of Well Baby Nurseries, Main Line Health; Director of Advocare Newborn Network; and Partner of Advocare Main Line Pediatrics–also a dedicated donor to the BRC and sponsor of the Pump It Up Program. “Supporting families through their breast/chestfeeding journey has benefits beyond infant nutrition. Newborns’ optimal social, emotional and brain development rely on positive and ongoing early relational experiences,” he shared, of his motivation to donate to both the center and the program. “The BRC exemplifies the holistic support families need to be competent and successful on their journey. I am proud to support the BRC’s Pump It Up Program and any additional programs they create to help families and babies!”
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