Pumping

Pumping is a HUGE topic in lactation in the United States (pumping is much less prevalent worldwide, likely due to more maternal leave postpartum in other countries).  It’s hard to summarize the wide variety of considerations, questions, and complications related to pumping.  A common question is “which type of pump,” but like everything with lactation, this is very much individualized based on how much milk you produce (for example, patients with lots of milk can handle less stimulation from a hands-free pump such as the Elvie, but patients with lower production may need a stronger pump to maintain volume).  I discuss this and other cautions with pumps in these articles.