When To Pump And Dump During Breastfeeding

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Last Friday evening, after a long day of taking care of my baby, the household chores, and working from home, I got a phone call. Since there’s an active lockdown post 10.00 p.m., my friends wanted to come over to let loose with some appetizing food and beer.

While I told them they’re always welcome, I was a little hesitant because this was my first time drinking after having a baby. I’ve been breastfeeding for eight months and pregnant for nine months before that. So after being off my drinking game for about a year and a half, I was worried about my baby’s health.

Wonder what I did next? I postponed the plan to another day. And called up my sister right after, who has a two-year-old toddler, and asked her what I could do. That’s when she suggested I pump and dump on occasion.

Pumping breast milk is very common these days as it reduces the stress among mothers about having accessibility to breast milk all the time. Not to mention for other reasons like if you have a shortage of milk or swollen breasts. It’s always good to be packing. So if you’re a new mom who wants to have an occasional night out with drinks, don’t worry about feeding your little one. Just read on to know when to pump and dump during breastfeeding.

In This Article

Let’s start with, do you know what it means to pump and dump breast milk?

For whenever you head out for a drink or two, you pump and dump your breast milk instead of feeding your baby. Breast milk is a source of nutrients for your baby, so you can’t feed your child for a few hours as it takes some time for the substance to leave your body. All you need to do is release your milk, just pump and dump it. And in a couple of hours, you will be ready to feed again (1).

When do moms need to pump and dump exactly?

After Drinking Alcohol

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I get it. It’s tempting to return to that old lifestyle that included a drink or two on weekends. It’s safe to consume some amount of alcohol during breastfeeding, as not a lot of it passes through your breast milk. But do pump and dump if you have had too much to drink. You need to maintain your blood alcohol levels and wait for about three hours after that to feed your baby. Don’t stress over it, though. You can pump before your drink and provide your child with unadulterated milk.

If You’re Doing Any Drugs

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It’s not safe to consume drugs in any amount while feeding a baby breast milk. These include any hard drug or marijuana. These substances are toxic and will stream through your breast milk in no time. So steer clear from taking any such drugs if you have a baby dependent on you for its feed. And if you do, don’t just pump and dump. Visit your healthcare provider to know the repercussions, one of which could be to stop breastfeeding altogether.

While On Medication

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Breastfeeding helps give babies a healthy start! But if you’re on any medication, know that it can impact on your breast milk. Don’t worry just yet. Most medicines pass through your bloodstream at low levels and pose no real risk to your baby. But there are a few meds that can affect your breast milk. So if you need to take any form of medication, consult a medical professional to better understand how you can go about feeding the baby (2).

Eating Some Kinds of Food

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Babies can develop allergies at any given time. This could be a reaction to a new food that doesn’t suit their body. One way to come across an allergic reaction is to consume some food that doesn’t do them good.

How can you figure this one out?

Keep a close eye on your baby. If you see anything out of the usual, like rashes on the skin, etc., visit your pediatrician right away. And sometimes, you may not be able to give up on particular food or beverages like coffee causing allergies, so check with your health care provider how you pump and dump before feeding your baby again.

I know it’s easier said than done. But looking after a baby is an invaluable job. And since feeding your baby is essential, it’s always better to learn the know-how of when to pump and dump instead of feeding the baby the wrong way.

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