“Stop watching!”: Brilliant breast pump tip helps mums increase their supply

A breast pumping hack is going viral for a good reason: it actually works!

If you’re struggling to pump breast milk, this tip from a lactation consultant could help. All you need is your breast pump and a sock. 

Stressed or sad?

“Are you someone who sits and watches the trickle of milk, if any, that comes when pumping? Do you get stressed or sad about your output?” lactation consultant Johanna Sargeant asks on her Facebook page, Milk and Motherhood.

All you need is a sock

“When I was told to pump after feeding to boost supply, I’d sit there and watch. I’d double pump for twenty minutes after every feed, and become more and more demoralised at the lack of milk in that bottle,” says Johanna.

“I realised that, for my own mental health, I needed to stop watching! Easier said than done. Enter the baby sock.”

Now this mama is advising others to do the same, with some pretty amazing results. 

“Some women are often reporting 2-3 times more milk when they remove themselves mentally from the result of their pumping session,” says Johanna. “We know that oxytocin release is inhibited by stress, and oxytocin release is required for letdowns, so if you find you are getting stressed while watching, try it!”

Speaking to TODAY parents, Johanna reiterates the point that stress and oxytocin “can’t coexist”.

“In order for you to have let-down — the point where milk comes out of your breast — you need to have a release of oxytocin,” she says. 

“I love this”

Johanna’s post has already been shared over 8,000 times, receiving over 3,000 comments with many people thanking her for the “great” advice.

“I love this. I think it would have helped me a lot in the early days when I was pumping to bring my supply in. Thanks for sharing,” one commenter writes.

Another added: “As a NICU mommy I can say pumping in my room while I looked at my baby or smelled his lil beanie increased my output too. I wouldn’t even look at the bottles I’d focus on him. Next thing I knew my milk would come sputtering out the flange from overflowing.”

“I used to close my eyes when I pumped and imagine the bottle filling up with milk. The first time I tried it, I was amazed at how much milk I pumped,” shared another.

Great tip, Johanna!