Benefits Of Using A Lactation Massager For Breastfeeding

Does your baby still feel hungry after being fed?? If you are worried about whether your baby has had enough milk or not, you’re not alone. Many new mums face low milk supply issues and are unable to fully empty each breast while breastfeeding. Other than these, there are common breastfeeding problems like nursing pain, plugged ducts, engorgement and mastitis.

Thanks to lactation massager which is a simple solution that helps address all of these challenges. Here’s all you need to know about it and its benefits.

What Is A Lactation Massager?

A lactation massager is a device that can be easily handheld and is designed to massage the breasts of breastfeeding women to overcome certain breastfeeding challenges, which include clogged milk ducts and engorged breasts.

However, whether to get it or not to induce lactation is one’s personal choice.

How Does a Lactation Massager Work?

Most lactation massagers function like any other massager. They rely on good vibrations and some devices use heat to stimulate and loosen up the area of the breasts. As a result, the time spent pumping and breastfeeding gets an effective boost.

Benefits Of A Lactation Massager During Breastfeeding

1. Aids in Increasing Milk Supply

Breastmilk helps to meet a baby’s nutritional needs. However, it can get challenging when the baby can’t be fed well due to a low milk supply. That’s where a lactation massager can come in handy which helps to compress the milk ducts helping the milk to move forward. It helps to empty the breast effectively thus supplying enough milk for your baby and also increases the overall milk production.

2. Prevents Mastitis and Clogged Ducts

Many times, breastfeeding mums notice that there is an inflammation of the breast tissue called mastitis. This happens when small tender lumps are formed causing a blockage of one of the milk-carrying milk ducts and is left untreated. Hence, using a lactation massager can help empty the milk fully from each breast which is a major reason for causing an infection that can lead to mastitis. It helps massage the breasts and prevent blocked milk ducts.

3. Helps to Release Oxytocin

Oxytocin is a hormone that makes one feel good and causes the breast glands to contract and fill the milk ducts helping the baby to get milk. The hormone also helps to create a strong bond between a mum and her baby. This, in turn, leads the uterus to contract to help the body return to its pre-pregnancy shape.

When you use a lactation massager, it can help to increase the release of the oxytocin hormone. The device helps to stimulate the breasts with its strategically placed bumps on the roller. You can use it before and after nursing or even during nursing for the best results. It can also be handy during the pumping sessions.

4. Aids in Latching

If you get a tingling feeling of letdown is an indicator that your baby is getting milk after latching on. When letdown takes a long time, your baby can become frustrated. That’s where a lactation massage roller helps in stimulating the milk ducts. This in turn speeds up the letdown when you use the device before breastfeeding or pumping letting your baby quickly get the milk she needs.

On the other hand, if the letdown is too fast, a lactation massager can help to stimulate the breast so that the mum can express some breast milk before her baby latches on. Ensure, that you don’t express excessively as the foremilk contains vital nutrients for the growth and development of the baby and also satisfies her thirst.

Next time, you have a low milk supply, consider these benefits of using a lactation massager and breastfeed your little one better.

Cover image credit – FamilyEducation