Comparison of maternal milk ejection characteristics during pumping using infant-derived and 2-phase vacuum patterns

Area of Science:

• Lactation physiology
• Breastfeeding research
• Infant feeding behavior

Background:

• Milk ejection characteristics are consistent during lactation and robust across breastfeeding and pumping.
• Infant stimulation's influence on early postpartum milk ejection patterns is not fully understood.
• Optimizing pumping patterns to mimic infant feeding may enhance milk removal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare milk ejection characteristics using a novel infant-derived pumping pattern versus an established 2-phase pattern.
• To evaluate milk volume removed and percentage of available milk removed (PAMR) between patterns.
• To investigate associations between milk removal parameters and available milk or PAMR.

Main Methods:

• Ten lactating mothers (1-40 weeks postpartum) participated in two randomized pumping sessions.
• An infant-derived pattern and a 2-phase pattern were used.
• Milk volume, milk ejection characteristics, and PAMR were recorded; statistical analysis used linear mixed effects modeling.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in the number of milk ejections or milk ejection characteristics were observed between the two patterns.
• Milk volumes removed were similar: 53.6 ± 28.5 ml (58.2 ± 28.4% PAMR) for the 2-phase pattern and 54.2 ± 26.3 ml (52.2 ± 22.3% PAMR) for the infant-derived pattern.
• Peak milk flow and volume removed per ejection were positively associated with available milk and PAMR.

Conclusions:

• An experimental pumping pattern mimicking infant sucking did not alter milk ejection or milk removal compared to a 2-phase pattern.
• These findings reinforce that milk ejection is a robust physiological response.
• Further research into infant feeding mechanisms may inform future breast pump pattern development.