How To Power Pump With Spectra S2
Want to learn how to power pump with Spectra S2?
Then our guide on how to use Spectra S2 breast pump is for you!
Spectra is a big name in the electric breast pump market, known for making safe, high-quality products that give mothers peace of mind when caring for their young children.
And the Spectra S2 is no exception!
This a double electric breast pump that turns milk pumping into a breeze, with handy features and a user-friendly setup.
It is also great for those looking to power pump!
But, if you’re new to power pumping don’t worry as we are going to help you learn everything you need to know about how to use your Spectra S2 for power pumping!
And if you love these Spectra breast pump tips, then you’ll love these guides on the best pumping bras for Spectra and best breastmilk storage bags. Or even our Medela Symphony Vs Spectra S2 review!
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The Spectra S2 is a lightweight breast pump made by moms for moms.
It can be used as a single electric breast pump or a double electric breast pump and offers several different functions including adjustable suction levels, variable flow rates, and a range of different cup sizes.
All Spectra pump parts that come in contact with breast milk are BPA/DEHP free and the closed system makes it much easier to keep clean, saving you time and hassle.
The added night light and low noise allows you to easily pump at any hour.
What Is Power Pumping?
Power pumping is the name given to pumping breast milk in a specific time frame that is designed to mirror cluster feeding, i.e. when your baby wants to be fed multiple times across a few hours.
This can boost the amount of milk your body produces as it responds to the higher demands made on it.
While some people may find taking supplements such as oatmeal to be effective for this purpose, power pumping is a quicker solution, with the potential to yield results in just a few days.
Who Is Power Pumping For?
Power pumping is important for mothers whose babies need more milk than they can currently provide. If you are already producing enough milk to satisfy your baby, power pumping is not recommended, as oversupply can prevent your baby from getting the right balance of nutrients.
You may find your milk flow decreases at certain points, such as when your baby starts on solid foods and doesn’t breastfeed as regularly, when you go back to work after maternity leave, or simply when you’re ill or menstruating.
During these times, power pumping can be used to train your body back into its usual lactation cycle.
How Do You Power Pump?
The process of power pumping can seem confusing at first as you get to grips with the timings, but it will become routine after a while. The Spectra S2 has a built-in timer function to help demystify this aspect, as you can easily keep track of how long you’re pumping for.
Deciding Your Pump Schedule
While there is no set schedule to follow, you need to make sure you’re pumping frequently during the same period every day for at least a week; this should be between one and two hours, depending on your natural supply.
The general rule is to pump on and off at your chosen intervals, such as 20 minutes pumping and 10 minutes resting. The breaks are important to stop your breasts becoming sore and irritated.
Experiment with different cycles that work for you – here is an example to get you started:
- 20 mins pump
- 10 mins rest
- 10 mins pump
- 10 mins rest
You can change up the intervals as you wish, and they don’t have to be uniform or exact – after all, your baby doesn’t feed on schedule!
When you have your schedule planned, decide on the time of day you want to pump – a lot of women prefer early evening, as this is around the time babies normally want to cluster feed before bed. The Spectra S2 is ideal for this time, as it functions so quietly that you won’t wake up your little one as you pump. The nightlight is useful for pumping in the middle of the night if you need to top up your supply, and stops you having to grapple around in the dark. Alternatively, you can pump breast milk at work without disturbing your colleagues. The portability makes it suitable for use anywhere, although it does need to be plugged in as it isn’t battery-operated.
Using Your Spectra S2
While usually it is best to massage your breasts manually before pumping to signal to your body that it needs to start expressing milk (essentially simulating a baby’s suckling), the Spectra S2 has a special massage function that completes this step for you.
The Spectra S2 functions like any other pump, so start by positioning the pump over your breast and holding it in place. Because it is a double pump, you can use it with both breasts at the same time for maximum milk yield. However, you can still use it singly if preferred, or even pump one breast while feeding your baby directly with the other.
The Spectra S2 comes with vacuum suction up to L12, so you can adjust this to whichever level is most comfortable. You should have a low setting at first and increase it once the milk starts flowing.
Continue to express milk for the duration of your chosen interval, then take a break before pumping again. Repeat until you finish your cycle; you can perform this cycle again several times per day if you wish.
Make sure your areola doesn’t get pulled into the pump shield and your nipple movement isn’t restricted.
After each use, wash all the parts that have touched breast milk at any point. It is also a good idea to sterilize these parts daily, especially if your baby is in a special care nursery.
Spectra S2 Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Lightweight design (2.5 pounds) for ease of carrying and moving around
- Makes little to no noise during use
- Closed system stops milk from coming into contact with parts it shouldn’t, eliminating the risk of contamination
- Double pump can be used on both breasts simultaneously
- Includes massage mode which saves time compared to manual massaging
- Comes with 2 bottles to collect and store your milk, as well as spare parts
- Nightlight for easy pumping at any time
- Various suction levels you can adjust for comfort
- Hospital grade equipment ensures high levels of safety
- Comes with a 2-year warranty
Cons:
- Not battery-operated – must be plugged in and trailing wires can present a trip hazard
- Only comes in soft pink
- Design is bigger than similar models, so could be more difficult to store
You may also like these guides on Spectra S1 vs S2 and Spectra S1 vs S2 vs S9.
The Spectra S2 is a lightweight breast pump made by moms for moms.
It can be used as a single electric breast pump or a double electric breast pump and offers several different functions including adjustable suction levels, variable flow rates, and a range of different cup sizes.
All Spectra pump parts that come in contact with breast milk are BPA/DEHP free and the closed system makes it much easier to keep clean, saving you time and hassle.
The added night light and low noise allows you to easily pump at any hour.
FAQs on How To Increase Milk Supply With Power Pumping
You should choose one hour each day or night to power pump when it fits into your schedule (for example 8pm every night). You can replace a regular pumping session with a power pump session or do it in addition when your baby is asleep or otherwise occupied.
It will take a few days for your body’s milk supply to respond to the increased demand from your breast pump, as such you should power pump for at least one hour a day for four days in a row up to 1 week to see an increase in milk supply. At that stage you should then evaluate your progress.
The best time to power pump is when it fits your schedule as power pumping at the same time each day will help to condition your body to produce more milk. Power pumping at night is a great option for mothers who are busy during the day. Some moms prefer to pump when they wake up as that’s when they find that their milk supply is highest.
How much milk you get from power pumping will depend on the person and what your normal expressed amount is, but you can expect to have a 30% increase in your breast milk or more. The idea behind power pumping is to empty the breasts, signaling the mammary glands to produce more milk, so it’s important to note it may take up to a week to see results.
Final Thoughts on How To Use Spectra S2 For Power Pumping
Power pumping can be a great tool to use to help increase your milk supply. And the Spectra S2 certainly makes power pumping simpler by allowing you to electronically pump both breasts at the same time for maximum milk yield.
And if you’re looking for more great guides, make sure to check out these guides on best breast pumps for low milk supply, best mini fridge for breast milk, best freezer for breast milk.
