Even if the hospital has a pump available, the mother may want a second pump for use at home. Just as with nursing at the breast, if the mother is experiencing difficulty maintaining her supply, more frequent stimulation can help. Some mothers will need to pump at night, while other mothers will find that a night's rest is more beneficial to their milk supply. The Leader can help each mother create a plan that will enable her to fit pumping sessions into her already over-burdened schedule of visiting baby, caring for any other children and trying to find time for a shower or bath. A mother who is expressing milk will need to store it until the baby is ready to use it.
Many hospitals have places to store milk so that it is available whenever the baby needs it.
A baby who is in the hospital commonly experiences setbacks. These setbacks can be very upsetting to the mother and can influence her milk supply. If the Leader has established rapport, she is in a good position to reassure the mother and help her find ways to keep herself calm. When it's time to put the baby to the breast, the Leader can give hands-on help. If the Leader is unable to assist, referral to a lactation consultant may be necessary.