In celebration of National Breastfeeding Month, we’re changing the conversation about what it means to pump — and recognizing the moms who do.

So much has been said about the importance of breastfeeding — and rightfully so. 

Breast milk has been shown to provide multiple benefits to babies, from improving their ability to fight infections to decreasing their risk of SIDS and developing conditions like asthma, eczema, and autoimmune disorders. The secret? Breast milk contains all the nutrients babies need during their first six months of life — and, remarkably, no more than they need. It’s capable of something called chrononutrition, whereby it adjusts to meet your baby’s demands based on their age, health, and the time of day.  

It can be equally (if not more!) beneficial to moms, helping them bond with their babies, reducing their chances of developing postpartum depression and anxiety, lowering their risk of certain cancers (like breast and ovarian), and even lessening their postpartum bleeding. 

It’s no surprise then that 83% of mothers initiate breastfeeding, and 71% plan to breastfeed for the first year of their baby’s life. (It’s also what has led the WHO, CDC, and AAP to recommend breastfeeding for the first two years of your baby’s life.) Unfortunately, however, these plans are often derailed — 60% of moms don’t end up reaching their goals, and there’s an especially sharp drop once their babies reach six months of age. This can be linked to a lack of breastfeeding education in hospitals in the days and hours following birth, the lack of federally mandated paid leave, and the lack of accommodations for moms who return to work. 

The CDC says it best: “The steady decline in any and exclusive breastfeeding from month-to-month indicates that breastfeeding families may need stronger systems of support to reach their goals.” (Breastfeeding Report Card, 2022)

Where Pumping Comes Into Play

Pumping — either exclusively or along with nursing — allows many moms to reach their feeding goals and give their babies breast milk for longer. 

According to the State of Feeding, a study we ran in partnership with Bobbie and SimpliFed (and with the support of economist and author Emily Oster), 87% of women who breastfeed also pump. Yet just 45% of women feel proud about their pumping journey — a statistic that shows how important it is to change the conversation around how we feed.

State of Feeding 2024

After all, pumping is breastfeeding. Let’s say that again: pumping is breastfeeding. 

The data shows that any amount of breast milk that a baby receives is beneficial, whether it’s from a bottle or the breast. What’s also beneficial? Making decisions that support your mental health if exclusive breastfeeding isn’t working for you for any reason. If you’re struggling with anxiety or depression as a result of breastfeeding, you’re not going to be able to show up for your baby in the way that you want to. 

Breastfeeding can impact your mental health when you are: 

• Feeling unsure of what you are doing
• Doubting how much milk your baby is getting
• Becoming overstimulated, or “touched out”
• Needing to return to work and/or needing to be away from your baby for extended periods of time— 
• Attempting to troubleshoot lactation-oriented issues such as sore nipples, mastitis, engorged breasts, or low milk supply
• Feeling “tied down” (and lacking enough social or intellectual stimulation)
• Wanting to stop (or give up on) breastfeeding while also feeling external pressure to continue or “just keep trying”

Data also shows that introducing a pump – as well as “combination feeding” with formula — helps women give their baby some amount of breast milk for longer. That’s because it makes it possible to keep up your supply if you have to work outside of the home, to lessen your load by sharing feedings with your partner or a family member, to freeze milk that can be used in small quantities over time, and so much more. 

Changing the Conversation 

A quick pumping search on Google surfaces the following: “Pumping is a way to express breast milk from the breasts when breastfeeding isn't possible. It can be a good choice in many situations, such as when a baby isn't getting enough milk, when a mother is away from her baby, or when a baby is hospitalized. However, breastfeeding directly from the breast is recommended.” 

This sort of language is deeply problematic — and it’s why so many moms feel disappointment, guilt, and even shame when they have to introduce a pump on their feeding journey. It’s also why we’re so committed to communicating that pumping is breastfeeding. 

Says Emily Oster of her own journey in our State of Feeding:

“​​When my daughter was born, my milk took a long time to come in. In the interim, I used a combination of bottles of formula and a complicated setup called a “supplemental nursing system,” while also nursing her for the colostrum. When I did have more milk we continued to supplement with some formula, and I pumped - at home to build a supply, and at work when I went back. For at least the first six months of her life, she had milk from the breast, pumped milk and formula nearly every day.

I make my living thinking and writing about data, and data on breastfeeding typically comes from surveys where we ask people a simple question: Did you breastfeed your child or not? This simple binary leaves so much unsaid. What would I even answer? I did breastfeed, but not exclusively. When I talk to other women about this, sometimes they will ask me: Does pumping count for answering that question?”

At Willow, we resoundingly affirm that pumping does count, and that pumping moms should celebrate themselves — and be celebrated by others — for all that they do to nourish their babies.