Are you a new Mama who’s just started breastfeeding or pumping?
If you joined Facebook groups and forums and struggling to understand what all these terms mean, you’re not alone! I did too.
It can be daunting.
To help you out, I’ve compiled a list of breastfeeding and pumping terms that every Mama should know (or, at least, familiarize themselves with).
I created this Glossary page with the hope that it demystifies pumping and breastfeeding for you. This is something I wished I had when I first started!
Breastfeeding and Pumping Terms
📌 Breast Compression
📌 Clogged Ducts
| Also called plugged ducts, this refers to a blocked milk duct. How do you know if you have clogged ducts? Gently massage your breast and see if you can feel any lump — it can be as small as a pea or a large wedge-shaped mass. Plugged ducts are often described as “wedge-shaped” due to the anatomical structure of the breast and how the milk ducts are affected when a blockage occurs. The breast comprises lobules of alveoli (milk-producing glands) connected to the nipple by a network of milk ducts. These ducts can become blocked for many reasons, including insufficient milk removal, pressure on a specific breast area, or wearing overly tight bras. The wedge shape comes from how the blocked duct affects the breast tissue. Since each duct is responsible for draining milk from a specific segment of the breast, a blockage can cause milk to back up in that segment, leading to inflammation and swelling in a pie-shaped section that points towards the nipple. This area of swelling and tenderness is often palpable and can sometimes be seen as a red, swollen patch on the breast surface. It reflects the “wedge” or “pie slice” pattern of the affected duct and its associated breast tissue. |
📌 Dangle Pumping
📌 Engorgement
📌 Elastic Nipples
📌 Expression Mode
📌 IBCLC
Stands for “International Board Certified Lactation Consultant”. This is the gold standard for lactation professionals — the highest certification one can get.
Becoming an IBCLC is a rigorous process involving at least 90 hours of lactation-specific education plus 300-1,000 clinical hours helping breastfeeding families (*the number of hours depends on the pathway chosen). There are 3 Pathways to become an IBCLC.
And that’s just the requirement to be able to take the certification exam.
One has to pass a written exam administered by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE). The certification exam is given twice a year, but you have to apply to take the exam months in advance.
📌 Hand Expression
📌 Lactation Consultant
| A professional who is trained in lactation. Strictly speaking, a lactation consultant is either an IBCLC or a CLC. However, anyone who is trained or educated in lactation can refer to themselves as ‘lactation consultants’. Sometimes, hospitals may have a “lactation consultant” on call but they’re not an IBCLC or CLC, just someone who has lactation training and/or experience in breastfeeding support. There are several organizations offering lactation training, and as such, offer different certifications: – International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC): The gold standard for lactation professional globally. See the IBCLC section above for more info. – Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC): This U.S.-specific designation is offered by the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice (ALPP). Requires a minimum of 52 hours of training and passing an exam. – Certified Lactation Educator (CLE): Good for breastfeeding education and support but a CLE is not a clinician and can’t help with complex breastfeeding problems and issues. – Advanced Lactation Consultant (ALC): This is not a universally recognized credential, but some organizations offer ALC programs for experienced lactation consultants seeking to further specialize in a particular area. There are many other certifications for lactation support professionals. Private organizations offer different lactation and breastfeeding programs, but the training requirements, quality, and overall legitimacy can vary significantly. Various organizations offer different designations for students who complete their course. For more info, check out our guide on Lactation Experts. |
📌 Letdown Mode
📌 Letdown Reflex
📌 MOTN
You’ll often see this in Facebook groups and forums. MOTN stands for “Middle Of The Night” pump.
There are varying times but the general consensus is any pumping session between 12 midnight to 4 am.
📌 MPP (Months Postpartum)
Shorthand for “How many months after you give birth”, usually stated to give context before asking for advice in Facebook Groups, forums and social media.
📌 Plugged Ducts
See “Clogged Ducts” above.
📌 Wearables
These are breast pumps that you can “wear”, hence the term wearables. This type of breast pump often have the motor attached to the collection cup. They don’t have wires and so they can be worn under a shirt.
Pumping Mamas returning to work usually choose to pump with a wearable at work for convenience, especially for those who have to be up and about or those who don’t have the time to sit down for a pumping session.
📌 WPP (Weeks Postpartum)
Shorthand for “How many weeks after you give birth”. Similar to MPP above, you’ll often find this in Facebook Groups where breastfeeding and pumping moms ask for advice.