Pumpers

ravenclaw1

Ladies who pump- give me your best advice on schedules and any tips.

I just got back to work today, and I need to make sure I'm doing best practices for pumping and maintaining good supply to bring to daycare everyday and also still BF A in the mornings/evenings.

Thanks!

Tally879

Do you have a good supply to start?  I have been back to work for about 2 months now and haven't found that I've had a decrease in supply.  I nurse LO at about 7 before I drop him off at my parents, then I will pump at 10:30 and then at 2:30, and then nurse him when I pick him around 5:30.  I get about 13 oz total for the day from those two pumping sessions and that satisfies him for the next day.  I also drink the mother's milk tea and eat oatmeal bars for breakfast while at work, I'm not sure if that's helping me.  

ravenclaw1

Tally879 said:

Do you have a good supply to start?  I have been back to work for about 2 months now and haven't found that I've had a decrease in supply.  I nurse LO at about 7 before I drop him off at my parents, then I will pump at 10:30 and then at 2:30, and then nurse him when I pick him around 5:30.  I get about 13 oz total for the day from those two pumping sessions and that satisfies him for the next day.  I also drink the mother's milk tea and eat oatmeal bars for breakfast while at work, I'm not sure if that's helping me.  

This is almost exactly what I've been doing today, except add a pumping session after her 5am feeding.

I've actually always had an oversupply, but I'm not getting a ton from the pump (11 oz total for the day). I'm thinking I might not be pumping long enough?

mmdd20

I have a similar schedule to the PP, but also haven't had too many supply issues (for which I am VERY thankful).

I nurse at 7 am, them try to pump sometime between 10 and 11 am. During that session I get between 8 or 10 oz (so two bottles worth). I pump again around between 3 and 4 pm and get between 6 or 8 oz. So I freeze a little extra each week at this point. Then nurse when I get home at 5:30.

DD only eats three bottles while I am away. I do eat oatmeal for breakfast and load up on water while at work. I nursed DS for a year (while working full time/pumping) and my supply didn't really decrease until about 7 or 8 months old. At that point, I was barely pumping enough each day to get enough for the next day, but was able to pump a little on weekends and also had a freezer stash to dig into. Ideally, I would have been able to pump 3x's a day instead of 2, but 2 worked for me and I made it a whole year on that schedule.

 

ETA: DD drinks 4 oz bottles. I also pump for 15 to 20 minutes each session. This may be an odd suggestion but drinking cold water while pumping always helps me produce more and I can usually get a second let down when I do.

ravenclaw1

mdesmet20 said:

I also pump for 15 to 20 minutes each session. This may be an odd suggestion but drinking cold water while pumping always helps me produce more and I can usually get a second let down when I do.

I think my problem is I'm not pumping long enough and catching that second let down.

Interesting on the water!

psychgirl33

I pump once in the night, feed once when she wakes up, once right before going to daycare, pump 3 times at work, then feed her all evening at her demand. I'd been pumping about 15-20 oz per day and she eats 12-15. My supply has dropped, though, while I've been off for winter break, so I'll see what it's like tomorrow when I go back.

kje120

Tally879 said:

Do you have a good supply to start?  I have been back to work for about 2 months now and haven't found that I've had a decrease in supply.  I nurse LO at about 7 before I drop him off at my parents, then I will pump at 10:30 and then at 2:30, and then nurse him when I pick him around 5:30.  I get about 13 oz total for the day from those two pumping sessions and that satisfies him for the next day.  I also drink the mother's milk tea and eat oatmeal bars for breakfast while at work, I'm not sure if that's helping me.  

This is pretty much me exactly except I've been getting ~18 oz from my two daily pumpings.  Just make sure you're drinking lots of water, nurse when you can (morning and the evening) and I eat oatmeal with flax mixed in for breakfast every day and drink the tea throughout the day.

database6

LO usually feeds about 6am, I get up and get ready, and feed her again at 7 before I leave the house.  I am normally really full in the mornings, so I pump again around 9 or 930 depending on my day at work.  I then pump again around 1, and don't pump again and feed LO when I get home around 530.  I get more than she needs during the day, even only pumping twice.  I would like to get on a schedule at work though, and pump at 9,12,3 but I'm too busy to get three in lately.  I also pump for at least 15 minutes each time.  I have a hands free bra which allows me to still work while I pump, which has been a lifesaver. 

mmdd20

ravenclaw1 said:

I also pump for 15 to 20 minutes each session. This may be an odd suggestion but drinking cold water while pumping always helps me produce more and I can usually get a second let down when I do.

I think my problem is I'm not pumping long enough and catching that second let down. Interesting on the water!

I know, it is such a weird suggestions but it really does work for me (an LC suggested it when I was nursing my first). I can feel letdown, so I feel the second one come on. So strange!

Tally879

You may not be pumping long enough, I usually pump for at least 20 minutes.  The first pump of the day I get 8-9 ounces and then second I get 4-6.  I find I'm more engorged with the pumping, I could add a third pumping session for comfort reasons, but I don't want to create an over supply. LO usually eats about 10 oz while he's away from me, he tends to sleep till noon so he's not awake too long at my parents.

Tally879

Also, are you sure you have the right size flanges?  I had to go up a size and was able to get more milk that way.  Test out the different suction levels, I find a lower suction works better for me.  If I'm feeling like my let down isn't what it should be I push the let down button on the machine and helps me get it going again.

smlowe9311

We're just coming out of winter break but before break I would nurse LO around 5 before getting ready for the day, then pump at 7, during lunch (11:15ish) and at the end of the day (3ish) which gives me about 12 oz which is just what LO needs for the sitter. She nurses more frequently when we are home but according to the sitter she seems satisfied. 

lauriemel

jenny5o5 said:

I'm so jealous of you ladies with the 8+ oz pumping sessions!

Me too!  I work 8-3.  Regardless of when/if she has an early morning feeding, I feed her at 6:30-7 before I leave, pump around 10 and again around 12:30.  I feed her after I pick her up but I usually wait until she gets hungry.  Maybe around 4.  I usually get 8-9 ounces for the day, but that's all she takes at the sitter so we are good.  I know I *should* add another session in so I can stock up, but I am honestly just too tired the rest of the day.

I really think lactation cookies have helped me.  I noticed a bit of a drop when I stopped making them one week. I did start out producing more like 11-12 ounces in a day, but over time that number has gone down and leveled off.  I'm a teacher, so I'll be interested to see what my supply does when school starts up again Wednesday (we had break, and now 2 snow days).

blondii428

I EP so I pump when I wake up at 5, at 9:30, 1:30 and 3:45.  Then in the evening at 7:30 and sometimes 9:30 as well.  It's a lot of work but totally worth it! 

I find that watching videos of LO while at work makes the pumping so enjoyable

AarikaW44

My schedule is that I get up at 2:30am when my LO gets up, feed him on one side and then pump the other.  i used that to put in a bottle to take to daycare.  I then feed him around 5:45am and pump the other side.  I work 6:30-4 so I usually pump around 8:30, 10:30, 12:30 and 2:30.  I then just breastfeed when I get home and then pump right before I go to bed, around 9.  Not sure if this is right or not.  I am making enough for him, no more though.  I made a batch of lactation cookies this weekend hoping that might help up my supply.  I would love to build up a stash just in case.  Right now I am only ahead about a day.  Hope this helps! 

AarikaW44

Oh and I usually get around 4 oz when I pump. 

happybride 276

I have a craptastic supply so I have to pump two to three hours. I exclusively pump. I start work at 6:30, so I pump around 5am then get ready for work. I pump at work around 7,9,11,1, and 3. That's my ideal schedule. It doesn't always work out but when it does I am happy. I massage and apply pressure to my breast in order to get as much milk out as possible. Good luck. Pumping isn't all that bad . I like to challenge myself to see how much I can get each day. Oh, and I pump for 23-27 mins per session. I also work through my pumping sessions so my boss could care less how long and when I pump

PumpkinMommaaa

I feel like you guys get so much more!! Lol

I feed LO a couple times in the morning. If I can, I pump before work. I leave at 730. Pump at 945. Get 4 oz if I'm lucky. Pump at 1215 and get about 3 oz and at 230 I maybe get 3. I can only pump for 15 minutes at work on my first and last pump. But I find that even if I continue, I don't get any more. I also squeeze the hell out of my boobs. I get more out that way. I'm thinking I shall get some oatmeal.

happybride 276

PumpkinMommaaa said:

I feel like you guys get so much more!! Lol

I feed LO a couple times in the morning. If I can, I pump before work. I leave at 730. Pump at 945. Get 4 oz if I'm lucky. Pump at 1215 and get about 3 oz and at 230 I maybe get 3. I can only pump for 15 minutes at work on my first and last pump. But I find that even if I continue, I don't get any more. I also squeeze the hell out of my boobs. I get more out that way. I'm thinking I shall get some oatmeal.

I get an average of 50-60 MIL's per side per pump session (minus the first and some times second pump of the day). Don't feel bad. I also eat oatmeal and lactation cookies and take more milk plus. I work VERY hard for each and every ounce.

aml8979

I EP so I pump in the morning the same time I feed LO around 630. Then i pump at work around 930, 1230 and 330. I generally get 5-6 oz a session. I then pump 2 more times at night. I take one fenugreek pill a day and drink a glass of cold water everytime I pump. Good luck!

ejb23

I'm trying up figure out my schedule too. So far I nurse at 7am, pump at 10, 1230 and 230 then pick up at 430 and nurse by 5. I've been getting 15-18 oz and she eats about 12oz. I have to start working longer so I may try to pump at 10, 2 and 430 instead to spread them out if possible.

janelleashu

I also notice a better output when I drinks water and a BIG lunch or snack. I tend to just have a little food at a time when I'm at work but if I eat a pbj sandwich, two granola bars a string cheese and a juice, I have much better results. Even better than the pbj is when I pack a burrito.

I pump three-four times a day, 5:30(I sometimes miss this because LOs eating is still unpredictable) 7:30, 1:30 and 3:30. I get from 14oz-22oz. My LO eats 12oz while at daycare from 7:15-4:15.

My pumping output got much better after a week. It has taken a hit from the holiday break. Hopefully it will be back in action by the end of this week.

Also @imakeeff0rts I thought of you today when I was pleasantly surprised by my 3:30 pumping session. I was stoked and did a little dance. I can see how pumping can be enjoyable.

imakeeff0rts

Pumpin' pals for sure. Use a warm compress for a few minutes before you start and while you're pumping and massage!

Agreed with all of the eating and drinking tips. I found it easier to keep track of how much I'm drinking by using a half gallon water bottle that I got from Rite Aid.

imakeeff0rts

Andplusalso, don't look at it as a chore. I know it's easier said than done, but seriously...I get more when I'm relaxed and not dreading it.

lillyq1982

I am so jealous of all of you!  I went back to work and my supply absolutely tanked.  I have tried everything!  I wake up at 5:30 and pump.  If LO hasnt woken up during the night I can get around 6 oz this session, but if I have fed him in the middle of the night I will only get around 3.  I then pump at 8, 12 and 3 at work and get about 8 oz. total at work.  I pump again before I go to bed and get around 1.5-2 ounces.  LO is eating around 16 ounces a day so some days I keep up and some days I dont.  I think we will make 5 months EBF but after that I think it will have to be a combo.  I keep telling myself any amount is good though so I dont stress myself out too much. 

mmdd20

imakeeff0rts said:

Andplusalso, don't look at it as a chore. I know it's easier said than done, but seriously...I get more when I'm relaxed and not dreading it.

I do this as well. Pumping has become my 'me' time, a short break from work (even if I am checking emails... I usually do some online shopping or instagramming in between). It has also become oddly relaxing.

star328

I pump after LO's first feeding of the day, then nurse him once more before work, usually around 7. I have been pumping twice at work and will add a third pump if it becomes necessary, but have been getting enough so far, but have only been back 2 weeks. I get about 15 ounces and he has 12-13 ounces when away from me. I also nurse on demand after work and MOTN. And I agree with PP's drink tons of water! And I do have oatmeal for breakfast every morning. Not sure if that really helps me or not.