ECUgirl

MereD19

Sooo ... I think I've screwed up. Ugh. Why did I not know this before .... that you just keep pumping until you are "out of" milk? The LC at the hospital told me that when I was BFing, to do one side at 15 minutes, and if she is still hungry to do the other side for 15 minutes. Then repeat every 2 hours. So I guess I THOUGHT that it meant that 15 minutes pumping each side would suffice. But of course I am way wrong on that! From what you said below - I need to pump until I stop producing milk at that sitting (plus pumping 5-10 more minute to signal my body to make more). I completely understand and get that .... I guess I'm just afraid that I could be sitting there for an hour at each pumping! Is there a time I can "cut off" if I am still producing at that pumping?

MRSGOLABONTE

::BUTTING IN::: It won't always be so long to get all the milk out. Our feedings used to be 40-50 min. We're now down to 15. The same with my pumping. I can get it out MUCH faster nowadays.

jenwill

:::butting in too:::

I usually just pump about 3 min after I get the last of the milk out (I always have a second let-down around the 15 min mark). I think, and I could be wrong, that you're not supposed to pump longer than 20 min or so or you could do damage to your nips (?? thought I read that somewhere). If you're wanting to up your supply, you also could do "power pumping" which is frequent pumping for a couple hours (like 20 min on, 10 min off, 10 min on, etc.).
The best resource I've found for BF/pumpers is kelly mom. I has answers to literally everything, all advice from LC's. I didn't respond to your post before b/c, like ECU, I am more familiar with BF'ing and I would have been guessing. But if you just sit down and read over kelly mom, I think it will answer a lot of your questions. GL!!

MereD19

Thanks ladies!!!

I'm also going to talk to the LC tomorrow at our pedi appt and see what she says.

MrsG I could not imagine pumping for 40-50 minutes.... ack! Jenwill I'm pretty sure you are right about the 20 minutes thing - I can feel the effects on my nipples after only 15 minutes, so I'm positive that what you said it probably true.

ECUGirl2004

Yeah, I'm not an EPer, but I know that it's good to pump longer than your milk comes out so that you indicate your body to make more milk.  I've never heard that about not pumping more than 20 mins though!  It takes me 15-20 mins to empty my breasts, but sometimes I"ll get busy at work and pump for 30 mins before I realize I need to stop.  :P  So far, my nipples are fine!  LOL 

ECUGirl2004

Oh, and it's good to pump until your breasts are empty b/c that really indicates to your body that it needs to make that quantity of milk.  Also, it makes sure that you get all the hindmilk for your baby, which is higher in fat.

alchris

Yes, ditto everyone else.  I used to pump at least 45 minutes to clear up clogged ducts, and did that every 3 hours.  And once Kira started latching it would take her 2 HOURS per side, back and forth.  Just watch little Savannah's signs and trust your instinct!