help me get over my fear of pumping...

lkstor

part of the problem is that pumping is uncomfortable.  i bought larger flanges, but that didn't seem to make any difference.  not painful, just much more uncomfortable than nursing.  is that normal?

the bigger issue is that i'm always afraid i'll pump and then DS will want to nurse and i won't have enough to satisfy him...  am i being paranoid?

i tried to pump "just a little bit" yesterday.  but ended up getting 4 ounces in 5 minutes from one breast.  i have insanely fast let-down.  if i pump for less time than that, won't i end up with just foremilk and no hindmilk?

any tips on how you started pumping would be appreciated!  i go back to work in 3 weeks, so i'm just hoping to start building up a freezer supply.  was thinking for now i would just pump once a day - first thing in the a.m.?

QueenOfWhirled

pump right after feedings.

Skatcat

Do you maybe have your pump turned up too high?  It probably doesn't need to be as hard as you think it does. Try lowering the setting until you find a comfortable strength.

4oz in 5 minutes is fantastic! Go you!

And no, the foremilk/hindmilk thing is not something to worry about. There really isn't any such thing...all milk is the same. Its just that when the baby sucks, the milk gradually picks up more fat as it is sucked through the milk capillaries. If you are gettin 4oz, you are getting plenty of fat. If you are concerned, check out the color in the bottle. If it is very watery or blue looking, it doesn't have a lot of fat. But if it is white with a bit of yellow, its nice and creamy! Once it sits in the fridge a bit, you will see the fat start to seperate.

If you want to build your supply and also have a good stash, I'd pump at least 3x a day if you can. This is the critical time to build your future supply.

MayBride2B2007

you are never actually empty and even though it seems like the pump drains you, your baby can always get more and is far better at it than the pump.  they suggest pumping right after you nurse so that in case your baby does get hungry again shortly thereafter, you'll feel less worried about being too empty to feed him.

JessMike07

I'm sorry the bigger flanges didn't help. :-( Does Hagan just eat from one side or both?? If he only eats from one side try pumping the other side. That will build up a stash fairly quickly. I've been pumping my right side for a week due to nipple trauma. I noticed Landon just nurses more often during the day...which is fine because I'm getting a fairly good stash.

We've been bottle feeding at night. He usually sleeps much better so I also make sure I'm pumping t/o the night, at least every 4 hours.

MelissaSue81

When my DD was about a month old, I started pumping one side at her first morning feeding while feeding on the other.. I also tried to pump again about an hour or so after that but that didn't always work out depending on how she slept (and I was always so tired so I often slept through it).. I also pumped about an hour after she was in bed for the night..  because then I knew i had at least a couple hours before she would get up and want to eat again.

I NEVER EVER have pumped 4oz from one side in 5 minutes.. my supply has always been on the low side..

MelissaSue81

Oh and yeah, pumping can be pretty uncomfortable.. I do not like it..

pumpkinhead06

the other girls gave great advice...

just think of the milk you are storing as you are pumping.  That is how I looked at it.  4oz in 5 minutes is AWESOME!  seriously fantastic, especially from one side.    I am so cheesy, but I get so excited, still, when I can pump a full bottle for him and still feed him his normal amounts. 

Yes pumping is uncomfortable.  Use a lot of lanolin when you first start doing routine pumping.  Your nips gets sore and stretched, which adds to the hurting.

If you are trying to build up a supply to have for when you go back to work, then tandem nurse/pump, and pump after each feeding.  Also, I always pumped at night, during the first chunk that he slept the longest and that quickly built up my supply, and always first thing in the morning when your supply is at its greatest. 

It is hard to start, and to commit to, but it really is a marvel...

Daisy22

I agree with skat. I only turn my PISA up to like the 3rd tick mark. If I go past that my nipples and boobs start hurting. The LC at my hospital said to go middle of the dial if it hurts go down one if it doesn't go up one and keep doing that untill you find your perfect pumping strength. Even with mine on 3 I get 4-6oz total which I think is pretty good.

Also use a lot of nipple cream all around your nipple to help with the suction. I also had to get the softshields b/c the hard ones live rings around my nipple area.

lkstor

Daisy22:

I also had to get the softshields b/c the hard ones live rings around my nipple area.

that's exactly what i have....  the area where my nipple meets my areola gets all red and irritated!  maybe the softshields would work better for me as well.

thanks everyone for the great advice.  i just needed some motivation