? about pumping

JingP78

i posted this on the 0 - 3 board but i thought i would re-post here and get more feedback...

due to some medical issues in the first week, i wasn't able to exclusively BF LO.  he's now 2 weeks old but he drinks 4oz- 5oz of formula a sitting depending on how long he sleeps (he's a big baby so his pedia says eating/drinking this much is normal).  i don't produce nearly that much milk, so i'm still supplementing with formula. 

can you ladies give me some tips on how to get my supply up?  i know i should pump but how often should i pump? and how long am i supposed to pump at each breast?  any other tips.  i really want to do this for LO.

TIA 

MamaSmurfette

I would say to pump every 2-3 hours around the clock.  Pump for a couple of minutes after the milk stops.  I usually pump for about 20 minutes-I usually get a second let down around 10-11 minutes in.

Make sure you are eating well (my midwife told me I should actually eat 300 more calories than when I was preganant!) and drink tons of water.

Eat oatmeal and try to be relaxed.  I find stressing about it really tanks my supply.  These things should help, but there are also herbal supplements and meds if these don't work. Good luck!

mlefebvre

Try Fenugreek (herbal supplement), drink plenty of water, every now and then a beer can help (I'm not suggesting a lot of beer of course!) as well as steel cut oatmeal (not the pre-cooked kind).

Also a lot of it is "mental" -- so stop looking at your output while you pump. Keep a book or magazine open in front of you while pumping, watch TV, etc. and relax! Try not to watch the clock, as it can create stress and reduce production.

 And of course, frequency is key, so is a good double-electric pump. GL!