more pumping Q's/poll

tomandcourt

You'd think I would know all of this by now . . . anyway.

Does pumping make you tired? I'm always yawning while I'm doing it.

Does pumping make your nose run? Random, but mine always runs while I'm pumping (not while nursing, though).

Do you massage while pumping? I find it gets more milk out, but I think I'm getting carpal tunnel from doing it so often.

What is the benefit of using the higher settings? Does it make the milk come out faster? Make more milk come out? The LC said to turn it up to the point where it hurt, then turn it back a little. Sometimes I think I should have it turned up higher but I'm not sure what it would accomplish (FWIW, I basically have it on the middle setting).

Jitterbug2668

I can only answer # 1, not from experience, but my gf from work pumps here and thats our girl chat time so I'm always down there w/ her and she's constantly yawning.

Hey Jellisy

Does pumping make you tired? No, usually I was engrossed in a good book or magazine.

Does pumping make your nose run? Not that I ever noticed.

Do you massage while pumping? I did for the first few months, and then I stopped reading work things and started reading books and sort of forgot.

What is the benefit of using the higher settings? I follow your LC's advice at first.  After my first letdown, I restart with a higher setting and usually this ensures more milk with my second letdown than if I had not adjusted the strength of the pump.

 FWIW, I became desensitized after a year of pumping.  I remember how much it hurt at the beginning and when I finished with pumping the other week, I barely even noticed any discomfort.

emack

tomandcourt:

You'd think I would know all of this by now . . . anyway.

Does pumping make you tired? Nope, but I found I could never be productive doing it. I was on the Nest more in those months than any other! (Not to say nesting isn't productive...)

Does pumping make your nose run? No, but that's hilarious.

Do you massage while pumping? Nope, too lazy and I was an overproducer anyway.

What is the benefit of using the higher settings? I followed that LC's advice and had it the highest I could where still comfortable. Maybe I should have turned it up. It always took about 35 minutes to pump whereas some of my friends only take 10 minutes. That would have been nice.

LindseyJW

tomandcourt:

Does pumping make you tired? nursing and pumping always made me tired

Does pumping make your nose run? never noticed

Do you massage while pumping? only when i was not producing as much as i needed to for the next day

What is the benefit of using the higher settings? i always put it on the highest setting. i always got more milk that way.

DCtoLowcountry

tomandcourt:

Does pumping make you tired? No, but it makes me hungry. 

Does pumping make your nose run? Nope.

Do you massage while pumping? Nope. I have low supply and I found that despite many, many interventions I made the same amount each time, so I let it be.
 

What is the benefit of using the higher settings? I got the most out of my Medela pump when it was on "let down," so due to a Bumpie recommendation always hit "let down" again at the end of the session.

amh_navyblue

Does pumping make you tired? no, nursing usually does though...i often have a hard time keeping my eyes open; pumping usually makes me feel impatient...

Does pumping make your nose run? nope...but that's hilarious!

Do you massage while pumping? no, but I might start--I'm a little paranoid about not pumping enough...even though supply hasn't been an issue so far

What is the benefit of using the higher settings? I do find that I get more milk, faster at the higher setting

AFLR

Does pumping make you tired? No.

Does pumping make your nose run? No, but maybe it's psychosomatic for you!

Do you massage while pumping? I do toward the end to make sure I get everything out. I'm a high producer, but usually one breast finishes before the other. I'll massage out what I can from the one that stops first and then remove the pump. When the other one stops I'll switch and pump the first one that stopped and usually I'll get a little more milk and then I'll switch back to the other and massage out any remaining milk. I usually can get an extra half or full ounce by doing this.

What is the benefit of using the higher settings? I'm not 100% sure about the setting stuff, but I think a higher setting helps make sure that your body is getting the signal to produce. Everyone's response and comfort level is different so the advice to go with what's painful and then reduce a little seems good. My dial's on the 3rd dot our of 6 or 7 and I get plenty of milk when I pump.

Bonus tip:  A friend of mine told me about this one when I started pumping. You may know it already, but it's been a great time saver for me. If you pump multiple times per day, after your first pumping take the parts and put them in a zip lock and refrigerate them then use them again for your next pumping(s). I usually do this, but wash the breast shields each time since they just need a quick rinse (only works if your breast shields are detachable of course!). Anyway, I hope that makes sense. it's been a real time saver for me!

 Good luck!

nolebride

Does pumping make you tired? Not any more tired than I already am

Does pumping make your nose run? No

Do you massage while pumping? Yes, everytime. It's the best way to get my milk flowing. I didn't have to in the beginning but started when LO was about 5 months.

What is the benefit of using the higher settings?  I started using higher settings when I was having issues with my supply. I didn't know about starting low and then turning it up...I need to research this.

MrsTiara

It didn't make me yawn, but did wear me out (although when I was pumping I was also only getting four hours of sleep a night, darn job).

I didn't massage while pumping, but have heard it will help.

Yes, you want to get that suction up as high as you can stand it.  It will get more milk, faster and can help stimulate more production.  If the suction is too low then you could start producing less.

mommmyz

Does pumping make you tired? I'm perpetually tired with my bad sleeper, but not more so while pumping.

 Does pumping make your nose run? Not that I've noticed.

 Do you massage while pumping? Towards the end, because I have supply issues and I'm trying to get every drop out!

 What is the benefit of using the higher settings? I use the highest setting because it's not uncomfortable to me, but I'm not sure that I get more milk because of it. I've tried to go down to lower settings after being so high for the 2 months I've been back to work and that didn't work at all.

I would love to have a more abundant supply...maybe next time!

eeclem

1. Not really, but I'm always ready for a nap so it's hard to tell!

2. Nope. 

3. I usually do breast compressions right before pumping. If I do them while pumping, it seems to mess up the way the shields fit. 

4. My Ameda has two settings - one for suction and the other for speed. The suction one I keep pretty much the same but I use the faster speed to get a quicker let down, then drop it to half way for the rest of the pump. When no more milk comes out, I switch back to fast for another let down. 

doggylovr

Does pumping make you tired? YES, veryDoes pumping make your nose run? I dont think soDo you massage while pumping?when i think about it but its hard because I don't have a hands free and am NOT the most coordinated when doing both at the same time
What is the benefit of using the higher settings? I also have the ameda with 2 dials.  I put the suction at the middle at first and the speed at as fast as it will go.  Then I turn the suction up to the green light (about 3/4) and the speed way down, then i turn the speed back up to high..no idea if it does anything different but it gives me something to do:-)

fatjavacat

1)  I seem to always be tired and since I pump at night before bed and first thing in the morning (to boost supply).

2) Pumping and nursing makes me thirsty....like I feel my mouth getting dryer by the second.   This is on top of the normal breast feeding thirst... 

3) No- usually my hands are busy typing (Bumping or FBing) which leads me to.....

4) I kept forgetting to turn it down after the LD like the LC told me to.  So it is always on high - which I found works much faster and more efficient for me (which means I can get to bed faster...)