Pumping question

GiGi1221

I feel like a loser- I'm terrified of breastfeeding and have so many questions...

The boys have been on preemie formula to gain weight and get rid of jaundice- meanwhile I've been pumping.  I pump about 3 times a day and get 1 to 2 oz- why do I suck at this???

What should I be doing? How often should I pump? How long?

I'm so worried about my diet too- we're vegetarians and we eat a lot of spicy things- what should I avoid? Is there anything I should be eating to up my supply? I get more than enough water...

Thanks ladies!

MoMandA

I EP for my LOs. Until they were 3 months old one of them, BFed a couple of times a day the other one never did. I pumped at 6 am, 9 am, 12 pm, 3 pm, 6 pm, 9 pm, 12 am and one more time in the middle of the night, depending on who woke up and when until they were six months old. Pumping and BFing was too hard for me. EPing for both waeasier. 

At six months I started dropping pumping sessions. Now I pump at 6am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 11pm and we are supplementing with formula. When I was establishing my supply during the first four months I would pump each side until I got a second let down. At 2 weeks I was getting 18 oz per day by my six week appointment I was pumping almost 100 oz perday. I am now leveled off at 60. I had to restrict lactose from my diet (milk and ice cream). The only other foods that bother them are coffee and oddly tomatoes.

Drink tons of water and try to rest.

 

lnle

to really get your supply going you need to pump every 3 hours around the clock for 15+ minutes. The LC I spoke with said the minimum # of times to pump per 24 hours is 6 (every 4 hrs) but 8 (every 3 hrs) is ideal. Also, I'm renting a hospital-grade pump (the Medela symphony) which is more powerful than the kind you can buy in the store.

I now pump for 20 min every 3-4 hours and get from 50-60 oz each day (anywhere from 6-10oz per session). In the beginning I was getting maybe 3-5 oz per session. 

I don't know about foods - my pediatrician said I didn't need to restrict anything, and the babies seem ok so far. (well, Lucas seems to have reflux/colic, but honestly I don't know how I'd know what foods to exclude)

good luck!!!

gumiberg

i pumped every 2 hours during the day, every 3 hours at night when my babies were born...they were too small to latch successfully but when i wasnt pumping, i tried to put them at breast.  it was very stressful, to say the least, but that really is what the first few weeks are all about.

carissasmom

If you aren't putting them to the breast at all you need to be pumping more often.  Since you don't have much of a supply right now and you are committed to providing them w/ more breast milk, I would pump atleast every 2 hrs and for 5 mins after milk stops coming out.  Until you build up a supply.  It might only take a weekend, it might take a week.  Once you get your supply up you should be able to pump as often as your kids are eating, whether its every 3 or 4 hrs.  Around the clock since they are so little - once you get your supply established you could safely go longer between pumps overnight w/out affecting your supply.  I would still pump for atleast a couple of minutes after milk stops flowing. 

As for the spicy foods, my kids have never been bothered by any food I eat.  So I wouldn't worry about it, unless you notice they are having problems and you can start cutting out common foods until you narrow down which one is causing it.

If you want to start breastfeeding instead of pumping I would try to latch them on a couple of times a day as well - this will be much easier for you in the long run. 

Good luck.  And if it doesn't work, don't stress about it and quit if you have to. Formula is perfectly fine as well.  The babies need a happy, healthy, nonstressed mom!!

jennie13

it takes a while to build up your supply - try not to stress out. 

BFing is a supply and demand thing.  If you body thinks your babies are only eating 3 times a day, you're not going to produce much.  

Pump at least as frequently as your babies are eating, maybe more until your supply develops.  

I wouldn't worry about your diet until your babies show any discomfort.  I ate whatever without any issues, but I've known some people whose babies got gassy when they ate stuff like broccoli.  

Shannonlea

You have to pump a lot more a day- minimum of 7-8.  I built up a supply of 45-55 oz per day by nursing at the beginning but for the past 2.5 months, I have been EP 7-8 times per day.  I also drink 100+ oz of water per day.  I tried Fenugreek and it didnt work for me.

Nerwak

lnle:

to really get your supply going you need to pump every 3 hours around the clock for 15+ minutes. The LC I spoke with said the minimum # of times to pump per 24 hours is 6 (every 4 hrs) but 8 (every 3 hrs) is ideal. Also, I'm renting a hospital-grade pump (the Medela symphony) which is more powerful than the kind you can buy in the store.

I now pump for 20 min every 3-4 hours and get from 50-60 oz each day (anywhere from 6-10oz per session). In the beginning I was getting maybe 3-5 oz per session. 

I don't know about foods - my pediatrician said I didn't need to restrict anything, and the babies seem ok so far. (well, Lucas seems to have reflux/colic, but honestly I don't know how I'd know what foods to exclude)

good luck!!!

Ditto this exactly. I usually will pump for 30 minutes though, or until I don't see any more milk coming out. And Henderson does have some gas issues, but I need to see if cutting back on dairy will help him. GL! 

nygrl79

I BF 6 times a day and pump after every session for 5-10 minutes, plus once more in the middle of the night for 30 minutes, for a total of 7 pumping sessions.  I pump after BFing to get enough milk for 2 night time bottles for each baby and now have some milk in the freezer.  If you pump long enough, you will get a second let down and sometimes a third, which will increase your milk supply.  Be patient.  I eat a lot of spicy food and it doesn't seem to bother the boys.  The way I look at it is people all over the world where spicy food is the norm breastfeed their babies, so why can't I have indian, thai, etc.?  The only things I don't eat are cabbage, beans, and things that are supposed to make the babies more gassy.