Pumping 1 hour to get 1 ounce?

Sascha3

After a couple days of crying and feeling like a failure, I decided to supplement my daughter's feeding with formula.  My milk had come in, I was engorged, yet she was not getting enough to eat.  She cried all day, and had only 2 wet diapers the entire day and no poopie diapers.  So I know she was not getting anything to eat.

The formula has changed her into a very happy baby who sleeps in between feedings like a pro.  I felt very guilty at first, but now I see it was necessary for me personally for the happiness and health of my baby and so I was finally able to sleep.  Also, she had jaundice and needed to be fed frequently.  I try to breastfeed a few times a day so she won't forget, but I have been pumping too to build up my supply and give her as much breastmilk as I can.  Unfortunately, the bottle feeding seems to have affected her latch:(  But I still want to give her as much as I can even if I EP.

I pump 3-4 times a day (I am increasing this, as it does not seem to be enough).  At first I was able to get 2 oz in an hour between both breasts, now I am only getting 1 oz.  I feel the let down sensation and everything, but barely anything comes out.

I have implants, and my first set had to be replaced due to excessive scar tissue.  I am wondering if maybe the scar tissue has created problems for me for BF, or if maybe when they removed the scar tissue, they removed some of my ducts.  I feel like the milk is in there since I got engorged, but every day they get softer and softer.

What else can I do besides pump more frequently?  Should I see a doctor or LC?

cbwm

1. You can't judge your supply by what you pump.

2. If your LO is latching on okay, put her on the boob as frequently as possible then supplement *and* pump AFTER you nurse. Nothing is going to get your supply up other than drinking lots of water and nursing as frequently as possible.

3. Oatmeal, Mother's Milk Plus and Fenugreek helped me increase my supply.

4. Definitely see a good LC. They're worth their weight in gold. 

BritanyV

Are you actually sitting and pumping for an hour???

If so, DON'T!  I've read you aren't supposed to pump for more than 25 minutes at a time and even that is a little much.  

Also if you are thinking of EPing you need to be pumping A LOT more times a day.  You need to be pumping at least 8-12 times a day right now.   When ds was in the hospital I had to pump every 2 hours and then every 3 hours at night.     I was able to gradually push that to every 3 hours during the day once my supply came in and I was pumping a good amount and then to every 4 hours a day.

Also keep trying to put LO to your breast.  My DS figured out breastfeeding at 5 weeks and started refusing the bottle completely.  Keep working at it and see an LC if you need some help . 

 

Good luck!

Sascha3

Thank you for the advice.  Yes, I have been pumping each breast for 30 minutes, so an hour total.  Is 25 minutes total or per breast?  I just need to increase the session I guess.  I have been slacking because it takes so long each time, but if I do shorter sessions that will be easier to handle, so I am not stuck at the pump all day.  And I have been putting her at the breast too a few times a day.  I will increase that as well.:)

BritanyV

Get a double pump...run don't walk! 

The time is per a breast but most people I know are using a double pump.  You are going to be sitting a pump all the time if you just have a single.  You will save yourself a lot of time if you get a double pump.  If you don't want to buy one, you can rent one from a local LC or hospital, which I would probably suggest for at least the 1st month anyway.  

 

Good luck!