Pumping at work and getting very little need encouragement.

ncarpenter2

Hi ladies, I apologize as I know there are continual posts about how to increase supply. Long story short, I got sick when my son was 4 months, couldn't nurse and exhausted my stash. Now he's 6 months, I'm back at work four days a week and pump two times here and once at night. The problem is I'm only getting 4 -5 ounces for the entire day! Even though I have to supplement with formula for a bottle or two a day which I've accepted I really want to make it to my one year goal.

 I have tried fenugreek and mothers milk tea when I was sick but I'm not sure I know how to use it effectively.

Any advice on how I can get more from pumping sessions?

 Thank you, thank you!

ncarpenter2

Good questions, it's possible I am not eating enough especially for the first pumping session. thanks!

jlsimon56

I pump every 2 hours at work.  My LO gets 4 bottles while I am away, so I pump 5x per day to make those bottles.  I would at least pump as many times as the number of bottles your LO gets. 

Fenugreek worked really well for me but it increases the foremilk so lots of LOs get really gassy from it.  Really, it's better to increase by pumping more often, nursing more often, etc.

ncarpenter2

jlsimon56:

I pump every 2 hours at work.  My LO gets 4 bottles while I am away, so I pump 5x per day to make those bottles.  I would at least pump as many times as the number of bottles your LO gets. 

Fenugreek worked really well for me but it increases the foremilk so lots of LOs get really gassy from it.  Really, it's better to increase by pumping more often, nursing more often, etc.

 Do you get full bottles each time you pump? I nurse him in the morning and when we get home (I work close to home and my Dad's where he is during the day) so he only gets three bottles during the day.Thanks for your tips! I wonder if power pumping on the weekend would help.

haziedaze

Have you tried pumping one side while LO nurses on the other. We do this in the morning when I have a lot of milk before I go to work. That helps me get off to a good start. It's nice because he stimulates the let down, so I can pump a lot more!

cottonlily84

Keep at it!  It can take a while for pumping to build you back up.  You can't always get more from pumping sessions so you need to just get more pumping sessions. I try to pump 8 times a day so I would definitely up the amount from 3.  The more you pump or nurse the more milk you should make.  I was setting the alarm to wake to pump during the night for a while.  A general recommendation for the fenugreek is to take enough of it until your urine smells like it, kinda like pancake syrup. 

ebp913

All the suggestions here are great. I also wanted to add that I drink Mothers Milk tea 30-45 mins before pumping and I've noticed that I'll get an extra oz or so when I do so you can try that,  I also pump first thing in the morning before I feed my daughter when I am really full so I'll get a few ounces then and then feed her.  I've been doing it the last week or so and I can now get a full 4 oz before she even eats which really helps my supply and my freezer stash.