Pumping & Plugged Ducts

lilpenguingurl17

I just got my electric pump yesterday after having used the manual a handful of times. I just finished an almost 2 hour pumping session and only got 2 oz per side. I even had the speed and suction all the way up and DS was right next to me the whole time.

I've had some recurrent plugged ducts. Could this be contributing to the small amount of milk? Lecithin was recommended to me so I'm going to try that out. Should I also try fenugreek to increase my supply?

TIA!

 

ETA: I am returning to work soon and need to get my pumping done in 25 or less minute increments. 

dpeugh85

lilpenguingurl17:

I just got my electric pump yesterday after having used the manual a handful of times. I just finished an almost 2 hour pumping session and only got 2 oz per side. I even had the speed and suction all the way up and DS was right next to me the whole time.

I've had some recurrent plugged ducts. Could this be contributing to the small amount of milk? Lecithin was recommended to me so I'm going to try that out. Should I also try fenugreek to increase my supply?

TIA!

Holy Cow!  That sounds like wayyyyyy too long to be pumping, and at full power too!  I only pump 15 minutes with my PISA and that is definetley long enough.  If you don't pump enough, supplement with FF, etc - this can also affect your output. 

You can start taking fenugreek, it helped me.  I went from pumping 5 oz total per session to almost 14 ounces per session.  It doesn't work for everyone though.  I would repost this to the BF board, they may have some ideas.  Also, smilelari is who I consider to be the Nov-11 pumping expert.  I bet she would be able to help.

jnealet

I know it sounds wrong but turn it down, in both speed and suction.  And massage your breasts as the pump works. 

How long after nursing did you pump?  I'll get maybe (on a realt good day) 2 oz from a breast if I've nursed with the past hour. And that's in the morning when my supply is higher. I got nothin in the evenings!  But dd has nursed all day and tends to nurse more in the evenings. 

jkanyugi

Its good that you asked before you rip your nipples to shreds   Pumping generally doesn't produce much at the beginning, it takes time for your body to get used to the pump action.  The most important thing at the beginning is just that you are pumping, on a medium speed, for about 30 minutes.  Just ignore how much you are getting at the beginning and keep at it-your body will adjust and you will start producing much more.  At the beginning sometimes I'd get an oz per side-now I'm pumping b/t 10-17 oz each morning after feeding LO.  The higher speed won't help you get more milk-it will just really really hurt afterwards. 

smilelari

If you are also nursing, you're not going to get very much from the pump.  Other posters have had good advice.  Be sure to massage while pumping.  You might try the massage stroke shake technique, which is described here

CrimsonStar

2 hr session and full speed/suction? Hope you put on some lanolin after all that to save your nips   I started pumping regularly about 12 days before going back to work. I set suction until it hurt then backed off a little, same w/speed, then slow down speed after about 5 min. I'm trying to mimic the way DD nurses, faster at first, then slower.

Ditto to compression and massage during pumping. You'll get more out than relying on the pump alone. I've heard fenugreek works well (never taken it myself), but start with a small amount; some have taken a full dose and it was too much. This will not help the plugged duct issue though, and might make it worse. Plugged duct article from LLL.

My sessions at work are 20-ish min total - set-up, 10-12 min pumping, then put away and store milk in fridge.

lilpenguingurl17

thank you all very much.