Update to back to work and pumping

apeyg

I posted earlier in the week that I started back to work and was having trouble getting enough milk to keep up with LO. Well as the week went on it got worse instead of better. I pumped 3X day 2-21/2 hours apart. On average I got almost. 2 oz from the left and almost 1 oz from the right. I am taking fenugreek 3x day(3 pills) each time and drinking tons of water. Nothing is helping. He needs at least 31/2 oz each feeding if not a little more. What else can I do?  I tried pumping longer to see if I could get a second letdown but it never worked. Just FYI after about 5 min nothing comes out. I have extended it by 10 more minutes and nothing. I look at pics of baby and try to relax but nothing is helping. Please help! Sorry for the mistakes I'm on my phone. 

tokenhoser

You could add some pumping at night/on the weekend to make up a bit more.

iluvmylab

I pump first thing in the morning after LO eats.  Do you do that?  Eating oatmeal helped me with my supply too.

apeyg

I tried pumping at night about 2 hours after his last feeding and did not get anything at all. This happened twice. 

apeyg

iluvmylab:

I pump first thing in the morning after LO eats.  Do you do that?  Eating oatmeal helped me with my supply too.

 

I usually feed him right before I leave. I will try feeding him earlier tomorrow and pump immediately after.  

apeyg

iluvmylab:

I pump first thing in the morning after LO eats.  Do you do that?  Eating oatmeal helped me with my supply too.

And I have been eating oatmeal too! 

ClaudiaStar21

I find drinking water while pumping helps me get more let downs. Also do you do the stimulation phase again (if u have a Medela). Also kneeling your breasts while pumping can help. 

jlsimon56

Your output is actually normal/average.  You should be able to make ~1oz per hour, so if you're pumping every 2-2.5 hours, and getting almost 3oz, you are ahead of the game, technically.

How often is your LO eating?

When I first went back to work, I pumped every 2 hours (4x at work) plus once at night (2 hours after LO went to bed).  You have to pump consistently in order to get your body to make more milk.  Set up a consistent schedule and try not to vary it.  And have patience.  When you first start pumping at night, expect to get close to nothing.  After a week or so, you will get more. 

iverske9

I pumped after the morning feeding since I was so engorged, then twice at work and once before bed, usually the weekends I still pumped in morning and once at night before bed and it helped. Good luck

mandy0505

When I pump at work I get four different let downs in a twenty minute period. I only get about .5 oz per let down. I use the quick mode initially which I usually get a let down within the first 3 minutes. Once I get the letdown I push the slower mode. After it stops spraying I push the quick mode and get a second letdown at about 6-8 minutes in to the session. I again push the slower mode. I repeat this and at 16 minutes I usually get the third and then at twenty get the 4th. 

 I also do compressions when I pump. This usually gives me about 2 ounces per breast. A lot of work for four ounces total but totally worth it. 

 

I also take fenugreek 3-5 pills 3times a day, eat one lactation cookie per day (I order them hrough milkmakers.com), eat oatmeal and drink plenty of water. I'm really set on ebf till she is one year and would try just about anything to get there.

 

GL and I hope you make your goal (however long it may be). This is the hardest thing I've ever done but totally worth it :-)