Question for successful pumpers

MissBlush · April 2009

How soon after DC was born did you start pumping, and how often did you do it? I was never able to keep up with Evie, but I also didn't start pumping until right before I went back to work. I'm hoping that if I start pumping right away, maybe I'll have more milk this time.

Also, is there anything else you did that you think helped with pumping volume?

FutureMrsLynch · April 2009

I started pumping about a month after ds was born and I pump once a night. I used to only get about 2 oz total, but now after adding oatmeal to my daily diet I can get 4 oz every night. Im really hoping that once I go back to work I will be able to get 4 oz out of each pumping session so I come home every night with 12 oz. Holden only takes 3-4 oz in his bottles though, so Im not too worried about not being able to keep up with him.

Nancy_Drew · April 2009

I only pumped 1x a night. I started at about 10 days -2 weeks old. I would sit on the floor of her room and pump, while DH read a book and gave her her a bottle. I would pump for exactly 10 minutes then pack up and go wash the parts, while DH put her down.

I'd get anywhere from 5-10 ounces in that time.

The first time I pumped, I did it in front of the TV for anbout an hour and hardly got anything. WHen I posted about it, I remember Jill saying that was WAY to long to pump! lol Then I switched to doing it with her in the room and only for 10 minutes and I got plenty in that short time.

She started to refuse a bottle at 7 weeks until I went back to work at 14 weeks, and then I'd pump as soon as I put her down after her bath, book bed nursing session. That way I "emptied" what was in there and I didn't feel like I wouldn't have enough for when she woke up at night to nurse.

I would suggest to pump right after a few feedings to see if that helped your supply and not short change the next feeding.

FutureMrsLynch · April 2009

Nancy_Drew:

The first time I pumped, I did it in front of the TV for anbout an hour and hardly got anything. WHen I posted about it, I remember Jill saying that was WAY to long to pump! lol Then I switched to doing it with her in the room and only for 10 minutes and I got plenty in that short time.

Interesting... I pump in front of the tv, I wonder if there would be a change if I changed location?? Why do you think you got more in her room vs in the Tv room??

blueLu25 · April 2009

a big part of pumping is being relaxed, thinking about your baby, and waiting for your letdown. You will get so much more this way. Also, if ds was eating about 4 oz, thats what I could pump, or 6 oz, etc. I pumped once at night and once in the morning. The more you pump, the more supply you will have. Its all supply and demand.?

blueLu25 · April 2009

oh- and I started when ds was about 1 month old. I also had an electric pump at first, but then got a manual- Medela Harmony, and it is waaay better, and I can pump way more with it in a shorter amount of time.

scarletii · April 2009

I read that getting up to 2oz after nursing is really good! I also find that I get more milk if I wait an hour after nursing, and after a shower. I also get more when I am watching one of my favorite tv programs. There's a good write-up about pumping on kellymom.com

JRS72206 · April 2009

I started pumping to store at 3-ish weeks. Like PP said, the more often you nurse and pump the more milk you will have. I also eat oatmeal and drink a ton of water each day.

In the first few weeks I would also let DD comfort nurse for long stretches to help with my supply. I read (on kellymom.com I think) that this would help and prolong a good supply.

I hope this time things are easier for you!

BriAndSean · April 2009

I started pumping when she was a few weeks old. I actually pumped prior to her morning feeding and then after her bedtime feeding (my bedtime). I think it really helped to pump before she ate in the morning. Your supply is highest in the morning so it should be easy to pump. Plus, LO's can get milk even after you are done pumping. She always gained well and I was able to start a stash for when I went back to work.

Pumping is just about impossible if you can't relax enough to let down. In the beginning, I sometimes had a tough time. I would try to focus on being relaxed and my DD. I had a video on my phone of her hunger cry that I would also play and listen to if I was struggling. If that failed too, I would just wait a bit and try again later.

Oatmeal and lots of fluids helped me. I can always tell by my output if I haven't had enough fluids. I've heard most women have a better supply the second time around. Hopefully this will be true for you also!

stacylu · April 2009

I EP so I started right away. DD was early, had a poor latch and was borderline jaundiced plus I have low supply. That being said, I pumped every 2 hrs for 20 minutes for the first 3 months (around the clock). That plus a boost from Reglan helped me get my supply up. I ate oatmeal and popped fenugreek like candy too. And I drink (no joke) a gallon of water a day. If I don't I take a supply hit.

I think that the most helpful thing for me was power pumping - especially around 3am. Pump 20 minutes, then off 10 and on 10 for the next hour. That always seemed to boost my supply up a bit.

iHeartHimMore · April 2009

FutureMrsLynch:
Interesting... I pump in front of the tv, I wonder if there would be a change if I changed location????? Why do you think you got more in her room vs in the Tv room??

I've heard that being near your baby, their smells/sounds/etc can help stimulate your supply. ????

jen_and_tom · April 2009

I definitely don't know what made the difference for me, but here is what I did:

I started pumping when dd was about three weeks old. I usually pumped in the morning, after her first feeding. I think just out of necessity, she was usually hanging out in front of my in her bouncy seat. My dd has also never been a marathon sleeper. So, for pretty much the entire year, I have been pumping or feeding every 3 to 4 hours. Whenever my supply starts to diminish a bit, I quickly increase the # of times that I pump or feed. Possibly that is why I haven't yet gotten my period? Which maybe is another factor in having a good supply? When I started back to work, I blocked off time to pump 3x's a day. In the beginning, I was producing far more than what she ate during the day and at one point banked over 200oz. I gave some to a friend and was considering donating the rest. I never did and I'm glad because I worked through the entire stash as work and life became more hectic. I gradually decreased pumping sessions at work to 2x's/day and now that dd is in a daycare near me I am only doing once (less time away from her during the day). Now when I pump, I pretty much just look through email or play with apps on my iphone. I have never felt a stronger let down by looking at pictures of my daughter. There was an email thread at work recently with people sharing ideas for increasing their success with pumping and one of the suggestiosns that I thought was creative was to keep a video of your baby crying to watch to help with let down.

Also, I don't know what kind of pump you have. I have only used a PISA and have been super happy with it. Recently, I ran into a woman in the airport who has almost exclusively pumped 3 kids, works full time and vehemently swears by the Avent manual pump. I thought it sounded crazy but she said that it is the closest she's found to matching a baby and also it's not a crazy pumping action for every stroke but just holding down a button or something?

Good luck!

Nancy_Drew · April 2009

FML~

Interesting... I pump in front of the tv, I wonder if there would be a change if I changed location?? Why do you think you got more in her room vs in the Tv room??

I pumped with her IN the room too. DH would be giving her a bottle, the lights were dimmed. I think I got more since I was relaxed. Nursing hurt in the beginning. Alot. So pumping was a welcome relief! ANd since I'd only do it for 10 minutes, then I'd get to come downstaris and have some ME time! I'd get to come online and Nest, and e-mail with another new mom on here to talk about our trials and tribulations with being a new mom. I really looked forward to that time. DH also loved his time bonding with the baby so it was a win, win situation.

IdahoGirl · April 2009

1. Water water water
2. I took Reglan - that really helped get my supply going. Your OB can perscribe it for you.
3. I took Fenugreek three times a day, three pills each time and I eat a lot of oatmeal.
4. Pump ALOT.... that was the biggest thing for me - pumping alot.

When Maddy started having feeding troubles her second week, we would nurse for 45 minutes, I'd then bottle feed her, then pump for 15 minutes after that. I pumped each time I fed her, so I was pumping 8 - 10 times a day. I didn't get a lot at first because my supply was so low and she was getting a bit of milk when she was feeding, just not very much. So, maybe an ounce or so...but I kept doing it, round the clock, every time she ate. Eventually my supply increased and I started getting enough to really start building a stash. It was (and still is) very time consuming.

I would suggest you start pumping at about 3 weeks...and do it every time (even in the middle of the night) baby feeds for 20 minutes. The experts recommend nothing less than 20 minutes or at least 5 minutes past your last let down. For ease, I just stick with 20 minutes. Also - your milk supply is strongest from 1 - 5 am, so I find I get a LOT during those hours. Somestimes up to 14 ounces - and I did not start out with a very good supply....so I truly think that's the supplements and the number of times I pump having an effect.

A really great board for lurking and picking up tips is: https://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppexcluspump It's a board for exclusive pumpers, but I think the tips apply to anyone who wants to be super serious about pumping.

applecider · April 2009

I started pumping and we gave C his first bottle at 3 days old to give my poor nipples a break. After that I often pumped once a day during C's long afternoon nap.

Ditto everyone else about drinking plenty of fluids and eating oatmeal. Also, it's AMAZING how much I can pump with the hospital pumps at UW. I know Birth and Beyond rents them. It might be worth getting one if you have a convenient place to keep it at work.

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