- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Breastfeeding
Partyof6?
member
Pumping questions for EPers
Partyof6?
member
Which I guess I kind of am? We are still trying to nurse, but I'm pumping to get them the milk since my twins are not getting anything from the breast. See post below if you have any ideas about that :-)
But my pumping questions:
-Should I be pumping until empty everytime? What is a reasonable amount of time? One side will peter out and the other one can go sometimes 15 minutes longer with slow drops coming out. Is it normal to take 30 minutes plus to empty a boob? Also, when I do this it seems like the babies wake up 5 minutes later and we can't nurse because there is nothing there for them to be teased with. They won't suck just to suck.
-It hurts. A lot sometimes. I have already sized up my shields once, and I'm not sure if that is the issue. What seems stupid that I can't tell, is what part of my breast is actually being sucked in. I would have always considered the tips of my breasts to be my nipples, and they are getting streched into the shield, but it also seems like some of the areola goes with it and that is what is rubbing and possible causing the pain?
-How do you compress or massage while using a double electric pump? Is it normal to lose suction and have to reattach?
-What do you do when your little ones fuss while you are pumping? Luckily, I'm not usually alone, but someday I worry that when I'm hooked up for that 30+ minutes that someone is going to have a meltdown.
Married - 7/29/06
Ben and Maggie - 4/10/09
Mia - 6/16/11
Surprise! due 2/23/17
Ben and Maggie - 4/10/09
Mia - 6/16/11
Surprise! due 2/23/17
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Pumping questions for EPers
This is what I do:
I pump until I am empty everytime. I try to pump at least 20 min on each side every 2 hours if I can. Sometime I have gone longer but I don't like to because my bobs start to hurt and tingle.
If my DD starts to fuss I just keep an eye on her because sometimes it is nothing but if she starts to cry I turn the pump off and tend to her.
I only pumpone boob at a time so I can compress and massage with both hands. I have lost suction by accidentally breaking the seal during the massage.
I'm not sure about the pain. I get some pain when I first start the pump but then it just goes away.
the last ? is the hardest- you have to make them as comfy as possible and stay with them and sing and talk to them. boppy pillows on the floor and sit there, bouncy seats, swings, whatever works that allows you to pump. sing and talk to them.
15-20 mins of pumping should do it.
as for the pain- i didn't check to see how old your babies were but in the begginning for me it hurt a lot. everything hurt lol. olive oil on your nips before you pump helps a little. don't worry its safe.
as for compressions-
https://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html
get a handsfree bra- or make one of your own, or go to kellymom and check out the rubber band trick.
https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/hands-free-pumping.html
I only have one, but I'll try to answer as best I can:
-Should I be pumping until empty everytime? What is a reasonable amount of time? One side will peter out and the other one can go sometimes 15 minutes longer with slow drops coming out. Is it normal to take 30 minutes plus to empty a boob? I pump about 20-25 minutes (when double pumping). I get a second let down around 20 minutes.
Also, when I do this it seems like the babies wake up 5 minutes later and we can't nurse because there is nothing there for them to be teased with. They won't suck just to suck. Frustrating, on occasion, I have had to give DD back what I just pumped.
-It hurts. A lot sometimes. I have already sized up my shields once, and I'm not sure if that is the issue. What seems stupid that I can't tell, is what part of my breast is actually being sucked in. I would have always considered the tips of my breasts to be my nipples, and they are getting streched into the shield, but it also seems like some of the areola goes with it and that is what is rubbing and possible causing the pain? My areola is drawn into the shield as well, doesn't hurt usually, but I do get sore sometimes. I believe the medela website has some info on sizing.
-How do you compress or massage while using a double electric pump? Is it normal to lose suction and have to reattach? I hold both bottles in my arm (bent at the elbow and hold against my body) and compress with the other hand.
-What do you do when your little ones fuss while you are pumping? Luckily, I'm not usually alone, but someday I worry that when I'm hooked up for that 30+ minutes that someone is going to have a meltdown. If DH is out, then I have to stop pumping if I can't distract DD.
First, buy a hands free bra (it's not really a bra). I have this one and it changed everything for me. I have my pump set up near my laptop so I can check e-mail, etc. while I pump. (I'm actually pumping right now).
https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Expression-Bustier-Hands-free-Pumping/dp/B000Y1RQ0C
It really works and I love it. I can massage and compress my breasts towards the end to get every las drop out. I pump for 20 min. Sometimes I get a 2nd let down around 15 min, sometimes not.
Pumping while I'm alone with DD is tough. I usually put her in her swing near me (she loves the swing). Sometimes the bouncy seat at my feet so I can talk to her and she can see me. If she's really fussy I have to stop.
As far as the pain - I recently used the Medela soft shields, and after 2 or 3 sessions I had to stop because it was so painful. But they might work better for someone else if the hard shields are hurting you. Try a few different types and sizes to see if things improve.
Hang in there!
Should I be pumping until empty everytime? What is a reasonable amount of time? One side will peter out and the other one can go sometimes 15 minutes longer with slow drops coming out. Is it normal to take 30 minutes plus to empty a boob? Also, when I do this it seems like the babies wake up 5 minutes later and we can't nurse because there is nothing there for them to be teased with. They won't suck just to suck. I would only pump for 15 to 20 minutes. I always still have milk slowly coming out. I don't think I was every really "empty". If you do not have any already pumped milk, you will have to give the milk you just pumped if your child wakes up and is hungry. Maybe try pumping after they fall asleep.
-It hurts. A lot sometimes. I have already sized up my shields once, and I'm not sure if that is the issue. What seems stupid that I can't tell, is what part of my breast is actually being sucked in. I would have always considered the tips of my breasts to be my nipples, and they are getting streched into the shield, but it also seems like some of the areola goes with it and that is what is rubbing and possible causing the pain? Yes, some days it hurt, I'm not going to lie. I used lots of lanolin after every time I pumped.
-How do you compress or massage while using a double electric pump? Is it normal to lose suction and have to reattach? I'm not sure what kind of pump you have, but I had the Ameda Purely Yours, and I was able to let the bottles rest on my lap, cross one arm over one pump and massage the other breast. It took A LOT of tries to master this. Don't get discouraged. You may have to try other ways to get this to work for you. Sometimes the horns would fall off. I would just put them back on and keep pumping.
-What do you do when your little ones fuss while you are pumping? Luckily, I'm not usually alone, but someday I worry that when I'm hooked up for that 30+ minutes that someone is going to have a meltdown. Some days this was the hardest thing for me. My daughter would wake up just as I started pumping and would cry. I can not take her crying and if she wouldn't settle down I would have to turn off the pump and go get her. When she was really little, sometimes I would put her in my lap and still be able to pump. I also learned to put her in the Boppy next to me and sit her up and give her a bottle. Again, somedays were very stressful and I wanted to quit. I ended pumping for a year! Good luck!