wth? pumped nothing last night! why?

Re: wth? pumped nothing last night! why?

• angel555

  September 2009

  How much did you have to drink yesterday?  Not being hydrated enough can affect your supply. 

  Were you relaxed when you were pumping?  Being fearful of not producing enough can be a self-fulfilling prophecy; if you're tense, it's harder to relax and let down.

  Did you try thinking of your LO while you pumped?  About how he smells?  Did you try smelling one of his worn shirts?  Weird, I know, but it DOES work to trigger let down.  

  Do you normally pump at that time of night?  If not, it could be that your breasts weren't expecting to be needed.  Try again a few nights in a row at that time; my guess is that your breasts will get the message and start producing more.  

  Also, you mentioned feeding your son formula.  When you feed formula, that means your son isn't stimulating your breasts to make milk, and they'll think they're not needed as much, so you won't produce as much milk.  My advice, if you want to continue BFing, is to cut out the formula, feed your son regularly when you're both at home, and pump regularly when you're at work.  (Are you pumping regularly at work already?  If so, pump more often.) 

  You'll be able to keep up with his demand if you do these things.  It'll be hard and sometimes inconvenient to pump (at work, and sometimes late at night at home), but it'll be worth it.  Biologically speaking, it's impossible NOT to keep up with your son, as long as you're not tricking your body into producing less by feeding your son formula as well.  

  Also, be patient while waiting for your milk supply to catch up.  The BF books I've read say it can take 2-3 days for your body to ramp up production.  So, don't think it's not working if it doesn't happen right away.  Be patient and trust yourself and your body.
  

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• LM2003

  September 2009

  angel555:

  How much did you have to drink yesterday?  Not being hydrated enough can affect your supply. 

  Were you relaxed when you were pumping?  Being fearful of not producing enough can be a self-fulfilling prophecy; if you're tense, it's harder to relax and let down.

  Did you try thinking of your LO while you pumped?  About how he smells?  Did you try smelling one of his worn shirts?  Weird, I know, but it DOES work to trigger let down.  

  Do you normally pump at that time of night?  If not, it could be that your breasts weren't expecting to be needed.  Try again a few nights in a row at that time; my guess is that your breasts will get the message and start producing more.  

  Also, you mentioned feeding your son formula.  When you feed formula, that means your son isn't stimulating your breasts to make milk, and they'll think they're not needed as much, so you won't produce as much milk.  My advice, if you want to continue BFing, is to cut out the formula, feed your son regularly when you're both at home, and pump regularly when you're at work.  (Are you pumping regularly at work already?  If so, pump more often.) 

  You'll be able to keep up with his demand if you do these things.  It'll be hard and sometimes inconvenient to pump (at work, and sometimes late at night at home), but it'll be worth it.  Biologically speaking, it's impossible NOT to keep up with your son, as long as you're not tricking your body into producing less by feeding your son formula as well.  

  Also, be patient while waiting for your milk supply to catch up.  The BF books I've read say it can take 2-3 days for your body to ramp up production.  So, don't think it's not working if it doesn't happen right away.  Be patient and trust yourself and your body.
  

  I tried taking deep breaths, thinking of him etc....My body isn't used to getting up at 2 am to feed him as he STTN.  The only reason i'm doing formula is b/c i'm going to run out of my freezer stash.  I'm back to work and he gets ebm bottles while i'm away.  However those are going to run out.  So hence the reason for formula, there just won't be enough pumped milk.

  I am a teacher and I wish I could pump more during the day but there is only a 20 minute lunch and a 30 min prep time.  I pump during those times. 

  It was just so weird last night that nothing would come out!  I think I was just half asleep and that's why my milk wouldn't let down...hmmmm

  I'm pumping now before I go to bed and nothing again!  But my body is used to feeding him before bed btw 8 and 9 and then not again until 6 or 7 am. weird.

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• cindy453

  September 2009

  angel555:

  Biologically speaking, it's impossible NOT to keep up with your son, as long as you're not tricking your body into producing less by feeding your son formula as well.  

  
  

  I don't know about that... low supply does happen. 

  OP- maybe you will adjust in a day or two if you keep trying to pump at night? Some jobs just don't allow for pumping... have you tried other formula brands? or mixing a tiny bit of formula with bm, then slowly increasing the ratio?
  

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• Knitty

  September 2009

  cindy453:

  angel555:

  Biologically speaking, it's impossible NOT to keep up with your son, as long as you're not tricking your body into producing less by feeding your son formula as well.  

  
  

  I don't know about that... low supply does happen. 

  OP- maybe you will adjust in a day or two if you keep trying to pump at night? Some jobs just don't allow for pumping... have you tried other formula brands? or mixing a tiny bit of formula with bm, then slowly increasing the ratio?
  

  Yeah, low supply is a real thing. It's not nearly as common as people think, but it is real.

   OP, have you thought of trying some domperidone? Or oats, fenugreek, blessed thistle? Weekend pumping sessions? I hate how hard it is for teachers to pump, it sucks.

  How long will your freezer stash last? In three weeks you can start solids and that will help eke out the breastmilk.
  

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• azcobride member

  September 2009

  I have had this problem as well and wish I had the answer! I really do think smelling something of the baby's helps (it is the only way I can get let down when I'm pumping). Besides that, just try to stay hydrated and relaxed. Hopefully your body will get the message to let that milk down! If not, at least you've stimulated your nipples so repeating that might eventually teach your body its time to produce.

  I can't pump enough for my son- some women's bodies just do not respond well to the pump and getting enough BM that way is difficult. I try to make his bottles 1/2 formula 1/2 BM but lately his bottles are increasing and my pumping is decreasing so it is closer to 1/3 BM 2/3 formula. I think even a little bit is better than nothing at all!

  
  
  
  

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