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Breastfeeding
JenniferTCU
member
Pump Schedule
JenniferTCU
member
Hi!
How often did you pump in the beginning? Every two to three hours? This is getting a bit overwhelming as I am trying to go every three hours but how do I do that at night, too? DH and I are trying this new schedule where we each go a 4 hour stretch of sleep in the night but I can't do that if am pumping...or can I? I guess I am just trying to figure out if that 2-3 is pretty strict or not for all 24 hours? Like, could I go every 2-3 hours around the clock except for a 4 hour stretch in the night? And how long do you need to keep this up? After milk supply is well established, do you still need to go every 2-3?
I am only getting about 10 ml each 15 minutes (that's for both breast combined- ugh). But I am still committed. It would be great to show more progress though.
Thanks!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Pump Schedule
Hi all! Thanks for your replies.
Okay so here's the deal. I had BR surgery a few years ago so my supply sucketh. It's really hard to BF because LO doesn't latch and barely anything comes out. So, what I am doing (which is an insane pain) is using a nipple shield, taking a syringe and filling the shield up with formula, and letting DS suck the formula out of the shield. Seriously insane. So my breast is being stiumlated. I do this about 3 times a day and pump the other times. The nipple shield is the only way he will latch (nipples don't protrude as much as they should due to the surgery).
But, I am only getting like 10 ml of BM each time I pump so this is a true labor of love because I am pumping and not seeing much results AT ALL.
Check out the boards at bfar.org!
I admire you for sticking with the syringe feeding, I think I tossed those at about 3 days old
I couldn't do it without DH's help, and she would suck the syringes down so fast and then be done. She would stay longer without the extra formula at the breast.
I was barely pumping anything at 6 days, but now I can get over 1oz per side during the day. To be honest, when I relaxed a bit with my pumping schedule I did better. I was so stressed with the syringe feeding, then trying to put her down and pump for 20 minutes, then wash it all, etc that I was ready to quit. I finally decided it was okay to set limits, and it didn't have to be all or nothing. Of course, once I said that I started not minding the pump so much
Have you tried a medela SNS or a lact-aid? The syringes aren't really big enough to be a long term solution (IMO).
I've been trying "bottle first" supplementation- it's suggested in the book Defining Your Own Success by Diane West. You can google for the article.
My advice- decide what you want. Do you care more about your son getting breast milk (so pumping is super important) or do you care about the overall breastfeeding relationship? I personally have no interest in EPing, so I just try to make our nursing sessions as enjoyable for both of us as possible. I pump if I can, when I can, if I want to
I do take fenugreek and drink mothers milk tea.
Oh Cindy- so you feel my pain! The syringe thing is a killer. I feel like I am always washing pump parts, washing the syringe and nipple shield, etc. It's out of control. I haven't tried that Medela thing but two other people recommended it. I have to go to Target later- I hope they sell it there. Thanks so much for your advice.
PS. When you say you pump 1 oz during the day, do you mean with all pumping combined or each time?
I don't think target has them, but a lactation consultant should. Call a local hospital and ask if they have one, I know several local lactation consultants keep them on hand to give/sell to people. Or, you could try calling a LLL leader to see if they know where to get one? I was really nervous about asking them for help, I thought I would be judged somehow for using formula or choosing to have the reduction, whatever. But they were great- very helpful!
I pump 1oz each side each sitting.... so 2oz total each pump session. Probably 8oz total a day. I could do more, but like I said... I hate the pump!
The routine now is to give formula bottles at night, and I pump at night. What I pump at night gets used to supplement the next day. So, she gets all BM during the day, all formula at night. 6oz or so of formula a day. If she gets formula, she sleeps much longer than if she has BM, so it works out best to concentrate the formula when I want more sleep anyway!
Good luck! I take it one day at a time, sometimes one feeding at a time. I just keep thinking, "I don't want this to be the last time I breastfeed..." and that gets me through until the next one. I can't believe it's already been over three weeks
I EP and my LC said I had to pump around the clock every 2 hours for the first 6 weeks. At 6 weeks I was told I could stretch to every 3-31/2 hours during the day. At 13 weeks I stopped pumping at night. I have seen my supply drop some from that but I make more than enough at this point so we freeze the rest.
It's wonderful you are so committed. Just know that it is a lot of work, tiring, frusterating, but overall worth it. Now I am at the point where I pump 5-6 times a day for 15-20 mns a time.
The progress will be slow but don't give up if it's something you really want to do!