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starlettedir
member
Can you help me with my pumping? =(
starlettedir
member
I started yesterday and pumped 3 times.
I did it right after the kiddo ate. She eats about 20 min per side. I've had no problems with her BFing. She's gaining weight like a champ.
The 1st two times I pumped I got about 2 oz total. Then I did again yesterday afternoon and got *maybe* a 1/2 oz.
I got frustrated so I didn't try again later that night.
I just tried again. I waited till almost an hour after she was done eating and I got a whopping total of just under 1 oz.
I tried to manually express myself to see if I just don't have milk and that's not the case. I can feel the machine pump. I see the suction. I've tried it all all different settings and nothing.
Any clue as to what I'm doing wrong?!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Can you help me with my pumping? =(
You aren't doing anything wrong. it's just that she's emptying your breasts, which is a good thing!
If you continue to pump after each feed, its going to tell your body to make more milk, but its going to tske a few days for your body to get the message
j+k+m+e | running with needles
Thank you. I just started crying to DH as I'm wearing the handsfree bra thing pump and all. The poor man looked at me like I lost my mind and didn't know what to say(or how to hug me) to make me feel better.
? that I'm almost too embarrassed to write. Can your nipples be too big for the pump thing? Mine fill up the entire thing by the time it's said and done? I've still seen milk come out so I wouldn't *think* that's the case...should I still wait an hour or so after feeding her?
There are different size horns for pumps. You might want to try the next size up and see if that makes any difference too.
And I agree with previous poster's reply.
Yes, you can try different horns, but there's really no right or wrong way. If it's uncomfortable for you, try going up a size. But my LC reminded me women had been pumping with one sized horns for years before they got custom sizing. So if you're comfortable, just stick with what you've got. The only way the horns are going to affect your pumping is if it's so uncomfortable that you don't pump. Bigger or smaller horns won't give you more or less milk as long as you have adequate suction.
You can try two different ways to increase your milk through pumping. You can pump for ten or fifteen minutes after each nursing session or you can add in a session just for pumping (where you don't BF at all.)
I know this is easy for me to say since I'm a SAHM, but you really don't need to worry about having a freezer stash yet. You're going to be pumping what she needs when you're at school and giving her fresh pumped milk the next day so that hopefully, you won't even need to touch any frozen milk. So try not to think that you need to be putting away 15oz in the freezer each day now. If you do want to build up a stash, just 2 oz a day will give you 60oz after a month of pumping. I just stressed myself out a lot by worrying about losing my supply (which is part of what happened with Marion) and so I was pumping all the time with Eliza. I ended up with oversupply which sounds good in theory, but created other issues.
You'll be spending enough time with your pump once you go back to work, so try to use this time to enjoy just the ease of BFing. It sounds like she's a pro at it, so keep it as simple as you can these first few weeks. Try as much as possible not to stress about going back to wrok and just enjoy right now. Y'all are doing a great job!
j+k+m+e | running with needles
This may be obvious, but have you been putting nipple cream on the cones before you hook up? I had NO idea I should and it made a big difference. I would just smear a little on each cone so that things just moved a little easier. You can also use olive oil, if you don't have nipple cream. Once I got the hang of things I never had cracked nipples (except for the one time I did power pumping for a week...OMG) and I think it was because I used the cream so often.
Pumping is SO hard...but once you get in the grove it's worth it.
Definitley agree with everyone above! Your body hasn't adjusted to your additional pumping, yet - it is used to only providing what you are giving DS right now. So, keep pumping when you can, but don't expect much for at least a week or so. I only pumped in the morning (when I was the most full) and I saved a LOT for storage - so don't feel like you have to pump after every feeding just to get a stash. Just go with whatever is comfortable for you. BFing can be quite challenging, no matter how "natural" you hear about it being - so hang in there!
It sounds to me like your body adjusts quickly to what she needs and that is a FANTASTIC thing! It also means that after a few more days of pumping after she eats, no matter when you do it, your body should adjust as well.
I completely echo everyone else. Enjoy your baby right now. It's easy to make yourself completely crazy with all the "I shoulds". But she's little and cute and squishy. Just hang and enjoy her!
Pumping twice a day sounds like a fantastic idea. Enough to put some in the freezer, but not so much to make you stressed.
Kat's idea of adding in a pumping only session (closer to when you return to work, imo) is a good idea. That way you can see that you will pump quite a bit, since she hadn't just eaten. Of course, if she's an every 2 hour eater, I wouldn't mess with it.
Lastly, breastfeeding and pumping is HARD. You aren't doing anything wrong. It just takes awhile to figure it all out and settle in to a groove. You are amazing and doing a fantastic job!
I would have never thought of this! I'm so glad you posted this as it's stored away in hopes that breastfeeding is successful this time. I hated pumping with a passion as it hurt, maybe this would have made it a lot easier.
BFP with no treatment!
You've gotten great advice so far and I don't have much to add but I wanted to tell you that you are doing a great job! I just pumped once a day (after the morning feeding) and maybe once at night a few times a week. Your body will adjust and everything will work itself out.
I LOL when I read the part about your hands free bra and crying. Poor DH's don't know what to do with us at that stage! I know mine was wondering where the heck his wife went!
Guess who got 4 oz yesterday morning and 6 oz this morning! ;-)
I only got so much this morning because she fell asleep on the 2nd side!
Thanks again for all your help earlier this week!!
Such great news! Awesome!