MOMs who pump...

JustcallmeGG2 · July 2012

I was wondering, where you able to keep up a supply for two?

I usually pump between 4 and 7 ounces max per session, but they will quickly be surpassing that amount. (They drink about 5 ounces combined at this point).

Does your body just know to pump out more? Or is it just impossible with twins? I guess building a "stockpile" out of the question!

kthappy76 · July 2012

I EP (long story) and have never had enough to EBF, regardless of what I do to increase my supply, so we've supplemented as needed since the beginning. My supply increased steadily over time, but has leveled off at about 40 oz/day several mos. ago. I know some make plenty for two or even have extra, but many others do not. Now that they are eating 2x/day, they are down to needing very little formula and are almost entirely BF. You are doing great, keep it up! GL!

vlahop · July 2012

I did it for 6 months and I was able to pump enough for them and built a good freezer stash. I always had a good supply though (did with my 1st too). I knew it would be a challenge to have enough for the twins, so I worked at it from the beginning. I always drank LOTS of water, ate well (plenty of oatmeal), and I drank mother's milk tea if I thought my supply was going down. I was really good about pumping often, and sometimes if the girls were asleep I would pump randomly for 5 minutes or so if I could squeeze it in. This would be done in addition to the regular pumping schedule. You can really get your supply up if you try.

Good luck!

E&RMommy · July 2012

You're making a lot at 3 weeks. Your supply will continue to increase; you haven't maxed out yet.

I never made more than 26 oz/day (average 24). I pumped for 10.5 months.

Nursing will always be better than a pump; I was forced into EPing.

Good luck and remember it's not all or nothing.

Breezy8407 · July 2012

I have almost EP'd since the beginning.

My supply has increased along with their needs, but I've never had enough for exclusive breast milk. We have always done 2 out of 7 bottles of formula a day, so as they have increased their intake, my supply has increased fairly steadily along with them. (FWIW, my son eats 4.5-5 oz a bottle, my daughter gets 4 oz at 11.5 weeks)

I started back at work last week and am working full time this week, so I am starting to drop sessions and eventually stop altogether. My goal is two more weeks.

Right now I make about 40 oz a day. Interestingly enough, I have dropped two pumping sessions in the last week, but seem to be making the same amount in 24 hours. I thought my supply would drop off faster than it has.

ETA: I ate a lot of oatmeal when I was home and took 3-4 of these pills a day...I think they helped boost my supply about a month ago:

https://www.amazon.com/Special-Blend-Motherlove-Vegetarian-Capsules/dp/B0029WXZG8

jsp430 · July 2012

vlahop:
I did it for 6 months and I was able to pump enough for them and built a good freezer stash. I always had a good supply though (did with my 1st too). I knew it would be a challenge to have enough for the twins, so I worked at it from the beginning. I always drank LOTS of water, ate well (plenty of oatmeal), and I drank mother's milk tea if I thought my supply was going down. I was really good about pumping often, and sometimes if the girls were asleep I would pump randomly for 5 minutes or so if I could squeeze it in. This would be done in addition to the regular pumping schedule. You can really get your supply up if you try.

Good luck!

I second the recommendations here - lots of water, oatmeal, mother's milk tea. I had to pump for a couple weeks because of really traumatized nipples, yuck. I was able to maintain and build my supply during that time with the hospital-grade medela pump, fenugreek, blessed thistle, goat's rue, lactation cookies, mother's milk plus herb blend, and tons of water. It is doable - good luck!

everam01 · July 2012

I used to EP and it took a LOT of pumping to build up my supply. At first, I pumped every 2-3 hours for 30 minutes at a time. I had to supplement until they were about 5-6 weeks old, when I finally caught up.

ETA: At my peak I was able to pump 75+ oz per day, but they boys would drink almost all of it so I never built up a great freezer stash.

Puppins · July 2012

I have trips, and even pumping every two hours, and taking mothers milk and domperidone I still maxed out at about 40oz/day. Which was enough for all them them when they were getting tube feeds, even then some days they got supplemented. Im weaning now and only make about 18oz./day, they are taking in about 72oz/day.

JustcallmeGG2 · July 2012

Thanks everyone.

Not sure if anyone will see this, but oatmeal increases milk production?

Also, where do you get the Mother's Milk tea?

Puppins · July 2012

Mothers Milk Tea is disgusting, and I really dont think it helps, you have to drink A TON for it to work and its hard to drink. I think the pills work better, you can get them online, but I got them at a local store that specializes in nursing, maybe look on the laleche site for a place local to you? I EPd with my son so I've tried it all. Drink a ton of water and try to get rest. Kellymom.com has a forum just for EPers!

JenniC1135 · July 2012

It's been many years, but I was able to pump between 70-80 ounces a day for quite a while. It took work - pumping every 2-3 hours around the clock, but it was important to me to give them as close to exclusive breastmilk as possible, and I was able to. It was exhausting, and if I could go back, I'd have gotten a lactation consultant involved to get them to actually nurse. Anyway, I think a lot of it is based on your body, but it's not impossible to do. To answer your questions, health food stores usually have mother's milk tea, and real oatmeal - not the instant stuff - can increase milk production.

E&RMommy · July 2012

Yes oatmeal is a galactogogue!!!! I ate a batch of lactation cookies every week for 10 weeks.

Ditto to kellymom.com for advice on EPing.

Breezy8407 · July 2012

I thought the tea was gross, too. I took the pills that had the same ingredients. Check Amazon for the Motherlove brand. Some health food stores will carry them - I bought my first bottle at Whole Foods, but they were WAY cheaper on Amazon.

Angelina2010 · July 2012

I agree with the other ladies I take the supplements and fenugreek pills plus I drink the sacrad mothers tea. I had breast surgery though in October so I am only able to get four ounces each pumping session and also getting a hospital grade pump this week. Best of luck, my girls were born at twenty four weeks three days June tenth. They're doing well btw.

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