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Exlusive pumping

WilPWilP member
in Multiples
I have been exclusively pumping for my twins for just over a week now. Because of a lack of weight gain i needed to be able to measure their intake. So far I've been pumping every two hours and every three at night. I tried to talk with the lactation consultant at my pedis office but i was VERY unhappy with her. And she gave me no guidelines for pumping. I have a medela pump in style and i am making enough that i don't have to supplement until night time. So here's the question. I know others who pump exclusively and they pump every 3 hours and every 4 at night but im wondering if thats sufficient for twins? If i need to keep pumping very 2 hours i will but my boobs are very sore and bruised from all the pumping and i have an 18 month old who isn't getting much attention these days. Plus It seems like i get more if im late for a pump. So would it just even out? Btw i scheduled an appt for another lactation consultant but she's not available until later next week and im worn out with doing this for only a week
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Re: Exlusive pumping

  • cukimerrydollcukimerrydoll member
    I'm still pregnant with mine, but I found this article a few weeks ago that I thought was really informative/helpful. I hope it helps!
    https://happyhomefairy.com/2013/06/07/extreme-pumping-tips-and-tricks/
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  • SWA80SWA80 member
    My boys are 8 weeks old and did some NICU time so I understand needing to know how much they take. I started bfing just once a day and offering bottles after. Now mine are big enough that I can bf more but I still just do a few times a day.

    The LCs in the NICU had me pumping at least 8 times a day to establish supply. At least one time at night. I could have one five hour break at night. You may want to think about renting a hospital grade pump for a month while you establish your supply.

    I think pumping frequently early on really helped to establish my supply but I was told to pump no more than 10 times in 24 hrs. I have never had to supplement and have built a freezer stash. The breastfeeding board is a good resource too.
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  • 10-4LilBuddy10-4LilBuddy member
    I am also trying to figure out pumping. Here is some of the advice I've gotten from a couple LCs and pediatricians. Pump every three hours. You can go a little longer at night. Pump until no more milk comes out, then stay on the pump for five more minutes. Massage your breasts lightly - just sweeping motions to the middle (I actually hurt myself being too aggressive). Think of your babies or look at pictures of them - that'll help your body make milk too. Or hold one of them - bonus if skin to skin. Eat oatmeal (btw - 4 oatmeal cookies = 1 bowl of oatmeal). Drink non alcoholic beer. Relax (easier said than done) - it's hard to make enough milk for twins.

    I had to supplement btwn weeks one and two. My milk production has really increased this week and I have not been terribly disciplined with doing every three hours. It's just hard to find time to pump after feeding two babies.
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  • 10-4LilBuddy10-4LilBuddy member
    Eta - there's a breastfeeding advice thread on the Oct 2013 birth month board. Lots of helpful advice and super helpful if you post your questions!
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  • jennifire7jennifire7 member
    I exclusively pumped for my twins for the first 3 months (one of mine was in the NICU for feeding issues for 14 days and never would latch properly). It's hard work and exhausting. I fed the babies every 3 hours and would pump as soon as I got them back to sleep (8 pumps a day). I also recommend using a hospital grade pump and eating lots of oatmeal/drinking tons of water. Good luck!!
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  • LottaLattesLottaLattes member
    I did 8x a day, dropped to 7 when they were about 3 months old and progressively dropped a session whenever I felt super overwhelmed. However I was producing enough to bank in the freezer before I did that. Drink a ton of water (I drank 200 oz a day), try fenugreek and mother's milk tea, and pump closer together during the day and try to get a stretch of sleep at night which will also help. And don't stress too much, do your best and a little formula isn't a big deal in the long run. Take care of yourself!!
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