CPW: How long do you pump?

MitsB707 · April 2014

I'm just curious what others may do

kwrecks · April 2014

I have a really hard time getting a second letdown, so I usually pump through the first letdown and then a few minutes after the last drops.

LokiLahve · April 2014

When I pumped at work I did 15 min on each side. This also usually equated to 2 let downs.

MommyKristin88 · April 2014

SS - It depends

At work, 2 of my pump breaks are only 15 minutes, so I'm actively pumping for about 10-12 minutes. During my lunch break I pump for 20-30.

At home I pump for 2 let downs, so that's usually 30 minutes.

MitsB707 · April 2014

I usually get the first pretty quickly, then change up the speed about 5 minutes afterwards to try and bring on the second.

karabear11 · April 2014

I pump for 10 mins, its all the time I can afford at work. I do pump twice a shift though.

ludali · April 2014

SS... I take advantage of working from home...I try to get at least 2 letdowns, but usually go 30 min each session. I do every 2 hours and get just over 2 oz...yeah my supply is having issues.

MitsB707 · April 2014

ludali said:
SS... I take advantage of working from home...I try to get at least 2 letdowns, but usually go 30 min each session. I do every 2 hours and get just over 2 oz...yeah my supply is having issues.

This is me exactly and down to the ounce!!!!!!

ludali · April 2014

Its so frustrating @MitsB707‌ freezer stash is slowly disappearing. Pumping before bed gets me close to 2 oz too...so the day's total is pretty much 10 oz on a good day :-(

vulpini · April 2014

2-3 let downs, which is 20-30 minutes. no more than 30 minutes.

KQuinonez · April 2014

I still pump 20 minutes, 3x a day at work. This equates to about every 3 hours. If DS doesn't wake before I leave I make about 18 oz, if he does it's usually less. We went through a two week phase of only eating about 12 oz while I was at work, so I gained on him. Everyday even though I stress about it, I remind myself to be thankful that I am meeting his needs and he is not starving. I seriously thought the worrying over your supply would stop at 7 1/2 months.

nnikki10 · April 2014

I pump about 20 mins and get two letdowns. I've had to start supplementing. I can usually get 2 pump sessions during the day. I try to do 3 but have a hard time getting back to the station.

MitsB707 · April 2014

@ludali‌ I totally understand. I also wake up after ds's motn feedings to pump, and since I tend to yield more then, I usually have just enough for daycare the next day. I've been trying not to stress so much about it lately. Even though we've almost entirely ebf (one week of supplementing after bf until my milk came in), the ladies here have shown me that a little formula here and there to supplement when I don't make enough is ok. It was never my plan, but if it's going to make things less stressful, it's always there to help, you know? Our lo's getting fed is all that matters.

ludali · April 2014

@MitsB707‌ thanks for saying all of that, I get ya... I have to be open to supplementing because I feel like its going to be our reality. I think I'm going to take your idea though and pump after MOTN feedings. She's been having some rough nights, so all I've wanted is bed... thanks for the support :-)

MitsB707 · April 2014

@ludali‌ I hear ya on the rough nights! We've had them here, too. You're welcome! I hope the motn helps, but if you do end up supplementing, we've used the enfamil gentlease with no issues before. The ready made kind is already at daycare as a backup for us in case DS ever has a super hungry day. Good luck!

ludali · April 2014

Thanks for the info @MitsB707‌ !! I've actually been wondering where I'd start if we needed formula...now I know! This conversation came at the perfect time...you're probably the same way, but supply is always on my mind!

MitsB707 · April 2014

@ludali‌ Lol, I started setting up 4 large glasses of water by my computer every morning so I remember to keep drinking, and have a batch of protein poppers (made mostly out of oatmeal and flax seed) in the fridge at all times. It's definitely always on my mind.

catskitch · April 2014

i pump for 15 min. within the first 10 min, I get 2 letdowns. I turn the machine to the letdown mode force letdown the during the last 5 minutes to get one more. Even then, I get about 5 oz after 4 hrs, which is not enough for him to eat.

I don't pump in the motn...i'd get nothing because he sucks me dry.

Caz1221 · April 2014

SS - When pumping to replace a feeding (i.e. at work), I pump for 20-25 minutes. When pumping just after BFing (at night and on the weekends), I pump for 15 minutes. I also do a power pumping session on Friday and Saturday nights.

cinderin · April 2014

20 to 30 minutes.

V&G101808 · April 2014

I pump for 20 minutes on average, although lately to bring in another letdown I've been doing more like 25 minutes.

I found that when I was able to directly BF my letdowns came down way faster and I emptied in less than 15 minutes. Only relying on the pump now, the letdowns take a little longer so I have to pump for at least 20 minutes.

carrotcake06 · April 2014

At least 20min and I usually have 3-4 let downs. I almost always force the last one with a switch back to the fast speed.

I pump 3x a day at work. I'm so ready to be done with the pump.

I'm telling you ladies, for those that want to/are able, BFing after a year is so easy. It gets easier once they are eating a substantial amount of food and then so much easier once you introduce cows milk.

I ditched the pump at 12.5mo w my big one and we continued morning/night nursing until 20mo (well, we dropped night around 17ish mo, iirc). So easy and stress free.

LJUTCMommy · April 2014

I pump for 20-30 min.Usually, I get 1 oz per hour--if I haven't pumped in 3 hours--I get 3 oz, 2 I get 2oz. However, yesterday I only pumped 4 oz total. DD needs 8-12oz while I'm gone.

As many of you know, I have struggled to supplement as DD won't take formula. However, I did have success last night with homemade goat's milk formula. She gobbled it up. I really hope she continues to like it and I can be successful with combo-feeding. FX.

@mitsB707 @ludali :::Hugs::: Pumping enough is incredibly stressful.

magdalina.h · April 2014

Depends on how much I have, but never more than 15 minutes. If I'm uber full, I can usually empty after 7 minutes.

courtneykid · April 2014

It usually takes me about 20 minutes to get 6-8 oz. I pump twice at work!

Caz1221 · April 2014

@MitzB707, @ludali, I'm also in the same boat - LO eats 13.5 oz. while at day care (9-10 hours), and I only pump 9-11 oz total (3 pump sessions at work and one right after LO's bedtime feeding). I pump twice a day on the weekends, but that only yields 4-5 oz. total (because I pump right after LO eats), so I'm still at a big deficit for the week. I've tried more water, more oatmeal, energy bites (oatmeal & flax seed like you said), fenugreek, More Milk caplets, etc., but nothing has had a noticeable impact on my supply. My freezer stash is taking a hit, and I'm trying to figure out if I have enough to make it to LO's first birthday (assuming my supply doesn't dip even more). For me, it's frustrating because my supply wasn't an issue at all when I was on mat leave and BF'ing full time (until LO was 6.5 months old). Boo work. Boo pumping.

ludali · April 2014

@Caz1221‌ I could've written your post. My dream was to BF until at least DD's due date (preemie), but that's looking less likely. I don't plan to stop BFing....but supplementing seems like the least stressful option... I hate to say it, but its a relief to know that I'm not the only one struggling. I'm going to take a good look through my freezer stash this weekend to make a realistic plan. I cry over this... As long as she takes the formula, I'll send those to daycare and continue pumping while we're away from each other and BFing when together. Tearing up just writing this...such an emotional adventure.

cinderin · April 2014

For those struggling with supply issues - you may want to look into domperidone. I have been taking it since I struggle with supply issues and it has solved them.

There is info on it at Kelly mom and you order it from inhousepharmacy. I have had a really good experience with it.

ludali · April 2014

@cinderin‌ really? I was thinking it was only a prescription... how many mgs do you take a day?

Caz1221 · April 2014

@ludali, I know how you feel. LO had milk transfer issues for the first 3.5 months, so I was pumping after 6-7 feedings a day and giving her the pumped milk after she nursed. We had to supplement with formula for about a month (weeks 2-6) because I wasn't pumping enough for the supplement. It was very stressful and emotional. It was a big victory when I was able to pump enough for the supplements (so she was back on all BM), and then it was a huge victory when we overcame her transfer issues and got her back to EBF around 3.5 months old. We fought so hard to succeed at EBF'ing that the thought of having to go back to supplementing (with formula) at some point before she weans is incredibly frustrating and defeating. There's nothing wrong with formula at all; I just struggle at the thought of not reaching my goal. It's helpful to hear how others are dealing with this struggle.

MitsB707 · April 2014

@Caz1221‌ My freezer stash is up from last week, but still just at 20oz. DS takes 16oz at daycare from 7:30-4:45. I noticed if I upped my calories, I had a little more milk, so maybe try some healthy fats like avocado or salmon? This has definitely been the biggest struggle, but I'm determined to keep at it. If it takes some formula to get there, then so be it. We got this!

cinderin · April 2014

ludali said:
@cinderin‌ really? I was thinking it was only a prescription... how many mgs do you take a day?

You don't need RX to get it online. The generic (vomitstop) is great and not that expensive.

I take 30 mg (3 pills) 3 times a day.

MitsB707 · April 2014

@cinderin‌ is that in any way related to fenugreek? Fenugreek really helped, until I started having a bad reaction and can no longer take it.

ludali · April 2014

@Caz1221‌ I'm with ya. It has nothing to do with feelings about formula...I'm all for thriving babies. Its the emotions and hormones that are getting me down. Congrats on your success BFing! Our own journey is that DD was 6.5 weeks early. I'm very proud that she was able to go from feeding tube to bottles to breast...so thinking we'll be doing differently after that success is an emotional one for sure.

Thank you ladies for all the support. :-) Not many people IRL truly understand these feelings.

ludali · April 2014

cinderin said:

ludali said:
@cinderin‌ really? I was thinking it was only a prescription... how many mgs do you take a day?
You don't need RX to get it online. The generic (vomitstop) is great and not that expensive.

I take 30 mg (3 pills) 3 times a day.

Thanks for the info! I'll take a look. :-)

cinderin · April 2014

MitsB707 said:
@cinderin‌ is that in any way related to fenugreek? Fenugreek really helped, until I started having a bad reaction and can no longer take it.

I don't think they are related.

ludali · April 2014

cinderin said:

ludali said:
@cinderin‌ really? I was thinking it was only a prescription... how many mgs do you take a day?
You don't need RX to get it online. The generic (vomitstop) is great and not that expensive.

I take 30 mg (3 pills) 3 times a day.

Doh, I'm gonna pass on it. Its not recommended for kidney conditions and TMI...I found out I have one kidney after having DD!

cinderin · April 2014

ludali said:

cinderin said:

ludali said:
@cinderin‌ really? I was thinking it was only a prescription... how many mgs do you take a day?
You don't need RX to get it online. The generic (vomitstop) is great and not that expensive.

I take 30 mg (3 pills) 3 times a day.
Doh, I'm gonna pass on it. Its not recommended for kidney conditions and TMI...I found out I have one kidney after having DD!

Bummer :-(

Well - for others, it worked for me.

rooftop · April 2014

I only pump occasionally but when I do I only pump 2 or 3 mins and I usually get 4-5 ounces. I have ridiculously fast flow so I don't usually wait on letdown but if I do start I'll continue until letdown stops

MitsB707 · April 2014

@cinderin‌ I just googled "vomitstop" and wondered why something with that name would be good for bf, lol.

cinderin · April 2014

MitsB707 said:
@cinderin‌ I just googled "vomitstop" and wondered why something with that name would be good for bf, lol.

Apparently it is used in Europe and Australia to help with bm supply.

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