Exclusively pumping Big Thread

Trgree1712 · April 2014

I've been pumping as when LO was born she had an issue with her tounge being too tight and needing her frenulum sniped. Once that was done she had better use of her tounge but still was unable to latch and developed janduace so I had to supplement with formula. My milk finally came in four days after delivering but I'm only able to pump about a half ounce and I still have to supplement. It's very frustrating because I am pumping and still trying to attempt to get her to latch which still is not happening and then I wind up just giving her formula. I'm exhausted.

Mamamonzo · April 2014

aronie82 said:
Anyone taking fenugreek? Can you tell there is a difference?

Yes, and yes!!

MapleLeafMama · April 2014

Mamamonzo said:

Anyone taking fenugreek? Can you tell there is a difference?
Yes, and yes!!

I'm not EP and not EBF either, but I want to be able to get dd off formula and having some breast milk from a bottle as well as the boob. I started fenugreek yesterday and I already notice a difference. All of our feeds today she's been satisfied for the first time ever and hasn't needed formula to top her up after!

spalumb9 · April 2014

I need to be more conscious of drinking more water all day too! I am so bad about that!!!

MrsMeatball41 · April 2014

Anyone else power pumping? It boosts low supplies by triggering a "growth spurt". Pump for 10 mins than off 5 or 10 min for one hour. I'm trying it today and will let y'all know how it goes...

Mamamonzo · April 2014

Jessieann1020 said:

MrsMeatball41 said:
Anyone else power pumping? It boosts low supplies by triggering a "growth spurt". Pump for 10 mins than off 5 or 10 min for one hour. I'm trying it today and will let y'all know how it goes...

I read that you have to do it 3-4 days in a row and it can take a few days to notice a difference.

Today's is day two of power pumping for me. Yours supposed to go 10 on 10 off for an hour. I've noticed a difference today. Hoping it makes a big change! I'm jealous of all these mamas that leak and pump so much from the start

MrsMeatball41 · April 2014

I was getting 3.5-4 and got 7 with the power pumping.... You're only supposed to do it once a day right? And my LC said that you could do 5 or 10.

Mamamonzo · April 2014

MrsMeatball41 said:
I was getting 3.5-4 and got 7 with the power pumping.... You're only supposed to do it once a day right? And my LC said that you could do 5 or 10.

7!?!? Augh my power pumping isn't helping as much as I thought. I'm getting worried I'm never going to be able to keep up. My supply sucks.

MrsMeatball41 · April 2014

Take a deep breath! That suxks and must be disappointing to be have to dump. Hugs momma and it will get better. Try getting the fenugreek pills, not tea, lots of water and rest. And if that means you give baby formula or a bottle so someone can give you a break, that's okay. Not enough sleep will decrease your supply too. Also pumping every 2-3 hours even if baby isn't eating that often

spalumb9 · April 2014

Not sure when I will be ready but out of curiosity, how do you wean off the pumping and onto formula?

spalumb9 · April 2014

@Jessieann1020‌ - do you pump overnight? Aren't you in pain if not? I can't go an hour past when Owen eats before I hurt!

spalumb9 · April 2014

Two questions for everyone:

1) do you all plan to pump once going back to work (and how do you foresee this happening)?

2) how helpful and in what ways are your DH/SO's being of help?

KatieGummow · April 2014

Hi gals! I will be joining you, if that would be agreeable

it just so happened that I am pumping almost 100%. Baby B has been bottle fed since day one and has only latched on maybe twice (though I failed miserably at trying more often) and A loves the boob so much he could spend an hour there just hanging out, and if I take him off before he spits the nipple out he will cry until I put him back on.

Needless to say, pumping has been easier for me for these two guys, and DH gets to help out.

I am so happy for this thread in case I have questions!

Jenn06L80 · April 2014

Hi ladies! I am pumping for my twin girls. They were born at 36.3 weeks and spent 12 and 13 days in the NICU. They were poor feeders and now are "bottle spoiled" so getting them to nurse is extremely frustrating.

I do supplement with two bottles of formula - neosure - twice daily because they were IUGR and born very small.

I am not sure how long I will want to keep pumping. The work the goes into pumping, cleaning pump parts, then bottle feeding and cleaning bottles for twins is getting to me. But for now I am doing it.

I am thankful for this thread because exclusive pumping is hard and I appreciate the support!

nursewinnie · April 2014

Got up this morning after LO slept for a glorious 4 hr stretch. Sounds great, but oh the rock boobs I woke to! Ended up pumping for 1 hr straight and got 9 oz!!!! 4 from one side and 5 from the other. No wonder they were so hard. Hope everyone is managing well these days. It's good to hear how things are going for everyone.

hordol · April 2014

What does your routine look like when it comes to pumping? I know lots of us probably don't have a routine down quite yet, but what's working for you so far? Do you refrigerate pump parts and wash once per day or after each pumping session? How often do you sterilize?

Mamamonzo · April 2014

kcp913 said:
For moms returning to work and pumping, do you take from the freezer stash and restock with the fresher milk, pump and give fresh the next day, keeping the freezer stash for emergencies, or do a combination of the two, ensuring that the freezer stash never goes bad and needs to be tossed?

Also, how much milk would you advise giving to the chidlcare provider and would you give it in individual bottles or one bottle with bags of milk to make heating it up for consumption easier, and making fewer bottles to go back and forth?

I will be returning to work next Wednesday and will have to pump in the day, and hopefully continue BF at night, but at this time am not sure if it will turn into switching to EP.

Edit to add: When pumping, would you combine all the milk for the day and then divide into bottles, hopefully ensuring an even mix of foremilk/hindmilk for each bottle the next day, or would each pumping session gets its own bag/bottle for storage.

Depends on your childcare provider and your state. In MI we can not prepare any food from home (with the exception of special needs and then the kitchen has to do it. Bottles were included in that) parents are required to portion out milk in individual bottles!

I combine at the end of the day once everything has cooled. I didn't think of it your way, I just got sick of have 4000 bottles in the fridge! Your thought process makes sense though!

isamaraguirre · April 2014

What is up with my milk production?
I have been pumping every 2-3 hours and it seems that my my breast milk production has decreased. I use to get 1 1/2oz every time I pumped, now I don't even get 1oz.
What am I doing wrong?
I keep hydrated, eat properly and I am pumping as suggested. I feel terrible that I can't give LO at least 1oz of breast milk at every feeding.

scarles · April 2014

@isamaraguirre‌ my supply has increased when I used heat packs while I pump. These have been great - https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-TheraPearl-3-in-1-Breast-Therapy/dp/B0070767DU They fit right over the flanges and I notice a big difference. I also use mother love nipple cream and it makes a big difference compared to using lanolin on the shields. And I do compressions while pumping. Hope this helps! These are just a few things I've done in the short time I've been pumping.

scarles · April 2014

@hordol‌ I've been washing after each pump because I don't like leaving the lanolin or mother love nipple cream on the shields. If I didn't use that , I'd just refrigerate and use once a day. I've never sterilized. I guess I should do that? I'm pumping so often I feel like going through the dishwasher would take too long. I have those medela bags so I can use that once a day.

scarles · April 2014

@kcp913‌ I think I've read on kellymom that you can do the following: Monday: freezer stash Tuesday: use bottles from Monday Wednesday: use bottles from Tuesday Thursday: use bottles from Wednesday Friday: pump for freezer Obviously it may be different if you EP. But this is what I would do if I BF on weekends/nights. Also, my daycare requires individual bottles for each feed so that is what I plan on doing.

christinanoelle · April 2014

aronie82 said:
This is my problem with refrigerating after pumping. All this fatty good stuff gets left in the bottle. I'm pumping for a stash and EBF. It takes a day or more to get one 4oz bag. So I've been refrigerating after pumping and combining the days worth into one bag. This has been the easiest way so far but I feel like I'm losing all of that good fatty stuff. Does anyone have a better way?

I've found that if I leave it at room temp for 15-20 minutes and then swirl that helps!

spalumb9 · April 2014

Anyone using medela soft shells at all?

spalumb9 · April 2014

I know I have shaken! Good to know not to from now on!!!

isamaraguirre · April 2014

megla said:
@isamaraguirre‌ my supply has increased when I used heat packs while I pump. These have been great - https://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-TheraPearl-3-in-1-Breast-Therapy/dp/B0070767DU

They fit right over the flanges and I notice a big difference. I also use mother love nipple cream and it makes a big difference compared to using lanolin on the shields. And I do compressions while pumping. Hope this helps! These are just a few things I've done in the short time

It is so frustrating and disappointing not being able to get enough milk for LO. Thank You for the tip! I will definitely try the heat pads.

nursewinnie · April 2014

Anyone else starting to feel a bit bogged down by the pump? I feel so confined and I want to quit sometimes but I know it's best for LO. I've been attempting to space out sessions in an effort to give myself a little break here and there and so far my supply has been ok. I've gotta get my head on straight and keep trucking I know.

Mamamonzo · April 2014

nursewinnie said:
Anyone else starting to feel a bit bogged down by the pump? I feel so confined and I want to quit sometimes but I know it's best for LO. I've been attempting to space out sessions in an effort to give myself a little break here and there and so far my supply has been ok. I've gotta get my head on straight and keep trucking I know.

I pump every 3 hours, which is what LO's eating schedule was on the boob. I never go out for 3 hour stretches because I hates NIP (not because I was scared, but because he was so hard to latch I couldn't donut without my boobs flapping around)

I don't feel too tied down yet, I'm sure once he goes longer stretches I will!

scarles · April 2014

@nursewinnie‌ yes! I'm trying to fight those feelings as well. I know this is what I want, and I want to do it long term. But strapping myself to a machine every 2-3 hours is exhausting and sometimes I dread it. We supplemented for 1-2 days after jack was born and he threw up nearly every feeding. So I'm using that as motivation because he has handled BM so well.

nursewinnie · April 2014

It's just do hard to multi task when dd is in her cluster feeding mode. Im trying to feed her while strapped to pump and not leaning forward too far because the milk will spill through that tiny hole on the top. Then if she has a dirty diaper she has to wait until I'm done pumping. It's just very frustrating. Also, I can't help but have moments of lazy when I get up in the night and think "how nice would it be to only have to feed and change her

scarles · April 2014

@eme520‌ burning calories is a huge motivator for me too!

scarles · April 2014

@p&b715 I pump for at least 20 minutes or 5 minutes after the last drop. My longest session has been 45.

patunia7321 · April 2014

I feel like I want to quit at least once a day. What makes it more frustrating is I feel like i'm tied to this pump and I'm not pumping enough for a full feeding, so I can't get ahead and have to supplement with formula anyway. I try to tell myself that anything is better than nothing and LO is still benefiting from any amount he's given. Excellent points as always @eme520‌ ! 500 cal a day is a great short term motivator!

Mamamonzo · April 2014

Jessieann1020 said:
I haven't yet. I am having a hard time finding an hour to dedicate to it. I need to try that though. I think I needed a vent earlier. After my pity party I went and made more Mother's Milk Tea and ate a big bowl of oatmeal. I'm not giving up.

Don't quit! Can your DH sit with LO While you pump for an hour? I use it as my me time. Glass if wine, book, feet up. It's very relaxing, then I get the most milk!

spalumb9 · April 2014

I feel like I am in the same boat--- just drained over pumping! I had to find a far away parking spot yesterday and today to pump in the car somewhere because I was out and about! I don't like being tied down by it! I know it is wonderful for my baby but I am tired if it! Plus my DH added up how much is in the freezer and it's about 20 days worth!

katy4128 · April 2014

First, I dont post often. I like to just read the threads and as a FTM I have learned a lot from you ladies. Thank you so much!

My little guy is just over 2 weeks old and this thread is a life saver. It makes me feel like I am not alone. I had all these great plans to breast feed but it was just too stressful. So now I am just pumping and bottle feeding and it has been working great for us. I already have a freezer full of milk

Since you all have helped me so much, here are a couple things helping me now: my hands free bra is amazing and my LOs pediatrician said to take fenugreek to help with supply and it works great!

Happy pumping!

katy4128 · April 2014

Took me about 3 days to see an increase in supply taking fenugreek 3 times a day.

patunia7321 · April 2014

What's the story with power pumping? Anyone try it? How did it work for you? @hordol my pumping routine goes like this: I have a pumping station set up in my bedroom. Comfy chair, ottoman, small blanket, heating pad, and I keep a case of bottled water and some snacks within reach. I use a hands free pumping bra, start off by putting lanolin on the nips, slipping the pump into the bra, chugging a bottle of water, and applying heat for a few min before I turn on the pump. (I just started to keep heat on the whole time seems to increase my output) I keep the parts in the fridge between pumps, wash w soap&water once a day, and sanitize once a week. I pump at least every time he eats and try to slip in a few extra sessions when I can. I keep the milk in storage bottles in the fridge because I use it pretty quickly. We actually bought a mini fridge and put it in our 2nd floor bathroom for this purpose. Plus I have to supplement with formula and that needs to be refrigerated as well, so after 2 nights of going up and down the stairs DH came home with a fridge. Ha. Note: I still don't produce enough so if anyone notices an error in my routine or a better way please tell me! Also sorry if this is a big mess- can't get the <> button to work so no paragraphs ugh.

scarles · April 2014

@patunia7321‌ keeping heat on while I pump helps my supply so much! The lansinoh pearl pads are amazing.

patunia7321 · April 2014

How do they heat up ? Do they need to be put in the microwave?

scarles · April 2014

I've been washing parts after every pump but from what I'm reading, it seems unnecessary. Are you all putting parts in the fridge after putting lanolin or olive oil on the shields? Are you washing or putting the bottles you pump into in the fridge? I pump into my hygeia bottles then then transfer to avent bottles for feeding. Can I put the hygeia bottles in the fridge too? LO is not eating from those.

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