Exclusively pumping Big Thread

snmetz7 · June 2014

My output has been shit lately so I'm switching from domperidone to reglan. Wish me luck.

kalette · June 2014

I have mirena too but no supply dip

KatieGummow · June 2014

Aww no @snmetz7‌! T&P and FX!!!!!

spano41 · June 2014

Just an update....two days since mirena and supply has returned to normal. I must have just had an off day for some reason?!?!

KatieGummow · June 2014

Yay @spano41‌! Maybe it was the water intake!? That really affects me. So happy to hear this.

Lindsay808 · June 2014

fx @snmetz7‌
Still weaning...down to 5 pumps a day. Hoping to cut down to 4 starting tomorrow but starting to have all the mom guilt. I know I'll be so relieved and happy when I stop but just can't shake the guilt.
DD seems to be tolerating the formula okay. She's been spitting up more the last few days but even after bottles of bm so I can't exactly blame the formula.

KatieGummow · June 2014

@Lindsay808‌ don't feel guilty! You are doing the best thing for you which makes it the best thing for LO. You should never feel guilty about doing the best thing for your baby

you should feel proud!

spano41 · June 2014

@Lindsay808 The mom guilt is strong with me. If it's not one thing it's another though. You just have to do the best you can and go with it. I am just realizing that if I don't give myself a break I'm going to be feeling guilty about something for the next 18 years (or for the rest of my life) so just make sure you are doing the very best you can and move on!

Lindsay808 · June 2014

Thanks ladies

Stace0616 · June 2014

Is it bad that I've reached the point where, besides oatmeal and lactation cookies, I'm not putting anymore money into increasing my supply? My supply has dipped a little to 30-32oz per day vs 35-36oz and though I know I COULD take supplements/teas, I'm going to just save that money for formula if we need it. We have been substituting one formula feeding per day so that I can freeze a 4oz bag of BM and I am seriously considering doing another so I can freeze 8oz/day and build up my freezer stash more quickly. I'd ideally like to feed him mostly breast milk until he is at least 6mos old, but I'm definitely of the mindset that some BM is better than none. The thought of pumping 6x day for the next 3.5 months makes me want to hurl!

spano41 · June 2014

@stace0616 I think having some BM for longer is better than having more BM on any given day. Have you thawed out a bag to make sure LO will take thawed milk? I know my DD does not like my frozen milk and won't drink it straight, I am going to have to mix it with fresh. I would hate for you to freeze all of that and then not have LO take it! If you have high lipase I know you can scald it before freezing which I should probably try but I can't be bothered.

LBStewart · June 2014

hordol said:

I don't EP but pump at work and I'm wondering if maybe you girls could help me out with something. I know I've mentioned on here before that I don't respond well to the pump at all. I have the medela freestyle and have tried many things to increase output. Heat, massage & compression, different size flanges, pumpin pals, pumping while nursing (although I can't do that at work anyway) and a medela hand pump to see if I responded better to that. None of it worked. (Well massage works to an extent but I still don't get much.) I went to a bachelorette party last weekend and was away from LO for 24 hours. I pumped every 3 hours except at night. The next day my breasts were so sore because the pump is just not emptying them. I know my supply is fine. I also know the freestyle is a pretty good pump. Any thoughts as to why I can't get it to empty my breasts? I have never been able to feel my letdowns but I press the letdown feature every 5ish minutes (because otherwise I will get absolutely nothing after the first letdown) but each "letdown" afterwards barely gets anything either. 90% of what I pump comes from the first letdown. It's frustrating to have pumped for 24 hours and only get 14 oz when I know my supply is just fine. I'm probably beating a dead horse here so sorry about that, but if you are successful at getting your breasts emptied via the pump I would love your tricks!

I use EMAB nipple butter before I pump. It helps to lessen friction with the flanges. I think it helps.

dmosquera4 · June 2014

KatieGummow said:

Tell me if this is a bad idea: We have the Kiinde system, which uses non-reusable bags. What if we use one bag for each kiddo (marking whose is whose) and refrigerate after each feeding, then when they get hungry again fill it up using a different full bag that had been warmed with the warmer (uses water) and stick the empty bag in the fridge. Then I can refill that bag that wasn't attached to the nipple (being sucked on) with fresh pumped milk and continue the process a couple times. At the end of the day toss all the used/refrigerated bags and start over. Bad idea?

i also have the kiinde and i reuse some of the bags i wash them really good with a little bit of soap and make sure to really wash them out with hot water until there is no soap then i stick a paper towel in and dry

i dont do this all the time but it has worked for me as long as i wash it really good

Stace0616 · June 2014

spano41 said:
@stace0616 I think having some BM for longer is better than having more BM on any given day. Have you thawed out a bag to make sure LO will take thawed milk? I know my DD does not like my frozen milk and won't drink it straight, I am going to have to mix it with fresh. I would hate for you to freeze all of that and then not have LO take it! If you have high lipase I know you can scald it before freezing which I should probably try but I can't be bothered.

Yes! We've tried a couple of freezer bags during his last growth spurt! The kid totally doesn't care as long as it ends up in his belly lol

But that is a REALLY good point, so hopefully some other EP moms try out thawed milk on their baby before really building up their freezer stash! I was so nervous he'd hate it, but nope, sucked it right down!

spano41 · July 2014

Bump

spalumb9 · July 2014

I officially stopped pumping two days ago--- thank goodness, though mom guilt has set in again. We started using my thawed milk again (we had tried some before and it went well), but now he fights me every bottle. He wit finish bottles and just fights. But the kicker is that he is not demanding to eat any earlier than his 3 hours. BTW my baby is 14 weeks. Any advice???

katy4128 · July 2014

@spalumb9‌ my DS is 12 weeks and I also stopped pumping about a week ago. Totally had horrible mom guilt too. But I feel like I get way more time with DS now. Are you adding any formula or just all BM? We are doing one BM bottle a day. Formula doesn't digest as fast so my DS eats less often than when he was totally on BM.

spalumb9 · July 2014

@Katy0525‌ we were trying 3oz of BM and 2oz of formula in the same bottle.

KatieGummow · July 2014

My boys are 12 weeks now and they seem to not be as hungry these days. They will drink an ounce or two throughout the day instead of 4 oz at once. Not sure if that helps?

And nooooo to mom guilt! You two are rockstars and are doing what's best for you which means best for babe, don't forget!

katy4128 · July 2014

@spalumb9‌ Sorry, no experience with doing it that way. We just do one full BM bottle a day. Good Luck!

dmosquera4 · July 2014

XP FROM STUPID QUESTION THREAD Here is my question, if I drink a beer and pump can I freeze it? I know if you feel ok you can nurse but I pump before bed and just had a beer I usually freeze what I pump before bed but I wanna know if it's ok to freeze?

KatieGummow · July 2014

Yep!

Xxlilies · July 2014

spalumb9 said:
@Katy0525‌ we were trying 3oz of BM and 2oz of formula in the same bottle.

That's how we feed
Altho he eats 5-7 oz usually

Lindsay808 · July 2014

dmosquera4 said:
XP FROM STUPID QUESTION THREAD

Here is my question, if I drink a beer and pump can I freeze it? I know if you feel ok you can nurse but I pump before bed and just had a beer I usually freeze what I pump before bed but I wanna know if it's ok to freeze?

Lol, not sure why it wouldn't be?

melissashogan · July 2014

So I haven't been on for a while but felt I would give an update. Pumping is going well for me even though I hate it with every fiber of my being. Gage is 3 months now and I am down to pumping 4x a day getting 9 to 10 oz each time. I want to quit all the time but push through with 2 comforting thoughts 1)This is what is best for my son 2) I am one of the lucky ones who haven't got her period back due to pumping. The worst is traveling and pumping which makes me an angry person. Luckily I have this amazing son to remind me how lucky I truely am. Hang in their all u ladies who hate this as much as I do.

Xxlilies · July 2014

Congrats on three months @melissashogan‌
Still pumping and supplementing over here
Considering renting a hospital grade pump for the remainder as I feel like mine is losing suction. Would love if it increased supply and I could decrease amount of formula . Still thinking about it .
Haven't gotten my period back either which surprises me because I don't breast feed at all and don't pump at night .

selina1113 · July 2014

Have any of you decreased the number of times you pump but still produced the same amount? I am attempting to wean & went from pumping every 3 or 4 hours to 6 or 7. End result is I make 6 ounces a session instead of 3 ounces, so net result is same. Will this last?

Mamamonzo · July 2014

selina1113 said:
Have any of you decreased the number of times you pump but still produced the same amount? I am attempting to wean & went from pumping every 3 or 4 hours to 6 or 7. End result is I make 6 ounces a session instead of 3 ounces, so net result is same. Will this last?

I dropped to 6 pumps and was going every 4 hours, but I would pump at 9 then at 11 right before bed. I quit my 9 pm pump and I've actually seen an increase. I pump roughly 45oz a day. My schedule

Anywhere between 4:30 and 6 am
9:30
1:30
5:30
11:30

KatieGummow · July 2014

I decreased also because I am over producing. I pump every 5 hrs now and have to pump for almost 30 minutes to empty now. I used to get about 9-11 oz at each 3-4 hr pump and now I am getting ~15oz. I don't know long term though.

spano41 · July 2014

Yep.....i keep producing the same amount too. I didn't see a decrease until I dropped to 3ppd and then I only dropped from 50opd to 45opd. Just keep increasing the time between pumps and your supply will eventually taper off.

Lindsay808 · July 2014

selina1113 said:
Have any of you decreased the number of times you pump but still produced the same amount? I am attempting to wean & went from pumping every 3 or 4 hours to 6 or 7. End result is I make 6 ounces a session instead of 3 ounces, so net result is same. Will this last?

Trying to wean also. 4ppd and still get 35 oz...

selina1113 · July 2014

Thanks ladies. I thought I would have to supplement more but hopefully not. I start traveling for work soon and will not be able to pump often so that is why I started lengthening the time between pumps. I can go 7 hours before it hurts which is perfect.

Amazed at how many ounces you all make a day!

Kelsey2me · July 2014

So my left has recently been making significantly less than usual and has become sore. I've done heat before and ice after, massage and squeezing during... I have to massage and squeeze to get the milk to come out. It doesn't feel like I have a clogged duct but my nipple and the left side of my breast are sore after pumping. I don't breast feed at all and I've gone almost 3 months with no pumping issues. I don't know what's happened all of a sudden...? Any thoughts ladies??

ariamama414 · July 2014

Lurker here....hope this is ok.

I have been exclusively pumping since 1 week pp due to latch issues. I recently got my first pp period and ever since it ended I have noticed I produce about 10oz less than before. I was wondering if this happened to anyone else and if there is anything I can do.

I would appreciate any advice since I wasn't planning on weaning yet.

Mamamonzo · July 2014

ariamama414 said:
Lurker here....hope this is ok.

I have been exclusively pumping since 1 week pp due to latch issues. I recently got my first pp period and ever since it ended I have noticed I produce about 10oz less than before. I was wondering if this happened to anyone else and if there is anything I can do.

I would appreciate any advice since I wasn't planning on weaning yet.

It's common to decrease during your period. If it doesn't go back up a couple of days afters it's gone try fenugreek, mothers milk tea, lactation cookies, or adding another pump in

dmosquera4 · July 2014

@Kelsey2me‌ sounds like early stage of mastitis drink lots of wAter I would look at myself in the mirror and see if there is any redness around the nipple. I had it 2 weeks ago and this sound like just what I went through although the first few days it wasn't bad as soon as I saw the little red spot appear I went to the doctor and sure enough it was I got antibiotics and was good after that, and my supply did decrease in that breast like you described, I had to use my pump in the highest setting to get the milk out when I usually just use the let down setting

ariamama414 · July 2014

@Mamamonzo Thank you so much. It's good to know that it's normal. Guess I will be investing in some fenugreek and mothers milk tea today.

katy4128 · July 2014

For those of you weaning from pumping..good luck! I am done but it took me a good 3 weeks to wean pain free.

Lindsay808 · July 2014

@Katy0525‌ ygpm

bumpuser10354689 · July 2014

hordol said:
I don't EP but pump at work and I'm wondering if maybe you girls could help me out with something. I know I've mentioned on here before that I don't respond well to the pump at all. I have the medela freestyle and have tried many things to increase output. Heat, massage & compression, different size flanges, pumpin pals, pumping while nursing (although I can't do that at work anyway) and a medela hand pump to see if I responded better to that. None of it worked. (Well massage works to an extent but I still don't get much.) I went to a bachelorette party last weekend and was away from LO for 24 hours. I pumped every 3 hours except at night. The next day my breasts were so sore because the pump is just not emptying them. I know my supply is fine. I also know the freestyle is a pretty good pump. Any thoughts as to why I can't get it to empty my breasts? I have never been able to feel my letdowns but I press the letdown feature every 5ish minutes (because otherwise I will get absolutely nothing after the first letdown) but each "letdown" afterwards barely gets anything either. 90% of what I pump comes from the first letdown. It's frustrating to have pumped for 24 hours and only get 14 oz when I know my supply is just fine. I'm probably beating a dead horse here so sorry about that, but if you are successful at getting your breasts emptied via the pump I would love your tricks!

It sounds like you are doing everything right - the only thing I find that is most beneficial is breast compression. I'm gurdd

Lindsay808 said:

selina1113 said:
Have any of you decreased the number of times you pump but still produced the same amount? I am attempting to wean & went from pumping every 3 or 4 hours to 6 or 7. End result is I make 6 ounces a session instead of 3 ounces, so net result is same. Will this last?
Trying to wean also. 4ppd and still get 35 oz...

I went pretty much cold turkey and dropped to 2 pumping as soon as I decide to quit (from the 4 I was doing) and it was really uncomfortable for the first day and then going as long as possible between pumps from there on out. Only took probably 4 days and I was off the pump completely. That was 12 days ago and I still have milk and they are still a bit tender when I lay on my stomach but otherwise all good. Good luck!

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