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Pumping 30min to empty

mbonmbon member
in Breastfeeding
Early on it came to our attention DS wasn't getting enough milk at the breast.  He wasn't gaining weight & when we saw an LC & did a weighed feeding he was barely getting anything.  I had similar issues w/ DD #2 but no issues at all w/ DD#1.  I was devastated w/ my 2nd & 3rd babies that I couldn't nurse them but I committed to pumping so I could at least give them my milk.  I've been managing to keep up with DS but just.  Everything you read & are told says if you increase the demand, your body will recognize you need more milk & start to produce more.  This hasn't worked for me this time or last.  I've tried a variety of herbs as well w/ little to no success.  I've accepted the fact that I can't produce extra, but where I'm getting frustrated now is the length of time it takes for my body to letdown & empty.  This might be part of the reason DS would tucker out before ever getting his fill because I don't get a good letdown til I've pumped for 7-10min.  And I continue to get letdowns all the way to 30min or more with approx. 6min between letdowns.  I've tried breast compressions, relaxing, etc. I've tried different pump & flanges as well; again nothing really seems to make a difference.  It feels like an eternity each session & then the next one comes too quickly.  I dread pumping & loathe being hooked up to the pump each time.  But I want to provide my milk for my baby.  With DD#1 I could pump what she needed & then some in 10-12min, so it's not like my body is incapable of doing what it's supposed to but for whatever reason, my 2nd & 3rd babies/pregnancies have been drastically different.  I'm desperately looking for any suggestions and/or support you can offer.   
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Re: Pumping 30min to empty

  • kwitt22kwitt22 member
    What about supplements like fenugreek, or More Milk Plus? Have you tried putting a heating pad, or a warm, wet wash cloth on your breasts before pumping. Sometimes I get a let down just standing in front of the oven if I open it. I almost always get a let down in the shower too. 
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  • mommaofmultiplesmommaofmultiples member
    I don't have any advice but just wanted to let you know I understand.  I appear to have slow let down too and nothing works.  Sometimes I can push it along some by thinking of my LO very intensely, looking at pictures and videos and turning the pump up gradually to as high as I can stand it.  However, at thirty minutes it is so frustrating I am just hitting my stride and filling the bottle up, but I have heard not to pump past thirty min as it can damage breast tissue.  So I turn it off at thirty minutes but I also read that can tell my body to make less milk.  I don't know what to do :( So jealous of all these moms that get what they need in 10-15 minutes.
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  • mbonmbon member
    Yes I have tried pretty much every supplement out there. The things that normally work & did w/ DD #1 to trigger let down seem to do nothing for me this time around.   
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