Any exclusive pumping mamas?

barbikins · March 2015

Just trying to see if there's any other exclusive breast-pumping moms out there for support.

I'm currently exclusively pumping and formula supplementing since I can't really keep up with my son. I am hoping to rectifier breast-feeding situation so he can exclusively breast-feed. For now I'm pumping and I find it hard to get an extra 4 to 6 ounces per day so I have to feed formula which I hate doing. Any tips on how to increase and get that extra little bit???
I tried power pumping I've tried pumping in between pumps and I've tried herbal supplement to try to increase my milk.

abcmom12 · March 2015

I take Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle and Goat's Rue supplements. You can take them together but I find it's easier to manage the dosage and strength individually. So far I've been able to keep up but having your boy nurse ON you is the best way to increase your supply. A baby, not a machine, is what'll tell your brain to make more milk. Try nursing, then pumping afterwards too. If he's not getting enough, nurse longer and more frequently, and if need be formula supplement.

barbikins · March 2015

Thank!! Problem is I'm not able to nurse him so I'm just pumping.

ashleyv1988 · March 2015

I'm in the same boat, I have problems getting that extra bottle to save everyday and have ended up having to supplement. Best things I can recommend is make sure your eating enough and drink as much water as you can. I took fenugreek for a short time and it made my little guy super gassy and I was soaking all of my shirts constantly.

irishtriplets · March 2015

Are you able to get LO to actually nurse? I'm struggling with that so I finally gave up because it made both of us upset. I attended a LLL meeting last week and they recommended LactationBlend supplement (by Vitanica). I've been taking that and it seems to help a little. I've tried literally everything under the sun to increase supply and nothing has worked to give me an overabundance. I've kind of given up.

ibnagy99 · March 2015

I had this with my 1st and ended up exclusively pumping for 12 months. I found that I had to drink a ton of water at least 8 oz after every pump if not more. I pumped every 2 hours (a pain I know) till I had my supply up. I usually only had enough for the day. Also fenugreek (take 3 tablets 3 times a day so you take 9 total in a day). Eat, eat, eat. Also I would add steal cut oats to my diet and all that helped my supply. I hope this helps. (((Hugs))) to you for pumping I know it is hard and a struggle. I am now pumping at work for my new one.

Provo11 · March 2015

I am an exclusive pumper as well! I have not been able to nurse my little one. I tried using a breast shield but LO would knock it off about 4 or 5 times in a row and would get really frustrated to where he wouldn't calm down. Never able to latch well. He was a preemie and in the NICU was on tube feeds and bottle mostly because breast feeding took too much out of him and he was burning calories and losing weight. Now he gets so mad bcause if he is able to get a latch it's way slower than the bottle and is more work. We both get frustrated, he cries, and I want to.

Sometimes it's hard for other mothers who have had no problems with latching to understand! I wish I could exclusively breastfeed. It's uncomfortable pumping and takes twice as long because you have to pump the milk THEN feed! And I wish I could have that extra bond with baby.

I've not taken any supplements. Just staying hydrated. At first I pumped every 2-3 hours to get a supply going. I've been able to keep up but have had a few close calls since going back to work. I usually have 3-4 bottles in the fridge on hand. Typically if you are able to increase frequency of pumping consistently for a day or two you will build your supply up.

barbikins · March 2015

I'm working on trying to get LO back on breast! I have someone coming to my house tonight. But if I can't make it work, I'll pump as much as I can.

I also used nipple shield. Hate it! And same here. Now that he is used to bottle, he gets very frustrated at the breast.

I've tried many things too, to increase supply. I will consider trying a prescription med called Domperidone worse comes to worse.

EdenAurora · March 2015

Those of you who are interested in getting LO back to the breast, keep trying. My ds was born 8 weeks early and spent 23 days in the NICU. (His original due date was Valentines Day)I pumped exclusively while he was in the NICU and for 2 weeks after. We started trying to nurse his last week in the NICU. We thought he was doing well and I stopped pumping right before discharge.

At his first check up 2 days later he had lost a couple of ounces. I started pumping again and continued to try to nurse him. It hurt!

We determined that he had an upper lip tie. We had a laser revision done. The pain eased up, his latch got better and we ditched the pump. He slowly started gaining weight (we were doing weight checks every 3 days).

At his 2 month (9 weeks) check up he was 9lbs 5oz. He'll be 12 weeks tomorrow and he weighed 12lb 6oz today. He gained 3lb 1oz in 3 weeks exclusively breastfeeding!

It can be done. I cried a lot. I almost gave up so many times. He's my fourth and last baby. I breastfed the other 3 for at least a year. I wanted to give him that, especially because he was a preemie.

ngunderm · March 2015

I am EP-ing, and have been since my little one was born. I try to drink plenty of water, and if I notice that my supply is down, I've found that eating some oatmeal sometimes helps as well as drinking some Gatorade. Hope it helps!

ziggyward · March 2015

My LO and I have not been able to figure out BF so I EP. At first I supplemented with formula but as it turns out, I was over-feeding him. I got my milk supply up with fenugreek (3 tablets 3 times a day) alternating plain water with barley water, oatmeal, and pumping every 2 hours for a couple of weeks. We do a lot of skin to skin so I can make sure I'm still making the right kind of antibodies for his milk. And now I'm over producing and able to freeze and even donate. I'm also finding that when he sleeps through the night, I can save even more milk because I still pump during the night. Also try to relax while pumping, you need the oxytocin to work in yor favour in order to produce milk..and finally a friend told me that a good cry always helped her... So sometimes I watch movies that make me emoti

ziggyward · March 2015

Emotional! Good luck to you mama! You're doing great and your baby knows he's loved!

barbikins · March 2015

Great tips! Thanks ladies

I'm trying currently to get him back on breast. Desperately hoping it works.
I've tried the oatmeal & that never worked.

irishtriplets · March 2015

@barbikins I really hope you have success with getting him back to breast. Veronica is 3 1/2 months now and I've pretty much given up. It stresses me out and makes both of us upset. I figure if nothing else I'm saving $100 a month on formula. It breaks my heart that she won't nurse so I 100% can relate to how you feel.

Want a personalized experience?

Any exclusive pumping mamas?

Re: Any exclusive pumping mamas?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards