Breastfeeding & pumping logistics

mihaelams1 · November 2015

My LO is 6 weeks old and for about a week I've tried to pump a bit here and there. I'm currently getting 1.5-2oz a session, so I need at least 2 for a full meal. Apart for an evening bottle from my husband, I also want to start a freezer stash. After EBFing for 5 weeks, this pumping thing seems highly cumbersome. It's not only about cleaning and sanitizing all the parts, but also finding some time for it. Let's say I feed LO, put him in the swing, hook myself up to the pumping contraption ... and then LO starts crying because he's wet! How do you manage it logistically? If it helps, I have both an electric double pump and a manual single one.

cbolton19 · November 2015

Yeah. I am in the same boat. It's hard. I've gotten better. I pump like 15 minutes after I nurse. Then I can change her diaper after she eats. double pumping and massage will help. Then hand express anything else. It is cumbersome, but I M trying to do it twice a day. Once in the morning and once at night. I get about 4.5-6.5 oz by the second session. I'm hoping that will start to increase as she eats more. I'm trying to build my supply too. It took a few days for it to work better. I think you are on the right track Keep it up! It will be worth it!!

Also, check out the Stanford studies on pumping. It may help some!

https://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html

jah64 · November 2015

I completely agree to how cumbersome it seems! I just started a few days ago and have been pumping after her morning feeding. I get everything ready the night before when my husband is around so in the morning I'm not scrambling. I also just go as long as I can (I try for 15 min) and if she gets upset I simply cut that session short and take care of her. Not sure if that's the right way and I know that won't increase my production but I figure it's better than nothing! To make cleaning parts quicker I just fill the sink with soapy water and pull the pump parts apart and throw them in and use a bottle cleaning brush. If the baby needs attention I just let them soak and get to them when I can. I figure at least if I soak them right away the milk doesn't dry and take longer to clean later. Not a whole lot of revolutionizing tips but hopefully it helps a little bit!

waltersmom83 · November 2015

I'm so frustrated with this too. But on top of everything, I barely hat an ounce, mostly a half ounce on a good day, per breast. Then when she feeds, thetes,not enough milk and I have to give her the little I pumped. I think I have a low supply

capricelili · November 2015

I'm in the same boat as you. So far I'm getting 3-4oz from pumping in MOTN. It sucks but it's when I have the most milk and LO only takes one breast because he is so sleepy. I can't pump at night in the evenings because that's when he eats the most. Last night I misses a pumping because lo was too sleepy to eat so I got less this morning. Plus another hardship since I started pumping, my nipples are back to being sore as hell. I was happy we'd gotten past the pain and my nipples had felt better going into week 4 but now starting pumping week 5, it has been rough. Wonder if I'm doing it wrong on have wrong shield size maybe? Good luck pumping!

kaza512 · November 2015

A little tip to save time cleaning parts that has saved my life as I exclusively pump... This only applies if you are pumping a few times in the day. No need to wash parts every time. You can just take parts and put them in the fridge for up to 24 hours and take out and use when it's time to pump. I have a Tupperware container specifically for my pump parts! Now I only wash them once a day!!!

BRBaby1012 · November 2015

I ended up calling my lactation consultant because of this. I felt like the pumping wasn't leaving much left when she was hungry, and then she was cluster feeding during growth spurts! Based on the amount of weight my LO had gained, the size of my stash, and the amount I was pumping after breastfeeding, they actually told me to gradually cut back on pumping. I was so thankful! Maybe talk to a LC and see what they recommend?

whitemn04 · November 2015

I put my pump parts in the fridge too. If I don't use any of the milk in those bottles I put it in storage bags then wash the parts and start over.

lindsayp916 · November 2015

I also store parts in the fridge and sterilize once in the afternoon during nap time. But I never really thought the part washing was that cumbersome.

JaqiDec04 · November 2015

kaza512 said:

A little tip to save time cleaning parts that has saved my life as I exclusively pump... This only applies if you are pumping a few times in the day. No need to wash parts every time. You can just take parts and put them in the fridge for up to 24 hours and take out and use when it's time to pump. I have a Tupperware container specifically for my pump parts! Now I only wash them once a day!!!

I had no idea I could do that! AWESOME. THANK YOU.

Also, some other girls, I have two sets of parts for my machine. The set they gave me at the hospital, and the set that came with my pump at home. They are interchangeable. So that really helps, I could take turns, so I didn't feel like all I was doing was washing bottles 10 million times a day (DS won't latch).

Now that I can put them in the fridge, awesome! Seriously. Now I can do it once a day. My hands and water bill thank you.

tracij12 · November 2015

I've started pumping 2x/day (after first and last feed) to build a little stash for when I return to work. I have had no nipple pain for the past 8 weeks and now it's coming....ugh! I'm getting about 5oz total/day. Slower than I wanted but hoping it will increase.

The refrigerator advice is a good time saver. Honestly (and I should probably save this for. Flame free Friday confession....but I don't think we do those any more) I've never really been super diligent with my pump parts. I rinse them with hot water after each use and really only wash with soap every few days. I'm sure that's not the best but did the same with my first so I stress about it even less now.

Carahall · November 2015

I also store pump parts in the fridge in a ziplock bag and I only wash them every few days. This is what I did two years ago with my daughter and have had no problems at all. I pump for maybe 10-15 minutes each morning. If baby is awake, I put him in a little bouncer close to me so I can tend to him, rock, or give a pacifier. Pumping is a priority so I try not to stop unless I have to.

For the ladies who are getting sore: the lactation consultant I spoke to suggested lubricating the pump flange with coconut oil. Works well and I think it helps with my output!

cindykinnear · November 2015

I have been getting one bottle (5 oz) every day from pumping after morning feeding. She usually falls asleep and I pump while I watch the news. I could probably get another bottle in the afternoon if I was more diligent. I've only been pumping for about a week and at first I didn't have enough milk to feed her and pump, so she did a lot of cluster feeding the first two days. I doubled my water intake and now I seem to have plenty. I'm trying to get a good stash for my MIL for when I go back to work in two weeks. My baby will not drink formula, so I have no choice here. Good luck! Hopefully if you let you LO cluster feed for a few days and drink a lot of water you will get your supply up and can get a good stash going!

edavis926 · November 2015

Medela also makes steam cleaning bags for the microwave. You can use each bag 20 times. I got one but I haven't used it yet because I rarely try to pump more than twice a day. I definitely do more pumping on the weekend when so is home.

Otherwise I always just run my parts under hot water while filling a pot with hot soapy water and then leave then there. I rinse them sometime later but I like the fridge idea. That would probably increase my pumping to just not deal with the parts at all.

crbpjb · November 2015

Alfalfa can increase your supply. I started taking supplements as soon as I got home from the hospital and my supply has been great. Our pediatrician is also a lactation consultant, and she weighs baby before and after a feeding and she has been extremely happy with how much she's been getting. (Over an ounce at 3 days and 2.4oz at 11 days). I haven't tried to pump yet, but I may increase my intake when I start pumping. At this time I'm only taking half a daily dose of alfalfa.

nianicho777 · November 2015

It's hard for sure. Normally I stop and take care of him and restart but when you do that sometimes it hurts if you keep stopping and starting and can get messy too. If I am almost done, I let him cry for a few minutes (he'll build strong lungs the ped says).

cbolton19 · November 2015

For the ladies with pain, also try turning down the suction a tad. I did that and it helped with the pain and with my output. More suction doesn't necessarily mean more output. That has helped me a lot.

koriemo · November 2015

If you don't have a hands free pumping bra, get one or make one out of a sports bra! I pump with my knees up on the couch. LO lays on my legs with his feet on my tummy. I usually give him a bottle in this position, then flip him onto my chest between between the pumping gear and burp him. I'm basically exclusively pumping, so this works for us!

erinboehme · November 2015

This is the first time I've ever gotten pumping to work for me and she is my fifth child. I have yet to have a child take a bottle and she is with me 24/7, so I'm mostly just saving for mixing with cereal in a few months. I only pump once a day - in the morning. I pump one side while she eats on the other because I'm so full at that point that she can't even usually finish one side.