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January 2016 Moms
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Does Exclusively Pumping Decrease Milk Supply?

jmarrugojmarrugo member
in January 2016 Moms
I have a baby who is almost three weeks old. We were only breastfeeding the first week and she wasn't gaining the weight she needed so we had to supplement with formula. Here we are almost three weeks later and she is fighting me and screaming every time I try to breastfeed. I've been pumping and giving it to her in a bottle after breastfeeding (if she will) and then giving formula. I'm very close to giving up on breastfeeding and am thinking about switching to just pumping. Has anyone had experience or problems with this? I have a friend who did it and her milk supply dried up. I really want to nurse but it's just a constant battle that leaves both of us crying a lot.
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Re: Does Exclusively Pumping Decrease Milk Supply?

  • MamabeagleMamabeagle member
    If you EP you need to be on a schedule. Pumping isn't as efficient as a baby nursing, so I would imagine it could decrease your supply even if you are diligent. 
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  • lrayaslrayas member
    I'm wondering about this as well. @jmarrugo I'm in a similar situation. I've been mostly pumping since last week and while it's still time-consuming and stressful, it's much less stressful than trying to get her to eat. My little one falls asleep every time it's time to eat! I also like knowing how much she is getting because she lost so much weight at the beginning and I will have to pump anyway when I go back to work. I feed every 3 hours after I pump. I'm supplementing two "sessions" with formula and I have a very low supply. I'm hoping my supply doesn't dry up as well. 
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  • BabyRut2015BabyRut2015 member
    My baby is only 7 weeks old and we have been EP pretty much since the 1st week.  She was the same exact way.  I haven't had any problems, and now am pumping every 3-4 hrs.  I have however heard that on a long term basis you're more likely to have a dip in supply.  You definitely have to put the work in, at 1st you HAVE to be diligent and pump often, which is not easy especially if you're on your own.  It's like double duty, not only do you have to bottle fees but also make time to pump.  I know I still have to be consistent with it, they say first 12 weeks are when you establish supply.  I'm hoping after around 12 weeks or so, that some 5-6 hr stretches of not pumping at work won't hurt me.  I think that's the sort of thing that trips a lot of people up.  Good luck!!
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  • CejimlCejiml member
    I EP since getting home and at 5 weeks was getting 6-10 oz a pump. I pump when he eats or no longer than 3 hours between. It's a lot of work but I'm happy I'm able to do it. I just froze 3 grocery sacks full of bags with 10+oz of milk in my deep freeze. I think it's super important that I pump on schedule. I also eat/drink lots of lactogenic foods( oatmeal, flax, coconut water/oil). I will say I had supply issues with my daughter and gave up at 6 weeks with her. So this over supply is new. You can at least try it and see. It's been working for us. I pump no less than 10-15 min a time. HTH! 
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  • katiedid0907katiedid0907 member
    edited February 2016
     I switched to EPING with DS1 at 8 weeks. At that point my milk supply was probably fairly well established, but I definitely did not have any issues with my supply decreasing. You do have to be pretty dedicated at first. So for the first 8 to 12 weeks I would pump whenever baby eats so like every 2 to 3 hours. After that point I switched to pumping at 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, and 10pm because that is what worked with my work schedules and i only had to pump twice while at work. I would still attempt to nurse overnight because I found it easier than pumping and giving a bottle, but I never knew how much DS was eating much that way. I was able to EP for 11 months until I decided to stop. I think the biggest thing is sticking to a schedule and drinking LOTS of water. HTH!
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  • jencook25jencook25 member
    I pump every 3-4 hrs during the day, and demand feed my son during the night and only pump when I'm up feeding (around 3-6 hrs, it varies, mostly 4hrs). My supply decreased when I got mastitis but I was able to get it back up again whilst mainly pumping. I did find putting my son to the breast (though I doubt he barely got anything before he fell asleep) did increase my supply. I eat oatmeal, almonds etc too. I think it's different for everyone though. 
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  • Brooke n TylerBrooke n Tyler member
    My son is 6 weeks old. He will not latch onto me at all. I have been pumping it and giving it to him by bottle. I have not noticed a decrease in breast milks. It's a supply and demand thing. They more you pump the more you will make. My son is a weird one, he will not latch and he will not take a freshly pumped/warm bottle. He wants his milk ice cold. The colder the better. I talked to his ped about it and he said as long as he is taking it and not showing signs it hurting his belly to keep doing it because he is still getting the nutritions from it. Don't give up. Keep at it momma. Try different things (like a cold bottle). Also if you think your milk supply is decreasing check into Fenogreek supplements :) good luck
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  • jmarrugojmarrugo member
    Thanks everyone! I have decided that breastfeeding was affecting my relationship with my baby and it's just best to switch to pumping. I'm hoping it works out and my supply increases. I'm only pumping 1.5-2 oz every time. I've started taking fenugreek and am eating oatmeal and drinking tons of water.
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  • jmarrugojmarrugo member
    How long does everyone pump? I've read a minimum of 15 no longer than 20
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  • danniellemichelledanniellemichelle member
    When I first started: every 2-3 hours for 15-20 min. I would pump when my baby ate (still do). Propped her up on the bobby at the bottom of my feet/legs and cut my sports bra into a hands free pumping bra :smile: 

    I would sleep when my daughter did, even if she had a 4-6hour stretch of sleep. Sleep affects your supply, so I figured it would help me more than anything - and it totally did.
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  • KFrobKFrob member
    edited February 2016
    danniellemichellexox said:
    When I first started: every 2-3 hours for 15-20 min. I would pump when my baby ate (still do). Propped her up on the bobby at the bottom of my feet/legs and cut my sports bra into a hands free pumping bra :smile: 

    I would sleep when my daughter did, even if she had a 4-6hour stretch of sleep. Sleep affects your supply, so I figured it would help me more than anything - and it totally did.
    This sports bra idea is genius!! I hate the pumping bra I bought.  It doesn't line up well with my nipples, I'm always pulling in it, and it stretches out really fast. Thanks for the idea! 

    Edit for autocorrect 
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  • mom2be2016mom2be2016 member
    @danniellemichellexoxI asked the LC about keeping the pump parts in the fridge and she did not recommend it. She said there is no research on it to justify it being safe to do and told me not to. I had been doing this too after reading on here that someone else was doing it,  but have since stopped. Bummer because it saved me time, but I'm taking the LC's advise.
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  • willashbabywillashbaby member
    mom2be2016 said:
    @danniellemichellexoxI asked the LC about keeping the pump parts in the fridge and she did not recommend it. She said there is no research on it to justify it being safe to do and told me not to. I had been doing this too after reading on here that someone else was doing it,  but have since stopped. Bummer because it saved me time, but I'm taking the LC's advise.
    FWIW I've been doing just this for over a month with no issues. Saves a ton of time. You can do the halfway by rinsing the connected parts with hot water and then refrigerating them. 

    I always pump for 5 minutes after the flow stops. Sometimes I get "spray" for 20 minutes so I pump longer to make sure they're empty. I also massage as I pump. 
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  • danniellemichelledanniellemichelle member
    @KFrob same here I was so sad that mine didn't work ... The sports bra looks funny but definitely gets the job done ! :smile: 

    @mom2be2016 oh that's interesting, never heard that before. I heard about doing it from a woman who had said her LC recommended her doing that. 

    I've been doing it for at least two months and haven't had any issues either. To each their own though :smile: 
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  • AchaeAchae member
    mom2be2016 said:
    @danniellemichellexoxI asked the LC about keeping the pump parts in the fridge and she did not recommend it. She said there is no research on it to justify it being safe to do and told me not to. I had been doing this too after reading on here that someone else was doing it,  but have since stopped. Bummer because it saved me time, but I'm taking the LC's advise.
    With my first I pumped for just over a year and did this every day. Never had a problem with LO getting sick, infections etc. 
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