Any Pumping Moms?

Ssoccerball · September 2016

First, I'm sorry that I've fallen off of the face of the planet since having these babies. I think that my birth announcement was the last thing that I posted. We had some issues with one baby gaining weight and it has taken us more time than I anticipated to get back into newborn life.

Anyway, just wondering if any of you are exclusively pumping for baby? We started out nursing, but Baby B was losing too much weight. At one point we were nursing, pumping and supplementing with breastmilk and supplementing with Neosure. When they were going to readmit Baby B to the hospital, they pulled us off of breastmilk for him altogether until he gained. As a result, I started pumping. I have since found it to be beneficial, since DH can help feed.

Here are my questions:
1. What pump are you using? Do you like it?
2. How many days/weeks postpartum are you? How much are you pumping per day?
3. Are you doing anything to increase your supply? If so, what?

I am 3 weeks postpartum and pumping 34 oz. per day. Which would be great for one baby, but is not enough for two. They each get two formula bottles, but I'd love to not have to give these. I'm taking fenugreek and eating lactation cookies to try and help. How are you doing with pumping?

mom2adoodle · September 2016

Finley isn't latching consistently yet so I am exclusively pumping.

1. What pump are you using? Do you like it?

I use two pumps. One hospital grade that I rented and the medela pump in style. I LOVE my hospital grade. Nothing compares to it. I use the medela only when the hospital grade parts are dirty.

2. How many days/weeks postpartum are you? How much are you pumping per day?

Finley was born July 30th so...almost 5 weeks post partum. My supply has been solid since the get go thankfully. I have a good freezer stash! I get about 4-5 oz each session. I pump every 3-4 hours.

3. Are you doing anything to increase your supply? If so, what?

I ordered milkin cookies (delicious!!) and I drink at least one cup of mother's milk tea every day. I also try to eat flax and oats in some form daily. Other than that as much water as I can get in.

estephenson13 · September 2016

Lurking here for now until baby decides to make his/her appearance, but soaking up everything y'all say here. Thank you for sharing!

SuperFudge00 · September 2016

Wss^^

yellowrose314 · September 2016

Ditto for me. I'm still wondering how to establish a pumping schedule WHILE breastfeeding since I have to go back to work earlier than I'd planned

UnwritteN12 · September 2016

@Ssoccerball - I want to put out there, please let me know if you need to talk or anything. Elle was admitted to Children's hospital at 3 weeks old for insufficient weight gain due to GERD and we're facing similar issues with Josephine this time around. I know the struggle.

I'm using the Spectra S2 Plus and love it. It has the letdown option which is great. I don't pump as much as I should (between 1 and 3 times a day right now) but only because they were both latching so well. Now Jo isn't wanting to latch for very long even though Oliver is BFing like a champ. So I have to start pumping quite a bit more since the breast milk seems to sit better with Jo than the formula. I'm taking fenugreek which has definitely helped.

Ssoccerball · September 2016

@mom2adoodle, that is awesome that you've been able to build up a freezer stash! I only have about 75 oz in the freezer, since I can't keep up with two as it is and don't want to have to give them formula. I am also using two pumps. I got the Spectra S2 from insurance, but when we got home from the hospital, I didn't think that it worked as well as the Medela Symphony that we had been using in the hospital. So I rented one. Now, after a couple of weeks, I am actually starting to like the Spectra. It is a lot easier on my nipples!

@UnwritteN12, thank you for your offer to chat. When we left the hospital (after 3 days), Ben had already lost 10%. By the next day, he was down 12%. They told us that if he lost anymore, they were going to readmit him and possibly insert a feeding tube. It took us almost two weeks to get things turned around, but now he's gaining and getting 80% breastmilk. It was an insane amount of work with a ton of worry thrown in. I just wish that I had enough for them not to have to take formula. I'm not sure how to increase my supply enough for two babies that are both eating pretty well. And I pump about every three hours, but I have two other children that need things and I'm not sure I can do it anymore frequently.

izzetoot · September 2016

At the moment I am exclusively pumping. I plan on trying the breast again once baby is a little older and stronger. Im 3weeks PP and LO got breastmilk jaundice at 10 days so was moved to formula for 3 days and intro'd to bottes really early. He'll only breastfeed with a nipple shield and even then not well. It also takes about 10-15 to get him to latch and the another to 20 min to nurse but never gets satisfied so needs a bottle afterwards. And since he wants to eat every 2 hrs and I have a 2 year old, that got old real fast!

1. What pump are you using? Do you like it? -- Im using the medela pump in style I used for LO1. Ive never tried another type and it seems to do the job so I guess I like it! I did order breastshields in a larger size since I have huge boobs and I feel like they help a little extra bc the shield hugs half my boob instead of just the nipple.
2. How many days/weeks postpartum are you? How much are you pumping per day? -- 3 weeks 1 day. I pump every 4 hours (I have an alarm on my phone to remind me!) and I get between 4-6 oz each time.
3. Are you doing anything to increase your supply? If so, what? -- LOTS and LOTS of water and I eat oatmeal for breakfast almost every day. Curious about fenugreek? Does it work?

mom2adoodle · September 2016

@izzetoot I'm curious about fenugreek too. I've heard mixed reviews!!

Ssoccerball · September 2016

I started taking Milkies Nursing Blend that has Fenugreek in it. My supply did go up a little after a few days, but it was also the same time that I started eating the lactation cookies, so I don't know what I can attribute it to. I'm going to start introducing power pumping once a day (today was the first day) so we'll see if that helps. The fenugreek makes you smell like maple syrup!

asht · September 2016

Fenugreek gave me headaches so I switched to golacta which is supposed to be better. If it's working I would really hate to see my milk supply without it as its horrible with it

Soon2bemissG · September 2016

I would suggest renting a hospital grade medela symphony pump. It may cost a it upfront but was a game changer in terms of supply for me.

I I also suggest power pumping. (Look it up on google or Pinterest)

mom2adoodle · September 2016

Power pumping sounds interesting. How often are you supposed to do it? Daily?

jensou · September 2016

@Ssoccerball let me just say that I am super impressed with all you're doing. I understand the desire to exclusively breastfeed but 80% with twin babies and big kids in the house?! I felt like I was struggling with my one skinny baby and relatively self-sufficient teenagers. You're super woman!

We had weight checks every few days but Victoria was squeaking by the minimum weight gain cutoff to avoid passive feeds, thankfully.

Just ordered my fancy pump yesterday ( ) and looking forward to trying it out. Prior, I've been using the Avent manual. My current rec's from Dr are to nurse on one side for as long as she wants, to try and empty that breast. While she's on one side, I can pump a little from the other. It's pretty efficient bc letdown is stimulated by baby not the pump. They said to not pump too much right now to ensure I have enough left in the breast for her next feed (she's 2-3h).

The rationale for her nursing and emptying one side is that she'll get the fattier content of the hind milk. The fore milk is more sugary per the NP we saw. Not sure how this works with twins because I imagine you tandem nurse and each twin goes til you're empty on that side anyway?

I'm drinking mothers milk tea about once a day and tons of water. Will add oatmeal - thanks ladies! Not sure if tea helps. I'm only pumping 0.5- 1 oz per feeding right now but my 6 weeks is up at the end of the month and will have to go back to work

Thanks for starting this thread!

Soon2bemissG · September 2016

Yes @mom2adoodle I would do it once a day. It may take a day or two to notice the increase. I use to do it after an afternoon pump when we were sitting around being lazy. It made a big difference. You can do it more than once a day but I don't rink it's necessary (or at least wasn't for me)

Soon2bemissG · September 2016

Also search on Facebook for the group Breast Bottle and Beyond. Those girls are amazing! They can size you for flanges and really know how to help you get pumping on track! I believe you have to pm an admin and tell them why you want to join but it's full of great information.

Smallangel · September 2016

Right now I am mainly breastfeeding as Nia-Mae is latching on well. She is a hungier baby at night so for the past few days I have started pumping in order to supplement her night feeds which seems to settle her better than the breast, as she'll sleep for around 3 hours after having the bottle.
1) I am using the Advent Manual Pump which is working well for me. I get a good supply from it.
2) Currently 10 days PP and I pump just once a day ranging from 2-4oz per pump. If I have the time I may try to pump more but the one bottle for the night feed seems to be doing the trick so far.
3) Not doing anything in specific other than trying to increase my water in take, my supply seems to be good.
I have noticed that since I've started pumping, I fill up quicker than before.

csukkha · September 2016

1. What pump are you using? Do you like it?
I'm using the ameda platinum hospital grade. Originally the nicu provided one, but since Isaac was discharged i'm renting one by the month. Absolutely love it. Only reason i have a huge supply.

2. How many days/weeks postpartum are you? How much are you pumping per day?
5 wks 2 days pp, 7- 8x in 24 hrs sometimes the 3:30 doesnt happen but i gave hard breast by 6am. Pumping 700+ml about 90 every time.

3. Are you doing anything to increase your supply? If so, what?
Taking whey protein and doubled my prenatal vitamins. OB recommended the above at my 2 wk appt. Saw an increase in output within the week.

frogdog06 · September 2016

@Ssoccerball Any improvements?

I'm in the same situation as @izzetoot .. The post-birth jaundice resulted in a preference for the bottle, so I am exclusively pumping. I've been lucky with an oversupply since my milk came in, even with LO off the breast. I pump every 3-4 hours, averaging 3oz per breast. If I go 6 hours, I can get over 4+ oz per breast. I only pump for 15-20 minutes and haven't tried to pump longer. Although my right breast sometimes stays harder than the left, so I'll have to single pump on it for 5-10 minutes longer. Our bottom freezer shelf is full so I have given up trying to save the excess..

1. What pump are you using? Do you like it?
I received the Ameda Purely Yours free through insurance so have been using it solely and have no experience with any other pump.

2. How many days/weeks postpartum are you? How much are you pumping per day?
I am 29 days PP.

3. Are you doing anything to increase your supply? If so, what?
Not intentionally. I drink Smart Water to get electrolytes, eat plenty of fresh fruit (I go to the farmer's market every Sunday), and drink Orgain protein shakes in the middle of the night.

jensou · September 2016

With regards to protein supplements, Is there a lactose free protein shake / powder anyone has enjoyed? The whey makes me so uncomfortable and itchy and gassy. I tried a vegan version (Vega, I think) and it was horrible tasting and gritty.

frogdog06 · September 2016

@jensou the Orgain ones are vegan, organic, and non-GMO. I don't find them gritty at all. You can buy individual ones at the market to try out or the large cases via Amazon or Costco. I love them. There's even a kids milk version that tastes delicious too.

izzetoot · September 2016

How often are you guys pumping? I am pumping about every 4 hours. The middle of the night pump is usually more like 5 or 6 hours, but then I produce more. Im averaging about an ounce a hour. Meaning if I pump every 4 hrs I get 4 ounces, 3 hours 3 ounces, 6 hours 6 ounces, etc. I was thinking about pumping more often but it doesn't seem like I get more/less that way. Thoughts? Also, how many minutes do you pump. I set an alarm for 15mins and pump both sides at the same time. Just looking for tips to maximize production!

mom2adoodle · September 2016

@izzetoot I pump every 3-4 hours. I try to shoot for 3. At night I pump every 4 hours. I pump 15 minutes when it's 3 hours and 20 minutes when it's been 4 hours. Both sides at a time. I've noticed my hospital grade elicits more milk than my Medela pump n style. Mother's milk tea also helps a lot! I'm getting about 5 ounces each time. A little more when it's been 4 hours. Kellymom.com has good information on supply! Check it ou!

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