BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

If you didnt see my post yesterday, im starting to pump again to build freezer supply. I stoppped many weeks ago bc i was getting REALLY frustrated w/ how little i would get at a session.

SO i decided that NO MATTER WHAT- i was gonna pump every morning after Will's first feed. DH and i are going away for the wkd in a few wks and i need BM for DS.

So i ate a big bowl of oatmeal (i eat it everyday) and drank a huge glass of water and i pumped. I pumped for 20 mins and are you ready?........ I got 1/2oz COMBINED W T H am i doing wrong??? WHy so little?
DS will EASILY take 4-5oz per feeding. How am i gonna make enough bottles for him at this rate?

PLEASE HELP

Re: BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

Michele you're not necessarily going to like this answer but I was NEVER able to get anything worthwhile from pumping after a feeding. I tried oatmeal, water, fenugreek, mother's milk tea, more milk plus, you name it, I took it. I probably spent more on fenugreek than others spend on formula

The only way I was ever able to build up a stash was when DD started STTN at about 5.5 months. I would nurse her before she went to bed, wait 2-3 hours, and pump before I went to bed. I'd get about 4 oz combined then (taking fenugreek and all the rest). I started freezing 4 oz bags and then started saving up to freeze 6 oz bags. Before then, I had NO stash.

Please don't get discouraged or worry that your supply is low; some women are more responsive to the pump than others, it doesn't mean you don't have enough to feed him. But I know how aggravating it is because you feel like you can never leave him. Hang in there. Keep saving up your 1/2 ozs and eventually you will make enough for a feeding. Then, when you have 4 oz or so saved and you go somewhere, he can have a bottle with that and you can pump for the missed feeding - that should give you more milk than you would get trying to pump after he eats. Once you have one feeding's worth stored, it gets easier.

Re: BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

I was never a successful pumper. But I think because I just didn't stick with it.

Your body only produces the milk your DC consumes. So all this time you haven't been pumping your supply adjusted accordingly.

I think the only thing you need to do is be consistent so your supply with increase.

My best suggestion is to make sure you pump every day the same time.

Re: BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

Have you tried pumping before the first feed just to see if your body even responds to the pump?

Have you tried do breast compression or massage when pumping to help get the milk out?

ETA: You could also try a nursing/ pumping marathon...try pumping 5-10 min after every nursing session (except middle of the night) for 2 days. This usually helped me bump up my supply for pumping when I needed extra milk.

Message edited 2/23/2010 8:37:03 AM.

Re: BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

I am an Excl Pumper but some things that have helped me in the past..

Mother's Milk Organic Tea
Water (ped told me before, during and after)
Gatorade
Oatmeal

Also if I sat there and was watching what was coming out it was never alot. If I sat there and didn't pay attention and played on the computer and looked down 5-10 min later I got more. I literally have my pump next to my computer.

Good Luck

Re: BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

When Sasha was first born-- I would go to a new moms group locally here that was run by a lactation consultant. A lot of people had similar issues and some of the suggestions were to:

- Change the horns. They come in different sizes, so the size you have may not be right for you. I used the ones that came with my pump, but also I used nipple shields for the first 3 months. To put it in perspective, I needed the extra small nipple shields (16mm), whereas pre-pregnancy I was a 34D. So, breast size does not have anyhting to do with I guess, um-- nipple size.

-The other thing you can try is to switch the pump back to stimulation phase. So, after the first 2 mins, switch it back. You may need more time to encourage your let down. As Sasha got older-- I needed to keep it on stimulate for several mins before I could get anything. Just watch it and see when you start to get milk. eta-- then you can switch it to the regular flow phase. Not sure what that's called.

Message edited 2/23/2010 8:37:04 AM.

Re: BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

I pumped after every feeding with DS. Sometimes I would only get 1-2oz combined, sometimes more like 4oz. The bottom line is that pumping once a day after a feeding is probably not going to yield too much. Try doing it after every other feeding. It will also start to signal your body to make a little more milk.

Re: BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

Posted by randella

When Sasha was first born-- I would go to a new moms group locally here that was run by a lactation consultant. A lot of people had similar issues and some of the suggestions were to:

- Change the horns. They come in different sizes, so the size you have may not be right for you. I used the ones that came with my pump, but also I used nipple shields for the first 3 months. To put it in perspective, I needed the extra small nipple shields (16mm), whereas pre-pregnancy I was a 34D. So, breast size does not have anyhting to do with I guess, um-- nipple size.

-The other thing you can try is to switch the pump back to stimulation phase. So, after the first 2 mins, switch it back. You may need more time to encourage your let down. As Sasha got older-- I needed to keep it on stimulate for several mins before I could get anything. Just watch it and see when you start to get milk. eta-- then you can switch it to the regular flow phase. Not sure what that's called.

Re: BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

Re: BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

I was never able to get much out of an electric pump. I use an Avent Isis manual pump and ger 4-5oz after dd morning feeding. I also eat oatmeal every morning

Re: BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

You may need to pump at the the same time everyday for a while to trick your body into thinking your baby needs more milk at this time.

Re: BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

It's going to take quite a few more times of pumping at the same time every day to trick your body into thinking it needs to produce more. Right now your body is trained to produce what will needs. Keep adding the extra pumping session in the same time every day and after awhile your body will produce more to supply that session.

Re: BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

Re: BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

I just want to say I share your frustration!

Re: BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

Re: BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

I was able to pump 4-5oz combined in the morning only. After that it was maybe 3-4oz. No matter what I ate or drank it was never more. I just kept pumping as much as I could and was able to build a small freezer stash.

Re: BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

that sounds pretty normal for pumping after a feed...your DS is taking out what he needs..but if you do that after every feed you are doing two things storing all extra AND telling your body to make more which in turn will yield more in a couple of days/weeks!

Fenugreek (3 pills/3x a day) worked wonders for me...esp when AF returned...

breast compressions for me were A MUST!!! I did it the whole 20 min session..it sometimes doubled my supply...

are you waiting for a second let down..I always pumped until i got that 2nd letdown which happened around the 20-25 min mark...I usually got an extra oz if I waited for this!

Can your DS feed off of one breast in the morning (when you are at your fullest) and pump completely off the other...I "trained" my DD and DS and my body to do this every morning, switching which breast each morning) and this was all extra..

and finally I did the same as a PPer...I would pump rt before I went to bed around 11pm ish which was usually 2+ hrs after my DCs' last feed so that too was all extra and was able to get a decent amount!

It is a learning exp..but just dont expect too much because you'll just get yourself all upset!

good luck!

Re: BF moms can you tell me what im doing wrong?

hey mich!

which pump are you using?

can you pump an hour after Will eats? i find that to work the best when I pump at home.

also, i make it a habit to have a big glass of water every time I pump or BF... this way you make sure you are always hydrated. i pump for a FULL 15 minutes! most of my milk comes out in the first 8 minutes, but around 12-14 minutes i get another let-down and get another ounce or so (which adds up!) i also have to be 100% distracted! when i watch the pump, i hardly get anything! so try to catch up on some DVR'd shows or get on LIF or something to be distracted!

like PPs said, it will take some time for your body to adjust... you have to just keep demanding so your body will create the supply!