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johnsae
Sip.
Member since 3/06 18677 total posts
Name:
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I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
Ugh. Either that or DD is eating more which she is, but I had to supplement with formula this morning b/c I ran out of breastmilk. I have been pumping every 3-4 hours and my milk supply has gone from plentiful to depressing. Any tips??? I am exclusively pumping.
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Posted 7/3/07 11:06 AM  |
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btrflygrl
me and baby #3!
Member since 5/05 12013 total posts
Name:
Shana
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
are you drinking enough water? that was my issue with DD, and now I'm drinking water all day long and I have a glass next to the bed.
Also, try having a beer after a BF session. It's supposed to help with the supply
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:08 AM |
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KangaMom
...
Member since 1/06 4593 total posts
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
Are you pumping after a feeding?
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:08 AM |
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BaroqueMama
Chase is one!
Member since 5/05 27530 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
Definitely drink a lot of water and make sure you're not stressed when pumping. I exclusively pumped for the first two months and found that when I was stressed, I barely got anything. Also, your supply could just be evening out now.
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:09 AM |
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monkeybride
My Everything
Member since 5/05 20541 total posts
Name:
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
This early on you should be pumping every 2 hours.
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:10 AM |
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karacg
Babygirl is 4!
Member since 5/05 17076 total posts
Name:
Kara®
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
I just posted about this and was told - lots of water, eat oatmeal and brown rice - and my mom says a beer at night. I haven't had any problems since, although when I pump I don't get much. Your baby is much more efficient and extracting the milk than a pump is.
Any chance you might try BFing again? What about talking to La Leche League, or a Lactation Consultant?
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:10 AM |
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johnsae
Sip.
Member since 3/06 18677 total posts
Name:
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
Posted by monkeybride
This early on you should be pumping every 2 hours.
really? wow. I can do that....I'll head upstairs now 
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:12 AM |
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
Fenugreek tea is supposed to help increase your supply. I don't know about beer- I read that is a myth. Also, you have to watch alcohol at this point because you are pumping so often.
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:12 AM |
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johnsae
Sip.
Member since 3/06 18677 total posts
Name:
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
Never heard about the beer thing. Will give that a try. Any idea why that works?
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:12 AM |
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pinkandblue
Our family is complete, maybe
Member since 9/05 32436 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
Posted by johnsae
Never heard about the beer thing. Will give that a try. Any idea why that works?
honestly, I think it may be because it relaxes you...have a beer and try to relax 
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:14 AM |
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karacg
Babygirl is 4!
Member since 5/05 17076 total posts
Name:
Kara®
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
Maybe the yeast? I have the beer right after BFing so it is ok - as long as 2 hours pass before BFing again.
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:14 AM |
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babymakes3
Almost there!
Member since 7/06 7376 total posts
Name:
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
Posted by karacg
I just posted about this and was told - lots of water, eat oatmeal and brown rice - and my mom says a beer at night. I haven't had any problems since, although when I pump I don't get much. Your baby is much more efficient and extracting the milk than a pump is.
Any chance you might try BFing again? What about talking to La Leche League, or a Lactation Consultant?
I was going to say the same.
Her demand is probably going up right now. Try pumping more frequently and longer - increase the demand to increase your supply.
The beer worked for me. When DD was 2 weeks old, MIL came to watch her while DH and I went out for dinner. I had a beer and I felt so full later.
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:18 AM |
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MrsBlueSash
Love my sailor
Member since 6/05 5793 total posts
Name:
Christian
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
What kind of pump are you using? I just took a class and unless you have a hospital grade (if you are pumping exclusively) then they said that you may not be able to maintain you supply. If you are pumping and BFing one, the other kind of pumps will do. (Just passing on what they told us.)
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:19 AM |
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Dragonfly75
I love Hypnobabies
Member since 3/06 2333 total posts
Name:
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
I agree about pumping every 2 hours. At that age a breastfed baby will eat about every 2 hours, so you need that much stimulation to get your supply up. Check out kellymom.com for more tips.
Also, try the Fenugreek and drink lots of water.
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:27 AM |
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Dragonfly75
I love Hypnobabies
Member since 3/06 2333 total posts
Name:
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
Wante to add I also agree about the pump type. If you are exclusively pumping I think you need to rent a hospital grade pump.
Message edited 7/3/2007 11:29:49 AM.
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:29 AM |
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Tracey
***********
Member since 5/05 6297 total posts
Name:
Tracey - brideinapril
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
Yes- you definetly need to pump at least every 2 hours - I felt like I was glued to the darn machine!
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:32 AM |
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monkeybride
My Everything
Member since 5/05 20541 total posts
Name:
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
Posted by Dragonfly75
Wante to add I also agree about the pump type. If you are exclusively pumping I think you need to rent a hospital grade pump.
I agree. I used a hospital pump for several months before switching to my PIS. There is a huge difference. It's worth renting one.
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:39 AM |
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johnsae
Sip.
Member since 3/06 18677 total posts
Name:
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
I have the Medela In Style Pump...supposedly one of the best I can buy, right?? I sure hope so for the price! 
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:49 AM |
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MrsBlueSash
Love my sailor
Member since 6/05 5793 total posts
Name:
Christian
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
Posted by johnsae
I have the Medela In Style Pump...supposedly one of the best I can buy, right?? I sure hope so for the price!
You may want to rent a hospital grade one. If its not helping you can always return it, but there is a difference between the hospital grade and the Medela you have.
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| Posted 7/3/07 11:58 AM |
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Michelle
My Little Yankee Fans
Member since 1/06 4018 total posts
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
Get a hospital grade, you can not establish a supply on a PIS.
Drink fenugreek tea
Eat Oatmeal
Drink a beer each night for the hops in it I think.
Drink pleanty of water.
I also power pumped once where you pump on 5 minutes off 5 minutes for a think an hour to an hour and a half to build up your supply.
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| Posted 7/3/07 12:24 PM |
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Dragonfly75
I love Hypnobabies
Member since 3/06 2333 total posts
Name:
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
Posted by johnsae
I have the Medela In Style Pump...supposedly one of the best I can buy, right?? I sure hope so for the price!
PIS is a great consumer grade pump -- great for when you're going back to work after you have an established milk supply. However, a hospital grade pump may be necessary to establish your supply. Are you in touch with an LC -- they usually rent these, so do pharmacies. Medela's website has a list of places you can rent them.
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| Posted 7/3/07 1:01 PM |
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yankinmanc
Happy Days!
Member since 8/05 18208 total posts
Name:
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Re: I am pumping more but my milk supply is dwindling!
You need a more powerful pump! Go out and rent a hospital grade one. I had a Medela Symphony and it helped me to keep up a fantastic supply for all my 8 months. You can rent them from LC's.
For me when I was pumping, I lived in fear of running out of BM as Noah wouldn't drink formula.
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| Posted 7/3/07 2:45 PM |
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