Moms who pump.

DC is 3.5 weeks old and wanted to start pumping and giving a bottle. I tried pumping but barely anything is coming out. But I'm leaking like crazy and DC nurses and will pull off and milk is pouring out and i hear gulping and swallowing durning nursing. so I know I have milk. I pumped for 10mins and barely got an ouch total. I changed the membranes on my pump and its still not working. Could my supply be low or could it be my pump?

Re: Moms who pump.

A pump has a lot less sucking power than your baby does so it may take a few times of pumping to actually get milk. Keep at it and pump at the same time each day and you will notice a difference shortly.

Re: Moms who pump.

Re: Moms who pump.

Message edited 5/5/2013 8:19:19 PM.

Re: Moms who pump.

Initially, I didn't get much too from pumping. When I nursed more, however, I gradually got more milk when I pumped. Btw, I used to think it was time to pump when the breasts are full or when I start leaking, but on the contrary, I was told by the La Leche League consultant that it's harder for milk to come out when we're already full. I did the every two hours routine (nurse or pump) as difficult as it was, but it paid off... Got to establish a very good milk supply. DS was exclusively on breastmilk until 8 or 9 mos. I think, then I did mixed feeding...

Re: Moms who pump.

At 3.5 weeks I wasn't pumping that much either. Just keep at it and you will start responding better to the pump. For me I still have days where I'm still leaking after the babies nurse but when I pump not much comes out. I read that our bodies react better to the babies sucking. So that could be another reason....

Moms who pump.

I was an EP.. I got very little the first 4-5 weeks by 6 weeks in my supply increased tremendously. Also, try to massage your breasts while pumping to help the milk flow out. Also-- make sure all parts are bone dry and that there are no small tears in the membranes. sometimes the membranes have a tiny tear that you cant even see unless you closely examine it and even that microscopic tear will prevent you from properly pumping

Re: Moms who pump.

When are you pumping? Right after a feeding or are you waiting? I didn't get much in the beginning either. If I pumped right after a feeding nothing would come out. If I waited an hour, I would get 1oz. If I waited 2 hours I would get 2oz…and so on.

I wanted to pump for a stash…but I never knew how long DD was going to sleep and I didnt want to take milk away to freeze you know? So I really just breastfed on demand and did not pump too much in the beginning. But if you are pumping and going to give a bottle right away then I would wait 2-3 hours so you get a decent amount to give.

Ok and last option is to pump after every feeding for a day or two…that will give you enough to make 1 bottle. And you start with that bottle…give it to the baby and pump to replace that bottle. Then you will always have 1 in the fridge you know?

Also once the baby starts sleeping longer and dropping feedings you can pump and store those. Once DD dropped her 10/11pm feeding (she was 3 mos) I started pumping at night and have a freezer stash!