Breastfeeding, Can't Pump, Going Back to Work

My main advice would be to call La Leche League. They helped me in so many ways when I was bf-ing. It's free, and they've all been there, so they have great advice.
My other advice is: Don't Give Up! Hang in there, because it's so worth it. You may not get much support, so you have to be strong. But the relationship with your child will benefit in so many ways.
Also, see about getting another pump. You need to get the one that's right for you.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Have you heard of La Leche League? It's a group just for breastfeeding assistance, including pumping issues. The goal, of course, is to keep your baby on breast milk as it is the most nutritional option for your baby (not to mention all the other benefits). Pumps do wear out, so it might be that it just doesn't pull like your baby does. I had to pump when my son was hospitalized and found that even their pumps didn't match the sucking power of my little munchkin, consequently my milk started to dry up. I found having him within eyesight, keeping really hydrated- including massive amounts of lactation tea, keeping up my prenatals, and trying to relax helped up the volume of my milk. I'd also massage the ducts nearest my arms to try to help the milk let down. Now I produce like a Jersey Cow, whether pumping or nursing. I'd ask a midwife and La Leche League for more help before trying formula! I wouldn't want to drink that stuff either! Good Luck!

HI S.,

I had the same problem with pumping. I thought it was my pump but it wasn't. If you can see your nipples being pulled when it sucks then it probably is functioning fine. My problem was with let down. I talked to a lactation nurse who told me to pump in a quiet room and really consintrate on thinking about my baby: the way he smelled, looked, sounded. They also suggested taking an item of his clothing or a blanket with you and feeling it and smelling it when you pump to help relax you. I do know that the more you stres about it while pumping the less milk you will get. Hang in there! Good luck!

I took the fenugreek and it did nothing for me it might you and i had the same problem i used all different pumps from the hand ones to electric no help for me but give it a try your body may be different it wont hurt to give anything a try good luck try to put what you can of your milk in a bottle along with the formulia so it will change the flavor make it more your milk at first then gradually make it completly formula

hi S.!

hang in there! i know going back to work after having a baby is hard enough without having to worry about what he's going to eat. :)

i went back to work when my first daughter was 6 months old and breastfed/pumped until she was 18 months. so it's definitely do-able. but you have to have a good pump. if it's not an electric double pumper, you're going to give up because it's just going to be too much work. i got mine on ebay (brand new) for about $100 less than i could find anywhere else. if you don't want to buy a new pump, try replacing all of the tubing and connectors. maybe they are letting air slip out and you're not getting a good enough suction.

as for the fenugreek, i used that when i felt like my supply was getting lower and it worked for me. i just picked up the whole foods brand, i don't remember exactly how much it cost, but it wasn't too bad. the mothers milk tea didn't do anything for me, but the fenugreek really did. you can check out this website for dosage (and other bf-ing questions): http://kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/fenugreek.html

i hope that helps!
good luck!

You might try renting a hospital grade pump from you local hospital. You could probably get information about that through your OBGyn. Your health insurance may also provide lactation consultation.

I agree with the other mom, call La Leche League! They are wondeful!! I am a SAHM so I didn't have to pump too often, but I've heard the fenugreek is good, there is also a tea out called 'Mother's Milk' which might have some in it. A good pump can make a big difference too, so can being relaxed and not stressing too much.

It is such a committment and you are sacrificing so much to provide for your son that way, I truly have so much respect for you working moms who pump!!

Perhaps try to pump on one side while feeding him on the other, if you have not tried that or if it is possible with your pump. It seemed to me that let down was easier that way. I did have success with fenugreek. Good luck with whatever works out for you.

Fenugreek and Mother's Milk tea worked great for me. I went from 2 - 3 ounces per session to over 10 ounces (my sessions were only 30 minutes long). You have to take quite a bit of Fenugreek. My doctor and lactation consultant recommended I start out at 5 pills 3 times a day then reduce by one pill per day until I was taking 2 pills 3 times per day. I continued until I felt I could pump suffieciently without it then stopped. I did have to repeat this a few times. However, if you don't want that commitment (I know how hard it can be) you could try renting a pump from the hospital they are about $30 - $40 per month. Or you could feed formula from a cup rather than a bottle. I agree with the other posters, I wouldn't want to drink formula, it smells a little like stinky feet! Also, have someone else give him a bottle or the cup at first. Let's face it, if you'd always been given your favorite meal from your favorite person who always smells so good and is so warm and loving, would you really want her to give you something that smells (and probably tastes) like feet? Oh, it helps to have a picture of baby while pumping. Good luck and I wish you many productive pumping sessions!

My baby was born two months premature and I had to pump. It was very hard but I got milk for the two months she was in the hospital and for about a month after but her needs had quickly outpaced my production. I was also never able to pump very much and was unable to get her to latch to my breast.

I tried the fenugreek and the mother's milk tea and every other milk production trick in the book after it looked like my supply was starting to wane but it didn't seem to help. Not only that but fenugreek was the most expensive of everything I tried and you have to take like FIVE of those horse-pills five times a day for it to be effective, according to the package. So you'll go through those bottles pretty quick.

I just gave up on my boobs and started her on formula. She's about 15 months old now and on par with term babies. Formula smells different than breast milk so maybe you can put a little on your breast before you feed him so he gets used to the smell and taste a bit. So he can associate it with a full tummy and it could help aid the weaning to the bottle and to formula.

Good Luck!

HI S.,
Wow I have so much to say on this subject. First here is a secret most moms can't pump alot, you just rarely hear about it.
1. create a safe place to pump, nice music snacks etc..
2. relax the more stressed out you are the less you will get
3. massage, massage, massage
4. yes fenugreek works, and so does a pill called mother's milk you can get it at gnc.
5. Also you have to seriously eat and drink all day. healthy snacks and at least your 8 glasses of water a day. If you don't your milk supply will go down, and you will pump less.
Also bring something that smells like baby with you.

I had low milk supply and had to go back to work when m daughter was 4 months, I managed to breastfeed for 1 yr. doing all the above things. pumping was hard but totally worth it, somedays I would be lucky to get 1oz. It wasn't until I called my lactation consultant and she said its ok this happens to a lot of women. the pump is inefficient so you have to help it.
good luck and let me know how it goes!
Jennipher

I found that Fenugreek was helpful (although some women get cramps on this) and other herbal formulas like More Milk (thistle leaf, fennel seed, nettle leaf) were useful. They can be found at www.motherlove.com The products are available as tincture/liquid, capsules and tea. Sometimes looking at a picture of your baby or visualizing their face, voice, etc. can help your brain to recognize the "let down" process. Also, you're probably doing this, but drinking lots of H20 helps, getting enough rest and reducing stress (ha!)

When I returned to work, I wasn't able to pump much out either but found that with hand expression, I could get many ounces. Also I was able to meet my baby during my lunch hour and nurse him so that also decreased my stress. That would only work if you work nearby your home or if someone could drive him to you though. Best of luck with everything and remember, no matter what happens, the baby and you will adjust.

i've been breastfeeding and pumping at work for 2 months now, and have had lots of problems. talking with other moms who pump really helps.

if your baby's getting enough to eat when you nurse him, then the problem is not with your milk production, and you can give yourself problems (blocked ducts, mastitis) trying to increase your production if you can't pump out all that milk! (that happened to me).

for some women the milk doesn't let down with the pump the way it does when the baby nurses. try nursing the baby for a bit and then put him down and pump.

if you have large breasts, the breastshields that come standard with the machines might be too small, blocking the flow of milk--try a larger size (see the medela website to order).

the vaccuum action is really important on the pump. i've found that these things can compromise the vaccuum: if the little white flaps get even a little out of shape, so try changing them often; if the shield doesn't fit snugly on your breast, so make sure to hold them right on the breast when pumping; if the tubes are fitted snugly on the machine, so check the fit.

you might try just replacing all these things too. it may be that your machine is too worn out, but it's cheaper to replace all these plastic parts than to replace the machine so try replacing them first.

be sure to drink lots of water too.

good luck!

Yes, I've tried it and Yes it works!! I could only produce milk around 4-5 months... ... I had to switch to formula....but I did use the herb and it did help until I really had to switch. You can get it at health food stores such as Elliots natural foods....ask the clerk to point some out to you. And try NOT to stress, you have to EAT yourself, drink lots of Water and be relaxed and rested for your breast milk to come. It's hard I know, but if you can start mixing the formula with some breast milk start doing it so your baby can switch over. He will be FINE and honestly it'll be such a relief once you have switched over. Life is a lot easier with that formula. I cried not being able to nurse anymore, but dont beat yourself up. Your baby got the milk in the beginning which is so important. He will be fine. Not sure what formula you;ve tried , but Similac worked for us. Also, your baby may not like the bottles/nipples you're using. I tried them ALL and finally ended up with the old fashion Playtex nurser with the latex nipple that had the rounded end on it. They are kind of hard to find, but both my girls ended up liking them. They are softer than the silicone. Just replace them every 3 months! Good luck.

L

Hi S.,
Oh, I can so relate. I called the lactation cons. because I thought my pump was broken also. It wasn't. When they start eating solids, about 6 months, your body just know that it can slow down production a bit. It can also be combined with the idea that your body knows the pump is not your child and won't do the "let down". That is what I've been going through. I only work a few nights a week, so I haven't worried about it too much because my 11 month old is getting enough from solids. But here is what I've been told. Relax, with a cup of Mother's Milk tea (which has fenugreek), close your eyes, and visualize your baby nursing while your pumping. They say it works. Also, instead of pumping for an hour, try pumping a few times a day. My sister-in-law gives a bottle every night and she has to pump 3 times a day to get a 6 oz. bottle. Frequent pumping increases production too! Good Luck!

I also had similar issues as you. I would try a sippy cup or soft spout bottle (avent) instead of a bottle. You can try to get him to drink from it by using diluted apple juice. I would also use formula mixed with cereal and fruit to get him used to the flavor of the formula.

Hi S.,

For more milk try "mother's milk" Tea by Traditional Medicinal's. I'm sure you could find it at any health food store or they could order it for you. It works very well. Mom's that have gone dry have used this and come back full force! My son is now 4 and he never had a bottle so it was a transition that was never able to happen he was so used to the breast that he had to be starving before he would take the bottle, Breast milk and all. I wish you the very best b/c I know how this pulls at every emotion possible.

Happy holidays.

I recommend a Medela pump. I had the Pump In Style and it worked good for me! However, initially I rented a hospital grade breast pump to build up my supply and used it to pump milk in between every feeding. It may be a good investment for you to build up your supply before returning to work. Also there is Mother's Milk Tea and it helps build up your supply. There are other foods/things that can help with milk supply as well. There is a great website for breastfeeding advice: www.kellymom.com, I also highly recommend you contact your local LLL (La Leche League) for advice and support through this transition. Good luck!

S. - i found that i had a hard time pumping unless i was away from my baby. at home all the milk went right in the mouth. i would pump at odd hours of the night to have a small stash for my first day back to work.
my other 'problem' was using a pump that didn't agree with my milk let down. once i switched over the medula 'pump in style' things went great. there were times of low production. this was when i was stressed (rough time at work, loss of family member) and when i had not drank enough water. patience won out. i would just have to close my eyes, relax and think about nursing.
good luck
S.

Get a new pump right away. It's not well known that pumps wear out and stop sucking how they're supposed to. Run out and immediately get a new one!

I rented a hospital grade pump. You can't take it with you to your job, but boy does it work!

After successfully nursing 3 kids..and becoming a bf peer counselor...let me just share that it is imparitive that you have a GOOD pump, and when pumping you MUST RELAX...I realize doing so at work is hard....however, you can put some classical music on your MP3, think of your baby, and get a good reliable pump. Medela was the best I discovered, and you can rent them from your local hospital, or La Leche Leauge.

Also, my experience with my kids(who also HATED bottles), is at about 7-9 months I introduced a sippy cup, and talked about "drinking out of a cup" like mommy and daddy. They liked that idea, and that way he still gets hydrated(with your milk, water, watered down juice, etc) while eating his solids. He is old enough that eating solids and drinking from a sippy while you are at work is enough, until you pick him up...and that will be the FIRST thing he will want when he sees you! You will both treasure that time daily!

Get a better pump...the sooner the better, so you can try it at home before returning to work. Remember to relax...and milk thistle does help somewhat with increasing your milk supply...but your baby is your real gauge of your body's production.

Good luck and God Bless!

Oh, and don't sweat the housework, it'll be there when your kids grow up!

B.

Try a sippy cup with water or juice and water. Or introduce other liquids like soy milk or almond milk.

Hi there, I couldn't read through all the responses so hopefully I don't repeat! My best friend had the same problem but it was from birth, 1-2 ounces pumped. She tried renting a hospital pump to see if that was the problem but it wasn't, she tried mother's milk tea which didn't do much, it has fenugreek & other herbs in it, that worked great for me when mine was low because of medication I had to take but it wasn't as low as yours. She spoke to a midwife after she had given up and switched to formula, poor thing was heartbroken about it. The midwife said she wasn't taking nearly enough fenugreek & I think there were a few other herbs in the mix. I would give a midwife a call, they're awesome with concoctions for this & they've been doing it for years & know herbs & what is safe. I'm sure you could find a local one on midwiferytoday.com or another site. Good luck & don't stress, I think you're being to hard on yourself as a mom, you're the best mother there is for that little guy, give yourself some love!!!

Hi S.,
I had the same problem, although I went back to work when my son was 3 months so it was earlier. In my case, it was the pump. I thought it was working but it never really was - my husband one day tightened something and whoila! After about a month of frustration. I would take your pump to someone who knows - for me that was the lactation center at Marin General but if you're in the city maybe Cal Pacific? And have them check it out. Also fenugreek does help - I do that too -but one ounce is too small no matter what!

I was so scared when I went back to work but when you go... your baby is not there drinking all the milk so it's got to go somewhere. I think on your first day of work you will be pleasently surprised to see the milk flow. I suggest getting an electric double pump if that's not the kind you already have. I think the Medela brands are best, IMO. Even their manual pump, the Harmony, I think, is a really good pump. Don't give up just because it doesn't look like you pump a lot when you're at home at all day with the baby. You will just need to pump here and there whenever you can to get enough milk for that first day back to work. When you're at work all day you'll probably pump enough for the next day and so on. For more resources on pumping, visit the message boards at kellymom.com. They have a board dedicated 100% to pumping and re-lactating and they were a lifesaver for me when I was pumping. Best wishes to you!! : )

It's been a long time since I breastfed, and I actually never went back to work, I went to college. But my mom said I stopped breastfeeding for good at nine months when my grandfather gave me soda in a cup. Not that I'm suggesting that :) but maybe he is ready for a sippy cup and/or doesn't like formula (I actually think it might be nasty). Maybe try soy milk. My son took a sippy cup I think before he turned one. It might have even been at 9 or 10 months. Sorry I can't help with pumping, but the memories I have of my son at that age are making me so happy right now. Thanks. A.

You will likely get more milk while you are away at work than when you are with him and pumping. I agree with others about going to LLL. I disagree with the ones who suggested using other milks. Before a year you really should use either EBM or formula though if it is just one feeding close to when you are due back you might look into giving an ounce or two of water with a nutritious solids snack - maybe banana or avocado or sweet potato.

http://www.workandpump.com is a great resource. At 12 months you can stop pumping altogether (gradually of course) to avoid plugged ducts) and give regular milk during the day and BF when you are available. I stopped pumping at 13 months and am still nursing my dd at night before bed and occasionally during the day when I am home now at 30 months.

Hi S.,
I'm sure that the issues are more with the pump than with you. I find that I can barely get any milk unless I use a hospital grade pump and massage the milk out.
Many lactation centers rent out pumps by the week or the month, maybe you could try renting one to see if that helps.
If you are making enough milk to feed your child, then fenugreek probably won't help you since your issue is not about production , but rather extraction.
Good luck going back to work!

Hi S.,

Grace is almost 11 months and would never take a bottle. I never gave her formula but only breast milk, she wouldn't have it in a cup, from a spoon or from a bottle, just wanted me. I wouldn't give up though, with the pump or trying--breast milk is so important. Maybe he will take from a cup, Maybe a different pump would help you. Did you try a lactation consultant for the pumping issue?

Best Wishes. R.

Hi there! I understand breastfeeding and pumping issues. My son had breastfeeding issues and I had to pump exclusively for three months. It was horrible because I had issues with pumping milk, too. I tried many things, and with the help of a great LC, I was able to pump enough milk for my son so I wouldn't have to supplement formula. I learned a few tricks that worked for me, and maybe you'll be able to use them, too. The first trick is to remain calm while pumping. Imagine your baby nursing and maybe look at a picture of him. This will help with the let down. It usually took me 10-15 minutes to let down to the pump, but when my son nursed I would let down within a minute. Nothing substitutes a nice warm baby in your arms, but try to envision this feeling as much as you can. Dim the lights in the room you'll be pumping in and make sure your warm. Try to always pump in the same spot if you can, it will help your mind make associations with milk let down. Drape a blanket over your shoulders and bring one of your baby's blankets or article of clothing to smell. I also used a product called Rescue Remedy to help me relax. I would put about five drops under my tongue a few minutes before I pumped. Depending on the type of pump you have, you can tweak the speed and suction to mimic the baby's nursing. I used a fast speed with light suction to stimulate the let down and then slowed it down and increased the suction once the milk was flowing. I used an Medela Pump in Style Advanced and it had a let down feature, but you can manually do this on most electric pumps. You may also try stimulating your nipples before you pump, it might help. While pumping, I would massage the milk ducts, rubbing down from your chest toward your nipple. Be careful not to break the suction on the pump flange. This doesn't have to be hard, but it puts pressure on the milk ducts and causes the milk to come out faster. Its like using the c or u hold during nursing and adding compressions, if you've done this. With some practice, this can be done while double pumping. You have to run one arm across to the opposite breast and use your forearm to secure the pump on the breast closest to the arm and your hand to hold the pump on the opposite breast. This gives you one hand free to massage, change the pumping speed or hold a book. :) I would try these things before automatically going to a milk increasing supplement. If you feel that you need one, I used More Milk Plus from Motherlove Herbals. I was told that you actually need to start smelling like maple syrup before it works. You need to take a LOT for this to happen. You can also increase your dark leafy greens intake and that will help milk production, too. If your son gets enough breastfeeding, you probably don't have a supply issue, though. One other thing that really helped me (and I'm not sure if you are into this) was to drink a beer in the evening. I'd wait for an hour and then pump and I'd get lots of milk. Its definitely an old wive's tale, but it worked for me. If you look on some websites for breastfeeding, you'll see that many recommend making barley tea to increase production. I think that's why the beer works, plus the alcohol helps you relax. I don't recommend the barley tea, it is really yucky! You should visit: kellymom.com. This website has a wealth of information and I think every breastfeeding mom should know about it. If none of this helps and you think its the pump, you can get replacement parts for most pumps on the manufacturer's website or you can rent pumps for not much money at hospitals or if you are a low income family, you can get free rentals through WIC. Check to see if your pump has adequate suction by holding your hand against it. I hope this helps you. Please feel free to contact me, if you have any more questions. Good Luck!

-H.

Get an AVent ISIS hand held brest pump. Pump one side while you are feeding on the other - you can pump more that way and start freezing the milk. If you do that a few times a day when you feed - especially the first morning feeding you can store up milk - even if it's one ounce at a time. you will also increase your milk supply in the process.

Good Luck

Just to clarify something that Barbara said: La Leche League used to have an arrangement with Medela; however, several years ago LLL stopped doing the pump rental/purchase programme. That being said, your local LLL could probably direct you to where you could rent or purchase a breast pump.

You are under no obligation to give your baby a bottle. If he doesn't like a bottle, why not try a sippy cup or those cups with the large, wide straw? I never gave my babies a bottle but when I started givng them a bit of water in our hot summertimes, I just gave them a straw cup and they were fine with it. My kids were 10 months, 9 months and 8 months when they were introduced to something other than mother's milk to drink and they did fine with a straw cup (one of them preferred a soft spout sippy cup).

Here's a link to some pumping tips that may be helpful for you. This page has a whole list of pumping topics that you can click on to get answers to questions including how to maximize your output:

http://www.llli.org/NB/NBpumping.html

Good luck.

It really sounds like your pump has lost its oomph. You can take it to Day One and they can hook it up to a machine they have there to measure the pressure that it creates. I would recommend renting a hospital grade pump to see how that does for a month. Perhaps you'll just want to do this until you're ready to stop breastfeeding, if you're getting close to being done. I think it would definitely be worth a try.

hi S.- i had same problem with pump n style, then tried hospital grade medela (available to rent at alta bates). it made all the difference (can now pump 6 oz in 10 min) , although it took a few days of use to adjust.
also, try the adiri bottle if you haven't already

hi Sara, Im a nutritional counselor and nutrition educator. Yes fenugreek can work , but more important is you being very relaxed when pumping. I suggest putting on music you really enjoy and maybe (if needed) a hot shower or bath before you try pumping milk. Reducing your stress during this time should help alot . Good luck and brava for your choice of continuing with breast milk! M.

S.,
1. To help with milk production:
there are several very expensive products that can help increase milk production, but I found the cheapest and tastiest way is to make a tea yourself from four easy to find seeds in the herbs section at your local supermarket: Fennel, dill, anise and caraway. Combine equal amounts in a baggie, and when you are ready to make the tea, grind up a teaspoon full and steep in hot water. Honey and lemon do not change the milk production benefit, so enjoy it as you like.

2. I too feel like a terrible housewife. I stink at it because I never saw myself doing it full time, especially not with such a high energy and demanding mama's boy who also absolutely refused formula. I was back to work occasionally in his first few months, and was out of town and had to pump and ship the milk Fedex with dry ice so my husband could feed him!

3. Speaking of seeing yourself doing it, you may benefit from imagining you are nursing your son when pumping, so make sure you have a picture of him in hand. His smell would probably help too, but probably most important: GET A NEW PUMP! Older pumps - especially any other than Medela pump in style - tend to wear out quickly (6 months of use) and probably do not have enough suction or the right fit for your breasts in the first place.

Remember, the more comfortable you feel with the arrangement, the easier it will be for you both! You can do it!