Struggling to Pump

How old is your baby? If it's a newborn it's quite possible that is all your baby needs at a feeding, and thus you are only making that much. It is typical for me to produce only 2 pumped ounces of milk if I am not able to acheive let down while pumping. Are you experiencing the let down? If not you should try steps to help encourage this like relaxing. I know if I am trying to pump and there are things going on around me I am not very successful. I need quiet and relaxation to be productive. Some mothers keep a picture of their baby near by, or perhaps an article of their clothing to stimulate their senses.

Drink a ton of water. I would drink 2-3 cups right before each pumping session and I would get 4 ozs out. Also relax, take a shower beforehand. You can also add a pumping sessions in the morning. After a week or so that should increase your supply. good luck. feel free to email me with any questions.

Maybe try Fenugreek supplements? I think they also make "Mother's Milk" tea. I don't like the taste of tea, so I tried the Fenugreek to boost my milk supply. Or the only other thing I can think of is to pump more often. You might only get a little bit at a time, but your body will adapt to the increased demand and adventually you will produce more milk. Good luck.

Hi A. - i had the same problem with my first DS. I would only get 2oz at a time and it was very frustrating. I tried everything in the book. We did have to supplement with formula. I continued to pump my small little bit every day until 12ms. I knew that any little bit was SO worth it. We nursed until he was 21ms.

Some things to try:
Oatmeal - i always eat it a little bit before my pumping (i'm doing this with my second DS now)
A Kale smoothie is also very good -
Creamy Greens Smoothie
This smoothie surprises everyone because it tastes so good. You really don't taste the kale at all. This is an excellent snack while breastfeeding because the greens help to increase milk production. Use nutritional yeast flakes fortified with vitamin B12.

1 cup pineapple-coconut juice
1 banana, sliced and frozen
2 to 3 kale leaves
2 teaspoons nutritional yeast flakes (optional)

Place ingredients in blender and puree until smooth.

Makes 1 to 2 servings

Note: 1/2 cup pineapple juice and 1/2 cup light coconut milk can be substituted for pineapple-coconut juice. I used soy milk instead of pineapple juice

At a last resort measure i know there is a drug that your OB can prescribe for you to increase your milk supply. A co-worker took it when she returned back to work with her twins.

Don't give up - continue giving your love! Any little bit is well worth it in the end.

Best of luck!
J.

The problem is more likely the let-down reflex, rather than the style of pump. I used to pump on one side while my baby nursed on the other. It sounds like stealing milk from a baby, but your breasts will continue to produce more milk as long as your baby stimulates them. I figured that it was EASY to get the "first milk" out, half the time it leaked anyway while she nursed on the first side. . .. So I would pump 2 - 4 ounces out, then let her "finish off the side". It worked well, because I went back to work FT at 7 weeks, and she had breast milk exclusively in bottles until she was 1. (I did put powdered formula in her cereal, but that was for convenience)

I had issues for a little while w/my first child, and the lactation consultant saved me! I tried EVERYTHING, just about, when I had similar issues with my 2nd child. This went on for 9 depressing weeks without a lot of luck. BUT I had an EXCELLENT lactation consultant. If you don't have one, I strongly suggest you get one! Mine was great...you can send me a note re in which are you live...if you're nearby, I can recommend her to you.

Anyway, I tried FENUGREEK, I also tried this think that moms who are adopting use, and I ultimately tried acupuncture...and my milk came in. It was the 1 and only time I've ever done acupuncture. It also was during a less stressful 2-week period, so that may have contributed. I'll never know. I was ready to drive 2 hrs w/the baby, to go to a hypnotist, but I never got that far. Nursing was very important to me, so I was ready to do anything to make it work!

(My lactation consultant was worth every penny. I also had a Nursing Mothers Advisory Council advisor...a volunteer.)

Good luck!

Try the Medela hands free pumping attachment. For me I would concentrate too much and I had trouble letting down. With the hands free attachment I could occupy myself with other things (eating, email, reading) and would pump 10 oz before I knew it! The kit is cheep like $12 but you need the Medela nursing bras for it to attach to which can be pricey around $30.

Hi A., getting 2 ounces is pretty typical. I pumped for 15 months and rarely got more than that. There are some tricks to increase your supply: 1) Eat oatmeal (steel cut oats, not instant), 2) Take Fenugreek/Blessed Thissle - the kind you buy at Whole Foods, not GNC and 3) Read my pumping tips article for great tips on how to get more while pumping: http://www.pumpingtips.com

J.

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Couple of thoughts from another mom who pumps...try massaging your breasts while you pump. You will notice that you will get more milk because you are stimulating the ducts directly. Also, is it possible you could be pregnant? This happened to a friend of mine who breastfed. She could only get a few ounces even though she pumped and pumped, and it turned out it was because she was pregnant and thus her milk supply decreased. Just a thought!

The more you pump the milk you will produce. Keep pumping & if it doesn't increase the milk you may be one of the people that just can not breast feed. Try for a few weeks though. Good luck.

Hi A.,
Make sure you are drinking alot of water.

If you are in Pittsburgh, call the Breastfeeding Center. THey have LCs who are covered by insurance because some of them are doctors as well. http://www.breastfeedingcenterofpittsburgh.com/

You are not alone in this, and if you try the fenugreek, extra pumping, massage, accupuncture, water, relaxing and STILL aren't getting more (or even if you just don't feel like messing with all that), don't be afraid to supplement with formula. Some formula can be the key to a successful breastfeeding experience. It was for us... I never could pump enough for my son when I was away from him, and we used formula to make up the difference. We breastfed until he was 11 months.

I have had problems with my milk supply since day one. I too rented a hospital grade pump and noticed no difference. First of all, the baby is more effective than the pump, so if you are pumping 2 oz, she would actually be eating more like 3 or 4 oz. There is no way for a pump to get out as much as your baby.

What totally made a difference for me was Fenugreek supplements. You can get it at GNC. I noticed such a HUGE difference with the Fenugreek- I have been taking it for months now. You can basically take as much as you need/ want. I started with 2 pills 2x/day and now take 3 pills 2x/day. If I feel like my supply is dipping I up to 3 pills 3x/day.

Also, make sure you are pumping for the full 15 min. to get all the stimulation you need. I see someone else suggested pumping one side while baby nurses on the other. I did that for several weeks to build up a supply of refridgerated and frozen milk. I also pump every night before I go to bed. Supposedly the more you pump the more you will produce, so try to pump several times each day for the extra stimulation.

A lactation consultant might also be able to offer some thoughts. My lactation consultant was worth her weight in gold and totally worth every single penny!! I never would have been able to continue breastfeeding w/o her. I can send you her name if you send me a message. There are also local nursing moms groups that have monthly meetings where you can ask questions and get advice from other nursing moms. This too has been a great resource for me.

Good luck!

A.

I tried Fenugreek and then my Dr prescribed Reglan and that worked almost immediatley and boosted my milk supply up a couple ounces and of course not forgetting to pump
through the night.

Good Luck!

S.

I think it's faster, easier to hand express. I could fill a 4 oz bottle in minutes. You can actually manipulate becasue you can feel the ducts that are full and express them lickity split. I found pumps a waste.

good luck

L.

Hi A.,

Contact your local La leche League representative at

www.llli.org.

Hope this helps. D.

Hi A.,
It looks like you got a lot of great suggestions. I had another thought that I didn't see in the other responses. I struggled with pumping and nursing at first. What really helped me produce a lot when I pumped was pumping right after my daughter nursed, then looking at her, talking to her, etc. while I pumped. I put her in her bouncy seat, which worked great. When I pumped at work I needed to look at pictures of her. Basically, thinking about her triggered my let down reflex, which resulted in a ton of milk and fast! Good luck to you!!!

I have 2 daughters and pumped for both of them (still am now) at work. Drink, drink, drink. I see a substantial increase in the amount I can pump when I drink a lot of water the previous day. Also, pump frequently. If possible, pump every 3 hours while you are away from your daughter. Nothing expresses milk like your baby, but with practice you'll be ok. Do not stop or give up!! You can do it! Good luck.