Nothing to Pump After Feeding

I had the same thing happen to me when my son was 6 months. I increased my water intake and started taking two supplements of Fenugreek and Milk Thistle. You can get them at any vitamin store. I ended up breastfeeding him till he was 18 months old.

This happened to me, too. I wouldn't let down for the pump. So, I put the babe on one breast and the pump on the other. That seemed to help fool my body. It wasn't much, but at least he could go to grandma's!
Good Luck!

The best time to pump is before a feeding, like when you wake up first thing in the morning. It is normal to not have any milk come out if you try to pump after a feeding.

I had so many breast feeding issues and this was one of them. Without boring you with all the details the way I became confident in knowing what she was getting was by renting a scale. I would weigh her before and after feedings. Low and behold she was getting way more than I would ever pump. The pump got 1-1.5 oz at best; she got 4 oz, this was when she was 1-2 mths old. Our children are much more efficient at the breast than even the very best hospital grade pump. There are many shops where you can rent a scale or go use a scale. I think close to you is Baby, mother and more on Gilbert.

I have experienced the exact same thing. I have three children and I was actually only able to breast feed up until 6 months with each because my milk supply would get low after they started on solids. I used to try and pump at a time when I knew they weren't going to eat for awhile. SO either before the baby woke up in the morning or after the baby went to bed for the night. That way I could wait about an hour and then pump. At first I only got 1 or 2 oz but eventually I got more by doing it at the same time each day. I also took some herbal supplements that were supposed to help with breastmilk production. The main one that seemed to help the most was Fenugreek and you can by tablets in the health sections of the grocery store or at a store like Whole Foods or Sprouts. I also used to piggy back the milk when I froze it. So if I only got one ounce one day then I would freeze that and add the next days to it after pumping so I was storing more per bag. I hope that helps.

When I was loosing my milk, they had me take brewers yeast.Its by the vitamins. Anyway, it increases milk production as long as you are doing everything else, such as drinking, sleeping (Yeah right!), and eating! Also, whatever your drinking, double it, make sure you are eating 1800-2200 calories everyday ( pay attention!)And I was told that exercising was okay, but to limit high impact. Hope this helps!

Try pumping one side while the baby's feeding on the other. If you wait until after a feeding, the baby has drained the supply. Also, the beginning of a feeding produces milk that is fattier, so if you wait until the end you're getting the lighter milk, as well as a diminished response.

Your baby is so lucky to have a mom who is breastfeeding! Good for you! Keep it up, and feel proud that you're doing such a wonderful, natural thing for your baby.

Hello, I have two children 7yrs. old and 16months. I nursed both of my children for a little over a yr. Usually after you have nursed your child you will not have much milk to pump because as you were already told, your child actually did "drink it up" Maybe you can wait several hours before trying to pump, you can also wake up in the middle of the night before feedings to pump an extra bottle for storage. I know that is very difficult to wake up especially when sleep is very scarce at this point!!! But just know that it will only be but for a season. As a mother we will make many sacrifices for our children, SLEEP is the number one sacrifice at this age!!!

Dear D. ... I am a certified clinical herbalist by profession and a grandmother by choice ... there are a number of milk producing herbs that you can take, preferably by tincture, to enhance you milk production ... also, as strange as it may sound, drink a glass of beer just prior to feeding, the hops in the beer act as a galactagog (milk producing) herb and will also increase your flow ... in the old days, this was an immediate remedy most thought of ... I grow, make and sell tincture for just this purpose ... if you are interested, please write back ...
J. F - Bloomfield

Hi D., my son is 10 months now and i went through the same thing. I started taking feugreek and drinking the herb tea, it helped for a little while. the problem is the time it takes to pump all the time to get enough to store up. good luck. i stoped at nine months. I will store up like crazy in the beginning for our next one.

Hello D..
I'm not sure if you are familiar with the organic tea called "Organic Mother's Milk" but it helps to promote healthy lactation & can help to increase more milk supply. You can find it at health food stores such as Whole Foods or possibly Trader Joes. This is something that Lactation consultants will suggest to mothers having difficulty producing enough milk. But in your case...it may be beneficial if you are wanting to store extra milk.
HTH.
~D.

I have 5 kids and have successfully breastfed all of them for at least 1 year. I have never been a good pumper! I could barely get an ounce or two. I don't know if it's mental? When you nurse your baby, your brain releases a hormone that makes your milk come down. And maybe when I was pumping, I just couldn't make that mental connection. But I have also heard that it can depend on how good your pump is. I'm not sure which is true for you, but I never stored any milk either! Good luck!

Hi D.,
I am 33 and expecting my 7th little blessing. All mine have nursed for a year or more and I have NEVER been able to pump more than an ounce at a time. For some reason, by body will give plenty to the baby, but won't give it to the pump. I hear that if you pump after EVERY feeding, your body will eventually get used to the pump and you will produce more milk, but it was never worth it to me to try that hard. I don't leave my nursing babies until around 6 months old, so at that point I have collected enough 1 oz portions that the sitter can make a bottle if she needs to. I wouldn't worry about it if your baby is healthy. If you really want the milk, pump more often for at least a few weeks and see if that helps.
~A. in CO

As long as your baby is getting enough during each feeding, I wouldn't worry too much about it. If it is the bottle feedings that you are worried about, why not use formula for those feedings. When I had my first child, I never even thought of that option. I always figured breast feeding was breast feeding and there was no other option. Now that I am a mother of 3, I have learned otherwise. Not only is it easier on you to not pump, it's easier on the person who is preparing the bottle. It is actually good for the baby to have formula every once in a while. Your breast milk does not have vitamin A or D, and formula does. Though breast milk is best, it doesn't mean they need to have it for EVERY feeding.

Hi D.. If your concern is to store milk, then you might want to adjust to adjust your schedule. Instead of pumping right after you feed your little one, create an extra "feeding" time (preferably in the morning when your milk supply is the greatest) to pump. For example, if your little one is nursing every 4 hours, pump 2 hours after his first feeding. So, if he eats at 8:00, pump at 10:00 and nurse him again at 12:00. This will allow your body enough time to produce enough milk for your little one and you should be able to pump more than you currently are. You can store your pumped milk in the refrigerator until you get the amount of ounces you want to freeze. I found freezing 4 - 6 ounces was a good number. Remember that your milk is on a supply and demand, so the more you do this, the more your body will produce. Creating an extra feeding time to pump worked for me and I was able to store quite a bit of milk. I hope it works for you too!

You're probably not going to get much if you are pumping right after he eats. 1st of all, make sure you have a GOOD pump. I use an Ameda Purely Yours. It's hospital grade and it does a great job. The Medella Pump n Style is also a good one. The cheapy pumps are not going to get you good results. With your son being 7 months old, he probably goes for some pretty good stretches without nursing. Wait at least an hour and a half before trying to pump. Pumping as much as you can in the morning will get you the best results, because your body produces more milk before it has gone through the stresses of the day. You can also take fenugreek or drink mother's milk tea to try to increase your supply a bit so that you can make a back supply. And just remember, breast milk is supply and demand, so if you pump and don't get anything, keep it up, because you are stimulating your body to produce more, so you should start seeing more results in time.

Kudos to you for nursing your baby this long. Not many people can make it as far as you have. Keep up the good work!

Instead of pumping after each feeding, I would pick one specific extra time to pump every day. (Maybe an hour or two after his last feed at night before you go to bed) Then pump once at that same time each day. Your body will recognize this pattern and start to produce milk at that time so you will be able to store some.

Hi D.!

I agree with the other moms - it's a good sign that you aren't able to pump milk immediately after he nurses. That means that he's staying on the breast long enough to completely drain it, which means he's getting all the fatty hindmilk at the end. That's great!

I'm having the opposite problem with my distractible 9-mo-old who's too curious about the world to stay nursing long enough to get the hindmilk. He only drinks the sugary foremilk in the beginning and then wants to get up and play! (It's always something, huh?)

So pat yourself on the back that you're nursing him and pumping. If he's sleeping for a long stretch at night, you might try pumping a couple hours after he's gone to bed for the night. Your milk will have replenished itself since his last feeding, and you won't have to worry about him needing to nurse again right away. And of course, increase your fluid intake, as everyone else said.

Good luck!
J.

Hi D.,
Congrats on your baby boy! As far as pumping goes, our bodies are designed to meet specific demands. Therefore your body only makes the amount of milk your son needs. Try pumping right after and between feedings. Don't expect alot, but little by little your body should meet the new demand. As the demand increases, so will your supply. The same is true in weening. As your baby requires less, production slows down.

Hope this helps,
C.

From the very begining, you're body over produces milk until it has time to figure out what it needs to make to satisfy your little one.

To be honest with you, what you are experiencing really isn't an issue. Your baby is more efficient than any pump so it is not unusual to not pump any milk immediately after a nursing session.

Take confidence in your body by assessing other ways to make sure your baby is getting what he/she needs:

Does he/she seem happy?
Is he having lots of wet diapers?
Gaining weight?

If you answered yes to these questions, he's getting what he needs :)

D. Y,
I needed to store milk to go back to work and was having the same issue. I talked to a lactation consultant from la leche league and she gave me a worksheet that told me what to do. I cannot post it here because it is a rather lenghty proceedure over several weeks, but it works. You could try an online search or call la leche league. best of luck!

Go to a GNC or New Life health center and get a product (supplement?--Its all natural and safe) fenugreek or milk thistle to help produce more milk--costs about $10-30 maybe... Just ask at the store. ____@____.com

Pump when you are the fullest. The best time to do this is the morning or the times that are longest between feedings. Sometimes I would set an alarm for around 2am to pump. I never pumped after a feeding as it hurt my nipples as there was nothing really to pump.

I dont know what your situation is. Is it essential that you store milk? I totally breastfed 4 children and never really had any milk stored, but my babies were always with me.

If you want to increase your milk supply, try drinking fennel seed tea. Use 1-2 teaspoons of seed per 8 oz of water and steep covered 30-4- min, then strain. Drink 2-3 cups per day.

You might try pumping some milk between feedings, but then you might risk the chance of being low for the next feeding. Milk production is dependent on the amount of sucking there is on the breast, your drinking enough liquid, and getting enough rest as well as nourishment.

Relax and enjoy baby and your nursing experience. HOw lucky your baby is that you are making milk for him!

Your body has just adjusted to what your child is taking. It is perfectly normal.

You need to give yourself some time, a half-an-hour or so after he feeds, and then pump, be sure to drink more water. It will take your body a couple days to get use to the new schedule. But it might be that your body can't make enough and in that case you can just start giving him cereal mixed with some of your expressed milk.

This happened to me while they (I have four) were about to do a growth spurt. They will increase the amount they take in over time as well. As long as I kept up my water and didn't overexert myself (except for a round of medication that I identified and quit) my supply was fine for them. I used to like to pump and keep a supply in the freezer myself, and it was about at your baby's age that I ended up quitting that practice and just use what I had on hand.

I had the very same experience. Pumping right after you feed the baby will not get you much milk. If you pump about an hour afterwards you will get quite a bit more plus give you enough time to refill before the next feeding. Good luck to you!

making breast milk is supply and demand. The more a baby breastfeeds, the more the mother produces milk. When the baby starts nursing you usually experience a "letdown" on both breasts. So while he is nursing on one side, you could put the pump to the other breast. You don't need to worry about the baby getting enough milk--like I said, supply and demand. Have you ever considered joining a La Leche League group? Lots of support and advice from nursing moms.
Hope this helps

L. S.

D.,

Try taking 2 fennel capsules with 8 ounces of water around 20 minutes before you nurse him. Also make sure that you are drinking plenty of water in between feedings. If you are taking any green products make sure it does not contain parsley as it can dry up your milk. If you are willing to drink a tea, Traditional Medicinals (excellent brand, formulated by herbalists) has a Mother's Milk Tea that you can drink. You want to drink a strong infusion so we always suggest that you use 2 tea bags per cup. If you do not have a source for fennel caps (Nature's Way is a good brand)or the tea, I own an herb store and I can ship them to you.

Best to you,
V.
www.desertsageherbs.com

I had the same difficulty with my first child. My doctors advice was drink A LOT more liquid, take a vitamin and just keep pumping.

I was unconfortable and a little stressed. They say that hurts your abilty to let down for a pump. Try to do it in a relaxing spot and not focus so much on how much you are getting. I would hook up and then try reading to distract myself.

There are supplements that are supposed to help (Fenugreek and "mothers milk" tea, to name two). I have to admit I wasn't as successful as I wanted to be at pumping with my first. But I did much better with my second, and though it was a royal pain and time consuming, I was very succesful pumping with my now 16 month old twins -- proof that your body will adapt to the demand.

Pumping afterward is supposed to increase your milk supply, but you need to consistently pump afterward or your body cannot determine how much milk to produce.

I do have a friend that swears by eating oatmeal. Her doctor told her it helps. She ate it every day while nursing both her kiddos. And she pumped enough to return to work fulltime without supplementing. Might be worth a shot.

Whatever your result, be happy knowing you are nursing and doing the best you can for your baby! Be proud of yourself and don't sweat it if baby gets a formula bottle once in while when you are away.
J.

Most important for your health and the milk production is to drink lots of water. You'll feel a lot better too. I had dizzy spells and generally felt awful when I didn't drink enough water. Add that to sleep deprivation, and you have one unhappy momma.

To gauge whether you're drinking enough, check your urine. If it's clear, then you're drinking enough. Any yellow color, and you're not well-hydrated. I learned this during my first pregnancy from the OB nurse. Also remember that caffeine from soda, tea, coffee, chocolate will dehydrate you (also builds up in the baby's system, and causes cranky babies).

I highly recommend a hospital grade pump (Medela Pump in Style), otherwise you're spending way too much time pumping. You can slowly change your body's supply by pumping after the feeding, even if you don't get much right now. This is just how the baby tells your body he needs more when he's in a growth spurt. He stays on longer, and feeds more frequently, until your body responds. The recommendation to pump in the morning is also good, as you've had (presumably) the whole night to get rest, versus the run-around all day, most production is high in the morning compared to the rest of the day.

Correction - the lady who said the fattiest part of the milk was at the beginning is incorrect. That is typically the "quencher", the hind milk is where the fat is, and baby should be getting that to be satisfied, otherwise you might end up with a "snacker - one who nurses very frequently for very short periods".

It's usually said that the baby needs to be on at least 10-15 minutes to get that milk, which is why some recommend to feed on one breast until drained, and then the other if the child is still hungry, then alternate them with each feeding. You can pump the un-nursed breast to prevent engorgement if you've been doing both breasts equally, and play the balancing game until your body is used to the change.

I'm confused. If you're nursing your baby, why in the world are you trying to pump right after? Your body shouldn't have anything left to pump out once you've nursed your baby. Your body regulates your milk supply to feed your baby how much he needs. So, why are you trying to pump???

is there a reason you are trying to pump after nursing? it may not be an "issue" at all.

don't use what you are pumping post-nursing as an indication of what you are actually producing. baby is very efficient at nursing and probably drains both breasts at one nursing. unless you are trying to increase your supply or build up a reserve in the freezer, you shouldn't need to pump after a feeding.

it doesn't sound to me like you have a supply issue. so long as your baby is happy, healthy, alert, growing, and making enough wet/poopy diapers, you are doing great.

I was like you, I was never able to pump very much milk for storing. I had a neighbor friend that could pump twelve ounces after her feedings and that was a little frustrating to hear. I even tried pumping late at night after I knew that he wasn't going to get up to be fed for at least six hours. It didn't matter. It was as if my body knew that the pump wasn't my son. Luckily I stay at home so I didn't need a lot of storage, but that makes it difficult if you go to work. Try to find a lactation consultant and ask if there is anything you can do to boost your milk supply. Otherwise, don't feel badly if you have to give him a bottle of formula when you're out of storage. As long as your making sure that he has enough to eat, that's most important.

ya, I had the same problem, while most women have tons, I had just enough. Which like you said is fine, he is getting what he needs. I wanted to store some however also. I used dill oil, you put a couple drops on your breast just before feeding, then pump afterwards, it takes a couple of days to get a good amount more, but it works! I have used it and a friend also. You can buy it from Jodi Lewis, she sells forever young essential oils through forever green.(she is posted on mamasource) It also worked when my son turned 6 months and I lost my milk and wasn't finished nursing, it took about a week, but I got it back! And the oils are great for you, very good for your body! Good Luck!

i have heard that mothers tea works but i had the same problem and i started eating oatmeal in the morning and uped my fluid intake and my milk increased

Hi D.,

It doesn't sound like you are worried about him getting enough. Instead try pumping before you feed him or when you first get up in the morning. Also with pumping it can take up to 30 min for your milk to let down. Remember you will never be empty, so I would suggest pumping first then feeding him and there will still be plenty for him to eat! :)

K.