a few questions - need help

I just started pumping 2 days ago.  I have 3 questions:

1)  Initially I pumped 4 ozs total (both breasts pumped).  Since then I've been able to only pump 2-3 ozs, maybe. What I pump, my baby drinks, so I feel I'm not getting enough to store to getting ahead for when I return to work.

2)  How often should I pump since after I do, my breasts don't get somewhat full for another 3-4 and I havent got very much at that time.

3)  Can I put in frig what I pump at one time, then add what I get at next pumping to what was in frig then freeze that all together?  

Appreciate info to questions.  Hasnt been as easy as I thought, but I'm gonna try to hang in there!  

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

be patient with yourself.  Are you still directly breastfeeding?  If you can do continue to do that as it tends to stimulate supply even more than just pumping alone.  I also find it useful if I feed the baby on 1 side then pump the other and then finish up the side the baby was on.  I get far more this way and better letdown than if i just pump.

If you need to pump extra you'll need to pump a bit more frequently to get the supply up.  However if you're planning to pump at work, it is possible t pump each day for what will be used the next day.

2. I would be pumping every 3 hours during the day and as much as you can at each pump.  The law of supply and demand applies.  The more you demand, the more your body will make "supply".

3.  yes.  You can pump one lot, then put it in the fridge then pump the next session, add to what you got the first time and freeze the lot.  I do that often.

Yes, Hang in there and ask as many questions as you like.  I've been BF and pumping for nearly 12 months now, and finally we seem to have got the hang of it (and I am not one of those women who has an abundant milk supply).  I have only about 3 days worth of supply the freezer and only get to add a few oz to that a week.  But I do manage to keep up with baby's demands and she's still drinking mainly breastmilk as her food source, though she takes some food (Fruits, veges, fish) for 2 - 3 meals a day.

[PamelaBee]

In addition to what Sally said, you can also try milk production boosters like Fenugreek, mothers milk tea, oatmeal and drinking more water have all been known to help increase your milk supply.  good luck!

[tiredbuthappy]

your supply actually isn't too bad considering you just started to pump and that your baby is only 4 weeks old. Good pumping habits can probably boost your supply. I've got tons of tips, but first need some info :)

~what kind of pump are you using?
~how long do you pump at each session?
~is your pump comfortable?

Type of pump is crucial in building supply. You need a hospital grade pump like the medela pump in style, the Ameda Purely yours, or the Lansinoh. I think Playtex now makes a hospital grade pump as well- the embrace. Medela has a new pump, the freestyle, that I am jealous of... but as long as my Pump in Style Advance is working, I'm not investing more $$. And it looks like it won't be dying anytime soon.

Until you build up your supply, you should aim to pump every 2 to 3 hours. While you may not get much initially, this will tell your body to make more. You may not see results immediately- it can take up to a week or 2 to see the effects of a change in habits.

The less frequently you pump, the longer you need to pump. For me, every 2 hours, I could pump only 10 minutes. Every 3 hours, I could pump 15-20 minutes. Etc... Now that I pump only 3 times a day, each pump should ideally be at least 45 minutes. If I can't get a full pump in, I make sure to go back a couple of hours later and do an extra mini-pump to keep my supply up and prevent clogs.

Pump past the first let-down. You may be surprised if you keep pumping. I can pump past an hour (sometimes I get distracted and lose track of time), and I still continue to get let-downs, although they are smaller. While the extra let-downs don't add too much to the current total ounces, it tells my body that I need them, and to continue producing them and even produce more.

Do Compressions while you pump. It will help you let-down and drain faster.

Play around with pump settings. Stronger is not necessarily better. I only turn it about 1/3 of the way up.

Make sure your horns fit properly. Most women do not fit the size that comes with the pump, and you may need to buy the next size up. This can make a big difference in pumping. Or, you can get my favorite horns- the pumpin pals angled horns (do a search- they're only like $10 or $12. They are soooo much more comfortable and forgiving on the nipples. I also find that I can easily go hands-free with them by just snapping my nursing bra up around them.)

Drink plenty of water. I also found eating oatmeal every morning helped a lot. Until your supply is where you want it to be, try to pump at least once over night, as that is when your prolactin levels are the highest and you'll get a good amount. If you are nursing, nurse as much as possible. You can pump after a nursing session. Even if you don't get much or anything, you are telling your body to produce more.

Finally, you can try power pumping, which seems to help many women. Basically, you mimic a cluster feed/ growth spurt by taking a day or 2 and pumping very frequently. Again, you may not get more those days, but you will tell your body to make more. There are different ways to do this. You can just try to sneak in an extra small pump or 2 throughout the weekend. Or, you can take an hour of the day and pump 10 min, rest 10 min, pump 10 min, etc... for an hour.

good luck and let us know if you have any questions. There are many pumpers here, and many of us work and pump. It is hard, but it can be done. I dare say it even does get easier :)  The benefits are tremendous (otherwise we wouldn't be doing this to ourselves!!!) And remember- worst comes to worst, if your baby does need an occasionaly bottle of formula, it is not poison. Your baby will still thrive. ANY amount of breastmilk is a benefit.

[wyoming33]

thanks for the info....first

~ i am using the medela freestyle
~ if been pumping 10mins even though lately after 5mins I'm not getting anything at all
~ i believe my pump is cofortable? and the shields seem to go over my breast & nipple ok

you mentioned some things I was also wondering.  like pumping at night?  before or after I feed?  if it's after I know I wont have much, if it's before & then I breastfeed, I'm afraid there wont be enough for baby?  

also, if I pump often & dont get ANYTHING, is that ok?  I'm guessing my body will eventually produce?

[tiredbuthappy]

any pumping stimulates supply, even if you get nothing. However, i don't know if it's just me, but i think you should be able to always get something, even if very little. like i said, i have never stopped getting small let-downs. Makes me think that maybe you aren't getting let-downs when you pump. if you ever have a chance, pump much longer than you normally would, just to see what happens. you may be surprised. Also try pumping right after a warm shower and see if that improves let-downs. And try to relax when pumping- watch tv, read, play on the computer. sitting there watching bottles only stresses us and inhibits let-down. Compressions help trigger let-down, or try massaging the breast before pumping it.

i know they always say when you pump and nurse there's enough for baby, because you're always producing, but my baby would always get very p!ssed if i wasn't full. I would also be careful about frustrating her since you are going back to work and have to use the bottle in addition to nursing. Therefore, if i were you, i would only pump after nursing to make sure there's plenty for the start of the next feed. unless your baby doesn't mind suckling for a long time and working to get the milk out. If you are really concerned about not having enough for the next feed you can start smaller by pumping only 1 side after a session so that at least the other side is fuller for the next feed. this technique may actually build your supply enough to feed off of 1 side at a time- it worked for me. then i always had the otherside as a back-up for those extra hungry sessions or growth spurts, or the otherside always had enough to pump.

[Super_sally888]

I reckon the pumping on 1 side and feeding baby on the other is a good way to boost supply.  As you will be almost getting double for each feed.

Also just let you know that normal amount of feed for a young baby is only 2 - 3 oz per feed.  After the first 2 months, this may increase up to 4 oz per feed.  The normal range of milk requirmenet is 22 - 30 oz per day for all babies up to and even after 6 months.  Also, just becuase your baby may drink more if it is given doesn't mean it is necessary (i'm assuming baby is growing well and enough wet nappies etc).

note, this is different than with formula where a much greater amount is fed.  This is becuase breast milk is a very efficient way to feed a baby and there is less waste biproduct than with formula.

hope this helps some more.