Pumping

[Carmen]

Anyone have any tips for getting better output while pumping? I've never had much luck pumping, but it's getting worse. Even with a hopital grade double electric pump I am only getting 1 to 2 ounces per pumping session. So frustrating! DH is taking both children on his weekly Dad's day out now and I'm really trying hard to be able to get enough milk to send along for my 7 month old son. I've toyed with the idea of giving him a homemade formula for Thursday's, but I'd much rather give him breastmilk even if it is more work. I've tried herbs, oatmeal, extra nursing and none of it has boosted my milk production enough to get more from pumping.
Any ideas? Is there any hope for me or should I just bite the bullet and let him have a few bottles of formula one day a week?

[Samantha]

have you tried hand expressing? I know i could never get milk out with a pump, no matter how much i tried. then, i just used my hand and could get out at least 4 ounces in less than 5 minutes, it not closer to 6-7.

When i used a pump, it would take around15 minutes and i MIGHT have an ounce, maybe two ounces on a good day.

[Carmen]

4 ounces in 5 minutes??!!?? Wow! That's funny that you mentioned hand expressing because I was just reading about it in one of my books and was thinking "yeah right, like that would ever work to get any out." You proved me wrong. I have tried and only get drops and just a few at that.
If DS wasn't so darn chunky and gaining so much weight I would swear that I have low supply, but that's obviously not the case. My body just doesn't want to give up the milk unless there's a baby there taking it.

I will have to make a real effort at the hand expressing. There's a technique described in the breastfeeding book that I was just looking at. I'll give it a go.
Thanks!

[Samantha]

hehehehe ;D

Yep, 5 minutes!

You might try expressing by hand right after you finish feeding baby, that way, the milk has already let down.

The way i did it was just grip the breast with the fingers underneath and the thumb on top, and push in and pull out towards the nipple, just like you are trying to squeeze something out.

I was an odd nurser though. i was always worried that my children wouldn't get enough of that good rich hind milk, so i didn't switch sides at each feeding. One feeding was on one side, the next at the other. It worked for me. My kids ate really fast, i mean, i never nursed longer than 10-15 minutes MAX unless they were being put to sleep. They would be full before 10 minutes was even up. they just chugalugged it

good luck!

[DaiseyMama]

My father in law lovingly bought me one of those fancy cadillac Medela double pump on the go ...pumps. I was so pleased. Until I used it. It wouldn't get my milk out. NONE of the settings would draw my milk. I was so frustrated.

Then I got desperate enough to try a hand pump...It was the Avent Isis (??) hoping that's right. I had to pump air for about 1 or 2 minutes , and then all of a sudden ...my milk started pouring...and I filled a 4 oz. bottle very quickly from each side. I was so pleased. I also have low milk issues...so I was REALLY pleased with that quantity.

So, maybe you could also try the Isis hand pump if doing it by hand doesn't work out for you.

[stackeyha]

Getting into this thread kinda late...

I have that Medela pump and go pump too...and while I never really had too much trouble with it, one thing that REALLY helped was to pump one side while baby nursed the other.

As a matter of fact, even though I'm not working anymore, one thing I loved about my nursing relationship with my first was the fact that she would only nurse on one side per feeding...it was just handy for restaurants and being out...no switching around etc. But I never could get Becky to do it and I didn't figure out until MUCH later...it had to be because I nursed on one side and pumped the other at the same time and so upped the supply without realizing it...and I did it from the VERY beginning, Sarah could not have been a week old the first time I did it...and if I recall correctly after the first couple of days I only did it with my very first morning feeding, the one that they never finish (at least neither of mine did).

Anyway, I'm going to try it again this time just to see if we can get a one side at a time nurser...no biggie if I can't but I liked it that way.