Not so good letdown while pumping

[HoosierDiaperinMama]

I'm hoping others can chime in here with their experience. Nursing is going beautifully and I'm not a newbie to pumping, but I'm discouraged that I don't get much out when pumping. Is there anything I can do differently to encourage the letdown and hopefully increase what I'm getting out?

Background: I pumped several times a day after DS had nursed so that I could dropper feed him. He was a preemie (36 weeks) and the LC encouraged me to give him free calories by dropper feeding him. He is now over his birthweight and I have stopped the dropper feedings. I am wanting to pump to build up a stash for the freezer, but am consistently discouraged over what I'm getting. After he's nursed, I could get an ounce combined from both breasts. I realize that I'm getting "what's left," but doesn't an ounce combined seem really sad?

[Chloe'sMama]

I am not sure about preemies and calories needed, but when I pumped I would feed dd at the same time and had great letdown. Now I try to pump without nursing dd at the same time and don't get nearly as much.

[Goddess's mom]

What worked very well for me was nursing on one breast and pumping on the other at the same time. I only ever (very few exceptions) nurse my daughter on one side at a time and she is thriving and getting lots of hind milk. I tended to get plenty of milk since the letdown was already there. The only drawback is that it seemed to REALLY stimulate my milk production.

Good luck.

[HoosierDiaperinMama]

My little guy is nursing on both sides in one feeding so pumping while nursing isn't an option at this point. My LC suggested feeding him 10 min. each side b/c he was falling asleep at the breast. This keeps him interested, then I would pump the leftovers. What I had been doing was feeding him then snuggling w/him while pumping to try and encourage letdown. I will keep truckin' on.

[curious&eager]

Can you feed both and pump both? I start pumping on one side while the baby feeds on the other. Then when I switch the baby I switch the pump. Then I get the easier milk for the pump and he gets the rest with no problems. When I would pump without him I could only get two ounces combined. Now I can get over five.

[HoosierDiaperinMama]

Okay, I just tried pumping while feeding. I fed him on the left side, then switched him to the right and pumped on the left. Then, when he was done on the right I pumped from the right. Next time I'm going to try pumping from the start on one side while it's full to see what kind of a letdown I can get. Again, I got an ounce combined. I haven't tried pumping while full b/c I don't want to take anything away from him.

[FREEmom1120]

I agree to pump while you feed. I do this only once a day, the first feed out of bed and get 2 oz in 5 mins from my lower producing side. I always feed from both sides and so I let dd get what is left after she finishes the first side. I have around 50 oz just from doing this every other day or so. How much of a stash do you need?

[Goddess's mom]

The nice thing about pumping first is that your baby is much better at getting the milk out than a pump is so even when you have pumped he will be getting some.

We built up quite a stash from just pumping first thing in the morning before my daughter decided that bottles were something that only happened to other babies.

[aricha]

I usually pump a little while before I think the baby will want to eat... usually like an hour to an hour and a half after he last nursed. I try to take advantage of long naps when they come and if I feel the letdown while he is sleeping I go pump. He has never seemed to have trouble getting enough milk even when he eats immediately after I pump. I also try to take advantage of it if I wake up before him in the morning and he hasn't nursed for a while.

Thinking about your baby really helps me, too... I try to picture him nursing to get the rhythm/speed of the pump matched to his nursing style, and that seems to help.

[HoosierDiaperinMama]

Originally Posted by FREEmom1120

I agree to pump while you feed. I do this only once a day, the first feed out of bed and get 2 oz in 5 mins from my lower producing side. I always feed from both sides and so I let dd get what is left after she finishes the first side. I have around 50 oz just from doing this every other day or so. How much of a stash do you need?

Oh my word! 50 oz.?!? That is awesome! I think 2 oz. in 5 min. is some sort of a record. Since I'm a SAHM, I don't need a huge stash, but I would like to have some put away for emergencies when I need to be gone for a couple hours, or if I get sick and my supply tanks.

I experimented last night and did try pumping from a full side while feeding him on the other and I was able to get 2 oz. from that full side. Another question that popped into my mind though was how long to pump? I've been doing at least 30 min. I did 30 min. with the 2 oz. I got from the full side last night. Doesn't seem like very much for such a long time.

Originally Posted by Goddess's mom

We built up quite a stash from just pumping first thing in the morning before my daughter decided that bottles were something that only happened to other babies.

I plan on pumping during each feeding during the day tomorrow. I plan to be gone at least 2 hrs. on Tuesday and he is staying at home so I will need enough for one feeding by then.