Can't seem to pump enough!

[texmati]

I'm preparing to go back to work in a few weeks and have a question about pumping. I only seem to make milk for the first 5 minutes or so, and my breasts *never* get emptied it seems. I make about 2 ounces (from both sides total) and I pump roughly an hour after my baby eats.

I've changed my shield size, tried drinking water while pumping, tried looking at my sleeping baby, tried stopping and trying again for 15 minutes -- nothing seems to have worked.

Any advice? I know I'm supposed to be getting milk for about 15 minutes or so.

I always seem to have more than enough for my baby.

[desertgirl01]

2 oz total is a decent amount of milk to be making right now, since you are nursing and pumping at the same time. I have a similar pattern as you--milk streams into the containers for the first 5 minutes, then I dry pump for another let down....which is right at the 25 minute mark. Have you tried compressions as you pump? I've tried it all to get the 2nd letdown sooner, but the 25 minute mark is there to stay!

The pump does a horrible job of stimulating milk letdown. I've been pumping 6 months now, and I still can't get the pump to drain my breasts, but I have way less engorgement issues than I did in the early days!

I found www.kellymom.com VERY useful for pumping issues. http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/p..._decrease.html This link has tons of info, like what is a normal amount to pump (0.5-2oz per breast is totally normal), tips to stimulate let down, etc. Like you, I pumped prior to returning to work and was upset that I wasn't pumping enough. I became frantic about pumping, so I was either nursing my baby or pumping for the last 6 weeks of leave. I ended up with a huge freezer stash that is still just sitting in bags in the deep freeze. I totally feel like I wasted precious time with my baby, though I was only pumping when the baby was sleeping....I could have used that time to do something useful, like sleep too!

Once I returned to work and pumped, I found I was pumping plenty for my baby needs the next day, so all that stress I felt early was so unjustified. I did get mastitis during that first week--the pump clearly wasn't draining my breasts like my baby could.

I think you'll be fine! Good luck with work.