How do you pump if you're also breastfeeding?

[lalemma]

Mamas, I'm trying to build up a wee freezer stash of breastmilk for my little fellow, but we breastfeed (and he's a frequent, efficient eater) so if I pump after he nurses, I get at most 1 oz. If I pump between feedings, I don't feel like I get that much more milk (and he tends to get cranky that there's not as much milk in the boobs as he'd like.)

So right now, to get enough milk to freeze for one feeding, it takes two or three pumping sessions - at least half a day's worth of post-nursing pumpings. Slow progress, and I end up feeling like I've spent the entire day either nursing or pumping.

What tips can you ladies share for this kind of occasional pumping, and maybe for increased pumping yield? I thought I saw a video linked to here about this topic, but now I can't find it.

If it matters, I currently pump with a Medela Harmony manual pump (I had a hospital-grade pump for the first month my boy was home, but I don't pump often enough to feel justified in the expense, and I didn't actually get a higher yield per session than I do with the Harmony.) My supply is fine, but I do seem to have a harder time letting down for the pump than for the baby.

Any tips appreciated. Thanks!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I always did just one breast per feed so I was able to use the one breast twice in a row then pump the other. I had trouble pumping unless I was engorged so that worked well for me and the lo.

With dd I had a days worth of milk for the first 6months then after that I didnt worry about it. With ds I dont even think I kept more than 2-3 oz. in there ever. To much work for me to pump.

[GoGoGirl]

I've always pumped when DD is sleeping. She usually sleeps for a 2 or 3 hour block in the late evenings, so I pump towards the end of that. I basically wait until I'm thinking, "Wow, is she still asleep? It's been a while!" and then pump.

I don't know anything about a Medela Harmony, but I've heard that with manual pumps it works well to nurse on one side and pump on the other. Have you tried that? Then letting down for the pump wouldn't be a problem.

I use breast massage before pumping, and breast compressions during pumping to help get more milk. I'm trying to find links for you, but kellymom isn't loading for me.

[Pepper44]

I pumped on one side while nursing on the other and got lots of milk that way. It does take a bit of acrobatics to hold the baby and the pump, and I had an electric pump not a manual one.

[snoopy5386]

I rented a pump for one month, pumped a lot that month, froze the milk and then 6 months later when that milk expired, I rented the pump again and did the same thing all over again. Pump first thing in the morning (try to only nurse on one side) to get the most milk. But yep, it takes a while to get enough milk for a bottle.

[eternamariposa]

I have heard of mom's using hand pumps while nursing their baby on the other breast because the let down comes much faster/easier with baby participating and they say their output is better. They just alternate sides for starting so baby continues to get both but these were moms who needed a full time pumping schedule for returning to work. I don't know if it would be worth the trouble for you otherwise.

[MsVyky]

I bought a Medela mini-electric to to pump occasionally so I could let my husband feel our baby once in a blue moon if I needed to go somewhere

And now this month I took a few shifts a week while my boss is in New Zealand (10 hours a week over 3 days). I can only get 1-2 ounces when I pump too, but I know my baby gets much more than that, so I pump a couple ounces right before feeding her, or pump one side while she nurses from the other.

Even after a couple weeks of practice, I still need to pump 3 times to get enough milk for one full feeding (Lucky she only needs to eat once while I'm gone)

[lalemma]

Thanks everyone - it makes me feel so normal to hear that it takes other ladies multiple times to get enough milk for one feeding.

I tried pumping while my baby was eating this morning, it was very awkward (I may not be very coordinated) but did work, and I got more milk than usual. Awesome tip!

[MamaPhD]

How is your baby sleeping at night? My DD STTN at around 2-4 months old (and not again until ~10 mo) and I would get so engorged at night, I had to wake up at 3-4 am to pump and then go back to bed. Sure it was not that convenient, but I had a lot of milk and I didn't want to waste it. Plus I just couldn't sleep because I was so uncomfortable anyway. So night time maybe an extra pumping opportunity for you.

[lalemma]

HAH. A great idea, and I am so jealous... but alas, my guy wakes up every 3 hours.

[organicmommy05]

I nursed on only one side at a time and pumped the other. I WOHM and this has allowed me to never give either of my children formula b/c of the freezer stash I built up each time.

[Xavismom]

Same here, for nursing on one side while pumping on the other! Its the only way I can get letdown for the pump. I use an Avent Isis manual pump. If I pump, I do it in the morning when I am the most engorged, and I can get around 6 or 7 oz fairly quickly with it if DS does a good nursing session. I dont do it often, just enough to build up a small freezer stash 'just in case'.

[curious&eager]

Definitely pump while nursing. I have the same pump, Medela Harmony. I remember the day when I finally figured out the missing part to the pump that finally made it work. It was my nursing baby. He gets the milk flowing into the pump and when he's done, the flow is instantly over. No baby no milk. I can do it now without him, but it's so much easier with the baby.

My issue now is DS is so interested in the pump, he just has to touch it, fiddle with it, bang it, that it's a lot more complicated (he's 6 months). But before now, I could only get an oz in 30 min when I wasn't nursing and 3oz in 10 min when I was nursing. Now I do have to pump without him because he's so active and it takes me three days, twice a day to leave 12 oz of milk for a very part-time job.

I'd say if you just need it occasionally, the Medela pump is just fine. Plug a baby in and you're good to go.

[detroitgirl77]

With my second, I nursed him on one breast and then used a hand pump on the other while he was nursing. Got a lot of milk that way, especially when he triggered letdown. By the time I went back to work at 12 weeks, I had about 800 oz in the freezer plus 80ish ounces in the fridge--all from that little hand pump.

[Blessed_Mom]

NAK and in darkness....

How do you guys ever manage a hand-pump while feedig? don;t you need two hands for nursing and both hands for pumping anything out of that hand pump?
I actually need 4 hands to hold my baby while nursing bcos she is constantly fidgeting and moving so much.

[kirstenb]

Right now I pump when DS is sleeping- he sleeps usually 3 solid hours in the afternoon so I will pump in the middle of that, and then I will pump right before I go to bed after he has been sleeping for two hours. I'm trying to build up a good freezer stash for when I go back to work.

[Xavismom]

Originally Posted by Blessed_Mom

NAK and in darkness....

How do you guys ever manage a hand-pump while feedig? don;t you need two hands for nursing and both hands for pumping anything out of that hand pump?
I actually need 4 hands to hold my baby while nursing bcos she is constantly fidgeting and moving so much.

I use about 4 pillows to get this accomplished! I sit tailor style on the bed, arrange pillows on one side so DS can comfortably lay in sort of a football hold way. I get him latched on, use the hand on that side to steady/touch/re-latch him, and use the other hand to pump. Its a lot easier than it sounds, and DS is SUPER focused on nursing when we wake up for the day, and thats when I do it. The ISIS pump is very easy to use, you just squeeze the trigger a few times during let down, and then hold it until the flow stops. I can get 6 oz in no time doing that with small effort.

[meemee]

in general and something i experienced too was pumping after the first major morning feed. i pumped right after dd nursed and i usually got a couple of ounces. when at work usually in the afternoon i would get 6 ounces. i could not find any other times to pump. so i built up a weeks supply doing the after early morning feed.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by lalemma

Thanks everyone - it makes me feel so normal to hear that it takes other ladies multiple times to get enough milk for one feeding.

Yeah, that's totally normal! I have to pump about 5 times to get 6 oz for the time I am at work.

I feed on one side and electric pump the other. I pump pretty much all day, and wore out the hand pump in short order.

After a few times you get the hang of pumping and feeding.