Suddenly pumping NOTHING!

[sarahsmiles]

DS is 6 months old, and grabbing for food all the time. We usually give him a green bean or something to chomp on, but he's actually EATING nothing solids-wise. He's also an all-night nurser.

He was exclusively breastfed until 2 weekends ago, when I went out of town for 3 days for work without a stash, and he did fine with formula. (I made my peace with that--same thing happened with my DD who ended up nursing until 21 months)

I pumped 5-6 times a day while gone and built a nice stash. When I came home, I ended up being home for several days with either a sick kid or a sick me, so DS nursed constantly.

Back at work now, I'm pumping like 2 ounces instead of usual 4 each session, and sometimes getting nothing at all. I'm drinking fluids and eating as usual, but getting nothing. He seems happy at the breast when I'm home.

I just can't figure out what's going on. Even if my supply dropped, I would have thought 4 days home with demand nursing plus night nursing would have gotten me back on track.

I'm not ready to give up yet, but don't have time to pump all day. Any ideas what might have happened and what I can do about it?

[Bokonon]

It may just be an issue with your pump. What kind are you using? The white membranes on Medela pumps are supposed to be changed every 3 months.

.5-2 oz. is what the average woman produces per session, both breast combined, so even at 2 oz., you are still on the high side of normal!

[sarahsmiles]

Thanks, Alison. I know I'm still ahead of the curve, but some sessions are yielding NOTHING, and I don't think both membranes could fail at once so dramatically. I'll try replacing them. I sure hope nothing weird happened to the pump on the trip -- I kept it with me at all times, it's still "sucking" as usual, and everything SEEMS to be working.

[Poodge]

You could try renting a hospital grade pump. I know someone that did that and it increased her supply.

[jecombs]

Have you tried any supplements to increase your supply? I took one called "lactate support" when I was nursing and pumping for DD. It contained a combination of herbs like fenugreek, blessed thistle, etc. It made me smell like mapel syrup, but it worked and always increased my pumping out-put!

[PatioGardener]

I'd question the pump - that's usually the culpret when output suddenly drops.

[Eligracey]

Sounds like the pump to me, too. Did you try replacing the tubing? Could the motor be burning out?