HELP QUICK re: pumping

[rlmueller]

In the last two weeks I've gone from 17 oz in a workday to 9 or so in a workday. I still let-down but the flow does not last as long anymore--it's been around 2 months total that I've been pumping at work.

I have to reorder Mother's Milk Special Blend
will order new tubing
do pump at home to maintain normal supply
do drink water
do eat oatmeal

Help please

[MeepyCat]

Do you have a Medela? If so, check your valves and membranes. They're cheap to replace and can make a big difference in output.

Other than that:
Do you have a picture of your LO in your pump kit? Would you consider chucking in a receiving blanket or something that smells like LO?

Are you eating enough? Is there a snack in your pump kit?

Has anything else changed in your pumping set up recently? Different places? Are you trying to work while pumping, or are you stressed about getting back to work quickly?

Have you tried hand expressing after you stop pumping? Partly, this is to see what you get, and partly it's to send your body the message that you need more of this stuff.

Can you try to nurse the baby more when you're at home at night and on weekends? Pumping at home is great, but the pump isn't as good at getting your body going as the baby is.

Good luck!

[Hannah'sMommy]

What pump do you have? I have the freestyle, and I all of a sudden noticed a decrease by 3-5 ounces per day. So I called Medela and they listened to the pump over the phone and said it sounded a bit slow, so they overnighted me a replacement. I agree with PP about checking the valves and membranes, the membranes can get warped and not fit correctly.

Compressions, pictures of your LO, and limiting stress can help with pumping. I definitely notice a decrease in output when I'm stressed.

Another question, I'm assuming you haven't taken any decongestants like sudafed that could dry you up?

I'd call the company of whatever pump you have, they can help troubleshoot!

Good luck!

[mom2tig99Nroo03]

in addition to decongestant meds, sage and mint can also decrease supply....


how long/how often are you pumping? do u alreasdy use massage/compression?

[rlmueller]

Thanks all

I'm stressed from not getting as much milk as normal. I am having 2 letdowns per 20 minute session--just not getting the volume I used to (2 let-downs = 7 oz total ).

No picture but I have good mental imagery--I will get a photo and clothing. My snack is a small bowl of oatmeal at work and I'm trying to get 3 sessions in a day as opposed to 2.

I super suck at manual expression but reposition the horns often at the end to squeeze out more drops or so.

Like I said--will get more tubing and membranes as I am the second owner of this pump. Avent Isis duo so it has great pump settings that do work well still but there is guck in the tubing.

I use the Avent manual at home and pump while simultaneously feeding baby and than after as well as using switch nursing with the pump.

I think my body is tired of being tricked. It crapped out on me when my son was 5 months several years ago too.

I can breastfeed 1 year plus, but I was unable to keep up the pumping--Go figure. The human body is a strange thing.

[smpayne]

First - replace the little white membranes, even a tiny crack will kill the suction or the electric pump may just be giving out.

Squeeze/massage as you go with the electric, and try switching to the manual pump after using the electric. Then wait 5 minutes, have a snack & water, then try again for about 10 minutes (sometimes this helped me).

To clean the tubing, put the tubing in a bucket of hot water with a little bit of bleach.