oversupply but pumping very little?? confused

[ktcl]

DD is 7 weeks old. I have been convinced by others that I have oversupply...she gulps, she's gassy, she had weeks worth of green poops that just changed to typical breastmilk color finally. I have to say taht I was slightly happy with this "diagnosis" because with DS I was always afraid that I wasn't going to have enough.

This week was my first time pumping in place of a feeding (I've been pumping all along to build up the freezer stash... I return to work next week-ugh). My pumping (twice) has yielded a whopping 2 ounces TOTAL! While I don't know exactly how much she eats with me, I KNOW it is more than 2 ounces.

So first of all, I'm concerned about having enough milk when I"m back at work full time. Second of all, I'm really confused about how this can be the case. And third of all, I'm wondering how I can get more pumped when I'm away. I've already tried massaging my breast, and this helps to get more, but still not more than 2 ounces.

[EmTheWife]

What kind of pump are you using? I've heard that double electrics are a must for working moms, and that they are more efficient/better at getting milk out. Did you pump with your older child?
As for oversupply, it's possible your supply has regulated. OTOH, supply has little to do with how much you can pump as some people can have oversupply and get nothing out. But, according to KellyMom.com you are right on target in pumping volume.

[OdinsMommy0409]

Do you suppose you might have a foremilk-hindmilk imbalance or overactive letdown rather than oversupply? I had both and still have overactive letdown occasionally. My DS had similar symptoms.

As for pumping, I found that I pumped best with a double electric with both breasts pumping at the same time. I got very little the first half dozen times pumping, but my breasts soon figured out what was going on. I find I get more if I pause pumping briefly after letdown then start again, and repeat the cycle. Otherwise, if I let the pump just keep going and going, I get very little.

[Llyra]

It can take time to "learn" how to have letdowns of milk for the pump. Often, you're just pumping off the milk that's already behind the nipple, and maybe having one letdown. But when baby nurses, you may be having multiple letdowns, and you're not getting that with the pump. That was always my trouble with pumping. I was nursing twins, last time, and so obviously had plenty of milk, but I wouldn't pump more than an ounce at a time.

There's a complex hormonal action that happens between mother and baby. Plus, baby has a very unique suckling action. And even the best pumps cannot duplicate that perfectly. So yeah-- what you can pump doesn't reflect on your supply at all.

Funny enough, I had no trouble pumping with DD1, even though I was only lactating for one at that point. I used to pump big six ounce bottles for her, but couldn't pump an ounce for DS or DD2. The letdown reflex is a tricky thing sometimes.

Things that can help:
pumping both breasts at the same time
pumping at the same time each day, in the same location, in the same chair, so that it becomes a conditioned reflex-- there's a strong psychological component to the letdown reflex
putting baby on one breast and the pump on the other, and letting baby elicit the letdowns
Holding baby on your lap or sitting near baby while pumping- or in baby's absence, having a photo or video of baby to look at while pumping-- again, the psychological component
making sure your pump parts are new and fit tightly-- the soft parts need to be changed every four months or so if you're pumping frequently

And finally-- try to relax and not watch the ounce lines. Anxiety can strongly inhibit the letdown reflex. This is easier for me to say than it is to do, especially if you have the pressure of knowing you're going back to work. But as much as you can, it can really help-- turn on the TV, distract yourself with a magazine, put on some good music, make sure you're seated comfortably.

Good luck!

[Nicole730]

Originally Posted by OdinsMommy0409

Do you suppose you might have a foremilk-hindmilk imbalance or overactive letdown rather than oversupply? I had both and still have overactive letdown occasionally. My DS had similar symptoms.

.

This is what I was thinking too. Also, does your baby nurse quickly? My son had some of the same symptoms, and it definitely was a really fast letdown that was doing it, which would cause him to furiously gulp for a few minutes and then be done...never getting to the hindmilk. Once the letdown slowed down a bit (with tips from Kellymom.com) he would actually drink the hindmilk and his fussiness level went down. We also added in probiotics which I think is what actually did the trick for him. As far as pumping, I didn't have to do it often - but when I did, it was always only 2oz, if that. DS was a frequent nurser, every 2 hours or less around the clock, so I think that is all he ate at a session.

[ktcl]

Thanks for all of the thoughts and advice.
I think it is quite possible that it is the fast letdown that is the main issue. I also think that my body is starting to regulate to what DD needs. I am using a double electric pump, so I don't think it gets much better than that in terms of the "hardware."

If fast letdown is the problem as opposed to oversupply, what can I do about that?

[bjorker]

Edit: Sorry, accidental post!