Back to work at 10 mos - not pumping enough? Help!

[lalemma]

Sorry in advance for the length!

I just went back to work a month ago. My 10-month-old stays home with his dad. I work a flexible, basically part-time schedule (am usually away from the baby from 10-4:30 or so, 4 days a week), and I pump two or three times while I'm away from him. I use a Medela Pump in Style.

Babe (who eats some solids, but still gets the vast majority of his nutrition from boob) is not very interested in eating milk from a bottle. His dad has tried EVERYTHING to get him to eat milk during the day, and babe seems to have settled on 2-4 ounces as the amount that will take the edge off. Otherwise he'll just wait until I get home. However, he's wetting and gaining fine, so I think he's just reverse cycling - we co-sleep and he eats quite a bit during the night and while I'm home in the mornings and evenings. I'm not too worried about this part.

Here's my concern: I bring home 4 ounces a day, max.

It's really hard for me to tell if this is a huge concern that means that I'm losing my milk, or - as my husband insists - my body just doesn't like to let down for the pump, but since babe is growing fine, doesn't exhibit any signs of "this isn't enough milk" when I'm home with him during the day on weekends and I'm bringing home enough milk for him, this just isn't worth worrying about.

I am open to trying whatever to pump more milk. Here's what I've tried:

*watching videos of my baby
*looking at pictures of him
*massaging my boobs
*pumping longer
*pumping more frequently
*going longer between sessions
*drinking more water
*tried to totally ignore the pump and watched videos of Eddie Izzard while pumping
*power pumping (ten minutes on/ten minutes off for an hour) - I don't think I saw an increase in output, though

Basically I max out at an ounce per boob per pumping session at the high end (when I've gone longest from the previous time). Nothing seems to get it above that. If I try to pump more frequently (every two hours instead of every three hours) I get less milk - maybe half or three-quarters of an ounce per boob.

It seems to me that my boobs will let down ONCE for the pump, and if I do all the massaging tricks, I will get a tiny bit more, but not an additional let-down. Whereas I am pretty sure my boobs will let down repeatedly for my baby. Could this be right? Or is my supply actually dropping? Aaaahhhhhh!!! Panic.

I just spoke briefly with a lactation consultant about this, and she thought that I should add a pumping session at night, just before I go to bed. What do you think? My main concern is not that I'm not bringing home enough milk for my guy - it's that I don't want to be accidentally reducing my supply.

Ideas? I am so confused.

Thanks!

[NicolleLynne]

Hi Mama, I deal with similar issues at the pump. What's helped me is Bach's Rescue Remedy. Four drops before pumping and I relax enough to let down three or four times. Before the remedy I would get so anxious about pumping enough I'd barely get two ounces.

Good luck, hope this helps!

[Quinalla]

First of all, no you aren't losing your supply. Some folks just don't respond well to the pump, no matter what they try. Luckily, it sounds like your baby is in tune with you pretty well and not really wanting to take much milk while you are away anyway. I think you just decide on a pumping schedule and stick to it and try to relax. My only suggestion is breast compressions if you haven't tried those yet since they are easy to do, but since you are bringing home enough for your baby, I wouldn't worry at all anymore!

Also, regarding power pumping, it doesn't usually give you more right away, but it can signal your body that you need more milk and will often get it to produce more for you after a couple days or so. And pumping more frequently will usually increase your supply too, but again not right away, it takes a few days.

[lalemma]

Thank you - I've tried breast compressions, and it seems to give a little bit more milk, but not a lot.

I'm trying to be zen about this, but phew!