My right breast was super full this am.had trouble to empty it though!

[MamitaM]

I think it's time to stop the mothers milk tea I've been drinking! lol

I nurse my son on demand,he's a month now and I also pump so I can donate my milk. I drink about 2 cups of tea a week that I make myself,but maybe I don't need to and should stop?

I woke this morning at 6am and went to nurse my son,I lifted my breast into his mouth and it was so heavy and full and hurt a little to lift and touch. he drank for about 15-20 minutes maybe. It felt better but I still had some in me so I pumped and got about 2 ounces but it still felt full so I expressed some into the bathroom sink. The pump just wasn't working to get any more out.

I noticed that with both breasts it didn't spray out like it normally does,it just dripped a little when I expressed by hand.

Any ideas why? Maybe a blocked duct? To much milk and I should have nursed or pumped earlier?

[Julybug]

This sounds like possible blocked ducts. You may want to try putting a bit of heat, one breast at a time, and then feeding or pumping right after that, then switch sides. If that doesn't do it after a few tries, you may want to take a few lecithin gel tabs spread throughout the day for a few days. I'd never taken lecithin despite chronic usually low-grade blocked ducts until my son was almost a year old and we had a horrible episode of blocked ducts and a lot of pain, especially on my right side. Now, just taking one gel tab every other day seems to mostly keep the blocks at bay. I wish I'd known about it sooner!

If your son is that young and you're feeding on demand plus pumping, be careful about oversupply. It's great that you're donating milk! But you may not be able to keep it up indefinitely. I would think maybe one pump session a day is plenty to be able to still donate a good bit of milk, without seriously overstimulating your supply.

Good luck!

[firewoman]

I'd also add to up your water consumption and rest until the breast feels normal. Blocked ducts can be a sign of doing too much especially with you being newly postpartum. You can also get some phytolacca homeopathic to help relieve the discomfort. Applying heat will definitlely help release the milk. You can also massage the tender areas after they are warmed up.

[Kellyh_01]

I do a lot of breast massage while I'm pumping, especially on the hard or lumpy areas. I get about twice the milk out when I massage while I pump than if I just pump without touching them.

[MamitaM]

Thank you for the advice. It seems better now. I do what I call a "double pump" when I pump. I'll pump and then use my other hand to massage and pump that breast as well and sorta push on any harder areas. I get much more this way and it feels so much better after.

Last night instead of pumping again I just expressed a small amount into the sink and it sprayed out nicely. I didn't pump my right side at all today,instead I put my son to work! He can do a much better job at getting out the milk.

I managed to pump and freeze close to 85 ounces since I started to pump October 7th. Is that a lot or is that to much or what? I have no idea what a normal or decent amount is. All I care about is that my son gets enough first and then whatever is "extra" we're happy to donate.