pumping problems! Help please!

[Happy Becky]

OK, my ds1 never ever had a bottle. He's almost three and nursed until he was 2 1/2. I also have a 6 month old and one on the way! : I really, reeeeaally would like to go out once in a while with my husband--to dinner, to a movie, whatever!!--and leave the boys with my parents. It wouldn't be that big of a deal if I wasn't pregnant with #3 already, but I know in a few months we'll have even LESS time to ourselves..... anyway

I've been trying to pump for about a week now and I just cannot get more than 1 oz out of each breast! I have a $30 pump from Wal-Mart, electric plug in one. I just can't get anything out! I'm frustrated! I just want to be able to pump one or two bottles a month!! What am I supposed to do??

My husband has a dinner for work next week and I would really like to go out with him. We've tried to give our 6 mo. ds2 a bottle a couple times with no luck...when he wants to nurse, he wants to NURSE, not necessarily EAT. Ugh! I'm just really frustrated. One night out every few months is NOT too much to ask, is it?

Please help me Mamas...how can I pump more and then, get my baby to be OK taking a bottle from my Mom? As far as the evening goes, he'd have his big brother to entertain him, my loving, doting parents to take care of him, but he loves his Mama!!!:

[quirkylayne]

1st problem - the pump. It might not work for you - doesn't have the right suction, doesn't fit your breasts right, something along those lines. Have you tried pumping in the morning when your supply is up? Are you able to relax and get a good let down? IMO, 1 oz from each side isn't horrible. You could probably find an inexpensive manual pump to try.

2nd - If you go out for 2-4 hours your baby may not even want to nurse in that time. If so, I wouldn't imagine you would need more than 4-6 oz, which you could do with your pump in 2 days! Have you been giving the bottle or hubby? Some babies won't take a bottle from mom because they know they can get it fresh from the source. What about alternative methods of feeding - cup, sippy?

[BakerALM]

Try a sippie cup, with or without the spill proof valve. Also with the pump you own and a nursing babe, 1oz is not bad! Just stock pile it in the freezer until you have enough.

[Happy Becky]

I guess if 1 oz. isn't bad, I will keep at it! I was getting pretty discouraged. Ds does surprisingly, extremely well with a sippy cup too. Maybe Mom and Dad could put breastmilk in that or just water too. Babe is eating some solids so I think that will help too!? I'm mostly not worried about ds hunger but his need for Mommy to fall asleep. My Mom has the Gramma touch with putting babies to sleep though

[Ruthla]

Part of the problem could be the fact that you're pregnant. Many, though certainly not all, women have milk supply problems when pregnant. It's a hard time to build up a freezer stash!

I would suggest pumping daily, and combining the milk into one bottle. If you get half an ounce a day, that's 3.5oz a week, and enough for one bottle. Wait- did you say you got a total of 2oz when you pumped? That's pretty darn good for a mom of a 6mo, even without being pg! You could pump twice to fill one bottle. The main point I'm making is that you don't need to pump out 4oz at once in order to leave your baby with a bottle or sippy cup of ebm.

[cdahlgrd]

I agree with everyone else. THe pump is probably not working very well, your pregnant, and a sippy cup will work fine (or a cup with a straw/open cup, etc.)

If you continue to pump at the same time each day, you should start to get more milk after a few days. Your body takes a few days to get the message it needs to make more. It also might help if you pump while nursing (hard to do, but you might be able to do it.) Or, it just might be too much work and just give the baby a little water in a cup and a cracker while your gone.

[MaryJaneLouise]

You might try hand expressing:

http://www.lactationinstitute.org/MANUALEX.html