One sided pumping problem

[Happily Blessed]

Sounds like the giant purple people eater song .........Oops, sorry.

AF found me at 4 months pp. I am pumping for DS because I am a WOHM. I am taking fenugreek, I have PCOS and considering restarting my metformin.

I am only able to pump less than an ounce from the left breast. Normally I can get 3-4 oz on the right but since AF, I am getting a total of 3 oz. all together for one pumping session.

Should I continue pumping on both sides? or just the right? DS nurses off of both when I am home. He only gets bottles when I work.

laural

[bri276]

I would continue pumping both sides. For most people, one side makes significantly more than another, so it's not unusual. Less than an ounce is still something, and over the weeks and months it amounts to a lot. Also, pumping both sides helps stimulate your hormones, which is necessary to keep making plenty of milk. Yes, there are people who nurse from one breast only, all the time, but with pumping, you want to get every drop you can because it just doesn't work as well as nursing.

If you want to, you could also try hand expressing after pumping. I used to get an extra 1/2 ounce total, once I got the hang of it.

[kochanyk]

I'd pump both sides too- I always got more from my right then left while pumping... do you get good letdown on that side? I had to adjust the pump differently for each side for max pumping production.

[Happily Blessed]

Originally Posted by kochanyk

I'd pump both sides too- I always got more from my right then left while pumping... do you get good letdown on that side? I had to adjust the pump differently for each side for max pumping production.

How do you adjust the pump? I have a Medela PISA and not sure how to adjust it.

I have added in another pumping session at lunchtime. It was a good thing too, because I got 3 oz. on my 9:30 session, and 2 oz. at lunch (11:15 a.m.) and 3 oz. at 2:30. This is so upsetting to me because usually I get 5-6 oz. in the morning and 4-5 in the afternoon.

Is this because of AF? Should I increase the fenugreek or add in blessed thistle? I am taking 3 fenugreek in the a.m. and 3 in the afternoon.

laural

[SPOpa]

Definitely pump both sides.

And check the little thin membranes on the PIS (the white flaps).