Pumping

[meesa143]

I need to start by saying I work 3-4 days a week, usually 5 hour shifts. I took a 2 week break over the holidays and ever since I came back I can't get as much milk when I pump as when I left. I used to get around 6 ounces, now I'm getting about 4, sometimes 5. I get a good letdown, but the first few times it took almost 10 minutes to get my milk to letdown. I have pics of my baby with me, I've tried calling the babysitter just before I go to pump. Any suggestions? Would supplements(taken by me, not giving formula) help?

[art_teachermommy]

Hang in there!
I don't have any thoughts on why it would be less when you came back from a break...but I do know that I took Fenugreek to increase my milk supply when I couldn't get as much pumping and it worked great for me. I smelled like maple syrup ...but it worked like a charm. Also, increase your fluid intakes throughout the day.

[meesa143]

I don't understand it either, it's weird. I started drinking mother's milk tea yesterday, so maybe that will help.

[merry-mary]

what kind of pump do you use? If it's the Medela, try replacing the white membranes. Whenever I had a noticeable change in output, 99% of the time, the membranes were to blame.

[sahmmie]

I was a puming mom for all three of my children. Neither of them would or could nurse for a variety of reasons (reflux, poor latch, etc), so I pumped exclusively. Pumping exclusively allowed me to know exactly how much milk I produced each day, and I can tell you that there were ups and downs. Stress of any kind, lack of sleep, the slightest dehydration, and a variety of other factors would often reduce my supply. I was always able to get my supply back up using some techniques I learned. Keep in mind as you read this that you only have to do this until your supply increases.....

1. Pump in the wee hours of the morning when your supply is highest. I'd set my alarm for 4 am and pump....not fun, but very effective. This is when I'd get the most milk.

2. Cluster pumping. This means you try to pump several times in a short period of time once or twice per day. I'd pump at 4 am, 6am, and 7 or 8am. This tells your body that your baby is not getting enough and your body will start to increase production.

3. Pump for 2-5 minutes after your flow stops. Often times you will tap into a reserve supply and this again tells your body that the baby is not getting enough and will increase supply.

Usually I'd do use these techniques for about two weeks and my supply would increase dramatically and then I'd gradually go back to a less stringent pumping schedule, but I always continued to pump 2-5 minutes after the flow stopped for most sessions.

Good luck. I hope you can get your supply back up where you need it to be.

[meesa143]

Originally Posted by merry-mary

what kind of pump do you use?

It's a medela doubleease. I can't see any white membranes.

Originally Posted by sahmmie

1. Pump in the wee hours of the morning when your supply is highest. I'd set my alarm for 4 am and pump....not fun, but very effective. This is when I'd get the most milk.

2. Cluster pumping. This means you try to pump several times in a short period of time once or twice per day. I'd pump at 4 am, 6am, and 7 or 8am. This tells your body that your baby is not getting enough and your body will start to increase production.

3. Pump for 2-5 minutes after your flow stops. Often times you will tap into a reserve supply and this again tells your body that the baby is not getting enough and will increase supply.

Usually I'd do use these techniques for about two weeks and my supply would increase dramatically and then I'd gradually go back to a less stringent pumping schedule, but I always continued to pump 2-5 minutes after the flow stopped for most sessions.

Good luck. I hope you can get your supply back up where you need it to be.

I usually pump at 5:30 or 6 every morning before work, and I agree, I get a lot more then.
Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try that.