Pumping question

sounds like you aren't even getting let down....do you think that's true?

couple things--
i agree with pp....keep pumping even when nothing is coming out...it will let your body know to start making more.

some women just do not respond to the pump but are making PLENTY for their nursling....you know that your breasts need to let down and doing it artificially, well maybe your breasts are too smart for that...they know it's not a realy baby at the other end! give it time

have you tried the advice in books like: looking at a picture of your baby or keeping him/her near, relaxing to get let down to happen, pumping both sides at the same time really helps too, I even find that I pump better when the nipples are lubed with a little lansinoh.

lastly, if YOU are not ready to leave your babe maybe you are psychologically keeping your body from pumping well, and thereby keeping yourself from "having" to leave your baby. If you don't have to, don't pressure yourself. And who knows, maybe once you feel less pressure you may pump better good luck!

Dear Fiveblessings,

I totally admire your commitment to your children.

I think the real issue is the people pressuring you, not the pumping. If you're not ready to leave you're baby, that's okay and completely healthy. Just be honest with them.

As plagio mentioned, pumping is a learned skill that improves with practice. Just think of your attempts thus far as practice sessions and congratulate yourself for those precious drops of milk!

Most pumping problems happen because you're not triggering a let-down, not because you have a supply issue. Since pumping is not the same as nursing your baby, you may need to coax your let-down a little. Express somewhere comfortable and familiar, minimize distractions, think about the baby, try to relax, breath slowly and deeply. If your pump is a single, switch sides when the flow lessens and alternate between sides several times each session for a total of 20-30 minutes, rather than 10-15 minutes per breast.

If your baby has plenty of wet diapers, you are probably making plenty of milk. After six weeks, look for for 5-6 heavy wet cloth diapers or 4-5 heavy wet disposables. Beyond six weeks of age, less frequent bowel movements may be completely normal. Even one bm per 7-10 days is considered normal if baby is otherwise healthy and gaining normally. Normal weight gain at four to six months is considered 4 to 5 oz per week.

I hope this helps. (Most of this info comes from The Breastfeeding Answer Book.) Good luck!

Thank you so much for the advice and kind words!
I think you're right, I'm not letting down for the pump. When dd starts crying, it starts to drip from both sides, so I guess they're just not "trained" for the pump. But I think I'll take your advice though, and not worry about the pump. I'll just stay close to my babe since that's what comes naturally.