Hi, even though I have 3 kids, this is my first exclusively breastfed baby. He just turned 4 months, I pumped for the first time Saturday! Yay! Now I have a few questions. For those of you who pump and also nurse. I am starting back to work next Monday the 29th. I will be in the office all week 8:30 to 1:30, then after that will be working from home part time. My next door neighbor will be watching my kids while I'm in the office that week.
Right now, I am pumping once a day, at night, since my son is sleeping from 7 or 8 pm to 7 am. I am pumping at 11 pm, and it takes me around 20 minutes to get 3 or 4 oz. I'm using a Medela Pump in Style Advanced. Does that sound right? Am I doing something wrong? Is there a trick to make it go faster? I have it set on max.
Also it hurts a little, and nursing never hurts. Is that normal or should I be doing something differently?
Also, I have to lean forward a bit which is uncomfortable. If I don't the milk pools up a bit. Is there a better way? Has anyone tried the bra thing to put the cups in?
Any other tips to make this easier? I love nursing and am going to keep exclusively bfing my son. I want to continue to pump once a day so that I can go out if I want to or my daughters can have a chance to feed him, or DH etc. And of course for that one week I'll be in the office. Thanks!
Thank you so much ladies! I will definitely get the bra, and probably the larger cups too. I pumped this morning after I fed my son, and got 3 oz out. I'll pump again tonight. Luckily I will only be going into my office for one week, and then will be home with the baby. I do intend to pump once per day from here on however, so I always have a spare bottle if I need to go out or something and don't have to use formula. Plus we're feeding the rice cereal now, so I'm pumping a little bit each day for that...nursing is AWESOME but pumping blows!
I only used the Avent Manual pump. I could carry it around at work in my laptop backpack (in a large ziploc bag). It worked great.
I also agree to check the size of the flanges. I have to use the largest ones. I've been pumping for my eight-week-old daughter since she was born so I'll have a large enough stockpile when I go back to work in five more weeks. I have well over 100 ounces in the freezer! If I pump right after she feeds in the morning I can get out anywhere from 4-8 ounces in about 10 minutes. As others have said, this is the best time to pump and you'll usually have quite a bit of extra milk. And, it won't create an extra feeding for you, it just makes your body keep producing more for the particular feeding.
Check the size of your "flanges." I had to get an extra-large size. Pumping actually bruised my nipples because they were too large for the normal size.
Good luck! OH, and I loved the hands-free thing. It made life bearable.
Good on ya momma! Definitely invest in a hands-free bra, it will save your life. The leaning forward things sucks, I haven't found any way around it. Thus, a sore back! ;-) I haven't found any way to make it go faster. I pump 15-20 minutes and get 3-5 ounces. I wouldn't turn the pump up so much that it hurts. I bought my pump at a specialty breastfeeding store, the ladies there were so helpful. They said to turn the pump up to where it's uncomfortable, then turn it down a smidge. So it shouldn't be painful. I've found if I look at pictures or watch videos of my son while I pump sometimes I can get my milk to let down twice in one pumping, but not always.
Sounds like you're doing fine so far! Just hang in there, it gets REALLY old, fast. But it's worth it for your little one. When you are away at work, pump every 3 hours. Also be sure to stay hydrated. I really notice a difference when I'm not drinking enough water. Try to pump extra as much as you can to build up your supply. I made the mistake of skipping pumping here and there and our freezer supply quickly dwindled, and I also got an infection. Learned the hard way! Try to stay on a pumping schedule of every three hours if you can :)
Definitely recommend the hands-free pumping bra!
Hi! My daughter is 11 weeks and I also exclusively breastfeed. I love it, and have pumped only about 6 total. Each time it took a long time and i have an expensive medela pump. Finally I went to a breastfeeding class and it was given by a lactation consultant. She told me that If i needed to pump, pump in the morning right after your baby eats. Breasts are more full the first feeding. It's as if your baby is eating just a lot duriong the feeding. I haven't done this yet b/c I don't pump a lot, but makes sense. Good luck and i hope it works! I'd love to know what cover up you use in public if you use one. I haven't really done it yet in public (just how it worked out). God Bless!
I used the Pump in Style and at about 4 months I was also getting 3-4 oz after 20 minutes. I did find out, quite by accident, that if I went dry and kept pumping another 3-4 minutes, I'd have a second let-down, and would get another couple of ounces.
Pumping wasn't as comfortable to me as nursing b/c my nipple was getting stretched much farther down the cone than when my son nursed (at least, I think that's what the problem was for me). Have you tried turning down the suction a bit when you start, and then increasing it again after the let-down? I also had to lean forward to avoid it pooling, and I didn't try the bra-cup-holder. I figured I'd still have to lean forward, so what was the point other than having two free hands instead of one.
I have an almost 4 month old too...he is my third as well. I have pumped with all of them and even use the same pump you do. I made the mistake with my first of cranking it up all the way and having it on the fastest setting to get it done as fasst as possible. I found it hurt and my milk dried up at 7 months. I was actually decreasing my supply by doing this. What works better for me is to start off at medium suction, at high speed, then when my milk lets down I slow down the speed to the slowest speed and increase the suction almost to the max...this mimics nursing and allows the milk to let down and drain much better and faster. After the majority has drained, sometimes after resting for about 4-5 min I can get another letdown by doing the same thing over again to get another half oz to an oz. Good luck...pumping is my least favorite thing about being a mom...after potty training that is. :)
Oh...and I use the hands-free bra...love it. In a pinch you can use a nursing bra that you fasten around the horns...sometimes will hold it on well enough.
For both of my children... after feeding from one breast IN THE MORNING, I pumped the other breast. Quickly, my body adjusted to making a full meal at that time each morning from EACH breast. I was able to get an easy 5-8 ounces from one breast this way. I loved the Medela pump too!
I say morning because since your baby sleeps through the night...your body is creating new milk all that time. Your milk supply is most plentiful then but your milk is on low supply after your baby hs drank his fill all day & evening.
Also you might want someone other than you to introduce the breast milk in a bottle before you have somewhere to go so you don't have a situation on your hands!
3-4 ounces is normal. You may find that once you get to work and pump 3x a day while you're away you get more but everyone varies. I have a pumpin' pal (you get get one online or visit your lactation center). It helped me. You can also make sure you have the right size "horns" or whatever they're called. ;)
Nursing Mother Working Mother is a book with good tips as is kellymom.com. Personally, I got to pumping about 15 minutes per session. It was better to try to sneak in a session at home at night than to try to sit there for longer in the office. I also learned to occasionally pump hands-free in the car while driving home (shawl, pumpin' pal and car adapter - do NOT set up while driving!).
If it hurts, try turning it down one notch. Also see the above for sizing. When I got resized, it made a big difference and no pain! I was no longer rubbing the sides of the horn.
I pumped til just after a year old with my DD. It can be done. Good luck and all sorts of well wishes for you.
I had the Medela Pump In Style and pumped at worked for almost a year. I agree to turn down the suction and try the larger shields. Also, it sounds weird, but I taped my son crying on my phone and would play that when I was about to nurse. It really helped with the let down and I was able to get more milk. Good luck!
I'd pump more than only once a day - especially if you plan on using expressed milk while you are away at work or on date nights, etc...
Pumping is a bit uncomfortable, it's hard plastic. What you described is the same as what I do... lean forward, feel some slight pain or being uncomfortable.
Hi. You sound like such a good and dedicated mama! I have 2 sons. My oldest just turned 4, and my youngest is 6 months old. Both of them were exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, and I breastfed my oldest son well past one year. I will try to help with some of your questions. It sounds like you are pumping after your baby is down for the night. That is a good idea. Are you nursing him before going to work at 8:30? And then again as soon as you get home from work? If not, you might want to add a pump session in there if you can. I work from 8am to 2pm, and I pump everyday at 10:30am while at the office. But if you are feeding your baby immediately before and after work, you should be okay. Everyone is different with regard to how much milk they produce. I double pump everday at 10:30am, and I usually get anywhere from 6 to 10 ounces. It doesn't hurt me at all, but if it's hurting you, you might not want to turn it up all the way. You might want to start at a lower speed and work your way up to the highest speed setting. I too use the Medela Pump in Style Advanced, and yes, I use the hands free bra thing and LOVE it! I can check email or read a book or magazine while I pump. I haven't had to lean forward while pumping. I wish I had tips on how to make it easier. I can tell you that it definitely gets easier the more you do it so hang in there. Hope this has helped. It sounds like you are doing great, though!!
Go to Target and get the SoftFit shields and/or the larger ones (I switched back and forth between the soft and the large shields (WHY don't they make them soft AND large?)
I can't answer any questions about the electric pump. I borrowed one, hated it, and stuck to my manual. I've nursed/pumped with all three of my kids (full-time work with each) and the manual pump was excellent for me.
For his age, since he might be starting solids in a few months, that sounds like plenty of milk for each feeding. Has your neighbor given him any "practice" bottles to make your work transition easier? That often helps, too.
And no, it shouldn't hurt. :(
