Pumping chit chat 3

[@llli*wiggle.bug]

Hi everyone! I'm new to this thread although I've been pumping at work since September. I need some tips on increasing my output. My LO is 14 months but just started taking a bottle recently (delayed due to a genetic deletion so not taking in tons of solids while I'm at work, and won't take a cup of water or anything). He has already blown through what I had stored up in the freezer. I pump twice at work but try to do it for at least 20 minutes, sometimes 30. He comes and nurses during my lunch 3 days a week. This AM I only got 2 ounces when I pumped. I have never gotten more than 3 oz at a time total. When we are together my milk seems abundant. I'm afraid to go overboard on supplements because I've struggled with oversupply before, but I guess I could try the Mothers Milk tea again??? Any advice?

How much milk is your LO taking at daycare? Could he get by with less? My DS is just shy of 13 months, and he's dropped back down to 4 oz. total at daycare. He also is not a fan of solids that much, though some days are better than others. He nurses 2-3 times overnight and does a marathon session when we get home in the evening and before bed. So, depending on how much your LO nurses when he's with you, how much milk do you think he needs at daycare?

You may be doing all of this already, but do you have a hands free bra? Are you doing compressions during and after pumping? How about eating oatmeal for breakfast or a snack?

Goldentoes, I keep extra bottles at work, and I had to bring in extra bags because I'd take the bottles home and not bring them back, or I'd end up taking the tops off the extra bottles and then have bottles but no tops! I think extra bags are the way to go.

DS is in a Velcro-baby phase, so I took the pump but didn't use it. I couldn't have left him alone long enough for the full concert on Saturday without a major meltdown on his part, I think. So I went to an hour of the concert and then went back. Oh well. And he's back to 4 oz. a day at daycare, so I'm going to start partial pump weaning. I think I want to cut back some time on the afternoon session, because I could use the extra time to prep for my late afternoon class.

I forgot my hands-free bra today. Sigh. It's almost like a security blanket these days.

[@llli*aprilsmagic]

Hi everyone! I'm new to this thread although I've been pumping at work since September. I need some tips on increasing my output. My LO is 14 months but just started taking a bottle recently (delayed due to a genetic deletion so not taking in tons of solids while I'm at work, and won't take a cup of water or anything). He has already blown through what I had stored up in the freezer. I pump twice at work but try to do it for at least 20 minutes, sometimes 30. He comes and nurses during my lunch 3 days a week. This AM I only got 2 ounces when I pumped. I have never gotten more than 3 oz at a time total. When we are together my milk seems abundant. I'm afraid to go overboard on supplements because I've struggled with oversupply before, but I guess I could try the Mothers Milk tea again??? Any advice?

Many moms,especially of older babies, do fine when with baby but seem to struggle with undersupply when pumping. You have plenty, but you just don't respond as well to the pump.

If your pump is old, try renting a pump for a month. It is also possible to become habituated to the pump
Make sure your shields fit. After 12+ months of pumping and nursing, your breasts may be different
Try herbs and even medication
Sneak in some power pumping at night if you can
If baby is not night nursing, night pump. The extra prolactin will help.
Pump for 5 minutes past when you see the last drops of milk, and switch pump settings back to the stimulation phase to try to get a second letdown; this may or may not work.

[@llli*swmom]

LO takes whatever I pump the day before at daycare, which is usually 4-5 ounces total. Often the babysitter will go into the frozen stash to give him one more bottle which can be anywhere from 1-4 ounces, if he seems hungry. 3 days a week he comes and nurses during my lunch time so I'm sure the 4-5 ounces is plenty. I worry because his weight is on the lower end, he was in the 0% for sometime but I think he's around the 10th now.
No I'm trying the compressions, looked at pictures of him on my phone, and I might switch back to the stimulation phase to see if I can get another letdown. We'll see if I get any more. I might try herbal supplements or the nursing tea. He definitely makes up for it at night-he nurses many times through the night. Thanks for the tips!

[@llli*wiggle.bug]

Completely forgot that I had a 2 pm meeting, which is when I usually pump. So I'm pumping about an hour late. I'm just having a couple days where I am so not into pumping. I think I need to start setting a stopwatch or something so I can start decreasing my pumping time. Otherwise, I end up getting distracted and go for 20 minutes when I meant to stop at 15 or 17.

[@llli*swmom]

Thanks for the tips, I got quite a bit more yesterday and today! The compressions and putting the pump back into the stimulation phase both seemed to help. Seemed to get twice as much this morning-that's a big difference!!

[@llli*wiggle.bug]

Swmom, I am glad you were able to pump more!

My morning pump went fine, but this afternoon is not going so well. I'll maybe get 2 oz. out of it, so just shy of 6 oz. total today. DS is fluctuating again at daycare: Monday, he took 8 oz., yesterday was about 5. I forgot my regular bottles today and so I'm using the 80 ml Medela ones. I'd like to amend my previous claim that these fit fine on the Lansinoh Affinity. They fit okay, but they are hard to screw in. The Lansinoh bottles that came with the pump and the Ameda bottles are the only ones that fit well.

[@llli*goldentoes]

So... after over a week of Logan waking up around 2 and 4 AM for feedings, I cut out my overnight pumping session as it's driven up production when combined with the extra feeding.

As predicted, as soon as I cut it out, kiddo sleeps blissfully through the night with nary a peep, and I woke up at 4 am with soaked sheets and sore, rock hard boobs.

Did get more than 8 oz when I ran downstairs to pump though, yay me! hahaha.

[@llli*aprilsmagic]

Tired. Of. Pumping. I know it is my choice, but My nips are always just a bit sore

[@llli*katia11]

Tired. Of. Pumping. I know it is my choice, but My nips are always just a bit sore

OMG me too. I was seriously considering "hanging up the horns" at 18 months but I feel like I would be disappointed if I don't meet the WHO guidelines. And I feel like I owe him for the 6 months or so he had formula. But I am so sick of it

[@llli*mamaDuMonte]

Susan I feel your pain. LITERALLY!

I am trying to drink tea to help my pumping output. I HATE it!!!! It makes me want to spew , any suggestions to make it drinkable? I have tried hot and cold.