https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:49:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167621 Thu, 24 May 2012 12:41:00 +0000 brownie 167621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: the la leche league says your baby needs at MOST 2 oz of milk for every hour they are away from you. So make sure that you aren't trying to get too much. After about 3 months, you should see a slight drop in supply because your body is regulating. Some things you can try are getting a quick 5 minute pumping session in between other sessions, another is to stop pumping for a few minutes at the end and then start again and you can typically get a little bit more, make sure you are as calm and comfortable as possible. Like others, I typically fed only one side in the morning and pumped the other and would get 4/5 oz in that pump. It made a huge difference. Then I put the baby on that side and they get more hindmilk and help encourage more production. If you get an hour lunch, pump at the beginning and then again at the end for those few more ounces. All you ever need is as much as the baby needs the next day. Also, how much does your baby feed when you are with them. My son reverse cycled and now does most of his feeding at night (he sleeps with me). So I don't need as much at daycare. Your supply will work because that is what it is supposed to do.</p> <p>When I found it was tanking alot, I would put in 1 extra pump session every day for 1 week. Then I went back to the normal. Also, pump in the middle of the night if you aren't nursing. You have to "trick" your body into thinking that you need more milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167492 Thu, 24 May 2012 11:22:04 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 167492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pelikila: and @zippylef: If my supply keeps tanking, I'm going to try that out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167490 Thu, 24 May 2012 11:21:00 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 167490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LivsMama: I think she hit a growth spurt this week because daycare said she would finish her 3 oz bottles and start screaming like she was still hungry. So they would give her one more ounce and she would be fine. </p> <p>And it sounds like the shield is the correct size. I guess I thought it should be tighter because my friends have talked about how long their nipples are after pumping, and mine are more fat than long (TMI), so I figured that meant that it was too big. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167487 Thu, 24 May 2012 11:17:40 +0000 loveisstrange 167487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with seeing about a hospital grade pump. I have a rented Medela Symphony and that thing is a BEAST. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167474 Thu, 24 May 2012 11:08:12 +0000 pelikila 167474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another consideration is to rent a hospital grade pump (I had to do this) and see if that helps make a difference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167472 Thu, 24 May 2012 11:06:21 +0000 pelikila 167472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: I'd see about checking the fit with a lactation consultant. Like @LivsMama: said, some of the areola should go in, not just the nipple. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167469 Thu, 24 May 2012 11:00:38 +0000 LivsMama 167469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: have you been fitted? Part of the areola SHOULD go into the shield-not just the nipple. I have the MEdela PISA as well, and it doesnt sound like its too small unless a LOT (like all) of the areola is going in there Think about how a baby nurses, they dont just suck on the nipple, they take in a lot of the areola as well. Thats exactly what the pump should do </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167467 Thu, 24 May 2012 10:59:46 +0000 LivsMama 167467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: You arent failing. I promise. Its just your body reacting to the pump rather than the baby. My first pumping session of the day is my biggest one. I can sometimes get 8oz total in that session. Each subsequent is considerably less, usually 2-3 oz (total) during those. So that is also normal. You produce the most overnight into early morning, so thats bound to happen. It also lessens a bit as the week goes on. Some of my most effective pumping days are Mondays because the baby was nursing all weekend and getting more out each time. Does she NEED 16? Or could you lessen each bottle by 1-1.5oz and see how she does? Just keep pumping as much as you can. It will level out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167464 Thu, 24 May 2012 10:56:06 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 167464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pelikila: I have been watching videos of her and looking at pictures of her while pumping to see if that helps. I haven't noticed a difference yet though. </p> <p>@LivsMama: I also think I need to go another size down in the shields for my breast pump (Medela PIS), but they don't make a smaller size, so I think that's also part of the problem (since it's pulling a lot of the areola into the shield, instead of just the nipple). </p> <p>Anyone know of any tips to make an extra small shield out of a small shield?</p> <p>@regberadaisy: Gripe water and gas drops are your friend. I was giving my LO gas drops every other feeding, and gripe water in her bottle at night to help her feel better. Eventually it got much better, and I hardly have to give her anything anymore (unless I'm supplementing). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167451 Thu, 24 May 2012 10:48:19 +0000 regberadaisy 167451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pelikila: my baby is SUPER gassy so to be on the safe side I'm staying away from everythin that can cause gassiness. She cried for hours on end due to gassiness, I think.<br /> So I'm erring on the side of caution.</p> <p>So much for drinking coffee &amp; coke after delivery! :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167448 Thu, 24 May 2012 10:47:26 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 167448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LivsMama: Thank you - I'm almost in tears right now because I feel like I'm failing, after I've already come so far. But your response really helps. </p> <p>I think it's starting to level out when I pump from both sides. But even this week, I was able to pump 8 oz at the first pumping session and now I can only get 4.5 oz ... so discouraging! I need to pump at least 16 oz a day for her, and I'm only coming up with 12. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167445 Thu, 24 May 2012 10:46:26 +0000 pelikila 167445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Some babies (and moms) are more sensitive to fenugreek than others so not everyone has the same result. Fenugreek can lead to digestive upset in mom and/or baby with loose stool and/or gas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167443 Thu, 24 May 2012 10:45:42 +0000 Mrsbells 167443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you tried pumping one side while she is nursing on the other side? You get way more if you pump this way </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167441 Thu, 24 May 2012 10:44:16 +0000 regberadaisy 167441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm starting to pump now in anticipation of work. I find I get more if I pump while she's nursing. It's only 1oz tho :(<br /> But if I pump without her nursing I get droplets.<br /> The other day I kept alternating boobs when I pumped when she wasnt nursing. Massaging the boon I wasn't pumping and it seemed to help a bit?<br /> Thanks for the info on those pills giving you gassiness. I think I'll stay away then!</p> <p>I'm really worried about not being able to pump at all when I get back to work.</p> <p>@LivsMama: thanks for the great stash tips! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167440 Thu, 24 May 2012 10:43:51 +0000 pelikila 167440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely agree with @zippylef: on massage/compressions during (and before) and hand expressing afterward. It can make such a huge difference. When pumping, are you using stimuli of your baby like photos, video, baby clothes (smell)? I had to totally disconnect from work, look at photos of my son and when possible watch/listen to videos of him playing or nursing to help get as much milk as possible. It sounds and feels impossible but try your best to relax and be content with what you can get. The more my stress over it went up, the harder it was to get milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167421 Thu, 24 May 2012 10:36:01 +0000 LivsMama 167421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>you wont dry up if you keep pumping. You might get a bit less output, but you probably wont dry up fully. Did you get more overall when you only poump on one side per session? Or did it level out? For example, did you get 5oz on one side and 3 on the other for a total of 8, and now you get 4 and 4? Thats typically what will happen. Also keep in mind that the baby is much more effective at emptying the breast than the pump. So at first, your body was creating what the baby was removing. Now that the pump removes less, your body creates a bit less. </p> <p>You WILL be able to continue BFing. You might have to either supplement a tiny bit or give her less ounces per day (if its only varying by a few oz a day) but keep at it. </p> <p>Also, to build a supply...this is kind of a slow way, but it adds up. When you pump during the week, feed her what you pump the next day. Whatever you pump on fridays, freeze. Pump whenever you can on weekends as all those little pumping sessions will add up. Once you have enough for her Monday bottles, freeze whatever else you can pump.</p> <p>I know its frustrating. Its hard. Its discouraging to see output lessen, and its exhausting. But it levels out and you CAN do it. =o) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167418 Thu, 24 May 2012 10:33:20 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 167418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: I wouldn't call it a massage so much as squeezing, but I do try to get as much out as I can. I haven't hand expressed afterwards, but I'm going to try that in the next session. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167417 Thu, 24 May 2012 10:31:30 +0000 loveisstrange 167417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you doing breast massage and compressions while you pump? I find that that and hand expressing when I'm done really, really helps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/another-pumping-question#post-167413 Thu, 24 May 2012 10:29:26 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 167413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I normally feed DD on one side each feeding (that's always been enough to fill her up). But when I started back at work, I started pumping both sides, thinking I would be able to pump enough to build up a stash. </p> <p>That's not happening at all... Instead, the boob that I used to be able to get 4-5 oz at each pumping session is only giving me 2-3... and the other one is still only giving me 1-2. I'm pumping 3-4 times every day, but I still can't make enough to keep up with what she needs during the day. </p> <p>I'm drinking TONS of water and I'm even taking more milk plus, but it is giving her such bad gas (just like fenugreek did), and it even wakes her up every couple hours at night... which means I'm not getting sleep either. So I might have to stop taking that. </p> <p>Does this mean I'm losing my supply?? Should I go back to only pumping one side at a time? I really want to continue breastfeeding but I'm afraid that I'm drying up :-( </p>