https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 23 May 2026 12:31:34 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2811247 Thu, 22 Mar 2018 11:47:34 +0000 periwinklebee 2811247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: Thank you, these are awesome tips! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2811245 Thu, 22 Mar 2018 11:45:29 +0000 gingerbebe 2811245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: Yeah I know exactly where that is - I would try to hunch your shoulders a bit and press down on it with the heel of your hand during letdown. I would press downwards towards the nipple but also try pressing sideways across the muscle horizontally to come at the duct from both directions. Also, I don't know if I mentioned it, but my husband hoovering was the best way to unclog a stubborn duct. I would press down on the offending duct and have DH suck on it whenever I felt like a clog was forming. When not nursing or pumping, try making a fist and massage the area with the clog in a circular motion to try and break it up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2811242 Thu, 22 Mar 2018 11:39:05 +0000 periwinklebee 2811242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: Thank you, great tips! I so, so want to avoid mastitis again. Despite religiously taking the sunflower lecithin and using the heat pad and changing positions, the place where I get a clog by far the most often, and it is the hardest to get out, is on the left side below my collarbone. It's happened again today and output is down on that side, it was the first place I got a clog and has re-formed so often that I think at this point that there must be some sort of damage to the duct there. When I go in for the 2 month appointment, I'm going to really push for a referral to the lactation consultant, not that I have high hopes for it solving this issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2811241 Thu, 22 Mar 2018 11:32:49 +0000 gingerbebe 2811241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh RE: compressions - I lied. One thing I DID do when I was pumping was sorta press/stroke in a downward motion on the area below my collarbone but above the flanges to sorta milk anything that is higher up in that pectoral area. I used the heel of my hands or my forearms to do that, but I really only did it for like the first minute of letdown. Similarly, I also used my forearms to press/stroke inward on the SIDES of my chest kinda from the armpits inward towards the flange. Eventually I could kinda do both in one motion with my forearms and wrists at the same time. I did that because I know there are ducts nearer the armpit that are notorious for getting clogged and are incredibly hard to unclog. Again, I never did it the whole time, just during letdown. If I had 2 letdowns, I did it during both.</p> <p>I had AWFUL mastitis once and was on the VERGE of mastitis a second time, so I was very paranoid about clogs with my boys. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2811201 Thu, 22 Mar 2018 09:59:44 +0000 periwinklebee 2811201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: Thank you! I hadn't thought about exfoliating. </p> <p>@snarkybiochemist: I've been experimenting with massage and it does seem to be increasing output. I'm not sure it would be worth it just for that because it's so much time and as you say there are other things I need to do, but it does seem necessary if it helps avoid clogged ducts. I really, really don't want mastitis (or even worse, the effects of the antibiotic) again. Ugh... </p> <p>@LCTBQE: I haven't read the 12 hours book but will check it out. I did get the Weissbluth audio book - maybe the hard copy would have been better so I could more easily consult specific parts, as the audio book was not the best organized. And it drove me crazy because it kept on making claims like - your child needs to be getting sufficient sleep now or otherwise they will be less empathetic, healthy, successful, etc you name it as an adult. I'm pretty sure that's confounded by family background, but regardless it is not helping my anxiety over his sleeping difficulties! There were some interesting bits about the biology of sleep, though. Once he's old enough, I'm happy to trade in some crying initially for better sleep... I am so looking forward to him being old enough to hopefully sleep decently in his crib. </p> <p>@mdf106: Thank you!</p> <p>@MrsSRS: It's interesting that electrolytes seem to be really important, I wouldn't have thought of this. </p> <p>My output was up significantly yesterday, we'll see how today pans out... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2811130 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 18:39:24 +0000 MrsSRS 2811130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My midday slumps were really helped by gatorade and protein. I'd try to drink a gatorade and have a protein bar or some chicken around 10 to try to boost that 11 am pump. And I second the weighted feeds idea. I would expect a full double sided pump to yield 3-6 ounces. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2811124 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 17:05:11 +0000 mdf106 2811124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: I found that pumping until I got a second letdown made a big difference in my pumping output. Even though I never got much milk in the second letdown, it stimulated more production. I would pump for 30 minutes (until my spectra turned off, so I did not have to pay much attention). I didn't do compressions, I usually worked while pumping. I am not prone to clogged ducts, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2811120 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 15:52:09 +0000 LCTBQE 2811120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: the sleeping WILL get better. I forget, have you read 12 hours by 12 weeks? I'm going to get that book for this time around, I heard great things but only heard about it after the fact. the Weissbluth book is big on drowsy but awake putting-down and self-soothing (i.e. some CIO) as fundamental healthy sleep habits. a million people will tell you this, but our baby was a pretty bad sleeper until we sleep trained around 4-4.5 months, then he was *okay* until about a year, and from then on he has been great. I basically attribute our tolerance for CIO to almost all of it--but that's what his temperament needed, another baby might be totally different. and hahaha re confidence, no one is confident! just keep trying until you find things that work for you guys, you will crack the code on your non-unicorn :) :heart: </p> <p>I totally forget and don't have consistent notes from that time period, but want to say our tank up bottle was about 5 ounces? shantuck and mrschampagne I think were the ones who told me about it and I recall the point of it is to give them more than they will drink so you know how much they're drinking. So if ours was 5, maybe he drank 4. Something like that. being consistent on the bedtime routine--time, order of events and the tank up bottle was absolutely the key for us building a foundation of nighttime sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2811111 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 14:44:40 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2811111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: Some times I massage while pumping since it can help get more milk out and help with clogged ducts. Its easiest when I wear a hands free pumping bra, I have the simple wishes one. Compression/massage doesn't allow you to just sit and pump while doing other things which sometimes I need for my own sanity since now E won't take the breast and I am pumping 5-6x a day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2811098 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 14:04:58 +0000 gingerbebe 2811098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: With DS1, we did Gerber Gentle and then slowly ramped up after adjusting to medication to Target's brand of similac sensitive, and then finally to full normal dairy formula (he seemed to like the taste of Honest formula so we stuck with that until he weaned).</p> <p>DS2 we started with Gerber Gentle too, but by 2 months he was on Costco's generic Kirkland formula and did great on it until we weaned. </p> <p>Both my kids had a hard time adjusting to whole cow's milk - they didn't mind the taste but they had a hard time digesting, so they both did toddler formula for a month or two. DS1 did Enfagrow Toddler and DS2 did Nido.</p> <p>I didn't do compressions during pumping, but what I did before nursing and pumping sessions was I scrubbed my nipple with a washcloth to exfoliate the skin on my nipple and then hand expressed into a cloth diaper until I could see all the pores and ducts were open and fully expressing. Then I would begin pumping or nursing so that nothing would be clogged when I started. Also, sunflower lecithin - I took it religiously 3x a day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2811090 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 13:56:40 +0000 periwinklebee 2811090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anyone do breast compressions/massage while pumping? I've had so many issues with clogged ducts and they seem to start forming either when my LO is doing too much grazing or when I've replaced a feed with a pump session. This seems like it might help but makes pumping all the more labor intensive, ugh... </p> <p>@LCTBQE: While I love the cuddles, I need to get my little sweetie to fall asleep on his own. His dad can usually get him to fall asleep quickly after the bottle, but within a couple of minutes of being put down, he's awake and demanding to be cuddled, and has a sixth sense for whether or not his head is resting by my chest. Such a light sleeper, no idea where he got it from. Ferber says before 12 weeks or so infants first enter REM sleep, which is very light, whereas after that point they fall into a deep sleep initially, so I'm holding on to hope. How big was your tank up bottle? Totally agree, formula isn't poison (or even close!) I don't want to kill myself when it's not something that might even matter to my LO - it's so hard to know/have confidence in how to use the limited time and bandwidth to be the best mom I can. </p> <p>@snarkybiochemist: Thank you :heart: I hope things are going well! </p> <p>@gingerbebe: It's hard to drag myself out of bed to pump at 6am if my LO eats and then falls right back asleep but I can definitely manage it for the supply, 3 am would kill me :silly: . Did you use a particular kind of formula given your son's reflux? I think I'd feel better knowing a formula option that doesn't seem too likely to upset his tummy in case we end up needing it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2811075 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 12:53:55 +0000 LCTBQE 2811075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: @periwinklebee: yep while I was on mat leave I used to do a 20-minute pumping session after the morning nurse, too. that was how I built my tiny pitiful freezer stash :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2811074 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 12:47:56 +0000 gingerbebe 2811074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: For DS2, I actually often bottle fed him in the morning with whatever I pumped the night before (with formula added if necessary) and then let him play in his little gym while I pumped because I would get so much more milk first thing in the morning than at any other time. I think I even pumped like 20 minutes instead of 15 to get ALLLL the milk. I would get like 1.5-2x as much milk in that pump than at any other time, so it made me feel good to have that insurance going into the day. </p> <p>I know people who set alarms in the MOTN to pump because their supply was so robust then, but I could not do that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2811073 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 12:40:42 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2811073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: I agree with @LCTBQE: sleep is super important don't wake up if you don't have to. I tend to pump less on days that E woke up more frequently and thus I got smaller chunks of sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2811070 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 12:35:09 +0000 LCTBQE 2811070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: I didn't fall asleep with him, I think by 10 weeks or so (how old is your boo now?) we had implemented the bedtime routine and we were putting him down around 8pm. It's a little fuzzy but I feel like I would nurse around 5pm, then before we put him down, I was doing the tank-up bottle instead of bedtime nursing which is essential to the routine we did (at that point that was his only bottle for the entire day) --then I would pump around 9 or 10pm and then go to bed myself. I think I generally used what I pumped for the next-day's tank up bottle. As I've told you we also supplemented lightly at that point which is not a crime ;) Sometimes his tank-up bottle would have formula mixed in, no big deal IMO. Not sure if that answers what you need to know, and everyone does things differently--that was just what worked for us. Also oh my godddd PLEASE do not wake yourself up from desperately-needed dead sleep at 4 o'clock in the morning to fucking pump. If you house is on fire or your baby is freaking out, fine, but I know you've been sleep deprived and I'm here to tell you that your supply is lower on the totem pole than your rest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2811024 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 09:35:23 +0000 periwinklebee 2811024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: Thank you! I remember reading a comment you made about fatty meat on another thread and have been working on getting this into my diet. I think you may be right that mastitis has still been affecting supply. It definitely did initially and I thought it had recovered, and maybe it's a fluke, but I've gotten significantly more than usual pumping after both the baby's feeds today. For some reason I think I have a midday slump, with best supply in the morning, then very little, then recovering in the afternoon. I'm going to pump extra time then whenever possible to try to give myself a bit more of a buffer, but hopefully can make it up from the stronger morning supply. </p> <p>@Waterbaby: Thank you! Usually 15 minutes. Did you do longer? I bet if I could drag myself out of bed at 3 or 4 (assuming my LO wasn't eating then) supply would be really good - as I get by far the best output around 6am - but not sure I'm that disciplined :silly: </p> <p>@LCTBQE: Will definitely add an update if I get it. My LO is still nursing before we both fall asleep together. We give him a small bottle with some extra milk I pumped that morning and sometimes he goes on a marathon nursing session after that and sometimes just nibbles and then settles for the night, the latter I know is not good for supply, but when I've pumped just before and he happens to be particularly hungry, then he ends up snacking and snoozing for like a couple of hours and I'm like - aren't you ever going to settlet? Did the pumping help when your LO was eating around the same time, or was it spaced apart from your LO's feeds? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2810947 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 17:25:25 +0000 Waterbaby 2810947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi again! How long are you pumping for each session? I think your spacing/time looks good. It took me a little to get into a groove pumping at work but it helped me to have a good chunk of time. Are you using a hands free bra? </p> <p>If you are trying to pump more milk you can always pump early in the morning before your LO wakes up. I pumped at 5 am for a very long time and I would get a ton of milk. I would give my son a bottle when he woke up and then save the rest. It was good for me because it took some pressure off of later pumps.</p> <p>Pumping is hard and so time consuming! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2810917 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 14:37:25 +0000 LCTBQE 2810917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: bunch of disconnected thoughts:<br /> -if you get the freestyle as your other pump I’d love to hear your review comparing them! I got the freestyle on the advice from a bunch of these ladies and I loved it, as much as one can live a pump. Planning on getting another this time so I have two. Lucies list and some other places have said the pisa has more suction but then SO many bees have said the opposite, that the freestyle has better suction. I’ve never heard one single good thing about an ameda, no idea how they stay in business.<br /> -I had 24mm and 21mm and didn’t notice a difference in output, maybe I was just somewhere in between? Who knows<br /> -don’t know about your evening nursing schedule but I pumped before bed every day for a year (ugh) —it helped me a LOT though, and kept me from getting engorged over night which helps with clogged ducts ;) IMO you should try it for a month and see how it goes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2810916 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 14:25:04 +0000 gingerbebe 2810916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: </p> <p>I did a power pumping session on Friday nights for maybe a month when DS2 was 2 months old I think? I just wanted to make sure I was making enough and it was a little insurance while I watched some TV. Typically it takes 2 days for a power pump to kick in some extra supply, so my thought was by Monday I would have better output.</p> <p>I will say that for DS1 I had much lower supply than with DS2. I think stress with his lack of sleeping and screaming and reflux was a big factor. With DS1, I had to pump 6x a day for 30 minutes each pump to make 22-24oz of milk. He got formula for whatever I was short and it was admittedly an insane time commitment I put in for 10 months until we weaned fully to formula. With DS2, I definitely made enough for him to be EBF, but I chose to supplement and built a stash instead. For him, I made plenty in 15 minutes of pumping and it was easy peasy to fit into my schedule.</p> <p>Your supply may be down a bit right now since you just had mastitis. I would really focus on hydrating and for me, eating beef and fatty meat (chicken wings) and Gatorade always bumped up my supply. It worked more for me than oatmeal, although everyone's body is different. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2810912 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 14:22:32 +0000 periwinklebee 2810912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LBee: Thanks! He has a two month check up coming up and I want to see his weight gain then and go from there. Good to know you can buy a sensitive scale! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2810905 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 14:08:52 +0000 LBee 2810905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: I'm inclined to say it might be a supply issue. I've wondered about your supply based on other posts. I'm sorry if that sounds blunt. </p> <p>I don't think you are pumping too often at all. I follow my LO's schedule (both times) and it accurately reflected how much they were getting per weighted feeds. Some people are less responsive to the pump, but I don't think that it would be a scenario of 1 oz vs. like 5 ozs. If it were me in your situation, I'd do a series of weighted feeds with my LO. Scales cost like $30 to $50 and have pretty good resale on BST. I would just want to know where I stand in regards to supply before I further invested in pumping. </p> <p>I admittedly have oversupply, but I would just want to have a really good handle on how much my child was getting / my supply. </p> <p>Random, but related, also look at your diet and make sure you are drinking TONS of water and eating an insane amount. I also started making overnight oats for breakfast and that helped a lot with my morning supply. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2810904 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 14:03:33 +0000 periwinklebee 2810904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: Yes, the first two are after feeding, the second two are replacing a feeding, when he's taking a bottle. I get great output if I manage to pump between 4:30 and 6:30 am after a feeding, better than any output I've gotten replacing a feeding.</p> <p>How long did you power pump for? Right now my LO tends to cluster feed for awhile after we head to bed together, but once he's over that I definitely want to do this... </p> <p>Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2810903 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 14:00:17 +0000 gingerbebe 2810903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: Is that your output AFTER breastfeeding your child? If so, I would say that is great output, since that's post feeding. </p> <p>If you're concerned about supply, you could try doing a power pump session at night before you go to bed 1-2 times a week. I also always pumped at night before I went to bed around 10-1030pm so I would be comfortable overnight. That would usually be enough for a feeding. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2810900 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 13:54:34 +0000 periwinklebee 2810900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: Thank you for the recommendation - I just order the pumpin pals and will keep experimenting!</p> <p>Question for @LBee: @gingerbebe: or anyone with thoughts. This is my current schedule, I seem to be getting same output with the 24 and 27 mm shields: </p> <p>--6 am: feed LO/pump immediately after (2-3 oz)<br /> --9 am: feed LO/pump (1 oz)<br /> --11:30 am pump (1 oz)<br /> --2:00 pump (2.5 oz)</p> <p>I was already doing the first two sessions before going back to work and am doing the second two while LO is at daycare, at the same time he eats. But 1 oz of output is pathetic. Wondering if that's all LO actually got from me at that feeding, or if it's likely to indicate something is going wrong with pumping. Also not sure if I'm pumping too often even though it's following LO's schedule? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2810843 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 11:27:38 +0000 gingerbebe 2810843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never used a different pump, but I absolutely adore my Medela Freestyle used with Pumpin' Pals flanges (they slope down more allowing you to be more comfortable and they send 3 different sizes of flange so you can try all of them) and a tight-fitting pumping bra (either the Rumina Pump and Nurse tank - I did not like their bras, just the thank - or the Simple Wishes TIE-BACK bra, which is more adjustable and lasts longer than the velcro closures). The battery power on the Freestyle was great - lasted a long time between charges - really lightweight and portable. I would actually tuck the unit between boobs in the bra and just be hands free. In a pinch my Avent manual pump worked great (its just annoying manually pumping).</p> <p>ETA, if you go with a Freestyle, DO NOT microwave steam the parts when you clean - they will warp and you will lose suction! Just have 2 sets of parts and hand wash in hot soapy water. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2810794 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 08:44:17 +0000 periwinklebee 2810794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jennlin821: Good to know, I'm experimenting with a different size flange today! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2810786 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 08:21:59 +0000 jennlin821 2810786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>YES!!<br /> I think it had more to do with the pumps had different sized flanges. I use my Medela PISA at work, and an Ameda at home. Because I happen to use the Ameda when my milk was most full, I didn't realize that it didn't actually work that well. I took it on vacation with me, and my supply dropped, I went from pumping 6oz down to 2oz! (stressful vacation after that :grin: )<br /> Went back to my Medela once we were home, and everything went back to normal. </p> <p>The flanges were 1mm different, and I have tiny nipples (apparently) so I couldn't get the actual correct size for me. </p> <p>I always traveled with my Medela after that! </p> <p>I also found that the Medela was more powerful, the Ameda seemed to lose power about 3 months in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2810767 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 05:39:42 +0000 periwinklebee 2810767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all!</p> <p>@LCTBQE: @Waterbaby: I have a pump in style </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2810748 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 22:34:42 +0000 LCTBQE 2810748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: which pump do you already have? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-get-significantly-different-output-with-different-pumps#post-2810747 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 21:55:47 +0000 ElbieKay 2810747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a hand-me-down Medela Symphony and a Medela PISA from my ins co. The latter was totally useless and produced no milk. I barely used it. </p>