https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 13 May 2026 18:06:25 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655874 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:27:44 +0000 mrskc 655874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You are definitely not behind in pumping! I didn't really start building a freezer stash until around 8 weeks pp. But I did take 16 weeks off, so I had more time. </p> <p>I think for some people, your body needs time to get used to the pump. I think you will find that over time, you'll be able to pump more. </p> <p>I also think it really helps to relax and watch videos or your LO or look at photos. I like to imagine my breasts are waterfalls with milk streaming out of them. Then before I know it, I'm getting a good let down. Getting let down isn't all about the pump, it's mental as well. I know you say you get one, but I've found really focusing helps it to last longer and I get more milk. I also do breast compressions during let down. And before I pump, I massage my breasts (like how you would give yourself a breast exam). </p> <p>Maybe just set a goal to pump once per day. Or every other day or something. I definitely get the most first thing in the morning. </p> <p>I hope that was at least somewhat helpful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655777 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:43:58 +0000 ladyfingers 655777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: Yeah LO isn't nearly coordinated enough for this now, but later on it's something to keep in mind! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655764 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:37:29 +0000 MamaMoose 655764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsmenow: If I remember correctly your LO is a bit younger than mine? M is 16 weeks and I really only perfected this skill in the last month or so once she got strong enough to help support herself on the boppy. It definitely took some practice but now I can do it no problem! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655757 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:31:27 +0000 mrsmenow 655757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: I am jealous at how cordinated you are. I have wanted to try this during the night when DD is starting to fall asleep on the first side and I know she won't finish the second and just can't seem to get a handle on it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655754 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:30:11 +0000 mrsmenow 655754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Would you be open to renting a hospital grade pump for a week or so to see if you could get more out. I rented one with my second when I was on leave and I really did get quit a bit more out with it. It might help establish a bigger supply. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655739 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:23:23 +0000 MamaMoose 655739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: I get my best output first thing in the morning if I pump on one breast while I'm feeding LO on the other breast. I set her up on the boppy so I can use my hands to set up the pump on the other side. Having her latched on helps encourage let down on both sides. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655726 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:12:33 +0000 ladyfingers 655726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: right but I'm still going to be nursing him in the morning/at night/weekends.</p> <p>Good idea on the shower! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655722 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:10:24 +0000 Mrs. Bee 655722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: oh yes i know i mean when you go back to work and he is getting bottles you won't have to worry too much about fore/hindmilk imbalance.</p> <p>you are still very new to pumping, and i think your body will respond better to it over time. i don't think 1.5 ounces is bad!</p> <p>pumping after a hot shower really helped too. maybe give that a try? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655712 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:05:04 +0000 ladyfingers 655712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: right but when I'm bf'ing him it will... I'm not going to be exclusively pumping.</p> <p>Sorry, I'm confused :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655699 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:00:04 +0000 Mrs. Bee 655699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: when he is getting pumped milk, fore/hind milk shouldn't be an issue since a bottle will have both.</p> <p>i'm not an expert because i never had an oversupply, but maybe ease into the supplements and take a little and see if it makes a difference?</p> <p>i found that as my body got used to the pump, i just produced more and more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655695 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:57:28 +0000 ladyfingers 655695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: oh ok. I already have an overactive letdown that he backs off of and sometimes can't finish a breast so I always worry about foremilk/hind milk issues. Since, from looking at him and his chubs, I clearly don't have an under supply I was concerned about taking anything to increase things! So it's good to know it doesn't matter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655682 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:48:14 +0000 Mrs. Bee 655682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: i didn't start trying to increase my supply until 4 weeks so you can definitely still increase your supply! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655681 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:47:31 +0000 Mrs. Bee 655681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: i don't think an oversupply could harm your little one. :)</p> <p>the supplements usually make a big difference for most moms. i went from 2oz to over 10 oz/session (in my morning session). a huge difference!</p> <p>in the beginning with charlie we supplemented with a little bit of formula, but after about a month i had increased my supply enough that we didn't need to supplement.</p> <p>you should see results pretty quickly. more milk plus really worked well for me. with olive, i took mmp, mother's milk tea and fenugreek because my supply was lower (or rather i was pumping less and breastfeeding more). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655680 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:47:26 +0000 DillonLion 655680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: You aren't irrational! I am so protective of my supply and the amount of breastmilk she gets. I work hard for every last ounce of that stuff, dangit! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655677 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:46:44 +0000 ladyfingers 655677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@highwire: thanks! I wanted to cry from relief reading your comment. I hear people start pumping in week one and I thought I was behind the curve starting in the 6th week! Ugh so stressful. You are right, every ounce counts! But now I'm all pissed because I have to go somewhere Saturday morning without DS so he'll get a bottle and now I'm like grrrr, more milk gone. I'm so irrational! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655673 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:43:28 +0000 ladyfingers 655673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: thank you! I'm trying to pump longer but this kid won't sleep ;)</p> <p>If I take the supplements it won't cause an oversupply that will harm DS, right? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655671 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:43:05 +0000 DillonLion 655671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First of all, I know how stressful and overwhelming it is to figure out this whole breastfeeding/pumping/working mom thing. I hated the pump. It caused me so much grief in the beginning. Try to take a break from it if you can. I didn't even look at my pump for a couple of weeks during my leave and that helped immensely. </p> <p>Props for trying to figure out while you are on maternity leave. But if you need to take a break from it, that is okay. Enjoy your baby and worry about this as your maternity leave starts to end (I started seriously getting ready 3 weeks prior to my return to work)</p> <p>Remember, for most people, your baby is more efficient at the breast than the pump will be. And if it has been a short time since he nursed (which it sounds like it is every time you have pumped) of course your output is going to seem low. He just ate and your breasts have not had time to refill completely. </p> <p>At work, you are going to be pumping only, and not nursing at all. So your pumping output will be much greater. I go about 3 hours in between pumps. </p> <p>Remember, also, your LO will start sleeping longer stretches as time goes on (hopefully!). I am now able to add in an additional pumping session after she goes to bed, and I can add that to my stash for the following day to send with her to daycare. It isn't a big deal to do this at all. I nurse her after work at 6, she goes down between 7 and 8, and by 9 PM it has been three hours again since nursing and I can do a quality pump session and get a decent output. I'm sitting there watching TV with DH anyway. Then I go to bed. And its still only 930 PM so I still get a good night's rest even with an additional pumping session added in. LO STTN so my breasts do not get any stimulation between that last pump and the morning (or she will randomly have one wake-up, but that's it)</p> <p>In my specific scenario, my milk volume has actually increased since I've been back at work, because I've been on a better schedule of every 3 hours during the day as opposed to on-demand nursing where sometimes she would have longer stretches. So not everyone has problems with supply once they go back to work.</p> <p>All that said, we still have to supplement (but we have since the very beginning, I never made enough milk). So I pump to give her 50% of her food for the day. I'd love it if it were 100% but it isn't and I've made my peace with it. I remind myself that Every Ounce Counts. 1.5 ounces is still 1.5 ounces of breastmilk full of all the great benefits. </p> <p>Hope that helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655668 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:39:51 +0000 Mrs. Bee 655668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>you can have more than enough milk but the pump won't be able to remove milk as effectively as your baby. i would definitely take some supplements like more milk plus and fenugreek. i was only able to pump around 2 oz when i first started, but greatly increased my output with both kids after taking mmp, mother's milk tea, and fenugreek.</p> <p>also pump for longer than 15 minutes until you get the second let down.</p> <p>those are probably the two easiest things you can do to start! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/low-pumping-output-what-am-i-doing-wrong#post-655645 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:31:18 +0000 ladyfingers 655645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Warning: This will be long.</p> <p>I'm 6 weeks postpartum and started pumping this week to build a bit of a stash for daycare. I'm going to continue pumping at work 3-4 times a day when I go back in 6 weeks, but wanted to have some in storage as well. I've been really disappointed and frustrated with my output, especially given all the posts I see about people pumping 4, 8, sometimes more than 10 ounces in a single session.</p> <p>The past 3 days, I have managed to get 1.5 ounces per session. </p> <p>I have tried:</p> <p>- Pumping in the morning, after DS' morning nursing session and once he goes down for a nap. It had been about 30 minutes since DS last ate. This netted me 1.5 ounces in 15 minutes before DS woke up.<br /> - Pumping in place of a nursing session while DH gave DS a bottle, which netted me 1.5 ounces while DH fed him 3 ounces. So that was obviously a huge fat waste of time. It had been 2 hours since DS last ate so I though I'd get more but... no.<br /> - Pumping in the afternoon after DS went down for a nap. This was about 30 minutes after DS last ate. This netted me 1.5 ounces.</p> <p>I'm using a Medela PIS. The suction seems more than adequate as I'm pumping at a 1.5 and it's barely tolerable.</p> <p>I have tried different sized flanges and know I'm using the right one (the smaller one pinches, the larger one is too large for my breast so I lose suction). </p> <p>I have tried angled flanges. </p> <p>I have eaten oatmeal. I have guzzled water. I have tried relaxing. I have tried massaging my breasts beforehand and letting them hang a bit to "help the milk come down."</p> <p>And each and every time I get 1.5 ounces. 1 ounce from one breast, .5 ounces from the other.</p> <p>I know my milk supply is more than adequate -- I leak, DS is satisfied after feeding, I hear him drinking, and he's gaining weight like gangbusters (9 ounces in the past week alone).</p> <p>I've done the math and if I continue to pump 1.5 ounces at every session while I'm at work -- assuming my supply doesn't decrease, which I know it often does for WOHMs -- that's only 6 ounces I'm pumping while DS will eat about 9.5 while he's away from me at daycare. Pumping 1.5 ounces each day for the remainder of my maternity leave will give me 60 ounces in the freezer. If I add that to the 6 ounces pumped at work, that gives me enough to exclusively provide DS with breastmilk for... 17 days.</p> <p>I'm not opposed to supplementing with formula, but I hate pumping so much that it feels like a failure and a waste to have to do that at the end of the day. To do this thing I hate, and get 1.5 ounces. While everybody else is overflowing their bottles and buying chest freezers to store the overabundance of milk at their fingertips (I know that's not everybody but it's how it feels).</p> <p>I've read that I should just pump after every nursing session and get an ounce each time and build up a nice little stash. That's not really realistic because after I nurse, I have DS to tend to. If I pump each time he naps, that often takes up his entire naptime as many of his naps each day are like 30 minutes. I don't want to be pumping all day every day with no time to do anything else. </p> <p>As for pumping at night after he's gone to bed, as an additional session -- he's still only doing a roughly 3-hour stretch at the beginning of the night, and I hate the idea of missing out on that sleep because after that he's up every 1.5 to 2 hours. And frankly, if I have 1.5 ounces in the morning, I'm not holding my breath for much more at 10 p.m.</p> <p>As for waking up early to pump, well, at that point he's been eating every 1.5 to 2 hours so it's not like I'll have a ton left in me. And I'm frigging exhausted.</p> <p>I know I've pretty much decimated all advice there is to give, but I'm still asking -- what am I doing wrong? Why am I not pumping barely anything? I don't want to take supplements because I don't want to end up with an oversupply if my supply is adequate, but maybe that's what I need to do?</p> <p>ETA: what will typically happen is I'll get a letdown and will be spraying milk and then after a couple of minutes it just stops. Sometimes it continues to drip, but not for long. If I press on and adjust the flanges I can get some spray but then it stops again. I'm using a hands free simple wishes pumping bra. I need to be able to pump hands free at work. </p>