https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 09 May 2026 07:54:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newbie-pumping-questions-manual-pump#post-777519 Mon, 13 May 2013 10:21:03 +0000 Silva 777519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hergreenapples: yeah I got enough this morning to cover the bottom of the bottle...baby steps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newbie-pumping-questions-manual-pump#post-777385 Mon, 13 May 2013 09:40:15 +0000 heartonastring 777385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: Just wanted to update to say that today was day three of pumping. On days one and two I got 1 oz per day and today I got two full oz! Seems that the more you pump, the more you get! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newbie-pumping-questions-manual-pump#post-776393 Sun, 12 May 2013 14:14:50 +0000 hilsy85 776393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: I would do the thumb part until you see milk squirting/dripping out, then switch to the other one. And if you can coordinate nursing and pumping that usually is the best! But it's tough with a manual... Did you get that amount from a pumping session after nursing? It's normal to not get much if you pump after you nurse. As much as it sucks, supply is highest around like 2am so I she eats then, you could try pumping after that session? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newbie-pumping-questions-manual-pump#post-776238 Sun, 12 May 2013 11:00:29 +0000 heartonastring 776238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: Yeah, that confuses me too re: the thumb pump to get letdown. I usually pump that one for a minute or two and then switch to the other...not sure that I've ever gotten letdown using the thumb part..I think it usually happens after I switch to the regular pump part. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newbie-pumping-questions-manual-pump#post-776226 Sun, 12 May 2013 10:47:17 +0000 Silva 776226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: my pump has two modes...they say to use the first one until you get the let down- is that what you recommend doing (in the pattern you mentioned?). Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newbie-pumping-questions-manual-pump#post-776223 Sun, 12 May 2013 10:44:50 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 776223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: Don't get discouraged! Pumping is an art and takes practice to really get a good output. I had a double electric pump and a manual and it took me so much longer to learn how to pump it with the manual. </p> <p>Here's what I did, hopefully it will help you. Start off by doing 10-15 short squeezes, or until you see some milk coming out. Then, continue with longer squeezes (holding for 2-3 sec) and continue with those until you have a good stream. You might have to repeat that a couple of times to get your letdown. Once you have your letdown, you can squeeze and hold for a long time to save your hand from cramping ;-) It would take me about 30 min to pump one boob. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newbie-pumping-questions-manual-pump#post-776204 Sun, 12 May 2013 10:22:37 +0000 Silva 776204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hergreenapples: that is helpful. I usually give her both sides during a feeding (start with the left b/c I'm trying to increase supply. I guess I will just have to keep trying!<br /> How long do you have to do the little thumb pump part before you get a let down (not very technical here...hopefully you know what I'm talking about! :) ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newbie-pumping-questions-manual-pump#post-776133 Sun, 12 May 2013 09:39:46 +0000 heartonastring 776133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Keep trying. I just started pumping yesterday (also with a Medela manual pump) and have gotten 2oz in two days.</p> <p>I feed one side per feed, so after my morning feed I pump the side I fed on to see if I can get any more and then I pump the other side for 15 minutes. This is per my midwife's advice. She said it will likely take awhile before I get much from pumping and just to stick with it. I don't have supply discrepancies between sides though. In that case I can imagine it might help to add a second pumping session in each day.</p> <p>I'm not going back to work for a year, so I'm ok with a manual pump as well. If I find I'm using it a lot though I might rent an electric, see how much I use it and then decide if I want to buy one. At the moment I'm pumping to build a bit of a stash as DH is best man in his best friend's wedding in two weeks and my mum will be babysitting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/newbie-pumping-questions-manual-pump#post-776127 Sun, 12 May 2013 09:32:36 +0000 Silva 776127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am not returning to work, so I just purchased a manual medela pump. I'd like to have a small stash so that I can have some time without the baby occasionally. Also, my husband is dying to feed the baby.</p> <p>T was born 3 weeks ago, and breast feeding is going very well. The only issue we have is that my left boob seems to have a MUCH lower supply than my right. I know this is pretty normal, but it bothers me a little bit because she gets so upset when she is hungry and I try to get her on that side. </p> <p>So, anyway. I decided that I'm going to start trying to pump 1 x / day. I plan to do this in the morning, because that is when she usually goes the longest without eating and is pretty content. I tried to pump this morning, and pumped both sides for 10 minutes each. I didn't even get enough milk to cover the bottom of the bottle.</p> <p>I know I"m not going to get much with a manual, and my plan was to save it and add to it each day- but holy hell it will take me a decade to pump enough milk for one bottle at this rate!</p> <p>Will I increase my output if I keep trying each day? I was thinking about adding a second session on just the left side to try to increase the supply there- maybe trying to do it while I feed her on the right side? </p> <p>I really don't want to have to get an electric pump. I'd like to be able to give her a bottle sometime in the next few weeks. We are trying to plan our first date away from babe for our anniversary on June 16th so I'd like to have a stash by then...</p> <p>advice? </p>