Gahh, I just pumped for 20 minutes and my right breast STILL feels full! And I can't pump again until 3:30!!! Someone reassure me my boob will be fine waiting that long!
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Any chance you can pump longer? You might have a blocked duct! I used to get these all the time unfortunately!
But, you will be ok! If you're pumping at all when you get home, just apply heat (heating pad works) and it will help to relieve some of your milk. If you feel some hardness, then try to massage that out as it might be the blocked duct.
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Do you do breast massage when you pump? Make sure to do a lot of it next time you get a pumping break!
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I agree w/ @2PeasinaPod. It sounds like you might have clogged duct. You should be ok until the next time (just engorged), but make sure you really try to find the knot and massage it out w/ your next session.
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@2PeasinaPod: @BabyBoecksMom: Hmm... I was thinking it might be a clogged duct too, but it doesn't hurt at all, so I wasn't sure.
@highwire: I usually don't, but I'll definitely try at 3:30! Although... I'm not really sure how easy that will be... I feel like my flanges cover a lot of my boob and then I wear a pumping bra which covers even more. How do you massage with so much covered?
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@Adira: I have to do massage for my milk to flow, so I do it every single time. I just put my hands inside the bra and squeeze at different angles throughout the session. If you have an area you think might be clogged, make sure to massage that area aggressively and move your hands down the breast towards the nipple to work out the clog
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@highwire: Okay, thanks for the tip! I'll definitely give that a try. Although that will make the pumping session less fun - I usually read a book while I pump!
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@Adira: Do one side at a time! I usually massage with one hand and use my other for whatever I'm doing. Then I switch after a few minutes.
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@Adira: try watching a video of your lo when pumping. it really helps get the milk flowing!
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I hate when that happens! I usually hand express afterwards if my pump isn't doing it's job.
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@highwire: Wouldn't that take longer? I usually do both sides at the same time for 20 minutes. Doing one side at a time will mean only 10 minutes each side. Wouldn't I end up with less milk, even if I was massaging at the same time?
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@Mrs. Bee: Good idea, though I don't have a way to do that today! I'll have to load a video onto my phone so I can try that.
@regberadaisy: I wasn't thinking, but I should have done that. I'm always in such a rush to get everything packed up and put away that I'm not sure I have time to hand express. I'll try after my 3:30 session though if I'm still feeling full.
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@Adira: Sorry. I meant massage one hand at a time! Still double pumping with the bra on and everything.
I'm wondering if you think I meant hand expressing? I meant you are still hooked up to your pump, with the bra on. But you also squeeze your breasts as you are hooked up to the pump.
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@Adira ugh this is the worst! I know it's a bad problem to have, but I also hate when it's still flowing at 20 minutes because I don't want to stop but gah, I can't pump that long! Anyway, I wear a pumping bra and I just massage through the bra. Near the end I'll slip my hand inside and can get more that way, but I have good luck just applying pressure at different angles through the bra.
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@highwire: OHHH, derr, that makes sense! Okay, I'll definitely give that a try!!
ETA: I knew you meant still pumping and just massaging at the same time, but for some reason I thought you meant just pumping and massaging one side and completely ignoring the other. What you ACTUALLY meant of pumping both side and just massaging one side at a time makes total sense, and I'm not sure why I didn't just assume that's what you meant, haha. My brain!
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I don't usually start massage until the end or maybe do a little bit after 10 minutes a little after 20. I always have to pump 30 and do a bit of hand expressing after to fully empty.
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@ladyfingers: Oh my gosh, seriously! The milk was still flowing after 20 minutes but I HAD to stop because I only have the Mother's Room for 30 minutes and I had to get out of there! I'll definitely try the massaging while pumping trick though and hopefully that will help!
@Mrs Green Grass: I wish I had time to pump for 30 minutes! I think that's what I really need because it always seems like I'm still shooting out milk after 20 minutes, but I have to stop because I only have the room for 30 minutes total and it takes me about 5 minutes to setup and 5 minutes to tear down. I'll definitely try the massage idea though and I'll try to hand express after if I'm still feeling full, though I don't have a ton of time to do it. ESPECIALLY after my 3:30 pump session because I have to wash my pump parts.
Although... would it be totally gross if I DIDN'T wash my pump parts and just put them in a ziploc baggy and washed them when I got home? That would definitely save me a couple minutes.
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@Adira: I leave my pump parts in the bag! I don't even have a personal mini fridge anymore so it's not even refrigerated. M does fine!
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@Adira: I only wash/sterilize once a day! Otherwise my parts all hang out in the fridge.
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@regberadaisy: You leave them in the bag without washing? That makes me feel better! Maybe I'll skip the washing step, which would save me sooooo much time!
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@highwire: I keep my pump parts in the fridge between pumps, but I was washing them before taking them home (since I don't have a way to keep them cool on the trip home).
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@Adira: I have an hour + 15 minute commute home, and I just put them into the fridge when I get home again. Haven't had any issues so far!
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@Adira: Do you pump again at home? I don't wash my pump parts and just throw them in a bag until I get home. Then I wash them when I get home. Massaging definitely helps. And watching videos and looking at pics of LO really helps get the milk flowing for me.
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@highwire: Really!!! Good to know!!! I think I'll do the same! Not having to wash them would really save me some time!
Blah, this boob is making me nervous. I think I might schedule an extra 30 minutes in the Mother's Room to pump before 3:30. I'll just have to use personal time to make up for it.
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@mrskc: Yes, I do pump again at home, so the washing step was really a hassle. I'm so glad to hear from other ladies that it's not necessary!!!
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@Adira: Oh ok. I'm sure it's still fine even if you don't wash. Breast milk is ok sitting out at room temp for what? 6 hours I think.
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@mrskc: Yeah, that's true! I guess I was just thinking I HAD to keep it refrigerated or wash it, but it wouldn't be out for that long, so it should be fine!
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I never washed my pump parts in between pumps, I'd just rinse them quick, like three seconds under the water and put them in a baggie in the fridge. After my last pump at work I'd just rinse and put them in the baggie to take home. I'd wash them after I got home, before I did my evening pump though.
I know you said you're time crunched, but I would really try to pump until you are empty. Is there a way to look at the schedule to see if there is someone coming in right after you? If you are continually stopping before empty, then your body will think you don't need that milk and start producing less.
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@kiddosc: Yes, I can see the schedule, so I know there technically shouldn't be anyone after me, but I feel bad being away from my desk for longer than 30 minutes at a time. Ugh! I definitely am concerned about my body starting to produce less, but I'm not sure what to do about it...
I just pumped for another 20 minutes, doing the hand massaging and THEN hand expressed for 5 minutes after and my boob STILL doesn't feel empty. I probably could have hand expressed more out of it but I was in a time crunch and my hand/arm was getting sore, haha. I don't know what to do! I guess I'm going to hope I can empty it at 3:30... and if not, it's the first boob Xander's getting tonight! Hopefully he'll empty it!
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I apparently can't empty this sucker! I need to put the baby to work tonight - he'll get it empty!
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