Pumping output seems low - What to do?

By Adira Aug 6, 2013

So one breast always produces less than the other, but this morning, it seems to be producing a LOT less than normal! I'm nervous I'm never going to make my quota for the day!

Does anyone have any suggestions for how I can boost the supply? I do massages while pumping and hand express after. I even added a pumping session in, but didn't get very much out. I was thinking I'd try pumping after I nurse tonight as well, but is there anything else I can do? What do you do when your supply seems to have dipped?

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25 comments

littlebittyhouse
pear / 1570 posts

Aug 6, 2013

power pump! always my go to when supply is dipping!

pump for ten minutes, rest for ten minutes, on and off, for a total of one hour. you can do it watching a show at night!
Mrsbells
squash / 13199 posts

Aug 6, 2013

pump one side whilst nursing on the other side
eat lots of oatmeal
drink tons of water
and try not to worry
Adira
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts

Aug 6, 2013

@littlebittyhouse: Is it okay to power pump immediately after nursing or immediately before nursing? I don't want to mess up Xander...

@Mrsbells: I'll definitely try to drink more water - I probably don't drink enough! And worrying part is hard...
littlebittyhouse
pear / 1570 posts

Aug 6, 2013

@Adira: absolutely! you're basically goign to mimic a growth spurt by power pumping.

are your still EBF? He may have just had a large feeding and that is why you pumped less?

Also, it helped me to have like 3 water bottles (camelbacks) filled at the beginning of the day so that I could just drink and not have to refill.
Adira
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts

Aug 6, 2013

@littlebittyhouse: Okay, I'll def give the power pumping a try!!

And I am still EBF and I do think he had a large feeding this morning, but that usually just affects my first pump of the day (which WAS less than normal), but normally my pumps during work aren't affected by it, so I'm not sure what's going on.
purrpletulips
pomegranate / 3414 posts

Aug 6, 2013

I'm struggling with this since returning from vacation three weeks ago where I nursed exclusively and didn't pump. I've upped my water intake, continue to eat oatmeal daily and have been power pumping during my lunchtime session. My output seems to be going up and down, since DS is 10.5m I can still meet his needs but am not sending as much BM to the sitter as before but since he is eating more solids it seems to even out. Plus he is increasing his nursing sessions at night to help compensate; since he's never STTN it isn't too much of a problem to get up extra.
LaineysMom
clementine / 916 posts

Aug 6, 2013

@Adira: when my supply dips I drink 3 cups of MMT and eat 2 T brewers yeast.
purrpletulips
pomegranate / 3414 posts

Aug 6, 2013

Check the membranes on your pump as well, it is possible that one might have a small tear or hole.
Adira
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts

Aug 6, 2013

@purrpletulips: Good idea! I'll have to check them out! Also, my pump is over a year old, so it's possible it's just dying on me (although one side is still producing just fine). I just recently got a new pump and am waiting for new flanges, so I'm hoping I'll get better results once I start using that!

@LaineysMom: I was recently just on MMP, but Xander had a terrible eczema flare up and that was the only thing I was doing differently, so I'm afraid he might be allergic to something in MMP, and I'm guessing MMT has similar stuff...?
LaineysMom
clementine / 916 posts

Aug 6, 2013

I think so.. Just much lower doses. Maybe try brewers yeast. I don't think it really has side effects.
Adira
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts

Aug 7, 2013

So now I'm totally freaked out (which probably is REALLY helpful to my supply)! I was able to pump enough for Xander yesterday by adding in three extra pumping sessions (one during the day and then two after nursing). But this morning, when I'm usually VERY full and can usually pump 3-5 oz after nursing, I pumped ZERO! LITERALLY. NOTHING CAME OUT! I felt like Xander ate more than normal, but usually even when he's nursed me to basically empty, I can still get 0.5-1 oz out and this morning I got NOTHING.

Does anyone have any advice??? I've been drinking water, eating oatmeal, and now I'm just totally freaking out.
cmomma17
honeydew / 7811 posts

Aug 7, 2013

@Adira: add pumping sessions, drink more water, and try looking at baby photos/videos while pumping. Can you also put a used onesie in your pumping bag so you can smell baby scent? What about lactation cookies?
cmomma17
honeydew / 7811 posts

Aug 7, 2013

@Adira: I had one session yesterday where I pumped my less than an ounce it was my first full day away from C because of a work retreat. I just tried not to worry about it
Adira
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts

Aug 7, 2013

@cmomma17: Thanks for the advice! I was actually at home doing my first pumping session, so I just turned on the video monitor so I could watch Xander, but it didn't help. I don't know what's up with me!

But I added a pumping session and just went at 8:00 and was able to get 4oz, so I'll just have to see how the rest of the day goes! Usually my first session at work is at 11:00 and I can get 6.5oz, so I'm hoping I still get 3oz or so to put my total to 7oz. Then even though I'll be behind for the day, I'll feel less stressed about it!

Just seeing the milk come out though at 8:00 really helped. I was totally freaked out that I didn't get ANYTHING this morning - not even a drop! I was worried my pump wasn't working or my boobs were on pumping strike or something, so getting just a little out helped boost my confidence!!! Now I'm guzzling the water and I just had some oatmeal! Fingers crossed!!!
skipra
pomegranate / 3350 posts

Aug 7, 2013

I've had a hard time pumping too. I notice that it's the worst when I'm stressing out about not being able to pump enough...self-fulfilling prophecy? Sometimes what helps me is to distract myself while pumping so I'm not focusing on how much I'm getting. So I will read a book or play a game on my phone or something. Just anything to get my mind off it.
I think someone else mentioned this, but in the morning I try to pump one side while DS nurses on the other. He usually nurses around 5am and then I try to pump around 6:30 or 7:00 so he is not starving but will usually latch on for a couple minutes and it really helps to get the milk flowing. When I pump that way I can usually get 3-4 oz. but if he won't latch on then I can only get 1-2 oz.
JoJoGirl
cantaloupe / 6206 posts

Aug 7, 2013

@Adira: My pp doula says the #1 thing you can do above all else is HYDRATE. Her exact words were "nothing else actually matters".
travellingbee
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts

Aug 7, 2013

I have no other advice for you but I just wanted to say HUGS! I am sorry that your boobs aren't cooperating! I know how stressful that is!
Adira
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts

Aug 7, 2013

@skipra: I've never actually tried pumping while nursing, but it sounds so interesting! I think I'd need a new position to do it though because currently Xander lays sideways in front of me and so he'd be in the way of my pump I think...

@JoJoGirl: Gahhh, thanks for the reminder! I need to be better at drinking water!!!

@travellingbee: Thanks sweetie!!! What makes it especially annoying is I JUST was telling Hubs my boobs make plenty for Xander and to lay off me! And now they're failing me! The traitors!
skipra
pomegranate / 3350 posts

Aug 7, 2013

@Adira: I thought it was bizarre but tried it out of desperation and it worked! I don't know how your pump works but that is the position that DS lays and it seems to work fine for us. Sometimes he kicks the bottle that I pump into but it's not really a problem. Good luck!
Adira
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts

Aug 7, 2013

@skipra: I think I could only do it if he's sleepy, because otherwise he flails about with his whole body!!! He's a mess, haha. Though, do you usually only nurse one side at a time? Xander nurses from both, so I'm not sure it would make sense for me to pump while nursing since I'd just deplete half his food...
skipra
pomegranate / 3350 posts

Aug 7, 2013

@Adira: Yes it is tough with squirmy babies! I think if you are normally able to pump quite a bit after nursing then you should be fine pumping one side while he nurses (if he allows it!) You will probably get all that you need on just one side and when he is done nursing on the other side, you can switch him to the side that you were pumping. He is much more efficient than the pump so he will be able to get more from the same side and if you do take some of what he would have eaten, he will try harder which will help you to increase your supply, right? Does that make sense?
Adira
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts

Aug 7, 2013

@skipra: That's very true! Good points! I'm scared to try it, but it sounds like it might be worth it!!!
skipra
pomegranate / 3350 posts

Aug 7, 2013

@Adira: My husband thinks it's the weirdest thing ever...but hey if it works, who cares?
Revel
pear / 1563 posts

Aug 7, 2013

@Adira: my LO also usually nurses both sides, but for the first morning feed I do exactly what @skipra: described (nurse one pump the other, then put her to the side i pumped if she wants it) and it works out fine. It's a little tricky to hold everything in place but you'll get the hang of it if you decide to try.
Adira
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts

Aug 7, 2013

@Revel: Thanks for chiming in! I really feel like I should try it, but I'm also nervous about how complicated it could be, haha.

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Pumping output seems low - What to do?

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