pumping exclusively

• 11-07-2008 3:50 PM

  sarahandjoe Joined on 07-01-2008 Posts 5

  pumping exclusively Reply Contact my daughter is 8 weeks old and i have been exclusively pumping since week 4. i hate breastfeeding for an hr at a time and this is so much quicker. i can pump, feed her the bottle and be back to bed in less time than one breastfeeding session....i was going nuts, problems getting her to latch on and stay on ! my problem is i am not getting enough milk anymore. i try to pump about every 4 hrs, but that isn't always possible. i only have one extra bottle in the fridge at a time. how do i increase this? i have had to give formula sometimes to keep up. i go back to work in 3 weeks and would like some in the freezer. any suggestions? is pumping exclusively an option, or will i need to supplement?

• 11-08-2008 11:53 AM

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  CarolinaKrissy Joined on 02-25-2008 Posts 12

  Re: pumping exclusively Reply Contact Hey, I have issues similar to yours....turns out my baby wasn't gaining enough weight and I was told to supplement. Frustrated with the whole direct breastfeeding thing and never knowing for sure how much she was getting, I have switched to pumping exclusively to make sure she's getting enough intake....well, I can only manage to get out a little over 2 ounces each time I pump (every three hours). Also one breast is definitely larger than the other (the one that gives 1.5 ounces...the other one only gives about 1 ounce). I am giving bottles of breastmilk during the day and then allowing her to have formula at night.... I have heard of fenugreek, mother's milk tea (bought it...tried it, it tastes like crap!). I think the best thing is to drink lots of water, eat 500 extra calories, and rest....ALL things I CANNOT do at this point!! I think breastfeeding is wonderful and I'm envious of the women that are able to do it so easily....My baby is almost 1 month old and I'm getting to the point of wanting to stop with the pumping altogether and just go to formula...I don't think I will ever be able to keep up with her....and I am now questioning if it's because I have saline implants (behind the muscle)...although I don't think so....if the implants were a problem, I don't think I'd be able to produce milk at all... Anyway, try to rest, drink lots, eat more, and possibly try the mother's milk tea or fenugreek. Maybe that will work for you.

• 11-08-2008 2:39 PM

  In reply to

  AmiJanell Joined on 01-16-2007 Dawson Edward Born 7/15/08 Posts 823

  Re: pumping exclusively Reply Contact Pump more often when you have the time, every 2 hours if you can to increase the demand... You should pump a min. of 8 times/day... 10 times if you are trying to increase the supply, like during a growth spurt (a breastfed baby will demand this on their own, eating every 1-2 hours...  you need to do it with the pump)  Even if you can only pump for a few minutes... Make sure you have a good electric pump, and get a hand held too... it helps for when you are out and about to pump quickly... or you just have a few spare minutes to pump an extra 1-2 oz Pump for 5 minutes after the milk has stopped coming Drink LOTS of water Try taking fenugreek (you can get it at GNC) 6-8 caps/day Massage your breasts before and during the pumping

• 11-08-2008 3:06 PM

  In reply to

  sarahandjoe Joined on 07-01-2008 Posts 5	Re: pumping exclusively Reply Contact why pump 5 min after the milk stops?

• 11-09-2008 2:13 AM

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  kerian2579225 Joined on 01-01-2008 south africa, Kyla Alexa born 10 July 08 Posts 2,444	Re: pumping exclusively Reply Contact  pumping for 5 mins afdter the milk stops flowing, signals to your body that baby needs more milk than your breasts are producing.  soi your body will make more.  its all about supply and demand.  also doing breast compresions during pumping gives me about an oz more milk.

• 11-13-2008 1:59 AM

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  MKL33 Joined on 02-27-2008 Virginia Posts 768

  Re: pumping exclusively Reply Contact I think it is really hard to pump exclusively. I quit nursing and went to pumping only when DD was 3 weeks old due to similar issues as yours. She was tongue tied and even after we got her tongue clipped she wasn't nursing well. I don't have a problem with supplementing. I don't think you should look at it as all or nothing. If your baby is getting a couple bottles (or more) of breastmilk a day it's still really good for her. You can check out kellymom.com for information on pumping too. Good luck!

• 11-14-2008 1:02 PM

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  deborah2859655 Joined on 11-14-2008 Posts 1

  Re: pumping exclusively Reply Contact I am so glad to find others that are pumping exclusively. I have struggled with the decision, but I had no luck with BReastfeeding, I tried it for 3 weeks exclusively, my son was not gaining sufficient weight and I visited 2 lactation consultants and still could not get the hang of him latching correctly. I was doing well with pumping, nothing extreme, but could at least get 3 oz when I pumped but today I am getting 1 oz from one breast and barely covering the bottom on the other breast. I have rented a MEdela Symphony and that is what I am using. Any other ideas, I am getting worried about not producing enough. We also supplement with formula at night, this allows for a solid 4 hours of sleep, now that our son is above his birth weight. He is 4 weeks now and gained 2 pounds in the past 14 days.

• 11-14-2008 3:05 PM

  In reply to

  CarolinaKrissy Joined on 02-25-2008 Posts 12

  Re: pumping exclusively Reply Contact I am gonna catch so much flack for this, but I am just like you. My child was not gaining sufficient weight, so I was forced to supplement. I also felt that I should pump so I would know how many ounces exactly she was getting. Well, that was when I found out I could not get more than 2 oz. I tried to rest more (impossible as a new mom with a reflux newborn), drink more, and eat more. Nothing helped. The stress was so bad. Well, I even tried mother's milk tea and it caused me to have diarrhea so I had to let that go as well. I recently decided that I was going to wean from the pump. I could not keep up with her only getting out 2 oz each time and between feeding her, burping her, holding her upright for 30 min b/c of her reflux, pumping, and washing pump parts...I just couldn't do it anymore. Once I accepted my decision, I am so much happier. Trust me, I am a NICU nurse, I know how important BM is for babies, but you know what?? I gave it my BEST try and at least I got her to one month of age and she received all my immunity up to this point! I can take solace in that and know I am a good mommy. Her growing and weight gain is the most important! So...give it your best shot and if it doesn't work, that's okay. You did your BEST! A happy mommy = a happy baby! Also, keep in mind if you wean yourself from the pump, go slowly and don't be surprised if when you pump to relieve engorgement, you get a lot more ounces out. It's normal. Good luck to you in whatever you decide.

• 11-17-2008 5:51 PM

  In reply to

  Angela2495207 Joined on 01-02-2008 Florida Posts 823

  Re: pumping exclusively Reply Contact CarolinaKrissy: I am gonna catch so much flack for this, but I am just like you. My child was not gaining sufficient weight, so I was forced to supplement. I also felt that I should pump so I would know how many ounces exactly she was getting. Well, that was when I found out I could not get more than 2 oz. I tried to rest more (impossible as a new mom with a reflux newborn), drink more, and eat more. Nothing helped. The stress was so bad. Well, I even tried mother's milk tea and it caused me to have diarrhea so I had to let that go as well. I recently decided that I was going to wean from the pump. I could not keep up with her only getting out 2 oz each time and between feeding her, burping her, holding her upright for 30 min b/c of her reflux, pumping, and washing pump parts...I just couldn't do it anymore. Once I accepted my decision, I am so much happier. Trust me, I am a NICU nurse, I know how important BM is for babies, but you know what?? I gave it my BEST try and at least I got her to one month of age and she received all my immunity up to this point! I can take solace in that and know I am a good mommy. Her growing and weight gain is the most important! So...give it your best shot and if it doesn't work, that's okay. You did your BEST! A happy mommy = a happy baby! Also, keep in mind if you wean yourself from the pump, go slowly and don't be surprised if when you pump to relieve engorgement, you get a lot more ounces out. It's normal. Good luck to you in whatever you decide. A lot of us won't give you flack!! We all know how those first couple months/weeks are!! Trust me-- I exclusively pumped with my oldest ds due to him not latching and lasted 7 wks then ff the rest!! With this one- he's 19 wks -- I am bf--but he's gotten formula and bm.. so Do what is best for you and the baby-- Happy baby---happy mom!! Although relaxation is the key!! Good Luck!!

• 12-06-2008 6:50 PM

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  Musical Christy Joined on 03-21-2008 DS11-18-97/DS01-13-99 Angel 4-04 DD4 11-18-08 Posts 2	Re: pumping exclusively Reply Contact I have been pumping breastfeeding and formula feeding since brith. MY DD is 18days and she had to have a bottle at birth... so I have struggled with the breastfeeding.... and latching on... And decided to pump ... then I give her the breastmilk in the bottle... then try breastfeeding... then give formula!! She seems happier that way!!

• 12-30-2008 3:37 PM

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  Aimee2550097 Joined on 12-29-2008 Atlanta, GA Posts 29	Re: pumping exclusively Reply Contact Logan is 5 months old and I've been pumping from the get go b/c I have sooooooooooooooooooo much milk. I can pump 12 oz EACH SIDE (I now donate to a milk bank!) He only gets breastmilk......keep it up ladies, it's totally worth it!!!!

• 01-02-2009 8:40 AM

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  ~JuliaGulia~ Joined on 08-23-2006 Edmonton, Alberta Posts 31

  Re: pumping exclusively Reply Contact Try drinking rootbeer.  I've heard that it help increase milk production.  Another tip is to make sure that you are pumping at least once during the night.....sometime between midnight and 4 am.  Your milk producing hormones are highest during this time and so pumping at that time will signal your body to make more milk. I pumped exclusively for my dd for the first 5 months.  We had difficulty with latching and she just seemed to be hungry even after eating for an hour.  I discovered I could feed her a bottlepump and be back to bed in less time than it took to breastfeed.  I'm currently pg with baby #2.  This time around I am going to see a lactation consultant before the birth, but if I have problems again I plan on pumping again.  I want to give this baby the best possible.