If you had an easy time breast-feeding and pumping, you can leave this thread now. Please. Just go. The last thing I need to hear is cheery advice from people with no problems.
If you had difficulties, read on.
How much (or, rather, how little) did you produce per pumping session (in milliliters or ounces)? And how often and for how long did you pump?
We have not been able to latch/connect properly, so all I can do is pump furiously (every three hours). But I'm making so little milk, and, from a logical perspective, it doesn't seem worth it.
I didn't have a problem with production, but I ended up EPing for my own reasons. If I could go back, I would have gone straight to formula. It is a hassle, and I hated how it made me feel.
I had to pump, because breast feeding did not work for me.
In the beginning I pumped 2 oz from each boob, and I had to cluster pump for a couple of days, which brought my supply up to 3-4 oz a boob, and that's the most I ever produced. I think it depends a lot on your pump/size of your horns too.
I'm sorry miso. It IS worth it, IMO, but if you can't, then you can't. When I pumped I usually got ~2oz per breast (although lefty usually was a slacker).
Post by gretchenindisguise on Feb 10, 2014 17:36:33 GMT -5
The best things for my supply while pumping were the correct sized flanges (with nipple cream on the inside at times I was tore up) and hard apple cider.
In the beginning I pumped 2 oz from each boob, and I had to cluster pump for a couple of days, which brought my supply up to 3-4 oz a boob, and that's the most I ever produced. I think it depends a lot on your pump/size of your horns too.
Post by liverandonions on Feb 10, 2014 17:37:22 GMT -5
Ugh, I had issues from the get-go. I had to pump after each breast-feeding session and I think the Most i EVER got between both breasts was 6 ounces and that wasn't in the very beginning. Do you have a hands-free bra? It will help for you to be able to relax and let go, play on on your phone whatever. Drink tons of water, eat oatmeal (can you or someone make some lactation cookies?) Also, massage your boobs before pumping. You can try different combos of speed and suction power-Some people have better luck with high power/slow speed right out the gate and some are opposite.
Good luck. Remember-Any BM your baby gets is good for her. I pumped for about 4 months and just ran out of milk. She was supplemented that whole time and got 1 bottle of BM a day until I ran out and by then it was just part of a bottle.
“Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make it so, right in the middle of it lose a leg, fall in love, drop a jar of applesauce.” - Natalie Goldberg
I didn't have a problem with production, but I ended up EPing for my own reasons. If I could go back, I would have gone straight to formula. It is a hassle, and I hated how it made me feel.
Sorry. What is EP?
Exclusively pumping.
I have no experience with this, but I will say that if you think you will regret quitting, keep trying. If you aren't feeling the whole process, stop and enjoy that baby!
Post by spankswife on Feb 10, 2014 17:37:55 GMT -5
EP = exclusively pumping
At 3 weeks, I was only pumping 8 ozs/day. My baby was starving. I had to give up and give formula. At about 2 weeks, maybe I'd get an oz here or there.
Post by VeryViolet on Feb 10, 2014 17:38:13 GMT -5
How long are you pumping for? I would pump for 30 to 45 minutes when I could (maybe threes times a day). I would letdown more than once. Also I tried oatmeal and the tea and didn't notice much of an output change. Dark beer really helped though.
In the beginning I pumped 2 oz from each boob, and I had to cluster pump for a couple of days, which brought my supply up to 3-4 oz a boob, and that's the most I ever produced. I think it depends a lot on your pump/size of your horns too.
This amount counts as "having difficulties"?!
WELL, FUCK.
I found it hard to keep up with that amount with EPing.
Post by game blouses on Feb 10, 2014 17:40:53 GMT -5
I can't recommend a nipple shield highly enough. We went from no latching to perfect latching. I also pumped very little in the beginning, but once he was latching with the shield, my prediction increased dramatically.
I'm sorry My body did not produce enough milk, pumping or regular BF. I kept at it for 3 weeks but my baby was losing so much weight and I was starting to get so stressed out. My lactation consultant even told me to stop. lol I would get about a half of an ounce per pumping session, if that.
I say you do whatever you need to do, BF or formula. Either way your kid will be fine To me, I wanted to enjoy my baby, not be stressed and angry every time I had to feed him.
Post by liverandonions on Feb 10, 2014 17:41:17 GMT -5
Oh and also, It was really hard for me to quit pumping even thought it sucked and I didn't make much. I really wanted breast feeding to work, and/or for her to have BM.
When I went to formula only I felt guilty. After a short while I realized how nice it was. So, do what's right for you.
Exclusively pumping. And sorry, I edited my post b/c it didn't really make sense. Anyway, nursing didn't work. Pumping worked physically, but I was still miserable. I don't know if you are just looking for advice on how to make that or nursing work, but I just wanted to say that looking back, the frustration was not worth it to me.
Eta: it is true though that she is still getting good stuff from even a small amount of bm, so in that sense it is worth it if you do want to keep it up. You're not failing her by being unable to feed exclusively BM.
I wanted to see how much people generally make.
And, if people think FUCKING SIX OUNCES qualifies as "having difficulties," then this is truly an exercise in futility for me.
I HATED breastfeeding and pumping. So I did what I could. I pumped every 4 hours and, at my peak, produced maybe 12 oz/day. From the beginning I decided I'd rather enjoy my child then torture us both about eating. So from day 3, he's eaten whatever I could pump and then I give him formula as a topper. Im 3.5 months in and my supply has tanked to about 4 oz/ day. Im sad but the most important thing is to feed the baby, however you can.
How long are you pumping for? I would pump for 30 to 45 minutes when I could (maybe threes times a day). I would letdown more than once. Also I tried oatmeal and the tea and didn't notice much of an output change. Dark beer really helped though.
Every three hours for 15 minutes, per lactation consultants' (yes, plural) advice.
E had a big appetite from day 1. I nursed, pumped and formula fed.
Eventually, E actually started to refuse to nurse. I am assuming he was able to drink more from the bottle with less effort than nursing. Once he started to refuse to nurse, my supply tanked, and I ended up pumping less than an oz per session.
I was miserable while pumping. I did use a hands free nursing bra, and a hospital grade pump (which I rented from the hospital.)
I stopped pumping probably around 10 weeks, and he was a formula fed baby from then on. I think I was pumping about every 3 hours.
I only got 1-2oz per pump and it just wasn't enough to keep up.I did everything I could to increase my supply - it was a no go. I went to formula and it totally relieved my anxiety and stress. I felt like a different person.
Its really stressful when you aren't making enough. Do whatever you need to do.
I get, like, half an ounce TOTAL from both boobs per session.
Have you seen a lactation consultant or told your doctor? I think there are Rx that can help if need be. I tried the fenugreek and it didn't help. What kind of pump are you using? Is it hospital grade?
I had a really hard time at the beginning. Have you tried Fenugreek, mothers milk tea or dark beer? These all helped get my production up but it was a constant battle. I think I would get about 1.5 - 2 oz each session when I started. What pump are you using?