pumping issues?

Question

I have a medela dbl breastpump. I usued it for the first time yesterday and only got 1 oz out of one breast and 1/2 oz out of other after about 20 min. I also woke up this morning very sore. Is there any trick I should know about? I'm very discureged!

Answer 1

I am going to be long-winded here, I am a pumper.
I saw your question as I finished pumping, I pump almost exclusivly during the day and nurse at night. We don't breastfeed in public or sitting up well.
Anyway. I also have a Medela Pump In Style Advanced. At first you don't get much, it takes practice and time to build a supply. You didn;'t mention how old your baby is, but if your baby is less than 6 weeks old I would say you got a fine amount.

Here are suggestions for pumping:
1. Double pump if possible, or pump one side while baby nurses the other if you are so talented... I'm not. You can buy a special bra to hold the pump horns in place.
2. Massage. I can only pump one side at a time because I must aggressivly massage to empty the breast.
3. Moist heat, they make these cool heat/cool therapy packs by Gerber that are designed to countour the breast and even fit inside your bra.
4. If you are only pumping on occasion pump when baby would eat if you can, after baby eats otherwise. If you are pumping often set a schedule.
5. Pump through your letdown untill you get a second letdown or even a third. Even if the milk stops flowing keep pumping and after a few minutes you should get another letdown. This will definatly increase your yield.
6. Start with fast speed and light suction to encourage a let-down, once the let-down begins slow your speed and increase suction.
7. If the baby cires (or ANY baby) it should help.

Suggestions for breast comfort:
1. breast therapy packs and/or soothies. They are pricy but well worth it. Lansinoh is great too (lanolin cream)
2. Find breast pads that don't irritate your nipples. I LOVE the extra soft premium Lansinoh one.

If you need to boost your supply:
1. gatorade works well, I find its better than water for me
2. Oatmeal, the real cooked kind, not instant
3. Fenugreek
4. A supplement called More Milk Plus is great

I will include some links including one to my own parenting forum if you want more information.


Good luck, and hang in there. Pumping is not always easy at first and just like riding a bike or drivng a car it takes practice to learn.

I forgot to add, the beats works on supply and demand, the faster you empty it the faster it makes more. But if you only pump for 5 minutes like a previous person suggested you won;t be getting the hindmilk which is the higher fat milk your baby needs to stay full longer and grow.

Answer 2

Its the supply and demand principle. The pump is not for everyone and often sucks at the wrong place. The bumps around the areola are stimulated as well as the nipple when a child sucks naturally. Some pumps tend to overlap this area and thus only a small amount of milk is received. The nipple itself is not all that causes milk flow.
You may also want to pretest your breast by manually expressing the teat to ascertain the pressure of the milk in the breast.

Often applying the child to the breast in the early stages causes milk to flow naturally and at the right time intervals with rotation from one breast to the other between feeds.
Pumps are generally only recommended when there is some problem of feeding during travel or night time when normal feeding may not be undertaken.

If you have a dimished milk supply and your babe is not getting enoiugh you will know by its constant " seraching" behaviour and irratability.
If this does occur and the pump does not fo the job consult the baby clinic for investigation and solution. Cheers

Answer 3

Put warm washcloths on each breast before pumping--then as you are pumping, continuously massage your breasts--I have a medela as well. When my milk first came in I was very sore for two days--I saw a lactational nurse and she said to drink a bottle of water before pumping as well--you must be well hydrated to get good flow--it works!! Also drink water during pumping too. But massage will help the flow--it took me 40 minutes to fill 2 ounces at first and now it takes 20 minutes and sometimes I can fill double that!! Good luck!!

Answer 4

I've also heard great success with purchasing a larger sheild. Most women I have know found the sheild (or Horn) that you place on your breast to be too small. If oyu contact Medela they might be able to tell you where you might be able to get a larger one.

I know the first few times I didnt get much milk but it was soon after I was geting 4oz per breast BUT very much like others mentioned supply and demand with newborns their ususally drinking less than 2oz at each feeding

Answer 5

Don't pump for quite so long, 5 mins for each breast is all you need and try to pump once every 2-3 hours (If you can) this will increase how much milk you make.
(I had the same issues)

Answer 6

I unquestionably have a Medela and massive boobs too and feature had no problems with it. (i did not additionally be responsive to there have been diverse cups to apply and that i used the widely used ones. So i think to that end, length does not count?! he he) first of all, how outdated is your toddler? If that's a new child, you will not get that lots milk. you will in basic terms be pumping what your toddler will usually get in a feeding. (At new child age, their abdomen is basically concerning the dimensions of a walnut.) in the journey that your toddler is older, returned you will in basic terms get what your toddler would be nursing. don't get hung up on formula oz.. i be responsive to they say for a undeniable age, supply a undeniable volume of formula yet do not stick to those techniques! basically have confidence that what you will pump for a feeding is sufficient. Are you pumping ideal after your toddler has nursed? Or are you pumping whilst it is your toddler's usual feeding time? (i might do this at night and my husband might supply the bottle.) in case you're pumping ideal after nursing, the breast would be empty. in case you're pumping in the course of a classic time, this is maximum probable the quantity your toddler might get. you opt for to pump in the course of a classic feeding time. For the pump, is the cup on your breast actual? Is it getting sufficient suction? you are able to alter the "sucking" capability. If the pump is on your breast actual, it is going to pull your nipple into the cup and the milk will squirt out. If that isn't taking place, the cup isn't on ideal and air is entering into. attempt protecting it nearer on your breast to stay clear of this. (additionally, be effective to have all of the aspects and that they are on actual. For my sort, there are those little white covers concerning the dimensions of a nickel that could desire to be on the cups to help with suction. If those are actually not on, the pump won't suction something!) you would be able to desire to get a habitual down and it basically takes a while to work out what's working for you and toddler. i might pump 10 minutes on the two facet to get the right volume for my toddlers. it is in basic terms one among those trial and mistake issues. do basically not shop pumping and pumping at random situations as this might decrease to rubble your milk manufacturing and your physique will on no account be on a ideal schedule. i'm hoping this is sensible!

Answer 7

I had the EXACT same problems, but I just gave up, it hurt toooo much. However, when I just put her on the breast, she seemed to do fine, so maybe some breasts don't react to the pump, it isn't natural. I hope you work it out, don't give up as quickly as I did, I wish I hadn't.

Answer 8

how long ago did you have your baby.. I had the modela electric double pump, and couldn't get anything for the first 3 weeks... you might try warm/hot rags to let your milk down, and massage them to....