Breastfeeding expressing trouble with breastpump - please help?

Question

Why when I try to pump milk using my breastpump does it seem to take so long to get a few drops of milk out? Its so much effort that I find it easier just to be around the baby all the time. This is my second child - I had same frustration with the first although I did breastfeed for 6 months, but didnt express

My baby is just over 3 weeks - Im lucky to pump 2 ounces within an hour and a half

Any advice as to breast pumps. Is 2 ounces a good amount for a newborn?

I even bought another manual breastpump, thinking the first was faulty, but same problem with small amount a milk a time

Answer 1

Obviously, a baby will get more milk then a pump will.

What type of pump are you using? A manual pump is usually good to use once in a while. I like the Avent manual pump. If you plan on pumping for a while, i would suggest you get a hospital grade pump. Medela makes a nice pump.

Breast milk is supply and demand. Are you exclusively pumping for the baby? To get your supply up, you need to pump/nurse often. I would power pump.. or pump every two hours. If you breast feed.. then i would follow up with pumping for a few minutes to get more milk out. make sure you pump for 5 minutes after the milk has stopped flowing.

I think i got about 2-3 ounces when my son was that age. I exclusively pump.

Drink alot of liquids, get tons of rest... and pump/nurse often!

Best of luck

Answer 2

I have used manual breast pumps without a problem. To get the most milk i would use the pump whilst baby is on the other breast and the let down relex would give much more milk. And or in the morning when my breasts seemed fuller.
I found that if i tried it any time without the help of my baby i would get very little milk.

I also think 2 oz at a time at just 3 weeks is fine. YOur breasts are used to producing small amounts for a small sized tummy. As your baby grows you'll produce more milk. I could get 7oz or more at a time using my pump by the time my daughter was 3 months.

I used Avents manual pump if thats any help

Answer 3

Many mothers have trouble expressing milk. Your baby is so young right now, your milk supply isn't really established and your baby is still learning to breastfeed well. It will get easier as your baby gets older.

One tip that works for many mothers is to pump one breast while baby breastfeeds on the other. This might be hard right now (breastfeeding a newborn always seems to take three hands as it is), but as your baby becomes more coordinated with nursing, you might try this technique. Baby's nursing stimulates a let-down and you can take advantage of it with the pump. After baby finishes the first breast, you can switch pump and baby if baby needs more milk. Don't worry that baby won't get enough - your baby is much more effective at removing milk than any pump.

If you're pumping AND feeding your baby, expect that it will take more than one pumping session to get a bottle's worth. You can store milk in the fridge, and add to the bottle over several days. Or you can freeze the milk and add cooled milk (as long as the amount you add is less than what's already frozen). Remember that your body adjusts milk supply to your baby's needs, so there's not a ton extra for the pump. If you're planning on missing one feeding, expect that your baby will need 2-4 ounces of milk. And if you're going to be away from your baby, you might need to pump at the time you'd normally feed, otherwise you might feel engorged, leak milk, or even get plugged ducts or mastitis. With all this, it's no wonder that many mothers find it easier to just take baby along, or plan outings at baby's nap time. Remember that an older baby can go longer between feedings, and once your baby starts solids, solid foods can replace the occassional nursing session.

Answer 4

I exclusively pumped for 12 months for my daughter so I know a lot about pumping. At my highest output I was pumping 10 oz in around 30 minutes

1.Get an electric pump- I used the Medela In Style- it was amazing

2. drink lots of fluids

3. most importantly massage your breasts- pump for a few minutes and then if the flow decreases massage your breast for a minute or so- or if possible while you are pumping

4. after 30 minutes most peoples breasts are done for a while so don't try to push it any longer
Good luck

Answer 5

You're using a manual pump? That's probably your answer.

Every review I've ever seen says manual pumps and cheap pumps are just not worth it for anybody but the most infrequent users. Go with a double electric if you really want to pump with any regularity. I have plenty of good things to say about the Medela 'Pump in Style,' if you're looking for brand recommendations.

(And of course it's easier to just be around the baby all the time. It's also so much nicer!)

Answer 6

I found the easiest way to trigger let down, was to pump while baby was on the other breast - once you've got the hang of it, you can do it without.

I would say that 2oz sounds about right for a 3 week old depending on how long between feeds.

Answer 7

Im afraid I had the exact same problem. I've had 3 children and breastfed all of them. I could never express more than 3 fluid oz and that would be after about 2 hours of trying. I've never known anyone who expressed well. Apparently you can go to the hospital where you had your baby and they have mechanical pumps which sound more effective, at least you can at my local maternity ward. Good luck!

Answer 8

Manual breastpumps are RUBBISH! Buy an electric one! It's the only way.

I used an electric one happily for months - used to get 6oz at a time in about 10 minutes. Then I went away one night and forgot to take it and had to buy a manual one. It took me and houe to get 2 ounces.

The avent isis is brilliant.

Answer 9

It took about 6 weeks for me to get the breast pump to actually work for me. I would keep trying, because for me one day it just started working. I would buy an electric breast pump, I have a medela and it worked great!

Answer 10

I could never manage to pump much of anything, although I had plenty of milk and a forceful let-down when my daughter nursed. If you don't need to pump, don't bother - just nurse often.

These sites have some good info. on pumping and milk supply. -

http://llli.org/NB/NBpumping.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/index.html