Hello,
I have been exclusively pumping for about a month and a half now and all of a sudden I am having issues getting the let-down relex and becoming engorged as a result of me not being able to let down. Before all I had to do was put the press shields to my breasts for a minute or two and then I let down with no problem. Now I am pumping for 15-20 minutes and I may or may not get a let down in that time period. Has anyone else experienced this? Is so, is there something I can do or is it time for me to stop pumping?
I just wanted to thank everyone for their advice and responses. I stuck with it and have been able to produce an adequate amount of breast milk for my son. I was even able to put some more milk in the freezer. I actually went out to buy a can of formula during this time and I haven't had to open it yet. Thanks again for all your encouraging words. They really helped!
I'm probably going to catch a lot of hell from the other moms out there, but drinking a Guiness really helps - muscle relaxation + lots of iron.
Are you stressing/cold for some reason? That's what happens to me when I pump. I have a 5 month old and pump at work. If possible try to get a washcloth, nuke it for 2 min and massage your breast and try to think about your baby. Even close your eyes. If you take your focus off of the pump, your let-down reflex will occur naturally. Sometimes, you'll get a 2nd let-down. This is my 2nd time around pumping too, so I'm pretty experienced. If you need to, send me a pm and I'll give you my home number.
I breast fed all three of mine (ages 2,3,& 5 yrs) and that happened to me as well.
A couple of questions may help answer the question...
-Are you stressed or unable to relax when you pump?
Sometimes the mental effects the physical so, get yourself in the right state of mind. Dim the lights in the room, meditate about that precious baby whom you are pumping for, turn off (as best you can) the world around you. Bring a picture of the baby to look at and maybe play some soft music. All of those things helped me.
Are you losing weight rapidly? Each time I starting really losing body fat my milk was hard to tap into. Make sure you are getting at least 2000 calories each day- or you will lose your milk.
If the engorgement gets painful (or if you get clogged ducts) you can get instant relief from cabbage leaves. That's right! Real cabbage leaves (purple or green -doesn't matter which). Put one in your bra and it is soooo soothing. Gentle massage also helped.
Best of luck and remember you are doing a wonderful thing for your baby. Hang in there if you can but, don't feel bad if you have to stop sooner than you hoped for. Every person is different.
Call La Leche League or talk to the lactation consultants at your hosp. if you can't get a resolution -- you don't want to stop producing.
Have you tried a warm face cloth? Sometimes, it's just about relaxing and envisioning that baby sucking on you and getting nutrition that can get the milk flowing! Keep well-hydrated -- it's super hot lately.
Good luck!
Hi.
Same thing happened to me. I made several mistakes and I hope my experience can help.
1. Turn the tv off.
2. RELAX, breathe, rest (are you getting enough sleep?)
3. Visualize your let down. Really. See, in your mind, the milk flowing with ease.
4. Imagine your baby is actually feeding. Close your eyes and remember the weight of your baby, smell, etc.
5. Drink a LOT of water.
Good luck!
In addition to the picture and visualizing you baby, try putting some of his/her baby shampoo on a cloth so you can smell his. Smell is very powerful. Sometimes when i was nursing I would smell his stuff in the shower, and milk would fly out and hit the wall! LOL
I never had that problem, but I read a whole lot on the breastfeeding subject when I was. I remember reading that the biggest influences on let down were emotional. Stay relaxed (maybe try deep breathing etc), visualize your baby (that's why the pump carry cases have photo slots--for pics of the baby), etc. Make sure you have a good-quality pump also, even if you have to rent one from the hospital (the hospital grade ones will DEFINITELY work). Also, try changing the pumping speed--sometimes just a change in pace, either slower or faster, will help. Try not to get stressed about not being able to pump, because that probably doesn't help your let down. I wouldn't give up yet--if you have milk in there and still WANT to pump, there IS a way to get it out--just try some different things. Good luck!
I don't exclusively pump, but the same thing happened to me last month. I let my baby nurse on one side while at the same time pumping on the other and it helped a lot. Now, a month later, my let down is back and i don't need her to nurse to get me going. Hope this helps!!
The two things I'd suggest are (1) have a picture of baby nearby to look at and (2) try a warm gel pack or heating pad first. A warm compress will also help you feel better when you're engorged. Hope that helps. I suffered from clogged ducts every few weeks and those were a pain! I exclusively pumped for 10 months -- not fun but you can make it work if you want to devote the time/effort. :)
