Trouble Pumping

Hello C.,

I recently just went back to work. Before going back I had the same concerns as you. I realize not every mom is the same, but my going back to work experience has been rather easy. A week before I went back to work I tried pumping at the same time everyday. This seemed to increase my pumping supply. Now I am able to pump just enough for him to eat while I work. I also pump while Im at home as much as I can.(this is sometimes hard.) While Im away from my baby I seem to be able to pump more milk. Ive been back to work for over a month now, and never had to supplement. I say good Luck to you and I hope this helps.
J.

Hi my name is Jos�e and I have an electric pump by Medela for sale. I also tried a manuel one and it didn`t work. My electric pump works very good. I paid 100.00 and I can sell it for 40.00. Call me if you are interested but be quick because maybe we are going to move back in Canada in two days.

Jos�e ###-###-####

You'll need an electric pump like the Medela Pump-in-Style. With it, you should be able to pump close to a full feeding in about 20-25 min. There are other electrics on the market by Gerber or Evenflo, but they don't hold a candle to the Medela. If you plan to pump on a regular basis, you'll need the better pump.

Hi C.,
I have a couple of suggestions/comments. I recently went back to work and have 2 boys�a 4 Month old and a 22 Month old and am pumping at work. I use an Ameda Purely Yours double pump. The advantage to me to double pump is not only a timesaver but it captures everything at once when I �let down�. Does your manual pump create enough suction? The little guys tend to create a huge amount of suction that a pump can not always duplicate. I know that you can rent professional grade double pumps (Medella or Ameda) or AlegroMedical.com sells then for around $100.00 - $200.00. Another thing that you might want to try (that I didn�t understand until boy #2) is to keep the pump on even if it appears as if nothing is happening for a good 30 minutes� depending on your day, fluids, stress, comfort during pumping, it may take a while to �let down� and get the good volume. I am pumping 3 times a day at work and going home with at least 12oz a day.

Good Luck!
E.

I have an electric pump that I would like to sell if you are interested in buying. I used to think that buying a used pump was not appropriate or perhaps even unsanitary, but as you know the only pieces/parts of the pump that come in contact with your milk are the bottles and breast suctions (all of which can be washed or even boiled). If you are interested I will sell it for $40. I bought it 3 years ago for my first daugeter and used it for several months for both my first and second child. It comes in a black carrying cased that is shaped like a backpack. I paid around $250 for it.

Try pumping on one side while nursing him on the other if you can - don't know if that would be too difficult with a manual pump but it can produce more!

L.

I breastfed both of my girls. When I went back to work, I was not able to pump enough. I eventually ended up skipping those feedings and my body adjusted. I literally only had milk when it was time to nurse. I didn't have the frustration of trying to pump but was still able to enjoy nursing my babies in the evening and morning.

I hope that it works out for you,
H.

I know the feeling. I had a manual one in the beginning too, but it is very exhausting trying to pump enough. You really need an electric one. I know they are expensive, but it would be very beneficial. It also cuts your time back. I am a single mom, recently divorced, with two kids. My son is 7 months old as well. I work full time and he is on breast milk, vegetables, meats, fruits, cereals. I pump in the morning before work, at 10:30am, and go to feed him at 11:30 on my lunch break. Since he is eating meals now, I do not need to pump as much. Check into the electric pumps. If you are in the income bracket, WIC will give you one for free if you join. That is how I got mine. It is a Ameda, with two pumps so you do both at the same time. Good luck!

B. B

I had the same problem and even with the electric pump, my body just didn't want to produce the milk efficiently when the baby was not attached. Fortunately, my sons were both at daycare near my office and I just wore a pager and went to feed when they needed me. And, the older one somehow survived on the meager amounts I was pumping and we nursed very frequently on the weekend to rebuild my milk supply for the coming week, as it would dwindle by the end of the week.
I worked only part-time until the younger was 9 mos old. I would feed him right when we dropped him off and then he would have a solid food snack when he first got hungry and then I would come around lunchtime (around 11am at first, gradually getting later). When I was back to work fulltime, he would just have 2 solid snacks and we nursed at dropoff, lunchtime and pickup and then nursed only at home. So, by giving him solids when he was at daycare and nursing only at home, we managed well. And, I actually enjoyed not pumping like I had done with my older son.

One thing that I didn't really see addressed in the other posts is whether or not your milk is actually letting down while you pump. Pumping is sort of an art form, and a lot of moms have trouble relaxing enough to get the let down while pumping, and that's really what this sounds like to me. If you can feel your let down it's pretty easy to determine whether this is the problem or not - you just pay attention while pumping to see if you get the same feeling or not. If you can't feel your let down it's a little more tricky, but you can still notice a difference. When you first start pumping the milk will flow relatively slowly; then once your milk lets down it should start to come out at a much faster rate.

If not letting down is your issue, then you just work on ways to make that happen. The suggestions about looking at a picture of your son etc. are good; some people are able to just think about nursing the baby, or imagine them crying, or whatever. For some moms doing a little manual nipple stimulation before starting to pump can be helpful. You just have to experiment around.

While I do think that having a double electric pump is the best thing for moms that are going back to work, I don't think that your manual pump is the reason you're not getting more milk than you are currently. Manual pumps are slower, and they won't be quite as efficient as an electric pump, but that shouldn't account for such a significant difference in quantity. That said, you might find it easier to relax while using an electric pump, since it requires less work on your part.

Good luck!

C.,

Hi. I have a 4 month old little girl and have been back to work since she was 7 weeks old. I do pump while I'm working and some days are better than others. I suggest you invest in an electric pump. The one I use is a Ameda Purely Yours Breast Pump and it is fantastic. Plus, you are able to pump both breasts at the same time. You don't have to do it manually. I think that would be tough for anyone. I wish you lots of luck and am jealous that I can't work part time. The pump is rather pricey, but the peace of mind that you are still doing what is best for your baby far outweighs that.

Hope this helps,

Steph

For a first time pumper that seems like alot. Your child is way more efficient than a pump. Please contact Judy Eastburn ###-###-####. She is a fabulous lactation consultant. It may be that you need to rent a hopistal grade pump. Judy has them. Good Luck do not give up it will all work out.

C.,

Even Medela brand manual pumps are inferiror to the electric ones. I highly recommend the Medela Pump In-Style. It is worth the investment. Any Medela electric pump is a good choice. Make sure you're pumping for at least 15 minutes and try to pump as frequent as your boy feeds. Remember, it's supply and demand. Demand what your baby needs and you should get the supply.

Good Luck,
A. L., RD/LD and Breastfeeding Specialist

rent one from the hospital. hand pumps don't work as well as a professional grade one. trust me, I've tried...and on top of that the hospitals pumps pump like a baby would feed. It helps to not make you sore and to make your body produce what it needs to...

just ask your dr.

There are a few good pumps out there and Medela is a good hand pump (as is Isis) for intermittant or occasional use. They are best at just getting the top or overflow off. However for going to work the just can't keep up with the demand. There are many places that you can rent a hospital grade pump, I have them available, for a monthly fee. However if you may wish to use it for longer than 3 months you would have paid for a pump that you can use for this child and others. If you already have the Medela, they make 3 pumps that are meant for multiple times daily pumping. The Advanced pump n style, it comes in 3 different versions but all with the same motor and it is a one button set up. Usual pumping time is 10-15 minutes both breasts (you can use it dual or single either way). The price ranges from $300 to $379 depending on which one and where you buy it. They also have an original which you must set the rate and suction yourself, but the same motor so it will last. The price varies again from $240-$279. They also have a new single, double phase pump that is easy to set and carry around while you are pumping that looks great. Some think it may be a little pricey for a single pump, but it has a portable motor that is made for multiple times daily use and it wont wear out. They are all really quiet as pumps go and can last thru several babies.
The one thing you don't want to do is go on ebay and get a used pump. I have heard and seen many infections and dissapointments from that. Medela adamantly states that thier pumps are single user only due to potential problems from shared usage.
I hope this helps,
please feel free to call me at the Nesting Place for any further suggestions.
K. Willis, RN, IBCLC
###-###-####

You have received a lot of info so far, electric pumps are the best and you should continue to pump after your milk stops the first time because you will have another let down which most people do not realize. It is not as productive as the first but still adds up. Also, you can take fenugreek (herbal supplement) and/or drink mothers milk tea to help improve your production. I did find when I returned to work initially I needed to pump more frequently than I would have fed b/c the pump is not as efficient as your baby. Hope this helps, good luck.

Hi C.! I just moved to Dallas from San Antonio as well. My son is 4 mo old and weighs 16 lbs. I have used many breast pumps and prefer the First Years single breast pump over the Medela. http://www.thefirstyears.com/products/Product.asp?pValue=...
Im able to get about 2.5 - 3 oz of milk from each breast when I pump. I prefer using a single breast pump over a double so that I have a free hand. I also take the Milk Aid supplement twice a day. http://www.naturallydirect.net/mother-milk-tea.htm

I am not working but am always on the go and take my son with me EVERYWHERE-car washes, hair appts,drop off/pick up dry cleaning,grocery shopping,etc. Since he was 3 mos,Ive gotten into the habit of bottlefeeding him during the day and nursing at night. Whenever I nurse him from the breast, he always falls asleep during and never gets a full feeding. That is why I've taken to nursing him only at night. Its relaxing to both of us. It seems to be working out just fine. :)

At one point I tried using a manual pump but it didnt work well AT ALL. I threw it out because it was very frustrating.
I highly recommend the First Years pump I mentioned above. It doesnt hurt,has a massaging effect, and seems to get out all the milk. Its also very easy to take apart and clean. I hope this email was helpful to you!

You can work and continue to pump. The la leche group, and I'm sure others have electric pumps for a fee that are great. This was several years ago when I used them but it was great.
Just check with some support groups or go online.

L.

I would definitely recommend a dual electric pump for the most efficient pumping, and also to maintain your milk supply adequately while away from baby. It worked for me. Pumping allowed me to exclusively breastfeed for one year and work full time.

Good Luck!!

HI,
Same advice, get an electric pump. Stay away from the Whisper Wear-handsfree pump. I couldn't get it to work and then ended up still going back to another electric pump. Also, even though it is bit more expensive, go ahead and get the dual pump...it's faster. I got mine at Target. Good luck...I loved nursing and miss that special time with my baby.

Hey there,
Our LLL leaders say that you should continue to pump for about 5 minutes past when your milk stops flowing. Another tip (you won't want to hear this) that one of my friends did is to set an alarm and wake during the night (I assume you're one of the lucky ones who gets sleep all night) and pump. I, like you, could never get more than 2 oz total (both sides) at a feeding. Good luck. If you're in Ft Worth and would like to contact out LLL leader, her info is at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/bffriendsftworth/

Good luck!

Hi C.!

Congrats for sticking with nursing your son! Sounds like you're doing a great job. I nursed my son for about 13 months and returned to work after 7 weeks. I pumped two and sometimes three times per day during the week. I noticed my supply would drastically drop whenever I was stressed or frustrated by how little I got. So hang in there and try not to stress about it too much. There's a really good website worth checking out. It's www.nursingbaby.com and it said that pumps can only get out about 20% of what you have and that babies are much more efficient in getting the milk. That seemed to ease my frustration a little to understand why I didn't get as much milk when I pumped. I used the fenugreek supplement and that really helped a lot too. Just look at it from the perspective of any amount of milk you can give him is excellent...even if you have to supplement with formula. Hope this helped some and keep up the good work!

I would get a better pump. You could try renting one first maybe from the hospital that you had your son at. A duel electric pump would be the best. I would start now and pump, pump, pump and freeze the milk. I had the same problem and it is not an uncommon problem especially when they start eating solids. Some have to suppliment. Good luck

Hi C.! I have a very similar problem. A high grade electric pump is the way to go. I have a 3.5 month old and just last week returned to work. I still only pump 3 oz/pump so it takes me 2 pumps to equal 1 bottle, but I had pumped some and stored in my freezer in anticipation of returning to work. Also, drinking lots of water (90 oz +/day) has helped me. I did pump somewhat better at home in a relaxed atmosphere, so here at the office I have a picture of her on my screensaver and several framed pictures of her to look at. I'm not sure that helps, but it certainly doesn't hurt! You might also contact your OB, I believe they can prescribe something if you think that is necessary. Or there are herbal supplements that help, too?! If you need a recommendation of an OB in Dallas, let me know. I absolutely love mine!! Hope you can take something helpful from this. Best wishes...

well, i must be an odd-ball, but i prefered the manual pump. when i was nursing my little boy everything was great, then i wanted to go back to work(just like you) and thats when all the trouble started. in the beginning i couldn't get ANYTHING with the electric pump(EvenFlow) my mother bought me for my shower. so i tried the manual one. it started out slow, but in the end i was getting 4 ounces (each) in about 30 minutes. i dont know if that is alot, but it was enough for my little one. :-) i dont know if it was "healthy" but i accually got more out when i just held down the suction so a steady stream came out. but to each-his-own and good luck.

I agree with everyone else about the dual electric pump. I have had great success with mine. But, you CAN save money by buying one on ebay. There are many NEW pumps for sale on ebay. In addition, you can purchase a used pump, but buy new flanges and tubing, etc. Or, you can sterilize the ones that come with the used pump. I saved $150 on an Ameda Purely Yours Pump this way.

Good luck!

I had the same problem with a manual pump. I purchased a single electric/battery pump from Medela. I really like it. It was $65 and I got it at Babies R Us. It is worth every penny.

You can rent an electric pump from Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital (and probably other local hospitals) for cheaper than you can buy one. DO NOT buy one of the internet, it can transfer disease and the hospital uses special cleaning products to make sure its safe to re-use pumps. If you rent the "best" pump it is around 45/month, if you rent the older versions, still very good is around 25/month. Just something to think about. There is a breastfeeding resource center at the hospital located in Bloxom tower, you can also google it.
Good Luck!

Hi C.,

If you are planning on going back to work, I would get an electric pump. You will need to pump more frequently and doing it manually will take forever and can be frustrating. Medela makes some electric ones that I have had a lot of success with.

Good luck! I went back to work after 3 1/2 months and pumped on a very regular basis and was able to breastfeed until he was 13 months.

I went back to work when my first child was 6 weeks old.... and I used an electric pump which I bought from of ebay for about 1/2 the price it retailed for. A manual pump will take forever and isn't as "natural" as an electric pump... don't get discouraged though... rent an electric pump that you can adjust everything before you just call it quits... you'll be surprised!

I am not an expert, but I suggest you give one a call. There are certified lactation consultants all over the metroplex - most out of hospitals. They were a huge help and an ongoing source of support and resources for me when I was nursing. The bonus is, most insurance will pay for your visit and the LC I went to (Harris Methodist HEB) was a one-time only fee and everytime I called, went in or had another consult - free!
If you are in Dallas, start with Presby Dallas, and as crazy as it sounds - Parkland may have some great resources too since they are in the baby business. Good luck!

Hi C.,

I feel for you... I had a hard time with the manual pump too. I ended up buying the Medela pump in style (dual plus it's electric). I went back to work full time after my maternity leave expired(6 weeks) and it worked well for me for about 7 months.I was so busy at work that I wasn't able to pump as much as needed and my supply deminished substantially. My daughter then lost interest which was sad because I had planned on nursing for a year.

On another note, do you like it here? We just moved from Schertz (North San Antonio) a couple of months ago. The verdict is still out on whether I like it here or not. I miss my trees and the water supply there.

Good luck with the pumping and your decision to go back to work!

A.

Although I didn't work outside the home, on occasion I needed relief or an emergency stash in the freezer. I had the expensive Medela electric pump, and my friends borrowed it and loved it. I, however, swear by the Advent Isis pump. Relatively low cost and very easy to use and the liquid gold milk flowed much easier than my other pumps.

When you are actually pumping the milk at work, and not pumping plus feeding him it will get better. I would pump at work during the week when my baby would normally have a feeding, that way my milk supply would stay up. But if I tried to feed him and then pump to store milk or something of that sort on the weekend, it was hard to get enough. So, I am sure it will get better. Plus, if you try to relax, etc, that makes the milk production increase as well!
Good luck!