Pumping- where am I going wrong?

[mrsholmes]

hi!

Ive just tried pumping (manual) and I only managed to get 1oz out after 20mins! are electric ones better plus it was a horrible feeling!!

also can I ask:

whens the best time to pump - im exclusively bf.
how long will it keep in freezer?
how do I defrost it and warm it?
how long does it keep in the fridge once defrosted
if going out with it, how long will it keep in a cool bag? could I take it frozen?

 

[Rah]

Did you try moving the position of your nipple? sounds odd but i can sit with nothing then move my nipple so its at an angle and milk is flowing, I do have an electric pump though which i find great, get in poistion, hold it and watch TV, well worth the money

I think morning is the best time to get the most milk
I started to pump after each feed so feed on left pumped on right etc until i got a good little stash in the fridge, now i only pump when hubby gives a bottle of EBM at night so i dont feel uncomfortable at night and if i want to have more i will go back to during the day pumping
But morning is the best time to get the most milk

It keeps in the freezer 6 months, you can either leave it out, put in the fridge to defrost slowly and i know someone who pops it straight in the hot water and gives to baby
I always heat the milk in boiled water, i dont like microwaves at all

I dont know about the other bits

 

[mrsholmes]

thanks, I tried sitting forward which helped but very uncomfy!

if I pump on the opposite breast that im feeding from will there still be enough milk in there when I next feed?

 

[MamaK]

hi!

Ive just tried pumping (manual) and I only managed to get 1oz out after 20mins! are electric ones better plus it was a horrible feeling!!

also can I ask:

whens the best time to pump - im exclusively bf.
how long will it keep in freezer?
how do I defrost it and warm it?
how long does it keep in the fridge once defrosted
if going out with it, how long will it keep in a cool bag? could I take it frozen?

Hi ya!

I do exactly what Rah has said - slightly move your nipples to different angles in the pump... definitely works for me when there is not alot coming out.

I read that the best time was morning as your breasts are the fullest then.

As for storage etc... check this site, very informative - this is what I am going by:

https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkstorage.html

xxx

 

[Rah]

if I pump on the opposite breast that im feeding from will there still be enough milk in there when I next feed?

Yes there will took me a while to beleive it and i mean a while but my BF midwife said you never run out of milk and your body will have a few hours inbetween so will def be milk there, and you will produce more milk as well as its produced on demand

 

[cheeselover]

Electric pump is defo worth the money. I have the Medula Swing and I love it X

 

[Rah]

Electric pump is defo worth the money. I have the Medula Swing and I love it X

Thats the one i have i would recomend it to everyone!

 

[happyfamily123]

I only get 1 oz and I have a medela advanced. But I have heard that the early morning like between 2-8 am is when you make the most milk.

 

[Sweetpea7830]

hi!

Ive just tried pumping (manual) and I only managed to get 1oz out after 20mins! are electric ones better plus it was a horrible feeling!!

also can I ask:

whens the best time to pump - im exclusively bf.
how long will it keep in freezer?
how do I defrost it and warm it?
how long does it keep in the fridge once defrosted
if going out with it, how long will it keep in a cool bag? could I take it frozen?

I imagine electric must be better because I know you must be tired after 20 mins! I use the Medela brand as well and the electric is just much easier - the single pumps are cheaper than double. You make the most milk in the morning, least in the afternoon/early evening (generally speaking). More rest also seems to = more milk for lots of women.

Deep freezer 6 months, regular freezer I think is 2 months? Someone posted the kellymom link which is a good resource.

I don't like pump bags. I use the plastic containers that are like little cylinders that hold 2.5 oz. They can stand up in your fridge or you can put them in a tub/bowl or large ziptop bag to keep them organized. We start to thaw it in warm water in the container it was frozen in until it loosens up enough to put in his bottle. Then, I use an inexpensive bottle warmer (less than $20, we use Munchkin brand) to finish it warming. Always test on your arm for temperature.

If you heat it in the warmer or warm water you can't put it back in the fridge; go ahead and use it right then (within 1 hour). If you are just moving it from the freezer to the refrigerator I think the rule is to use it within 24 hours of when it fully defrosts.

Taking it frozen would probably be easier so it could stay "good" longer as it thaws, but I might invest in a diaper bag that has a little insulated pack to keep the temperature cool until you need it. As for how long ... maybe the kellymom resource has that on their site, I cannot remember.

I exclusively pump ... feel free to ask any questions you have.

 

[mrsholmes]

thanks girls, off to get the electric swing pump this week, tesco are doing double up on club card vouchers so its £41.50 in club card tokens!!

 

[ramblinhaggis]

i exclusively expressed with the avent isis hand pump. I found that i did better when i pumped a bit, then when i got a flow, just keep pressure on it to keep the flow going, when it runs down, pump some more. Taking off and putting back on helps too, and as been said, changing the positioning around your nipples.

 

[nkbapbt]

I have done nothing but pumped for the last nine months..because my son cannot feed safely orally. Anyways..here's two things I learned..

Pumping at night is when you will get the most milk because your hormones are higher at night. And you may start out slowly, but do not give up. The pump is not a baby and its not as effective at getting the milk out. Your let down might be slower. Even if nothing is coming still pump! I sometimes take 10mins before I have a huge let down.

Also try hand massaging your breasts to increase your let down and milk output...here's a video to show you how..

video

Good luck!

 

[mrsholmes]

thanks girls