Pumping with Success/ Increasing supply

[Ragirl]

I breastfeed but also work full time- so I have to pump the 8 hours I'm at work. I just learned something interesting I wanted to pass on to all of those who either have to pump full time or who want to pump a little extra for time away from baby. I have never had a real problem pumping enough to send to daycare. But with my second, I am making much less than I did with my first. I recently learned from a friend who exclusively pumps, that she was told in hospital to pump for 15 minutes every 2-3 hours to keep her supply up. I have always just pumped until no more milk came out, kept going for maybe another minute, and called it quits. I timed how long this took the other day, and I was done in 5 minutes So, at the advice of my friend, I've been pumping for 10 mintues every 2-ish hours (working my way up to 15), even if I'm not getting anything out for those last 5 minutes, and sure enough, my supply has gone up So if you ever need to increase your supply, nurse baby and then pump afterwards for another 5 or so minutes OR if you aren't nursing directly continue pumping for 5-10 minutes after you STOP making milk. I've always known you need to nurse/pump longer to increase supplyh, but I never realized how long that really needed to be. Just wanted to pass this on as I am soooo excited to have increased my supply!

 

[pinkfairy]

thanks for the advice! im trying to up my supply so for the next few days i think ill try pumping more.

 

[alice&bump]

thanks hun!! how much does your LO need for the day? hope i can build up enough so i can go out on sun!

 

[Pyrrhic]

I've successfully re-lactated from having virtually no milk, and what I was told to do was express for 20-30mins every 2 hours. You have to be REALLY dedicated though, and do it every two hours. I expressed through the night too.

You also alternate sides every 5mins, rather than pumping from one side for 10mins, then the next. I was also told to take fenugreek (herbal supplement) to increase my milk production, eat plenty of carbs and oats.

 

[Sarah88]

Thanks so much! I'm going back to work at the end of feb and will be pumping.
Mind if I ask you some questions?

 

[Ragirl]

Right now she is only taking about 16 oz/day while at school. But we are also having a problem with her not gaining weight because she refuses to eat more. Most LO's her age I think take something closer to 20oz, but each baby is different I guess. MMMM...sun...that sounds nice. We are buried under a foot or so of snow

Good point rafwife- I forgot to mention that I also have been drinking one large cup of Mother's Milk tea which has fenugreek in it and I think that helps as well.

And of course- ask away Sarah I've worked full time with both of my kids. I managed to breastfeed my first until he self weaned at 14 months and am hoping to let this one self wean as well.

 

[Sarah88]

Alrighty, thanks! I forgot most of my questions but i'll ask whatever I remember...
How did you handle going back to work so soon? I was really wanting to go back to work but as the date draws closer i'm getting more and more anxious. She will be going to a family daycare run by my SIL but doesn't stop me from gett nervous, especially as I know she will see Savannah do so many things first (ie crawl etc). I am very jealous in terms of that, how did you cope?

 

[Ragirl]

It was much harder with my first than my second. In both cases, I took my last week home to introduce us both to daycare. The first few days we went and played together there. The last three days I left the baby at the daycare for increasing amounts of time- 2 hrs on Wed, 4 on Thur, and 6 hours on Fri. That helped us both adjust.

With my first, the daycare was literally 5 minutes from work. So probably for the first 6 months, I would go over there during my lunch break once every 1-2 weeks. We have since changed daycares and the daycare is too far for me to go during lunch. With the second, my husband stayed home with the baby my first week at work, so I was able to adjust to going back to work without the upset of dropping baby off at school. That helped.

Both times, that first day was hard. There's no getting around that. But have hope- it really does get easier each day. The first 2 weeks are more rough because baby is adjusting to caregiver and vice versa. But things get better after that. It makes it easier for me because both of my kids LOVE school. One day a week my hubby goes to work later and the kids could be home until lunch- but my son begs to go to school for breakfast. So when you see how much they enjoy it, it makes it easier to take them.

I'm not sure what you are doing now, but one thing to do the last week you are home is to give bottles during the day when you would be at work to determine how much milk you need to send to daycare (unless you will be doing formula of course).

Going back to work is tough, but it's doable.

 

[Sarah88]

Well i'm lucky in a few senses... I have been away working one day a week for a little while now and also my SIL will be the one looking after my daughter.
It's still gonna be hard though...

 

[Margerle]

As always Ragirl, well said

Congrats on the successful pumping!

 

[honey08]

i think ur all doing fantastic with ur LO and i didnt relise how much time this will take up, but breast is best right ? i hope im able to do the same as all of u

u shud be very proud of ur selfs !

 

[Ragirl]

Well i'm lucky in a few senses... I have been away working one day a week for a little while now and also my SIL will be the one looking after my daughter.
It's still gonna be hard though...

You are lucky- it's nice to have family around to help. And at least you have been able to ease back into work.

 

[Ragirl]

i think ur all doing fantastic with ur LO and i didnt relise how much time this will take up, but breast is best right ? i hope im able to do the same as all of u

u shud be very proud of ur selfs !

Right! And don't worry- if you are determined, you will find a way. It's not usually easy but you can make it work for you. Good luck with your pg BTW- if you have a la leche league near you, you can go before you have baby to educate yourself and have support already lined up ahead of time.