Guest guest Posted January 4, 2000 Report Share Posted January 4, 2000 In a message dated 1/4/00 8:47:43 PM Pacific Standard Time, amymichael@... writes: << Has anyone else had trouble pumping? How did you overcome it? >> Boy did I have problems pumping. Some of us just don't pump well or should I say a lot of milk. I never did overcome my low output, but I think I had other things going on. I had low supply overall. You may just not be letting down to the pump. Let's face it, it isn't your baby at all. Maybe try bringing one of your baby's blankets and a picture with you when you pump. Some say to pump on the other side as you are nursing. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2000 Report Share Posted January 5, 2000 Amy, Don't get discouraged! Was this the FIRST time you have pumped (it sounds like you have used another pump)? When I first started out, I would only get an ounce or two from Both sides. Now (5 months later) I get at least 2 ounces from both sides, usually more. I have the Medela PIS also. Do you double pump? That seems to have done the best for me. That way I can take advantage of the let downs and I wind up getting more and saving time. Persistance is the key. Just keep remembering why you are doing it (that's what I do). They say that is helps to either have a picture or something that smells like your baby with you. I picture my baby's face and can actually smell him even though I don't have anything of his with me. ===== Happy New Year/New Century/New Millenium! Our URL: http://www2.ticz.com/~vphouse/ Other email addresses: PHouse@... - My account at work vphouse@... - Our account at home __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2000 Report Share Posted January 5, 2000 Terry, Thanks so much. I am hoping to add a lot more over the next couple months. It is a labor of love! I can add my voice to the unable to pump crowd. Never had much luck except when I was pumping at work with a hospital grade pump but then I could only get 8 oz for about 10 hours. Wendi http://www.lactivist.com breastfeeding info & resources pumping >>>Boy did I have problems pumping. Some of us just don't pump well or should I say a lot of milk. I never did overcome my low output, but I think I had other things going on. I had low supply overall. You may just not be letting down to the pump. Let's face it, it isn't your baby at all. Maybe try bringing one of your baby's blankets and a picture with you when you pump. Some say to pump on the other side as you are nursing. Good luck! I agree...I never had much success pumping with my first child. I am hoping a better pump will help this time. Most importantly, I've been told to practice and get used to the pump. I think only an once for the first time may not be unusual. Try to relax and think of the baby so you can have a let down. That is what I have been told and am trying. It does help. Terry PS - I love your website, Wendi...especially the name. I passed it on to one of our LLLI leaders and a former nursing friend. --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2000 Report Share Posted January 5, 2000 Amy, Congratulations on pumping an ounce while you had a busy day back to work! An ounce is more than you think. Don't be misled by photos of bottles filled to their 8oz rims... it's not likely that many moms can ever do this, and less likely that they can do it at one sitting. Breastmilk has more in it than formula, which you already know, and an ounce more is more that your breasts will make tomorrow or next week than they would if you hadn't pumped. Don't forget that pumping isn't as efficient as physically breastfeeding your baby. It's just a piece of plastic without moveable jaws, lips, and gums, and devoid of cute baby noises and scents. It's also devoid of the mechanisms that trigger our breasts to " let-down " the milk: baby's signals of hunger, like rooting, sucking on hands, alertness, and sometimes crying. Maybe this weekend you could gather up some packable babythings to create a " deja vu " feeling of when you are with your baby. Pack up a well-worn/scented onesie or blanket to smell when you pump; pack up some pictures of your baby; pack up a tape of your baby making noises at your breast, or even fussing a little. Also, remember that your baby is only two weeks old. (did I read that part correctly?) You're just getting situated in a nursing pattern of regular nursing intervals of about an hour and a half apart. Unless you pump every 90 minutes, you're going to be hard pressed to keep up production at the same rate your baby nursed. Most babies don't need " oodles " of breastmilk anyways. On average, a baby would need around 2-2.5 ounces of breastmilk for every pound of baby. Say your baby weighs 10 pounds, every 24 hours, he'd need between 20 and 25 ounces of breastmilk each day. Most young babies also only take in around 2-3 ounces of breastmilk at any feeding, so if you're still physically nursing 6 times a day, he's getting 12-18 ounces directly from you. This is one time where increasing night-time feedings can seriously beef up your supply, especially if you're not able to pump as often as your baby nurses at your breast. About the EvenFlo, many here have nicknamed it the " EvilFlo " pump because of its serious inefficiency at milking the breasts! Take the fact that when your baby nurses, he sucks-swallows and releases about 45-70 times in one minute. With each suck-swallow-release cycle, he varies the intensity of the strength of his suck. An EvenFlo has no such ability to match any portion of his nursing cycle. At best, you can get about 15 cycles per minute -- hardly enough to stimulate production! The Pump In Style at least has the capability to simulate your baby's cycles better, and if you have the model with the suction/speed selector, you can also vary the intensity of the suction, just like your baby would. Try the stroke-massage-shake method to help let down for your pump. Lean forward, letting your breasts hang, stroke from the top near your collar bone, down to your nipples. Gently massage your breasts, starting in small circles near the top, close to your collar bone, and circle down to your nipples. Hold both breasts with each hand, and gently shake them. You may feel a tingly sensation, and this is a signal that your milk is being squeezed out of the deeper ducts into the milk sinuses, and will help you be more effective at pumping. If you notice your flow slowing down while you're pumping, stop and repeat this. Double-pumping will also help stimulate your breasts better than single-sided pumping. If you find that you're having to supplement your expressed milk with something else while you're apart from your baby, work at increasing how many times you pump during the day. Remind your boss that babies who aren't breastfed demand more sick days from their mothers and more time out of the office. The few extra minutes a day to pump more often can be made up later, like at lunch, or on a weekend, if your boss insists. Keep up the amazing work! You've done such a great job!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2000 Report Share Posted February 19, 2000 Hello again ladies, How can I pump more ounces per session? So far, I can only get maybe 2 ounces per session but would like to build to 4 or more. TIA tte in WV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2000 Report Share Posted February 20, 2000 tte, What type of pump are you using? Are you pumping the other breast while your baby nurses? Do you pump immediately after feedings? If you are using a manual or single electric, changing to a double electric will increase your output. Are you pumping in prep to go back to work or just to have a little extra? Wendi http://www.lactivist.com breastfeeding info & resources Re: Pumping From: Luvmypem@... Hello again ladies, How can I pump more ounces per session? So far, I can only get maybe 2 ounces per session but would like to build to 4 or more. TIA tte in WV ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shop the web for great deals. Save on Computers, electronics, Home furnishings and more. http://click./1/1559/0/_/410002/_/951023095/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Give the Gift of Life Breastfeed! http://www.lactivist.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2000 Report Share Posted February 20, 2000 Wendi, My baby is no longer nursing. I have to pump milk for her. We tried but she just couldn't latch properly. I am using a single electric pump. I manage to get 8 oz of milk for her a day but want more. tte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2000 Report Share Posted February 20, 2000 tte, I would highly suggest a double electric pump such as Medela Pump in Style or Ameda Purely Yours. It would be more effective than a single pump. Fenugreek, Fennel, Hops, Brewer's Yeast, Blessed Thistle, Motherlover More Milk Tincture and Lactuca Virosa homeopathic remedy all have been shown to increase milk supply. The Motherlove Tincture is available at http://www.juliestuff.com I have used it with good success. More frequent pumping for shorter intervals might help as well. Visualization and relaxation are helpful for getting the letdown reflex to happen. Wendi http://www.lactivist.com breastfeeding info & resources Re: Pumping From: Luvmypem@... Wendi, My baby is no longer nursing. I have to pump milk for her. We tried but she just couldn't latch properly. I am using a single electric pump. I manage to get 8 oz of milk for her a day but want more. tte ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Get what you deserve with NextCard Visa! ZERO! Rates as low as 0.0% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR, online balance transfers, Rewards Points, no hidden fees, and much more! Get NextCard today and get the credit you deserve! Apply now! Get your NextCard Visa at: http://click./1/914/0/_/410002/_/951109290/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Give the Gift of Life Breastfeed! http://www.lactivist.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2000 Report Share Posted February 21, 2000 > My baby is no longer nursing. I have to pump milk for her. We tried but she > just couldn't latch properly. I am using a single electric pump. I manage > to get 8 oz of milk for her a day but want more. Remember to keep latching her on frequently... she'll forget how completely! [i would have used your words and said " try " , but the episode of Star Wars flashed in my head where Yoda told Luke, " Do. Do not try. There is no try. " I'm not even a Star Wars fan but this little segment has had more mileage in my personal philosophy!!] As your baby grows larger and stronger and is able to maintain a growth curve in her weight gain, you might look into using a Supplemental Nurser System at the breast to get her back to nuring 100% of the time, assuming this is your ultimate goal. If double pumping isn't the solution that you had hoped it would be, you should give hand expression a serious chance. Letting down to a piece of plastic is difficult... sometimes the variety of hand expression and how you compress the milk sinuses can make all the difference to your supply. If you haven't heard of the Marmet Technique before for hand expression, you might do a search for it, or call a La Leche League group in your area to ask for information sheets on it. Most Leaders would happily mail one to you. (If you don't have a local group near you, let me know, I have one here that I will mail you.) I also think that the Marmet Technique is on the web under a company called Lactation Institute. Medela also sells a hand collection funnel that screws onto a standard bottle. It's like expressing into an upright bowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2000 Report Share Posted February 21, 2000 > frequent pumping for shorter intervals might help as well. Visualization > and relaxation are helpful for getting the letdown reflex to happen. When I pumped because I couldn't get my daughter to latch on, my biggest obstacle was the feeling of failure. So much would go through my mind while I was pumping for her... questions like " Is this really worth it? " " Why can't she just latch on herself? " or " Why am I doing this? " I learned that these were really negative things I was asking myself. When I was able to change my focus to getting my daughter to latch on, and not on how much I was pumping, or why, it made pumping an easier part of my daily routine. Anything I was able to pump went back to my daughter before any other supplement. Each day, I would put her to my breast after I finished pumping 1-2 oz from one side. The pumping quckly became less of an effort, and part of the process. Around the time she was 8 weeks old, she seemed to " get it " almost overnight. She had her arms where I wanted them, one around my side, the other on her side, she had her mouth open perfectly wide like a yawn. It brought me to tears. She figured it out because each time I offered my breast to her, I would put her arms on my side, tug on her chin to open her mouth while saying " WIDE - AAHH " and then tuck her top arm on her side. Because I had been pumping throughout this struggle, I still had milk. She was also my first child to breastfeed longer than a few months. Instead of focusing on the quantity you're able to pump, focus on getting your baby back to your breast, nursing successfully. It's worth it, your baby *will* latch on if you show her how, and you're doing this because it's the best thing for her. Find someone who is able to help show you the " proper " positioning of a baby at the breast. (LLL, IBCLC, experienced mom) Find someone who will call you and remind you of how strong you are to be willing to make this happen. Find someone who will remind you each day that you need to drink lots of water, get lots of rest, and keep putting your baby to your breast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2000 Report Share Posted February 21, 2000 , On my website under resources is the Marmet technique instructions. It might be under websites in that section. I really need to do some reorganizing of my website. Wendi http://www.lactivist.com breastfeeding info & resources Re: Pumping > My baby is no longer nursing. I have to pump milk for her. We tried but she > just couldn't latch properly. I am using a single electric pump. I manage > to get 8 oz of milk for her a day but want more. Remember to keep latching her on frequently... she'll forget how completely! [i would have used your words and said " try " , but the episode of Star Wars flashed in my head where Yoda told Luke, " Do. Do not try. There is no try. " I'm not even a Star Wars fan but this little segment has had more mileage in my personal philosophy!!] As your baby grows larger and stronger and is able to maintain a growth curve in her weight gain, you might look into using a Supplemental Nurser System at the breast to get her back to nuring 100% of the time, assuming this is your ultimate goal. If double pumping isn't the solution that you had hoped it would be, you should give hand expression a serious chance. Letting down to a piece of plastic is difficult... sometimes the variety of hand expression and how you compress the milk sinuses can make all the difference to your supply. If you haven't heard of the Marmet Technique before for hand expression, you might do a search for it, or call a La Leche League group in your area to ask for information sheets on it. Most Leaders would happily mail one to you. (If you don't have a local group near you, let me know, I have one here that I will mail you.) I also think that the Marmet Technique is on the web under a company called Lactation Institute. Medela also sells a hand collection funnel that screws onto a standard bottle. It's like expressing into an upright bowl. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Looking for the best new sites on the Web? eTour.com is a FREE service that brings great websites right to you - matched to your own unique interests. It's like having a personal remote control for the Internet! http://click./1/1675/0/_/410002/_/951142368/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Give the Gift of Life Breastfeed! http://www.lactivist.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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