Pumping tips please

[heatherbee]

I am struggle to get more than 1 ounce per side when I pump, even if I am pumping to replace a feeding at work. I have tried what feels like many things, but my output has not increased. I have a Medela PIS, Medela Freesytle and a Medela Harmony (I think? Single hand pump). On days when I am home all day, DD seems satisfied and has plenty of wet diapers and will go about 3 hours between feedings, sometimes longer if napping / at night.  I pumped about 4-5 ounces per session with my son so I'm not sure what is not working this time around.

Thanks for any tips!

[pooky08]

What have you tried so far?

[nursefrizz]

Just throwing a few things out there because I've experienced them affecting my supply:

1. Are you drinking enough? Hydration is key in maintaining supply.

2. How old are your pump parts? If you used them with DD, maybe they need replaced. I didn't realize the membranes needed to be replaced fairly regularly to maintain good suction.

Good luck!

[melody330]

What have you tried so far? Here are some things that helped me:

-don't use the highest suction. I would never go above 50%

- make sure your flanges are the correct size.

-change the membranes

- hands free bra was key for me.

-relaxing/ not thinking about a let down. Try watching videos of LO

- drink all the water

[turtles7]

Are you stressed?

[mrsamyd]

The PPs have excellent advice. I would say hydration is your #1. There are a couple of mama stores in my city where you can have your pump checked for proper suction (the stores are primarily nursing bra and such stores). I've also had tears in my membranes, which resulted in a plummet in output. Also, relax! Watch tv or videos of your LO. Don't watch the milk go into the bottles. Good luck!

[nursedesi]

When I went back to work I stressed over how much I was getting and I wouldn't even be able to get a let down I was stressing so much. Are you engorged after trying to pump?

[Deleted]

]
To help with let down with pumping, put a warmed rice sock in your bra.
undo bra flaps and let the boobahs hang down, give em a bit of a shake,
massage and compressions while pumping.
make sure flanges/horns are the right size. most moms need a larger size at first when nips are a bit fluffy/puffy but then may need to go back down a size after you are doing this for a while.
Be sure to change membranes frequently, check them over for holes and change every 2 mos or so.
look at pictures, videos, sounds of baby crying to help trigger let down--you want a bit of an emotional response, so smell of baby soap, play with a baby bootie might help as well.

OR some will let down better if they have pump anxiety by covering the pump with a towel and reading a non-mom/baby book or magazine, or watching tv, just checking occassionally to see what is going on.

Don't turn suction up too high, be sure it's high enough to pull milk but not high enough to collapse milk duct. play with the settings.
If you can get an LC to check out your pumping, they may also have some suggestions.

Sometimes it helps to train your body to let down for the pump if you latch baby on one side and try pumping the other side at the same time or shortly after nursing. so baby signals the let down process which occurs on both sides at the same time.
you may also be able to practice pumping and nursing at the same time but also with a sound, video, song, smell, pic at the same time. so then if you are away from baby you can use the sound, video, song, smell, pic to help trigger let down.
once you get let down, pump for 5-15 minutes after milk stops spraying out, playing with the pump settings/let down button for speed and suction to try to trigger another let down.

[Sparkly]

Keep in mind that your supply/storage capacity can change with each baby, so just because you pumped 4-5 oz while you DS, doesn't mean you will or should be able to do the same with your DD.

Here is a infographic I love:



PPs have covered good tips. Make sure you have recently replaced any parts, especially membranes (I replace mine every 1-2 months for pumping 3-5 days a week), are eating and drinking plenty, looking at pics or videos of your LO, especially when waiting for let down, and massage, breast compressions, etc. especially toward the end of your pumping session. I like to do a second let-down phase after 10-12 minutes if I notice milk flow has slowed. Another thing that always worked well for me was to turn down (or even off) the suction, then slowly back up and milk would start flowing again (even if just for a short time).

Lastly, are you pumping for 5 minutes after the last drops of milk? This is to signal your body to make more and increase supply. It won't be multiple ounces, but could add .5-1 ounce to your output if done consistently over time.