? for pumping moms

[SylvieA]

Hi there
I have been pumping for about 3-4 months now as DS will not bfeed during the day at all. I tried all the tricks in the book, nothing works. I'll keep trying though, as he feeds good in the morning. 
The real ? is what pump are you all using. I tried medela mini electic, manual avent isis, and I am now renting a medela lactina. It seems to me that I can not get everything out.  After 10 minutes of pumping, and let down over, all I get are drops and it doesn't stop. I pump for 30 minutes 3 times a day. I only get 2-4oz each pump (I get most of it in the first 10 min). Has anyone tried any other pumps that might work better. I could rent an egnell/ameda instead of the medela if it is any better. Has anyone tried it. I would just like to be able to pump the maximum I can get.  Hope to hear good pumping tips. TIA

[clh]

Hi, Sylvie--
Sorry, no helpful hints here...  I wanted you to know you're not alone.  I use a Medela pump-in-style advanced.  I usually get only 2-3 oz at a time, mostly in 15 min.  Ds gets 12 oz in bottles at daycare, so I keep going.  Usually 5 pumpings to make that much.  I'll be keeping an eye out for more hints on this thread as well.  {{{hugs}}}

[jbepko]

Stacy is right on with pumping every three hours. EP (Exclusive Pumping) is alot harder than just nursing and you have to pump every three hours in order to maintain a supply. Some Mom's who EP will even wake up during the night to pump. Fenugreek can help boost supply. The Lactina is a great pump, so that will help alot. Good Luck!

[MorganLeigh]

I found 2 am pumping is great, if ya can function. Ive only used the isis and its been different for me with both children. Dont give up, I know its ALOT of work and cleaning but its worth it.

[bethann]

I use the avent isis iq duo. I find that because it allows you to change the rythm and the suction to whatever you want I can get one really strong letdown, but then get 2-4 more "let downs" - if the milk flow stops or slows, i just change the rythm to a short, quick suction or whatever is needed and I'll have another letdown. I've tried the medela mini electric and the pump in style, but I can't seem to get the same amount of milk- with those pumps once the milk stops flowing, that's about it. and they take much longer. I get 8-9 oz in 8 minutes. 

I've never tried the lactina, but I've heard that it is really good. I just like the fact that with mine I can get so much more milk  (I feel really empty after) and much quicker with the avent.  (there are a lot of wires and tubes and parts that get a little tedious to deal with all day- I pump 3-4 times a day- but I use the medela quick wipes to clean the parts during the day sometimes- it makes it much easier.)

[jbepko]

You can also store pump parts in the fridge for the day. With the medela PIS- if I had access to a fridge at work, I would put bottles iwth horns attached in there between pumpings. So all I would need is to hook up horns to tubing for each session. I've only had a PIS, so not sure if it would work with others- but I don't see why not.

[sephie]

I don't pump much now but I did in the early stages due to various problems and I invested in the Avent ISIS IQ single. I agree with bethann about changing the pumping rythum and getting multiple letdowns, you think your dry and then if you break for 20 secs and change the rythum hey presto more milk!!

[SylvieA]

Thank you so much for all your replies. Maybe I should invest in a avent IQ ISIS, as I think that is my problem, I can't get another letdown. I'm renting at 15$ a week so I'm sure it would be worth the money. I'm not sure my DH would agree though. He asked me the other day when I was gonna bring the pump back, I told him when I was ready.

Another question, In the past week I'm having sore nipples, and don't know why. I never had this since DS was only a few days old. Has any one experienced anything like this. I had to reduce  the suction to the lowest. They are not bruised or anything

jbepko: or anyone, do you pump in the same bottles until they are full, warm milk to cool milk. I didn't think you could do that.

[bethann]

you can get the avent isis iq or any pump for that matter off EBAY for much less cost- you can buy new or used....  just a thought! (although you get a warranty @ babiesrus which comes in handy for a pump!)

some days my nipples are really sore from pumping, some days they're just fine.... different pumps affect them differently.  they should "toughen" up a bit each day.

[jbepko]

I pump into the same bottles (2 8 ounces) during the day (mid morning and lunchtime). My bottles are kept cooled with a freezer pack in a lunch bag. When I get home from work, they go to fridge and I pump into them  at night. Depending on my yield, I may add some defrosted EBM to the bottles. You can pump into bottles kept in fridge with previous pumped milk. You can also pump into frozen milk as long as frozen milk is greater quantity than the fresh milk.
Some good info
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkstorage.html