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Offline nursemotto

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low milk expression
« on: April 07, 2006, 15:43:28 pm »
Hi all...  I am having many problems with my 10 wk old son.  Mostly sleep and feeding issues (I know, doesn't everyone!).  He seems to be a touchy baby.  He is a lazy/slow eater and lately it seems he is snacking.  I think because he is so overtired.  It is so bad now he wants to stay up all night and eat.  I am thinking a bottle would maybe help a little (or at least give me a little break!) but I can't express much milk at all.  I have a pump and I pump up to 4 x's a day (usually after he feeds).  I average only 1 oz pumped out...and that's really working it (like 30 minutes of pumping).  Any advice on how to increase my expressed milk supply?  I'm considering formula 1/2 the time because I am SOOO exhausted.  Would like to stay on breastmilk though.  THANKS!

~Kelly
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Offline Samuel's mum

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Re: low milk expression
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2006, 16:09:10 pm »
I'm glad you said 'expressed milk supply' because that's what it is - not your real milk supply. It sounds as though you have 'spirited' breasts which are refusing to 'let down' (have a milk ejection reflex) for some bit of silicon/ plastic. A common problem!
Copy his quicker/fluttering movement at the beginning of the pump and when the milks starts to come slow down the movement.
You could pump from the breast he's not feeding on during a feed.

Here are a few more tips:

http://www.pumpingmoms.org/html/letdown_techniques.html

That site as you might guess has a lot about pumping!

I would also recommend you talk to a helpline to get some advice about your wider situation e.g suggestions on how to avoid the need to actually pump if you don't want to. There are numbers on this page.
« Last Edit: April 07, 2006, 16:10:54 pm by Samuel's mum »
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Offline nursemotto

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Re: low milk expression
« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2006, 17:49:52 pm »
Thank you.  Good tips on the website.  I really need to relax...that's a possible problem.  I am always anxious my baby will wake up (and this is IF I got him to sleep!).  Also, I've been meaning to try the heating compress....sometimes it takes someone else to get ya motivated!  So easy just to let myself get frustrated.  I will definitely try the heat and maybe change the pumping suction/frequency (I always just have it on high).

Thanks again for the support!

~Kelly
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Offline Samuel's mum

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Re: low milk expression
« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2006, 19:29:37 pm »
Good Luck. Sounds like you have lots of ways forward. Do come back to us and give us an update.
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Offline nursemotto

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Re: low milk expression
« Reply #4 on: April 13, 2006, 12:10:08 pm »
Update:  pumping on one side while my son feeds on the other has worked much better...I was able to get 3 oz versus 1 oz out at a time.  However, it is hard for me to situate myself to do this, but it is the only thing that has worked so far.  Everything else, including showering prior to pumping or using a heating pad and even looking at a picture of my son, hasn't worked.  It's like my milk is just stuck in there and no matter what I do, it will NOT come out.  My breasts are full but I can't alieviate that unless my son eats.  I really really want to pump!!!  I've started to take Fenugreek in hopes that it helps me...not sure it will help with my let-down though. 

Anyone else have any magic tricks they can offer to help with let-down and pumping?

Thanks...Kelly
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Offline Shdef

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Re: low milk expression
« Reply #5 on: April 13, 2006, 12:27:16 pm »
I pumped while feeding on the other side sometimes and it is a question of positioning. But because positioning is so very important, maybe you can get a lactation consultant in to help?
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Offline oreganem

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Re: low milk expression
« Reply #6 on: April 13, 2006, 14:09:49 pm »
I did a lot of expressing in the early days.. I found that the type of pump I used made a big difference , I found the medela mini worked for me the best.. Even though the avent IQ cost way more.. If I had a drink of water while pumping it used to help with a let down after a while it would cause one... The other thing which helped was to actively try and relax I used to take a few deep breaths and relax my shoulders and back and kinda visualise the milk flowing up from deep in the breast to the nipple.. Sounds kinda funny but it worked for me..
I use breast compression as well.. I push gently on the breast tissue  with the flat of the hand that isn't holding the breast pump. Work from the outside in..This really increased the amount that I could express..
If I hadn't had a letdown on one side after a while I would swap sides and go back after the let down on the other side..Hope that helps it gets easier with practice.. Good luck!
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Offline Shdef

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Re: low milk expression
« Reply #7 on: April 13, 2006, 15:04:32 pm »
I'm maybe a bad example though because only the hospital pump worked with me... The home ones didn't not even the electrical ones.

God knows why. The one in hospital was called "symphony" and two women could sit on it and pump away  ;D
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Offline nursemotto

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Re: low milk expression
« Reply #8 on: April 13, 2006, 16:00:45 pm »
I use the Ameda pump.  While at the hospital with my son (when he was 6 wks) I used their pump which was a Medela and it really didn't pump out anything more...I really think because of the darn let down.  When I spoke to a lactation consultant, she suggested the football hold, but it is so hard to do that because my son is so long already.  I have to sit way forward and it's uncomfortable.  I never knew pumping so was difficult...!  I love breastfeeding, but I'd like to get a break every now and then...  plus I think he needs a bottle at night to get his fill because he is a snacker at night and won't sleep until like midnight...

I'll try the relaxation techniques and the water sipping.......maybe it's as easy as that.  I am probably way too high strung when I try to pump....thanks again all for the advice.  Cross your fingers for me!  To be continued.......::)

~Kelly
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Offline Emmet's Mommy

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Re: low milk expression
« Reply #9 on: April 13, 2006, 16:08:28 pm »
I think using a bottle of formula, not breast milk is the ticket.  Pumps are useful in tons of ways but giving the mother a break is not a strong suit.  If someone else can do a feed especially a night feed thats a break.  Having to pump to fill that bottle is not a break.  At least is wasn't for me.  I bought the little tubes of powdered formula and got somebody else to whip up a bottle at midnight.  The stress level for the other person is lower too because they are mixing up easily replaced formula and not trying to warm up liquid gold.  The only time I got a decent amount pumping was when I'd skipped a feed.  
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