Pumping difficulties after 12 months

[madelsmama]

Hi Debbie! Thanks for all the great advice you always provide breastfeeding moms!

In your experience, do moms generally have more difficulty responding to the breast pump as time passes?

DD2 is 15 months and nurses 6 times a day. I pump 3 times during a 14hr shift, once a week. The past two times I have had full (not super full) and have been unable to let-down, after not previously having probs.

Whisper Wear has been my pump with my first and second babies. Thinking it was perhaps on the decline, I used a Symphony yesterday that is for use in our pumping room at work. I cycled the pump back to the rapid phase several times, used varying strengths of suction, and tried massaging and rolling prior to, and had a little more success than the previous week. I think I had one let down during the 3 times I pumped. My breasts were not emptyied after any of the pumping sessions (I took home close to 5 oz.; usually it's closer to 9-12).

The horn (breast shield) style pump is new to me, as you know if you're familiar with how the WW pump works. I think I did alright with it, but feel free to offer any tips you may have.

Any thoughts?

Thanks! :)

[debbie_page]

I love your babies' names!
Yes, to the pumping quesiton. Try the Symphony again and this time pump for 10 minutes after massaging your breasts. Pump again 10-15 minutes later (is this possible? Are you a nurse?) and amny times as you can for an hour. If not able to do this at work, try it at home with your pump. It may likely be that your pump is worn out. It will take your body time to adjust to a new pump.

[madelsmama]

Thanks, Debbie. Yes, I am a nurse (busy Med/Surg/Onc unit). I try to spend max 15 minutes in mid a.m. and mid p.m., with a 30 minute lunch break.

I'll try more massage and closer to 10 minutes increments of pumping.

Thanks for your time!

[debbie_page]

We now know that this 'power pumping' can 'trick' the breasts into another initial letdown.