cannot pump

[lbahlstrand]

My daughter went into a nursing strike over two weeks ago, I've talked to lactation consultants and tried everything, but in the mean time, I at least want her to drink breast milk. She can drink from a cup and she is doing well with that and solids. She is almost 10 months old (in 3 days). When she first went into the strike, I wasn't pumping much and I changed the pump membranes and the supply increased and it was good for a week and a half or so. The last 3 or 4 days days, I pump and get the first ounce or two ok, but I feel still lumps, milk won't come out. I stop and try a little later and I get another ounce or so. My supply is going down again and started fenugreek again to help. I was pumping 3-4 times a day and each time I had to start increasing more and more time to pump the milk out. Now I'm doubling the times I pump a day (6-7 times), but I cannot get all the milk out. Again, after the first ounce, it just won't come out. I go back and forth from both sides and I'm able to get few more drops. I was getting 17oz a day pumping 3-4 times a day and now I may get between 10-12oz pumping 6-7 times a day.

[pumpkinhead7]

What is your daughter eating and drinking? Is she eating lots of solids?

Have you tried breast compressions and warm compresses while you're pumping?

[lolabear]

your supply doesnt go up over night so i would try the warm compress and breast compressions and give it some time to come back up.

[StaciMN]

stop watching the pump...it sort of sounds like you are getting anxious and your milk is not letting down. Try pumping for 15 minutes and not "looking down" at all - just get a book or watch your favorite show if you have TIVO. set the clock and dont look down for at least 15 minutes. when I pump that long I will usually have two sometimes three letdowns. When I watch what is happening and get anxious and cranky for it to be over with (I dont like pumping but my attitude is improving) - my milk does not let down like it does when I think about something else. The body is so weird.

I am not an expert and only a first time nurser but this sounds like what happened to me when I pumped - until I figured out to let my mind go.

[lolabear]

also looking at or smelling something of your baby can help with let down. i keep pics all over my office so i can just stare at them when i pump and i pump at my pc at work so i can keep my mind off what im doing, its also less boring that way :lol;

[lbahlstrand]

I tried compressions and it works in my side that actually has less milk. I will se what happens tonight

[pumpkinhead7]

Good luck!

[Macabe]

Have you tried heat and massage prior to pumping? If you feel lumpy milk ducts it sounds like more of a letdown issue than supply, though that could quickly turn into a supply issue.

What are you doing to get her back to breast?

[Nipple_nectar]

I recommend using a hospital grade pump for anyone exclusively pumping, you need a stronger pump. You may need to pump as often as every two hours to match the suction of your baby because no pump is as efficient as a baby nursing to remove the milk. Then there is also the issue that some women simply cannot emotionally let down for a pump. Pumping is an acquired skill and some moms have no luck whatsoever trying to do it.

In order to preserve your BFing relationship, I recommend doing everything possible to get her back to the breast, since breast milk or formula needs to be the primary source of nutrition for her entire first year, you may have to eliminate solids AND use a BFing friendly feeding alternative ( www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/alternative-feeding.html ) like a SNS ( www.lact-aid.com) to get her back to the breast full time.

Otherwise, she may end up prematurely weaning, you lose your supply and are forced to use formula.

[KerryS]

3-4 times per day is not frequent enough to sustain milk production. While you may have been able to pump enough at first, over time, 3-4 times a day will cause your milk supply to decrease. If you're exclusively pumping, you need to pump at least every 3-4 hours at that age in order to maintain supply.

[lbahlstrand]

Last night and this morning pumping was a little better. I will pump more often. As far as getting her back to the breast, I was holding her last night with a necklace. She was happy being held. I offered the breast and the only think she does it is bite it a little. I only gave her little spaguetti for dinner, like 1 tablespoon, and she dropped most of it. Finger food keeps her busy and doesn't make her upset because she really wants to eat what we are eating. She had some milk during the day. I figure I will try to get her back in the evening so I let her eat and drink from the cup morning and lunch, then a small snack, like a cracker or two after nap. And for dinner as I described above, little finger food to keep her busy and no milk. I think there is a little progress as far as letting me hold her and willing to put the nipple in the mouth, but it is like she doesn't remember to suck, she just wants to use her new teeth.

[RKeith]

What I normally do when I pump and have a bad tendency to look at how much (than worry about it) is to go WOW I'm producing milk. Sometimes I'll get lost look at it. In short I just watch it. It's kind of like watching a waterfall. I have hard times setting a time limit for pumping.

[lbahlstrand]

it is hard when I have a boy wanting my attention and the baby and my husband waiting for me and probably thinking it takes too long, let's switch to formula, or at least it is what I think he is thinking, of course he has never said anything like that. Sometimes there is a lot to do and I must be thinking about it. I'm doing a little better. I pumped 9 oz this morning (6.5 at 7am and 2.5 at 9.30am). The rest of the day seems harder. I just want to make it to a year, only 2 months left.

[JennMomof3]

Eat oatmeal! i swear by it....pump more......massage breast while your pumping..........try to get her to nurse by offering it frequently. Good luck

[lbahlstrand]

As I dreaded, my husband told me to use formula last night. I'm so close, I'm not going to give up. I never complain to him and never ask for his help. Anyway, I don't like oatmeal, but I eat granola every morning with yougurt. I'll check some recepis and see how to sneak it in my meals. thank you

[dodoe80]

Granola bars work as well as oatmeal.

As for pumping, I use to be able to pump very well but when baby turned 4 months old I have a much harder time getting a second letdown, and often have to pump for a half hour in order to achieve one. I don't always have that much time to pump though. They say pumping is a learned art and it is. Are you using a double pump, and pumping both sides at once? That will help with let down.

[lbahlstrand]

I think my supply is getting better. Even when I was breastfeeding, I would notice that I would have a week every two weeks or so that my supply was getting low and I would have to pump more. I wonder why that is. I do not have my period yet and I kept thinking that was a sign, but it has been happening for like 3 or 4 months that my supply goes down and then I have to extra pump to get it back up.
I use a medela advanced dual pump, but sometimes I have better luck doing one side at the time, maybe due to one side producing so little milk.

[lbahlstrand]

supply is back. I guess we'll see in the next couple weeks if it happens again. By the way DD went on my breast and suck for 2-3 times and then she decided to stop two nights ago, last night it was back to nothing

[VioletsMom814]

I had a similar problem with my pump early on and I can only tell you what works for me. I bust out my MP3 player, switch it over to the mellow music playlist I played during the labor and delivery of my DD, put those head phones on and try to get in as comfortable of a position as possible. The music helps me relax, and as I'm concentrating on the music and the memories of my little girl's birth, I gently massage the breast I'm pumping. I try not to look at the pump and just try to stay as relaxed and centered on my daughter as possible. Sometimes it's easier said then done, but I have to pump in a bathroom at work...which is possibly the most uncomfortable place to pump...and this is what works best for me. I also agree that getting the highest quality breastpump possible is a must. Hope it helps.