Nursing Working Mama's Conundrum: Part III
Check out our previous discussions on this topic: Mama Pump-A-Lot 1, Mama Pump-A-Lot 2, Nursing Working Mama's Conundrum 1, and Nursing Working Mama's Conundrum 2.
Here writes Arabee, who is having challenges stockpiling milk for the one full day per week that she is away from babe:
HELP! I am a working mother of a 4 month old little girl. I have the luxury of working a part time/flex time job and I get to breastfeed her exclusively everyday except for Saturday when I am gone all day at work. I need to pump a milk supply to give to her Daddy when I am gone, but I am having an awful time with this whole pumping thing. I try to do it daily, an hour or two after her morning nursing, and an hour before her next nursing before we head off to work. I am getting no milk lately, like really a teaspoon in a half hour. She is healthy and about 16 lbs, so it appears my milk supply is more than adequate. Are there any tips y'all may have about pumping to create a stockpile for the one day a week I cannot breastfeed? Thank you!!!
I recall a whole discussion on milk supply last spring...I'm wondering if it is a seasonal problem. Most people suggested eating more carbs (specifically stout beer, oatmeal) or taking tea (fenugreek or special mama's milk blends). But, I can tell you as a mama who never did well pumping:
1. relax. try some deep breathing before pumping. take a serious look at your stress level.
2. try hand expressing. it takes practice to get a good technique but it can actually work pretty well.
3. does she really need that much? my 4 month old only got about 8 ounces split between 4 bottles over 10 hours. she made up for it at night.
Posted by: Capella | February 21, 2008 at 07:34 AM
Sometimes you can get some "extra" by pumping in the middle of the night, or maybe an hour or two before the first morning nursing.
Posted by: Liz | February 21, 2008 at 08:33 AM
When I got sick and my milk supply almost dried completely up I took the herb Fenugreek to increase my milk production. If you want to research it or the herb Thistle, go to either of these websites:
www.lalecheleague.com
www.breastfeeding.com
You can take 3 tablets of each three times a day and can buy both at Wild Oats.
The Fenugreek working amazingly for me in about 48 hours time.
Good luck - I know the drying up of your mama's milk can feel very scary.
Posted by: Alisha | February 21, 2008 at 08:41 AM
Some things that helped me when I had a hard time pumping:
01. Pumping at different times of the day. I eventually found out that if I pump first thing in the morning, I'll get five ounces or so. When I try to pump in the afternoon or at night? Barely an ounce. I just get up before baby wakes up and do it. There's always more than enough left for her after.
02. Drinking a glass of water before I start and during. I'm not sure why this helps, but it does.
03. Pumping near running water. A shower, or a sink faucet. Again, not sure why this works, but it helped me. I got the idea from a friend who also did this.
04. Making sure I was warm enough. If the house was chilly first thing in the morning, I'd aim a space heater at me. For some reason I couldn't pump if I was cold?
05. Having my baby near also helped. If she was close by, I was able to pump much more milk.
06. Repositioning the plastic pump part (umm... I might need more coffee this morning, 'cause I can't think of what it's called?) onto the nipple just right. If it's not in JUST the right place, I don't get much milk.
07. I went to a lactation consultant when my milk first came in and I was engorged. One thing she taught me was to massage different parts of my breast to help let the milk down. Sometimes when I'm having trouble with let down, this really helps.
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Experiment a little and see what works for you. I did some mad google searches and after trying everything, this is what I found worked for me.
Posted by: jeannie | February 21, 2008 at 08:47 AM
Seconds on the stress thing ... I need to be very relaxed when I pump. First thing in the morning is the best time (before she's drained me at her morning nursing), and definately before coffee - I never get any milk if I've had even a little bit of caffeine. If you pump in the evening, sometimes if I have just a few sips of wine or beer, it totally triggers my let-down. Hope this helps! Also, at 4 mos pp, you are still establishing your milk supply. Things will eventually come into balance for you guys.
Posted by: beth | February 21, 2008 at 09:16 AM
It does kind of seem more like a let down issue instead of a supply issue? When I was trying to stockpile milk I would pump twice in the middle of the night on the side that she wasn't nursing on. Doing it at the same time she was nursing allowed me to pump during multiple let downs I get when she is nursing that are harder for me to get while just pumping.
And speaking of multiple let downs, I don't know what kind of pump you have, but I have found that by turning the pump off and then on again, I can get another let down, getting another half ounce or so.
Posted by: andrea | February 21, 2008 at 09:32 AM
All great suggestions above. Since it seems to be as simple as a pump problem and not really a supply problem, I highly recommend calling Beyond Birth Lactation Consultants. They are so amazing. It may be as simple as needing different size pump parts or using a different setting. If they can't tell you what you need over the phone, the cost of a consult will be so worth it. I've used them at various times with 2 kids and I've never felt that I could afford it, but never regretted those dollars well spent. Anyhow, with both of my kids, my best opportunity for pumping has been 10-12pm. With my older child, she was sleeping and I felt ready to nurse again before I went to bed. With my baby, she wakes in that time period and nurses just a little to get back to sleep so I pump afterwards then head to bed myself. I also take Fenugreek. Once my body gets used to that extra pumping session each night, I am able to pump a whole bottle - what she normally takes while nursing or what I pump when away from her. Also, pump as frequently as humanly possible on that day that you are working away from her. I pump 3 times/day and save that milk for my next workday. It takes a few tricks to get the hang of pumping but once you are in the habit, it's not soooo bad. I need a quiet, dim, relaxing space, lots of water and a Mothering Magazine to help me relax and think about baby instead of work. Also, of course, pictures of baby and taking a few minutes to deep breathe and imagine nursing before I pump. So maybe boosting your supply temporarily just to get over the hump - once you get ahead, it's easier to stay ahead. It's easiest to pump immediately after nursing so you won't be affecting what baby actually takes in. I've pumped a lot right after the first nursing in the morning, I have tons more milk at that time of day than at my normal bedtime pump. Good luck to you ... it's all sooo worth it.
Posted by: Nic | February 21, 2008 at 09:52 AM
it could even be a simple fix such as making sure that you have the correct size cone on your pump for your nipple size--which oftentimes is not the size that comes with the pump. i'd recommend seeing a lactation consultant who can help you figure out what your actual individual issues might be. incidentally, the lact. consultants at providence st. vincents are fantastic. I would not recommend the prov. clinic on the east side. best wishes to you.
Posted by: sherry | February 21, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Hi Arabee-
At least from my experience - you will be able to pump TONS of milk during that saturday you are away from her. so, if you can maximize pumping on that day, and then freeze/fridge what you get, I would think you will have plenty for the saturdays. eventually the cycle should balance, and each saturday will produce enough milk for the next, and so on.
that's how i was - couldn't pump much when i was hanging out with babe, regardless of my strategy. but take me away for 8 hours and i could pump liters. literally.
Posted by: Sadie Rose | February 21, 2008 at 11:50 AM
The thing I had to remember when my kids were that little was to *drink *drink *drink the water! Your body needs the extra hydration to be able to produce that much additional liquid. Good luck!
Posted by: Mary | February 21, 2008 at 12:51 PM
I tried a lot of things to keep it up...when I was pumping at work I could only get few oz. maybe stress, pumping in a cubicle, knowing that everyone could hear the sound of the pump. anyway, I pumped at night, yes, not so ideal, but I would wake up 2 times during the night and pump for 15 minutes...I would get all that I needed. ALso I got a manual pump instead of the electric one for those midnight pumps, I kept the electrical one for work, and the manual one at home, so I could pump close to my baby...my two cents. good luck!
Posted by: maxiosvela | February 21, 2008 at 12:51 PM
All the advice here is great, but I'd second Sadie Rose's point. Are you able to pump while you're at work? That would seem the ideal (and perhaps the mere fact that you're asking means you cannot...?). I pump during work the 4 days I'm away from my daughter, basically pumping at the times I'd normally feed her, and that has been plenty. I, for one, have NEVER been successful at the "make-up" pumping. Getting up in the night or pumping right after a feeding has been an [often painful!] sacrifice I am not willing to make. With my first baby I pumped after every feeding to increase supply...this time, I am less hard on myself and it has been such a more pleasurable experience!
Given the recent discussion of stigma around formula on this site, I'll also use this space to make a "confession" (albeit one not necessarily relevant to the question at hand)--sometimes, if I have to miss a pumping session or for whatever reason don't get enough, I top off my pumped breastmilk with a bit of formula! For me, it has been a great relief to be able to do so now and then.
Posted by: MollyH | February 21, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Fenugreek did wonders for me! In fact, I still take it (my daughter is 8 mos). With my son, I found my production dropped drastically when he was two months. No idea why...bad latching habit, whatever. Anyway, I didn't realize it until he was really underweight, so I had to start pumping all his meals. I also took fenugreek (recommended by the lactation consultant) three times a day and drank tons and tons of water. After a few days of pumping and the herb/water stuff, my supply almost tripled. I went from pumping 2 ounces to almost 6!
Now, when pumping, I notice I still have issues "letting down" if I'm not relaxed, which is hard to do if you're squeezing in (no pun intended) a pumping session between meetings. But just close your eyes and take some deep breaths and imagine your sweet baby nursing on your breast, and that will also help a lot.
But the stuff you pump on Saturday, when you're away from her, can be frozen for the following Saturday, or just put in bottles for that following Saturday (expressed milk can be kept refrigerated for 5-7 days). Right now I'm living day to day with the bottles. The two I pump one day at work, get fed to her the next day I'm at work. Not the best plan, but it's what I have to do right now.
Oh, and an avocado a day was recommended to a friend who's son was prematurely born. And heck, avocados are tasty, so no harm there.
but try pumping every meal for a few days. It's a pain to do (bottles v. breast), but it will help you monitor how much you're producing. Also, meet with your lactation consultant to make sure latches are still going well, etc. My daughter has gotten into some lazy latching habits every so often, and that affects production overall.
Good luck and take care!
Posted by: Laura S. | February 21, 2008 at 01:01 PM
I had tons of trouble with pumping. I could feed fine, but I consistently would pump half of what my babes would eat. I tried all kinds of things. I'll be honest and say I just mixed a little formula with breast milk when I was gone. It worked for us, no one was hungry, and I was able to relax a little about it. Good luck to you.
Posted by: mom22 | February 21, 2008 at 02:21 PM
PLEASE PLEASE be careful about taking Fenugreek! A friend of mine took it at the advice of lact. specialists and they didn't ask her about allergies - she was allergic to peanuts and went into anaphylactic shock - was hospitalized for days.
Posted by: Vanessa | February 21, 2008 at 02:29 PM
You've gotten a ton of great advice already, but I just want to add that I get more milk if I pump one breast while nursing on the other. It's a bit of a pain to do, but the milk just comes screaming out that way, so it's worth it. When I don't have my baby with me the the pumping results aren't as good.
Posted by: Robin | February 22, 2008 at 06:47 AM
I will always be mystified about breastfeeding!! It just blows my mind how crazy and unexplainable it is sometimes. I can say the herbs didn't work for me (but I still think they're worth trying). And in my tiny bit of experience, and in talking with other moms, is that your milk supply can change all the time. I'd suggest calling your doctor, midwife or a lactation consultant and just checking in with them on the possibilities. Maybe you're low on milk and they have suggestions, or maybe it's the pump or letdown or something else. I'd say getting information from an expert will probably ease your mind if nothing else. Good luck!!
Posted by: Jillian | February 22, 2008 at 07:15 AM
Are you sure you are doing it right (pumping)? Maybe you should visit a Lactation consultant to make sure... If you know you are doing it right, but still not getting milk, consider all the other advice here.
Posted by: Jenny | February 22, 2008 at 09:35 AM
I was wondering if you have experimented with different pumps?
I had the same exact issue.....I worked all day Sat. but could nurse my baby during the week. My baby was fat so she was obviously getting plenty to eat when she nursed, but I could often only get a teaspoon when I pumped. I found out after the fact that it was probably the kind of pump I was using. I was using a hand held pump because it was so portable and seemed so much more friendly than my electric pump(which I still haven't used). I was recently informed that the hand held pump doesn't have suction regulators and can be painful for some women.The electric pump simulates a babies suck better,creating better results.
If that is the case, I believe that Nursing Mothers Counsel has inexpensive pump rentals for mamas who may only need it temporarily
Posted by: lea | February 23, 2008 at 12:17 PM
I was wondering if you have experimented with different pumps?
I had the same exact issue.....I worked all day Sat. but could nurse my baby during the week. My baby was fat so she was obviously getting plenty to eat when she nursed, but I could often only get a teaspoon when I pumped. I found out after the fact that it was probably the kind of pump I was using. I was using a hand held pump because it was so portable and seemed so much more friendly than my electric pump(which I still haven't used). I was recently informed that the hand held pump doesn't have suction regulators and can be painful for some women.The electric pump simulates a babies suck better,creating better results.
If that is the case, I believe that Nursing Mothers Counsel has inexpensive pump rentals for mamas who may only need it temporarily
Posted by: lea | February 23, 2008 at 12:23 PM
I definitely second the idea of pumping one breast while nursing on the other. I was a very slow and low-volume pumper, and it was a big problem for me to be able to stockpile enough milk from pumping at work. So I kept doing it to get what I could, but every couple of days I'd nurse on one side and pump on the other and would always get twice as much out from that pumped side for the stockpile.
Posted by: SoozeZ | February 25, 2008 at 11:11 AM