Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask for help exclusively pumping?

69 replies

PeachMelba78 · 15/01/2019 22:50

I gave birth yesterday via emergency c-section. I am a surrogate and made the choice to express milk as I expressed and breastfed my own son well for 7 months.
I managed 2 great pumps getting out colostrum both times. I have stuck to pumping 9 times a day but ever since the first 2 times I haven’t managed to get anything out.
I am using a Medela double electric pump and I just want to get some advice!
Please do not offer any opinions on surrogacy as this is not what the thread is about, but I do think that the fact that I am not breastfeeding and I don’t have strong feelings for him could inhibit my pumping.
Help!!

OP posts:
zipclimb · 16/01/2019 16:31

I could never pump a drop but exclusively breast fed my babies.

I fed them until they were 3.

I could not ever use a breast pump.

When I went back to work they just seemed to wait for the breast and I have a pretty antisocial life for a whole.

Anyhow I never ever could use a pump.

PeachMelba78 · 16/01/2019 16:42

Thanks Ellie! I have managed a bit more from the right side again, trying the left side on its own for a bit.
It was very helpful to see my midwife too!

OP posts:
Kpo58 · 16/01/2019 16:51

Do you have a partner that you could hug with your tops off and get the skin to skin that way?

PeachMelba78 · 16/01/2019 16:53

Kpo she would love that! I am just happy that the milk seems to be coming through now.

OP posts:
Blueblueyellow · 16/01/2019 18:27

Op could you rent a medela symphony or any other hospital grade pump they are much better when starting to express.

PeachMelba78 · 16/01/2019 18:57

Blue I am now producing a small amount with my Medela swing maxi regularly at every pump, less than 48 hours after starting to pump.

Thanks again everyone for the great advice and support!

OP posts:
gigglingHyena · 17/01/2019 12:21

I found pumping for my daughter really hard going at first, it was only when my milk came in I could really get much with a pump. Theres loads of good stuff in even a few drop of colostrum, but she had it via syringe, I didn't ever pump enough for a bottle.

I found this helpful, and heat, a cloth dipped in warm water or a wheat bag before pumping really helped me. Cold afterwards if feeling sore is nice too.
www.nancymohrbacher.com/articles/2012/6/27/to-pump-more-milk-use-hands-on-pumping.html

LMBad · 17/01/2019 12:51

Agree that it will take a few days to come in properly, and do you had a lot of blood loss that can affect the supply.

When I was struggling to produce milk I was given a drug called domperidone, it is a galactagogue (encourages lactation) and very safe to use. The hospital gave me a letter asking my GP to prescribe it. It helped a lot. Also got much more with hand expressing than pumping. Best of luck with it x

tinysnickersaremyfavourite · 17/01/2019 13:11

Hi OP. I am a breastfeeding peer supporter and we also cover expressing.

Firstly, can I just say what a wonderful thing you did for the parents, and that it's doubly wondeful that you are doing your best to provide breastmilk.

Generally many of the things we suggest for helping to express won't work for you because of your situation.
For expressing to work well, you need oxytocin, the 'feel good' hormone. This is usually triggered by a cuddle with baby, smell of baby etc. In your situation you need to find another way.

Try skin to skin with a partner if possible, ir if you have a pet, give your pet a cuddle (not necessarily naked!)
You can try watching a feel good/romantic type of film. You could also try looking at photos of your own child as a baby (if I understood correctly that you have one). Thing back to how small they were, how it felt to cuddle them, how they smelled.
You can also try a hot water bottle on your breasts, and some breast stimulation. Massage your breasts but particularly play with your nipples.

At this stage if you are trying to harvest colostrum you may be best hand expressing as you are likely to get a very small amount until your milk comes in, and it may get lost in the pump.

Good luck!

SurvivingCBeebies · 17/01/2019 13:22

Sorry I've just seen this or I would have commented before. I exclusively pump.. but wasn't able to start till day 4 due to the c-section... my MW at the time said it's normal for delays after c-sections so to keep trying and just get baby fed by any means in the mean time x

LollyLarkin · 17/01/2019 16:05

You’ve had lots of good tips already but one that really helped my pumping was heat and masssge. A nice warm water bottle or a wheat bag stuffed down your top for 10 minutes or so before you pump and then gently massage the breast when you’re expressing. Hope it all picks up nicely for you!

elliejjtiny · 17/01/2019 21:25

How are you getting on OP. Just remembered that one of the midwives when I had my baby out me in touch with a lady who was a peer breastfeeding supporter who had also exclusively pumped. She was really good. I can't remember much of her advice now though. My baby who I exclusively pumped for will be 6 years old this summer.

PeachMelba78 · 17/01/2019 22:59

Hi thanks for all the kind thoughts and suggestions!
I actually have 2 children although I only gave birth to one (same sex parents), but I have been cuddling them both (gently due to the section!)
My midwife taught me how to massage and about warm cloths which has helped.
I have continued to get out milk at every pump, not loads but that’s fine with me and the parents - I don’t feel any pressure from them.
All in all I am really happy with how things are going and I am confident going forward!

OP posts:
PeachMelba78 · 17/01/2019 23:00

Ellie my youngest is 6.5 years old - time goes fast but I was still able to remember lots of handy tips for the parents such as how best to get baby in and out of the sling!

OP posts:
ChakiraChakra · 17/01/2019 23:15

This is such a feel good thread. I'm really pleased it's coming for you now!

PeachMelba78 · 17/01/2019 23:37

Chakira it’s been very helpful for me, I have just got out another 50 mls for the night and I have felt more confident thanks to this thread

OP posts:
PeachMelba78 · 26/01/2019 21:33

Just an update for those who helped me. I am now consistently getting out 6 100mls bottles a day and I am couriering boxes of milk to the parents. I have managed to drop down to 7-8 pumps a day instead of 9 with 3.5 hours in between. Not bad considering I am only 12 days post partum!

OP posts:
Baconbutties · 26/01/2019 21:36

Sounds really good - well done

popcornwizard · 26/01/2019 22:47

Amazing, very well done. You've done a wonderful thing.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread