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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

The expressing clique

455 replies

popsycal · 11/09/2005 20:22

I'm Popsy and I am a pumper

DS2 is 6 months and i am bac at work 4 days a week mon-thurs. I express and lunchtime and get around 5oz.......
He needs 2 7oz feeds during the day but i am hoping to reduce his lunchtime feeds as his solids increase.
BEen back at work properly only one week but am having to express during every feed and every time on my day off to get enough.
my boobs hurt

Who else is in my gang

OP posts:
Original poster
popsycal · 05/10/2005 12:48

I will try that in my next session
would be great if I could get a few more ounces each time!

OP posts:
Original poster
popsycal · 05/10/2005 12:51

found this on breast compression....

OP posts:
creepmonkey · 05/10/2005 16:06

Agree about the hindmilk, the milk that comes out is thicker.

Original poster
popsycal · 05/10/2005 19:16

going to try this tonight...
will feed back

OP posts:
savanna · 05/10/2005 22:35

popsycal
I could not find the info on breast compression when I clicked on the link you provided. Can you please check it and post it again. Thanks.

alux · 06/10/2005 03:56

i have gone ahead and tried the fenugreek capsules to increase my supply quickly. it works. it makes bo smells like maple syrup! I've gone for quick supply increase this way as I think that dd is milk or lactose intolerant and have taken her off the one ff she was having at nursery. I have an appt today to ask gp to have allergy tests done.

Original poster
popsycal · 06/10/2005 09:51

www.breastfeeding.com/all_about/all_about_compression.html

cant do link typing one handed L(

OP posts:
mummyhill · 06/10/2005 10:19

where do you get fenugreek capsules cause i want to get ds off formula as it makes him constipated and he much prefers ebm.

jabberwocky · 06/10/2005 14:46

There's also Mother's Milk Tea you can try.

jabberwocky · 06/10/2005 15:03

Popsycal, is this the article you are trying to link?

savanna · 06/10/2005 15:21

I have recently bought a Lactaline dual pump but as it has not reduced the length of my pumping sessions or increased the amount of milk I get, I wonder whether anyone has any advice on using the pump. Is everyone using the Express Yourself bra? And what settings (cycle and vacuum) work best for you? Thanks.

Shivs1974 · 06/10/2005 15:50

Hi Savanna, I don't have the Express Yourself bra. Tend to live rather precariously holding both with one hand.....one with my forearm and the other held by my hand, if that makes sense.
Which pump were you using before? I find that it's a lot quieter and quicker than the Medela Mini Electric. However there isn't much in it (in time & amount) between the double pump and my hand pump. I leak if i use the hand pump and I can just let the Ameda pump do its thing without having to hold one boob and look at the handpump & bottle all the time.
Re suction, I have the cycles dial on just over half way and the other dial (on the right) at around 2pm (if using a clock face). Don't try having the suction too high as you'll damage your nipples.....
How long are you pumping for and how much are you getting out? Are you pumping at the same time of day as your old pump??

savanna · 06/10/2005 16:47

Shivs
Thanks for your post. I was using the Medela Mini Electric before I bought the Lactaline which is certainly much quieter. I am expressing at about the same time as with the old pump and am getting about 6oz in about 20 minutes. With the Mini Electric, I sometimes had letdown twice during a session but am only getting letdown once with the Lactaline.

alux · 06/10/2005 18:00

fenugreek

mummyhill · 06/10/2005 23:22

Thank you

jabberwocky · 07/10/2005 02:47

savanna, that's really quite a good amount. You shouldn't be disappointed in 6 oz. Have you tried the breast compression technique we talked about earlier?

Original poster
popsycal · 07/10/2005 10:35

i tried breast conpression last night and it didnt work at all....maybe i am doing something wrong...

OP posts:
LadyLazarus · 07/10/2005 12:21

savanna - i am having the same problems. I just bougth the lactaline, but am still sitting for half an hour to produce just 20ml [less than 1oz](max. 40ml, but seems to be tailing off for some reason ). Feel very disappointed, and now my boobs are killing, although pumping doesn;t relieve the discomfort or produce bigger amounts. Am I doing something wrong??

LadyLazarus · 07/10/2005 12:25

PS do I need to be pumping every two hours still? I read on here that this is a good way to increaes supply, and I have been more or less doing it every couple of hours (not so much at night tho) for a couple of days... just feels like it's starting to take over my life a bit

Shivs1974 · 07/10/2005 12:36

Hi LadyLazarus
It takes a while to establish your milk supply and although you probably won't want to hear this, you really do need to do those night pumps for a while - all to do with your hormone levels responsible for milk production are highest between 1am - 5am . I did night pumps (would feed dd, then pump) until she started to sleep through at around 8 weeks. Yes, I was shattered but it meant that I managed to increase the amount I got off. I wasn't getting loads off at the beginning but noticed an increase after a while. Pumping stimulates milk production, though obviously not as well as a baby can. Are you still doing lots of skin to skin? The only other things I can suggest are:

  • check that the white valves haven't split
  • I sometimes take my nipple out mid pump and rejig - this can help to get that little bit extra out
  • I compress during the end of a session as well I hope this helps.....you're doing a great job and it does get easier.
alux · 07/10/2005 13:33

pumping is also a mental thing. I find that I must let my mind relax in order to pump. eg. last night at 2am I did not feel like turning on the computer where I usually pump at night while reading MN in 20 mins I got 1 oz. So I turned on the pc and got 4.5 in 5 mins.

At work I sit at a desk and blank my mind or do something mundane.

LadyLazarus · 07/10/2005 13:33

I have been doing some night pumps, I go to bed at around 10pm and DH has the baby until about 3am. Then I get up and express every couple of hours as I feed her + change her etc. Just feeling totally fed up with the whole expressing thing I think if I could get more out it'd seem worthwhile, but for half an hour sitting to get 20ml it feels a bit pointless, and to be honest I could be spending the time with my daughter... sorry to be so negative, just not seeing the plus sides of it all right now!
Not been doing any skin to skin, as not feeding at the breast (only expressing and formula). Am seriously reconsidering expressing to be honest...

LadyLazarus · 07/10/2005 13:34

alux - do you have that special bra? i find it hard to even sit and watch telly whilst holding the bottles never mind mumsnetting!!

alux · 07/10/2005 15:31

no I dont have the special bra. but then my boobies are only little and the bras are only to help the bottles stay in place. I don't type on mn when pumping - just read other people's posts i can relax that way.

don't knock yrself for feeling negative about this. this is HARD. I don't know if I could pump as often as you are. if you are not also feeding baby directly, it makes pumping even harder. What you have done so far is incredible no matter how negative you feel about it now.

I bought the book about exclusively pumping off expressyourselfmums eventhough I dont exclusively. its expensive possibly because of its small customer base maybe you can have a read of a copy? it would give you some tips to pump and may also help your morale.

also, if you feel you are not getting much b/c supply is low, try fenugreek as a short term solution to inc supply which should also boost your morale.

i should think that if your outlook is negative, it will affect letdown hence it becomes a vicious cycle.i feel like i am rambling now but hth

mummyhill · 07/10/2005 16:12

Ladyl - I am having the same results and am pumping every two hours includung night times it can be disheartening but don't give/beat yourself up we are giving our little angels/monsters (depending on how much sleep I can get) the best start we can. I cannot get ds to latch for love nor money but he does appear to prefer ebm to formula so I am going to keep going as long as I can. Hugs to you cat me if you want to chat.