Positive stories needed - building supply post 4 weeks with exclusive pumping

[MOGMOGMOG85]

Hi there,

I am trying to build my supply by exclusively pumping with an Ardo Carum which just arrived yesterday. Unfortunately my boy is already 4 weeks old - born by emergency c-section a month early. We've only had him home 2 weeks as he was tube fed in hospital at first.

It was hard to get my milk going artificially and after weeks of trying he is still not latching effectively and I have realised I need to increase my supply myself with exclusive pumping (something I was not managing before as trying to feed him was taking all my time).

Unfortunately I wasn't aware that the first 4 weeks are kind of key for building supply - I'm basically asking here does anyone have any positive stories of building their supply with exclusive pumping post 4 weeks?

I have started taking fenugreek, brewers yeast, and raspberry tea extract and am continuing to take my pregnacare vitamins too... trying to eat oat biscuits every day too.

I am pumping after every feed with my boy which results in pumping around 7 times every day (I usually miss one pumping session to get some sleep in the night time!).

I do breast compressions constantly during pumping sessions, and swap about 3 times each from each breast to the next for a few minutes at a time until there is nothing left.

The most I've ever produced is 20ml per session, but it latterly went down to 10ml after my boy left hospital and I was struggling to try and get him to breastfeed exclusively at the expense of pumping and also his weight gain. Have now realised that I have to top him up with formula to help him gain weight and I also need to pump after every feed. Ive only been pumping religiously for a few days so I realise I've not exactly been trying long. Desperate to see results though and hoping for some positive stories. I listen to music whilst pumping as I find it makes me feel a lot more positive and upbeat and I hope is releasing oxytocin.

Gosh this pumping business is brutal - solidarity to anyone out there trying the same xxx

I pumped for 3 months while my preemie was in hospital. My supply went up and down in that time.

Things that worked for me were

1. Renting a hospital grade pump. Worked out about £2 a day and it was way more effective than any of the smaller ones.
2. Pumping while baby was feeding on the other side, to help with the let down. I used a photo when he was in NICU but it didn’t work as well.
3. Just leaving the pump on for 5 min after the last drop. This fooled my body into thinking I had a hungry baby.
4. Pumping bra. At first I just used an old bra with holes in it, so I had my hands free. Pumping was much less of a chore then, I’d even do it when washing up.
5. Pumping during the night, when I was asleep. I had a separate set of stuff so I didn’t have to sterilise the kit, and I didn’t even get out of bed, I just dozed through it. I chucked the milk in the morning, which seemed a waste but it really helped build up my supply.
6. Feeding baby every 2 hours. Although he was used to 4 hourly feeds in the hospital he only started putting on weight when we switched to a typical newborn pattern of 2 hourly feeds in the day. I had to wake him at first but he soon got the hang of it (and then didn’t stop!)

On a typical day I would pump for about 4 hours total! But that was similar to feeding my full term kids at newborn stage. I would do about 6 hours to increase my supply, like having a cluster feeding baby. I was fortunate and my supply was good in the end, so much so that I could donate milk as after 2 months I had enough for a newborn but baby was only 3lb.

Finally don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t work. They get the immune protection from just a little bit of milk so if you end up combo feeding don’t feel bad. Hope it goes well.

Hi @peakotter thank you for your reply.

Sorry your little one was born so early, that must have been hard!

I don't think I could pump at same time as having him on breast, as I've been advised to do breast compressions whilst he suckles which is pretty all consuming! He only goes on the breast a few minutes at a time - he has a terrible latch and to be fair there isn't much in my breasts for him so it's not very rewarding. He usually just drops off to sleep a couple of minutes into it and despite everyones suggestions nothing I Can do can wake him up - he loves his sleep!

I do have a hospital grade pump now since yesterday, def worth the money to try everything I can.

Leaving pump on is a good idea, and trying it at night is worth a try too! Atm I do breast compressions the whole time I'm pumping but perhaps instead of switching it off when I'm done I could try just leaving it on and doing something else so it's less intense! I have ordered a pumping bra which should be arriving today so I can double pump for the first time. A lot of milk ends up dripping down my top or onto my baby atm which seems a shame!

I'm letting my baby feed when he wants to atm - same applies to waking him up to feed - he will not have it! He sleeps pretty much constantly and wakes up hungry. The time periods vary between 1.5-2.5 hours mostly but sometimes if I'm lucky he will sleep quite a bit longer at night (3 1/2 hours). I've got an app I use to track it. I only pump just after he feeds to try and make sure there is something in my breasts if and when I put him to the breast (about 7 times a day and only for a few minutes as I said). Pumping at night might interrupt this for me but it might be worth it to get my supply up and just skip putting him to the breast during night feeds (if that makes sense).

Can I ask did you start this pumping regime straight away? I feel like starting a pumping regime at 4 weeks is leaving it a bit late, although as I said I do have some milk (10-15ml each time).

I'd so love to be able to donate milk - maybe one day!

Thanks for your lovely response xx

Sounds like you’re doing all the right things. I know some folk who’ve upped their supply and others who haven’t been able to. Don’t be down on yourself if it isn’t possible.

From what I remember I was pumping regularly from the start but never got full bottles until maybe 6 weeks in, when I increased my pumping time. I wanted to go from enough to feed my child to enough for a newborn, as I heard it would be easier to increase supply at 1mo than 3mo. So I think the first month or more I was getting maybe 20mlx6 per day, and by 2 months I was getting 700ml per day.

It may have been easier for me as I bf DC1 and DC2 , and also I wasn’t bf DC3 at all so I knew exactly how much milk I was getting.

I know it’s easy to say, but try not to worry. I do think that stress makes it harder, which is why so many mums of preemies struggle to keep bf. My milk went up when I was recovered from surgery and out of pain. Whatever happens in the future, you’ve done a fab job getting this far.

Thank you. You're right I'm trying my best and we'll just have to see if I'm lucky and it works or not xx

This morning I've had good success with warm compresses and euphoric 80s music, despite sore nipples - have turned the vacuum down to let them heal.

Would love to hear from anyone else who has had success in my position.

Best time for building supply is at night time you could try upping the pumping session through the night?