How to increase pumping output while also nursing?

[EmmaInParis]

Hi, hope someone might have some advice for me. I’ve had a bumpy road breastfeeding my nearly 6 month old. Due to inverted nipples I had to formula feed at first and supplement with expressed breast milk until my supply caught up, then I exclusively pumped for a bit, then I was finally able to nurse at the breast with nipple shields until 12 weeks, we’ve more or less weaned off them now which I never thought possible!

I’ve carried on pumping once a day so my partner can give the first night feed as sleep has been a shocker from the beginning (hourly wake ups for months and months, only just starting to turn a corner now but we still sleep in shifts to survive!)

Until a month or so ago I was able to pump 250-300ml in one go which covered the night feed and left some surplus for the freezer stash. However I struggle to get 150ml now which is what she is guzzling in one night feed. I’ve also finished my freezer stash.

I’m wondering why my supply might have dipped so much and if there’s much I can do to improve it? I’ve tried power pumping a couple of evenings after she’s gone to bed in addition to my usual morning pump, which helps for a few days but the effects don’t seem to last.

I guess my options are:

1. pump more often, but that’s difficult to do while also nursing and generally trying to keep on top of life with a baby

2. bite the bullet and do all the night feeds again (I had a bit of a breakdown when I tried this when my husband went back to work, the sleep was that bad, but it is slightly better now so maybe I could cope). She is feeding twice typically in the night now, sometimes three times, but I guess I’ve got used to a guaranteed four hour chunk of sleep with our current arrangement

3. Stop pumping altogether and give formula at the first feed. I’ve nothing against formula, it was absolutely necessary for us at the beginning and my DD thrived on it but I guess the less logical part of my brain feels like that’s giving up after all the feeding challenges I persevered through. I know it’s not though, and that’s not meant as any judgement of anyone who does feed formula. It’s just the irrational mum guilt side of my brain speaking. But I also worry if I drop the daily pumping session my supply might drop even more and affect my baby? I don’t really know how it works.

Any advice much appreciated. Thanks in advance x

I'm wondering this to I've a 14 week old and breastfed my other two, I never bothered pumping with them but i wanted to have a stash for bottles so someone else could give me a break.

Theres teas that are supposed to help and atm I'm trying to power pump on my left as I'm lopsided now, baby prefers the right. I switched to formula over time once weaning was established at 6onths so I'll be doing the same with this one.

Porridge oats is supposed to help and upping your fluid intake

The only advice I have is Fenugreek is supposed to increase milk supply and lots of skin to skin which we seem to forget about after the initial new born stage.

Also do you know the website kellymom, they seem to have the answer to every single feeding question in the world

Good luck.

Fenugreek helps. But it sounds like she is feeding very efficiently (something you should be proud of) so there isn’t much extra milk. Can you pump round the clock for 48 hours (so between feeds and after feeds and build up a stash) and then pump before you sleep?

I came on to say the same as the poster above; it's often difficult to express large amounts between feeds when you are EBF as baby is drinking efficiently and your supply has settled down to meet demand, now that it is very well established. Power pumping may allow it to increase steadily, little by little again. But I understand pumping is a pain! Also, i assume you've introduced solids? This may have caused your baby to be taking in slightly different amounts of milk, so your supply may have altered a little.

If you decide to take on the night feeds again, could you feed lying down? You get so much more rest this way and can even doze whilst feeding. But a bottle of formula at night is also an option if you'd like help. Your baby may naturally start dropping a feed anyway soon enough.

Whatever you decide is fine. And a huge well done on getting back to breastfeeding so successfully and even managing without the nipple shields! Fantastic!

Sorry, I see your baby isn't quite 6 months yet, so probably hasn't started on solids!

Thanks everyone! Curry night tonight so will order something with plenty of fenugreek and get on the porridge for breakfasts... Will re-read all the info on Kellymom and I haven’t thought of more skin to skin but that’s a great idea. Also the 48 hour idea, all worth a try. I think I might also forgo a few nights of my husband doing feeds while continuing to pump so I can restock the freezer. Thanks everyone! Really appreciate the replies x

Also this is sometimes the thing we forget the most. Drink drink and then drink some more water!

I don’t know if this is any help, but for increasing milk supply in general, I made “lactation cookies” (yes I know, hideous name) from a recipe I found online and they really did work.

Here’s the recipe, in case it’s of use:

Oven temp: preheat to 170•C
Makes approx. 14-16 cookies, using a dessert spoon per cookie

* 1/2 cup organic virgin coconut oil
* 3/4 cup brown sugar
* 1 egg
* 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
* 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal
* 2-3 tablespoons of water
* 1 cup self raising wholemeal flour
* 1-2 tablespoons of brewers yeast
* 1/2 teaspoon himalayan salt
* 1 & 1/2 cups organic oats
* 1/2 cup of dark choc chips

(DO NOT leave out or substitute the brewers yeast when making lactation cookies. It’s one of the main ingredients that makes them work. Nutritional yeast and bakers yeast are different and will not work in the same way).

* In a large mixing bowl, cream the oil and sugar, then add the egg and vanilla. Mix well. 

* In a separate bowl, combine the flaxseed and water, let them sit for a few minutes before adding to mix. 

* Add the flour, yeast and salt, and mix well again. 

* Finally, stir in the oats and choc chips. 

* Make the biscuits (use a dessert spoon as a rough size guide) and place them onto a lightly greased or lined baking tray. Flatten them a little with your fingers or a spatula – if you like a soft centre, don’t squash them down too much.

* Bake the cookies for around 10-12 minutes, depending on how well cooked or crunchy you like your biscuits. 

Try the above recipe first, but if you don’t notice much of an increase in supply, add more brewers yeast. If you like, add more flaxseed meal too, but don’t forget to increase the water when you add more dry ingredients. Add a tablespoon of water for each tablespoon of flaxseed meal.

Let me know what you think if you try them! I actually really liked them and made quite a few batches!

Thanks for the recipe @TwoDrifters2 they sound great! Where do you get brewer’s yeast from?

@Somethingsnappy thanks so much for the kind words of encouragement and support. It’s been hard but so glad I was able to persevere! I can’t feed lying down sadly because of the nipple issues, I need to do a lot of breast shaping to latch so I have to sit up and pay a lot of attention to positioning or she slips off a lot. I tend to use the shields still at night because of this. So co-sleeping hasn’t ever really worked for us sadly... she’ll be going in her own cot in the next few weeks as she’s outgrowing the Snuz. Only started her on tiny tastes of solids but that’s good to be aware of that supply might dip as we introduce more meals, it hadn’t occurred to me so thanks for the insight x

I got mine from Holland & Barrett so maybe other health food shops would also stock it?

(I think I got the flaxseed meal from there too!)

Right, don't bother with fenugreek- there's no evidence and it's as likely to decrease supply as increase it
Cookies are nice but apart from making sure you take in enough calories, no reason they'll help.
It might be that the chunk of sleep and not feeding overnight is causing the supply drop as you're not generating so much prolactin....

In my experience porridge oats work. But I don't think everyone finds this.

Thanks @Harrysmummy246 - will look into the evidence before wasting any time then! We’ve done the pumping / bottle since birth so I don’t understand why output would only drop off now. It’s just the one bottle around 10/11pm, all other night feeds are and have always been done by me and my understanding was it was between 1-5am that prolactin is at its highest? Very frustrating! X