Breast milk supply + Breast Pump - please help!

[sjxoxo]

After issues around 4weeks with my babies weight- not gaining enough- I was led to believe by my clinic that I likely don’t have enough breast milk. This was just because I was EBF and he wasn’t gaining much weight. I then started combi feeding. I have continued putting him on the breast as much as possible and also pumping, and formula.

I am really confused by the breast pump and wondering whether I actually have no let down or if I am going wrong somewhere.

I have switched from Ameda finesse to a Spectra 1. I am getting more milk on the spectra so that’s positive. When I pump this is what happens:

• massage mode (high cycles and medium suction) & milk starts to drip out.

I carry on with this and then I get a very small ‘spray’ of milk which lasts maybe 60 seconds to a couple of minutes. I don’t ever get ‘spray’ for more than that and it’s a small spray.. it never gushes out.

Then after a minute or so it goes back to a drip. If I increase the suction but decrease the cycles which is what all the advice says to do, I get hardly any milk coming out, just drops. So it’s like there’s no let down. Or only a minuscule one and then nothing.

It takes me probably 30 mins to pump maybe 3oz (40ml) of milk from one side.
I get the same amount if I double pump.

It seems very little to me and takes a really long time. My breasts never leak and I only feel really noticeably ‘full’ if I don’t feed or pump for maybe 6-8 hours.

Where am I going wrong? Does this sound like I have very little milk? From what I’ve read its quite rare to not have enough milk. Does this seem like I have no let down reflex? I’m so confused and it’s so frustrating… please help any advice welcome xx

I had to pump and bottle feed mixed bm and formula for months at first, until baby learnt to feed, he couldn't latch at first or suckle enough. It might not be your supply, could just be baby learning and getting stronger at feeding, it takes time for both of you and you're in the early days still. Have you tried baby latched on feeding on one side and pumping on the other, at the same time? A bit of a fiddle, but I found that this brought more milk out of the pumped side, if bab was feeding alongside.
Not being able to get much out with a pump doesn't mean you have low supply, try not to worry. Ha e you had any bf support on the NHS, you could arrange this through your health visitor if not. Also pumping after a nice hot bath with hit wet flannels on your front to warm it all up, that helped me too. How often are you pumping and offering your breast? Pump after each feed to top up with formula, for combi feeding, but always offer your breast too, thats as much asI can remeberif any of it is relevant to you. Don't lose heart based on what a pump can collect xx

After each feed for the next feed I meant, so you've got some in the fridge ready.

It isn’t unusual not to be able to pump, it isn’t the same as a baby.

I’d ditch the pumping and stick to feeding as much as possible, that will stimulate your supply more effectively and cause you much less stress.

When the say “not enough weight” is he crossing centiles? Is he hydrated, weeing, pooing, crying, sleeping? Does he look happy and healthy?

Some bf are just slow gainers. Ime many hcp don’t actually have that much experience with bf babies, and use formula fed as comparison.

Have a read of Kellymom, there’s some wxcellent resources on there.

But the best thing is just to feed, all the time. Slightest squeak, feed. Let him comfort suck, as that will stimulate supple as well.

Thanks both - sorry if it’s not clear but he is now 13 weeks - I’ve seen 3 lactation midwives and I’ve found them all useless - they all tell you different information. I feel like there’s no actual research into breast milk supply and it’s just everyone’s vague opinion! They’ve all been nice but no one has actually given me any concrete info on whats normal in terms of supply. So frustrating! I’ve tried only breast and I’m too scared he’s hungry. I pump and store milk yes to give as top up with formula x

Nobody can tell you anything concrete, because you can't easily measure it. Nobody knows is often ananswer with babies. All you can do is keep feeding, by whichever method you come to prefer. Depends on what you want to focus on, if you are pumping to monitor/measure your supply then I think that's pointless, because its so variable what any woman can produce with expressing compared to what baby can withdraw from you. The baby will create and maintain your supply much better than a pump can. I would also stop pumping in your situation, agree with everything said above. Not much research because its so hard to quantify I guess. If you want to breastfeed and stop pumping then trust it and feed, feed, feed, feed, demand creates supply. Babies all grow at different rates, so long as you're getting plenty of dirty nappies, feeding regularly and baby isn't losing weight consistently then keep at it, I wouldn't pump if it doesn't produce for you, that doesn't mean you have a low supply. 12/13 weeks is when it started to come right for me, for baby to be getting more efficient at feeding, it was a turning point for stopping pumping and combi feeding. Are you feeding during that magic window in the night when supply is reinforced, 1am to 3am I think? Any time you aren't offering your breast and are offering formula or pumped milk is a missed opportunity to establish and increase your supply, but that doesn't mean I disagree with mixed/combi/bottle feeding bm, I tried them all and got there in the end.

I could have written this word for word!! I did the feed, then formula, then pumped at every feed. It was absolutely exhausting, I had no time to sleep. I had very good lactation consultants and they very gently said that I had very low supply and it was unlikely I would be able to ebf. They were right and I tried so hard (all the supplements and prescriptions for domperidone). In the end, after months of this exhausting schedule I stopped the pumping, still tried on the breast first and then did formula, then just did solely formula. Was the best thing I did for my mental health and actually started to enjoy my baby without all the pressure I had put on myself. Baby is healthy, eats like a horse (solids now) and I have never looked back!!

Also had the spectra (as well as countless others) and it was the only one that actually gave me something and the little squirts!