FAQs- Ask Yours Now!One of the things I would like to do with this website is add more “how to” information and provide information that will assist the many women who visit the site. When I was EPing, information was critical and finding support from other women who were also EPing was invaluable; yet this information and support were not always easy to find. So here’s your chance to get questions answered!! Use the comment form below to ask whatever you like (as long as it relates in some, even remote way to EPing, lactation, breastfeeding, even parenting) and I will do my best to answer your questions or locate the answer for you if it is something beyond my scope of knowledge. I hope that this post will grow into a valuable resource as it progresses! And now here’s the disclaimer-please remember that I am not a medical professional. The information provided on this site is of a general nature only. It is not intended as a replacement for medical advice. Any actions taken as a result of information obtained from this site are done so at the risk of the reader. It is recommended that you discuss your plans with your doctor and your baby’s doctor before taking any actions 28 Responses to “FAQs- Ask Yours Now!” Leave a Reply |
 
 
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February 14th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I am worried my Medela breast pump accessories and Avent microwave sanitizer have BPA in them. I just switched bottles because of it. Any info about this would be appreciated.
February 14th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I am admittedly not an expert on this subject and just learning about it as well. It certainly is concerning. From some sources that I have read, it appears that BPA levels generally are at a dangerous level in all of use.
The Environmental Working Groups has information on their site about baby-safe bottles and formula (since formula can have sigh levels of BPA leaching from the can linings). You can read this information at http://www.ewg.org/babysafe. On this page they do state that Medela pump tubes, shields, and jars are BPA and phthalate free which is wonderful news. They say nothing about other pump manufacturers.
I do not currently have any information regarding the Avent microwave sterilizer. Avent bottles were found to be one of the worst in terms of the BPA leaching, but their sterilizer is not made of the same plastic. I will see if I can find out more about it for you and post here if I do get any new info.
Depending on the age and health of your baby, you might consider no longer sterilizing and simply hand wash well with hot soapy water, rinse well, and then allow to air dry. Speak with your doctor about this alternative. Sterilizing is very much a regional thing as well depending on water quality and other such factors.
February 25th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I have been pumping exclusively for my 8 wk old for about a week now. Nursing wasn’t going well, and my milk supply was dwindling so I began to pump to build back up. Anyway, a couple of days ago, a blister formed on one of my nipples and popped yesterday. Now today, I found this white substance floating on the top of my freshly pumped milk. It wasn’t where the milk had separated as I had just pumped it. I shook it up, and it floated back to the top. It is white and looks sort of like sour milk (curdly). Is this pus, or infection of some sort? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
March 11th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Hello,
Thanks for your question!
It may be a number of things and and will preface anything I say with recommending you see your doctor or an IBCLC if it continues or you are concerned.
It is quite possible that the blister was blocking some flow of milk from the breast and this may have caused a blockage of milk. This milk that had been unable to move then may have solidified somewhat and then was expressed once the blister broke. This isn’t really any concern and you will likely not notice it again or it will happen for only a short time.
It is also possible for infections, such as staph, to cause what is often described as “stringy” milk. Be watchful for signs of infection in the breast such as tenderness, heat, redness, or general fever and malaise and see your doctor if you do have any symptom that may indicate an infection. With the broken skin from the blister, you are more susceptible to infections. You may want to consider some type of topical ointment such as Dr. Jack Newman’s All Purpose Nipple Ointment until your nipple has healed completely.
I think having small “curds” of milk is actually quite common- I know I experienced this numerous times. My guess is that in your case it is likely related to the blister and a subsequent blockage of milk.
You may want to do a little investigative work to figure out what caused the blister. You certainly should not be suffering any nipple trauma from a breast pump.
Hope that helps.
March 12th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Has anyone used the so called “hands free” pumping bra? I do so much while pumping at work and was wondering if it was real and really worked.
March 12th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Hi Anna,
I did not personally use a hands free pumping bra when I EPed, but I can tell you that they are very much real and many, many women consider them an essential when EPing. Easy Expressions, Made By Moms, and La Leche League all make hands free pumping bras. Medela makes a hands free pumping kit which can be used with their nursing bras. You can also make your own in a number of ways. Some will use a snug fitting sports bra and cut vertical slits into it into which you can slip the pump flanges. The openings can enlarge and sag over time so you might find that reinforcing the opening with either fabric, elastic, or stitching is a good idea. There is also this tutorial on kellymom.com showing how to use simple elastics to hold the flanges. http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/hands-free-pumping.html.
Perhaps others who have used hands free pumping bras will add their thoughts.
March 13th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Hi Anna,
I also found the article Stephanie is talking about, and I created my own hands free bra, and as a result, am typing this with BOTH hands as I pump!!!
Note though, I took the underwire out of an old underwired bra, and this was much sturdier than finding a softer bra to start with. Also, don’t cut holes for the pump shaft to go through, cut a slit with a craft knife (stanley knife??) and then push the pump through the slit, this will cause it to hold much tighter!
Have fun!
April 7th, 2008 at 4:52 am
Hi there
Firstly, delighted to have found this site a couple of days ago! I’ve been exclusively pumping for nearly 19 weeks now and have felt completely alone and lacking in support.
Having browsed through some of your linked web sites, I’ve come across the expression ‘power pumping’. The amount I’m pumping seems to be dwindling recently and I’m terrified that my supply won’t be enough for my nearly 5 month old. Can you please explain what power pumping is and let me know if it’s futile my trying it at this stage as a supply booster?
On the subject of hands free bras, I didn’t buy one when I first started as I was told that exclusive expressing would never last. However, I have developed a repetitive strain injury in my left hand from holding the pump so, providing my supplies aren’t dwindling forever, I intend to buy one very soon.
April 7th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Hi Melissa,
I’m so happy you found the site. You are definitely not alone in this! Many other women are out there doing exactly what you are doing. Although I know that at times it can certainly seem like you are the only one!
Some women do find that their supply starts to decline a bit around 5-6 months. I suppose there are a number of reasons for that, but the important thing is that it is certainly not futile to try and boost your supply at this stage. Do make sure you look for other causes such as changes to your pumping regime, pump losing efficiency, initiation of medication or herbal remedies, return of menstruation,etc.
To address your question about power pumping, I’ll start by explaining what it means and what it is intended to do. Power pumping is simply increasing your pumping schedule over several hours or days in order to boost your supply. It essentially will mimic a baby’s growth spurts. So for example, you may take one weekend (or some time preferably when you will have some extra help with your baby) and pump very frequently- every 1.5 to 2 hours- around the clock during that time. Since milk supply is largely controlled by supply and demand and we also know that an empty breast produces milk at a faster rate than a full breast and that milk stasis also slows production, this increased frequency of pumping should stimulate an increase in production. I think most women will see the increase within a couple of days- it will not, of course, be immediate.
Of course, if you return to reduced pumping sessions and/or decreased length of sessions, the increase in supply will not be maintained.
Another alternative is cluster pumping, which is similar to a baby cluster nursing. This is something that you can do on a regular/semi-regular basis without the intensity of power pumping. Cluster pumping is simply pumping very frequently over a very short period of time. So for example, pumping every half hour over a 2 or 3 hour period. This sometimes works well if you don’t have as much time through the day to pump but have someone at home at night to help with the baby allowing you to focus on pumping or if you don’t have the ability to do a focused power pumping regime over a day or two. Don’t worry about washing your flanges in between sessions since you will be pumping so often. You can simply place them in the fridge if you’d like.
Do some investigative work into other causes for a reduced supply. There isn’t always a reason, but sometimes there are things that can be altered to boost your supply back up. Make sure your pump is working at maximum efficiency. Consider renting a hospital grade pump if you are not using one. Ensure you are pumping long enough ( you must remove as much milk as possible) and frequently enough throughout the day. Always remember to lengthen your remaining pumping sessions when you drop sessions. Use massage and breast compressions to empty as fully as possible. Find something else to do while you pump- a watched bottle never fills!
You can always consider herbal supplements like fenugreek or anecdotal lactation boosters such as oatmeal.
How unfortunate that you were told pumping exclusively wouldn’t be a long-term option! Sadly, you are not the only one who has been told this and yet there are many, many women who have proven that it is possible! Do go back to that person and share your success with them. Those in positions of power and influence need to know that this is an option and they need to be informed with accurate, supportive, and empowering information!
April 8th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Wondering how many ounces per feed and per day a 3 month old typically requires. My son seems to eat everything i pump (i am exclusively pumping) and i am wondering if i should be supplementing with formula or if he is getting enough. I usually am able to pump around 32 ounces a day…does this seem on the high or low side? I usually give him whatever i have pumped the next time he is hungry - and he has yet to refuse any amount i give him. Should i try and hold out for a bigger feed fewer times a day?? Any thoughts would be appreciated. thanks.
April 9th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Hi Amanda-
Thanks for your question. Knowing how much our babies are eating can be such a difficult aspect of bottle feeding!
My general advice would be to look at your baby to determine if he is getting enough. Look at his weight gain, dirty and wet diaper counts, alertness, and development. If you and your doctor have no concerns, then he’s likely getting enough.
32 oz./day would seem to be about an average amount. Some women produce more and some less. Most babies will top out at about 32 oz. while many will never reach that amount. My DS for example, never took more than 25 oz./day.
It can be useful to remember that babies also require oral stimulation- breastfed babes nurse for other reasons than hunger. Bottlefed babies can sometimes overeat because they are looking for the oral stimulation of sucking, not necessarily because they are hungry. Also, because the flow of a artificial nipple tends to be quite fast, babies will often ingest more than they normally would when nursing. Along the same idea as an adult eating really fast and not giving the brain a chance to keep up and send signals that indeed the stomach is full.
Paced bottlefeeding http://www.gbmc.org/womenshealth/lactation/forum.cfm?Action=Detail&thisPARENTID=44540 is a very good technique to use when bottlefeeding as it gives the baby more control over how much he eats and allows that time for the brain to catch up and send out that full signal to the baby. It is also important to provide that oral stimulation, so the use of a pacifier is definitely something to consider if you are not already using one.
Another thing that is interesting to note about milk supply and babies’ intake is that recent research has shown a woman’s supply does not change in any significant way from about 4 weeks post-partum to about 6 months. The idea that a woman’s supply must continue to grow to meet the needs of her baby doesn’t seem to be accurate. More important is that she initates a strong supply to begin with.
Be cautious about getting caught up in the numbers of feeding. Again, look at your baby and go by his signs and signals. Fewer feeds but in larger amounts will not change the amount your baby is eating. I, personally, believe that there is a good reason babies tend to eat smaller amounts frequently throughout the day- let’s not mess with a babies feeding instincts
In the end, trust your motherwit/instinct. You know what your baby needs.
Hope that helps.
April 15th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Hello, I am continuing to nurse my son of 8 months old, along with pumping for him. I have experienced many problems with nursing & pumping, particularily with my let-down reflex. Many times, especially during pumping, I will feel my let-down and barely any milk comes out. I will also pump for at least 15-20 minutes. I am not sure what is happening. I actually “feel full” in my breasts, but after the let down, only about an ounce or 2 will come out. Am I doing something wrong? Could I possibly not relaxing enough? One more question. My son doesn’t like to nurse very long. After he nurses, I try to pump immediately after. If I can’t get to the pump right away, is it ok to pump about 30-45 minutes after he nurses? Is this more common to do? I know he hasn’t emptied my breast and get worried that my supply will go down. So I nurse/pump quite often “if” my son will let me. I would like to continue to a full year. I’m not sure if we’ll make it. I have tried so hard to keep this up and I will keep at it. I am so passionate about it. Thank you for listening.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
I posted a reply on the page with the neat article. But I also wanted to ask a question about my age…could age be a factor in my low milk production? I am 43. I have tried power pumping, Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle, Brewer’s Yeast…and I am still having trouble getting more than 3 ounces at a pump. Sometimes closer to 2 ounces. Admittedly, I do not pump at night. My baby is a special needs baby and her neurological issues do cause extreme fussiness, so I don’t get much down time…I relish my night sleeping, as she sleeps well in the middle of the night. (Midnight to 5 a.m.) A recent case of nipple thrush has likely been a culprit in my low production, as the pain has been unbearable. A little tricky to relax for let down when you are passing razor blades through the ends of your nipples. Any hints or advice would be very appreciated. I so want this to be successful. Thank you!
April 30th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Hello,
I have been exclusively pumping for 3 months now. My son just turned 4 months and I am working full time. I have noticed my supply has decreased a lot since I have returned to work. How can I increase my supply while I am working 8 hour days?
May 5th, 2008 at 12:25 am
My baby is 9 days old and I started exclusively breast pumping because my baby didn’t latch good enough after several tries and I started to develop some blisters. Is it really o.k. to only breast pump and will it have any impact on milk supply or the baby?
Thanks in advance!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
my baby is 2 weeks old and I am exclusively pumping. I am unsure as to what is a normal pump - ie: length of time I should be pumping and how many ounces I should be getting. The last couple of days my milk supply seems less - I’m getting less ounces than usual - is there something I can do - I’m scared I’ll run out of milk.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Hi Cristy,
The milk ejection reflex is largely a conditioned response. Your body will get use to responding to your baby or get use to responding to a breast pump but some women can have difficulty responding to both. There are a few things you can try:
1. Use warm compresses on your breasts or have a warm shower prior to pumping.
Take your mind off of what you are doing and do not bottle watch. Watch tv, make a phone call, surf the internet: find something to occupy your mind while you pump.
2. Use breast massage prior to expressing and massage and compressions while you are pumping.
3. Some suggest using a comb and gently “combing” the breast towards the nipple while leaning forward prior to pumping.
4. Modify the settings on your pump. In order to elicit a let-down, use lower suction and higher cycles (suck and release cycle) and then once milk starts to flow, switch to moderate suction and slower cycling. This mimics the nursing patterns of a baby. Once flow slows, you can revert back to the settings that you used at the beginning to elicit a let-down. Remember that you will experience multiple let-downs per session but some women will need to adjust the pump settings in order to do this.
5. Check your pump and how you are using it. Aside from adjusting the settings during the pumping session, ensure that you are not pumping at too high a suction level; this rarely will assist in removing milk and in many cases seems to reduce the output. Are there any problems with the pump itself? Ensure the diaphragms are intact (it is easy to get minute holes in the diaphragms of both the Ameda and Medela pump kits). Even small perforations can affect the pump’s performance. Ensure the tubing is properly attached. Ensure all parts have been thoroughly cleaned (for example if you are using a Pump in Style, I believe the face plate can be removed and the filter behind cleaned). If possible, get the suction checked with a gauge (see if there is a lactation consultant in your area or a pump rental depot that can check this for you.)
6. Consider trying out a different pump. They are not all created equal and what works for one woman will not work for all. They are different. Make sure you are using one that is a good quality pump. There are, unfortunately, many out there that shouldn’t even be sold as they are very inefficient and in some cases can cause damage.
7. Depending on why you are pumping, you could try pumping one breast while your babe is nursing from the other. This makes use of the oxytocin release that elicits milk ejection while your son nurses on one side.
8. Definitely relax!
Depending on how much you are nursing, 1-2 ounces can be very normal. At 8 months of age, many babies are extremely proficient and efficient nursers and do not need to nurse a long time in order to get what they need. If your son is growing well and having sufficient wet and dirty diapers, trust him that he is getting what he needs. One of the most difficult things with breastfeeding in this age of quantifying everything, is simply trusting your baby is getting what they need without having any way to measure the volume of their intake. But there are many ways still to measure: wet diapers, weight gain, developmental growth, etc.
As to your second question, pumping a half hour or so after your nurse is fine. There is no hard and fast rule. Much depends on exactly why you are pumping and how this all works for you. Again, it seems from your email that you are primarily nursing but concerned about your supply. Your baby will not “empty” the breast every time he nurses- sometimes it will seem quite empty and other times not at all. This is all part of the normal pattern of nursing. Most important is to not limit access to the breast and allow your baby to nurse as long as he wishes. At 8 months of age, babies tend to be quite distractable and interested in everything going on around them. They often do a lot of their nursing at night when it is quiet and there are limited distractions.
Hope this answers your questions. Hard to fully answer without more info
Best wishes,
Stephanie
May 8th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Hi Bren,
While this is certainly not an area of expertise for me, I do believe that age can, in some cases, affect milk production. When you think about the large effect hormones play in milk production and the change in hormone levels that can happen during the early stages of perimenopause and menopause, it is certainly possible that lactation may be affected if your hormone levels have altered since having your other children. I have done a quick search for references, but haven’t found any yet. I will do a more thorough search and send you that info if found.
You do not mention your baby’s age or the type of pump you are using or your pumping routine (both in the early days and currently). It is hard for me to give any type of specific advice without this information. Depending on your baby’s age, not pumping at night can certainly affect supply since the early morning hours are the time of highest prolactin levels. If you can’t fit any more sessions in, you may want to consider dropping one of your less productive sessions (usually in the late afternoon) and instead trying to pump in the early morning (around the time she wakes up- 5 a.m.- would be a good time to add a session.).
Are you familiar with babywearing? Using a wrap carrier or mei tai carrier would be a wonderful solution to meeting your daughter’s needs but gaining a little more freedom. These types of carriers are comfortable and secure for baby. Baby’s with special needs very much benefit from being worn although you might want to check with your baby’s doctor to ensure there are no complications that might make it inadvisable. www.thebabywearer.com is a good place for info and I’m happy to answer any question you may have about carriers and babywearing as well.
I’m hoping that you have had some relief from the thrush by now. Thrush is excruciating! Your supply can certainly be affected by thrush. Gentian violet is a great, quick, and inexpensive treatment. If it is indeed thrush, you should receive some relief within 24 hours when using gentian violet. Please be sure to treat it with the attention it deserves. And ensure you doctor is treating it aggressively if you are seeing your doctor for it. Thrush is, unfortunately, something that can hang on for a while. If you aren’t getting any relief though, consider that it may not be thrush.
Other things to consider when looking at low supply are: the pump you are using, the size of flange you are using, of course your pumping routine, the length of your pumping sessions, the suction and cycling levels you are using, and the extent to which you are “emptying” your breasts when you pump (massage and compressions can be helpful to remove as much milk as possible).
I hope this answers your questions, at least in part. Again, I’ll do a more thorough search for information on maternal age and lactation and will email you if I find anything of value. You are doing such a wonderful, special thing for your daughter. I hope that she is doing well, and I’m sure that you are enjoying her
Best wishes,
Stephanie
May 8th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Hi Ronetta,
Without knowing more information, it is difficult to give you very specific advice, but I can offer some general information that may be of help. Knowing more information about how you initiated your supply, the kind of pump you are using, your current pumping schedule, length of pumping sessions, and what your previous and current pumping volumes are/were would be helpful in figuring out why you are seeing a decrease.
It is important to try to follow a similar pattern pumping as a baby would have when nursing. So, as with a baby of about 4 months of age, you should be pumping still quite frequently (while it can vary between individuals, at least 6 times a day would be common). You don’t mention whether you are pumping at work, but I assume you are. Obviously, pumping as frequently as you can is recommended. As well, ensure that you are comfortable and relaxed when pumping at work since stress, discomfort, embarrassment, etc. can hinder your let-down response. Use all the methods to ensure you are removing as much milk as possible during each session (compressions, massage, warm heat prior, etc.). Pumping sessions do not necessarily have to be completed all at once or in other words, if you normally pump for 20 minutes/session, as an example, but have difficulty doing this at work, pumping for two 10 minute sessions will work as well. Remember that babies do not always nurse for the same length nor at regular intervals.
Outside of work, pump as frequently as you can. Pump frequently at night between arriving hom and going to bed- the length of time between sessions is not necessarily as important as the number of sessions (although you certainly do not want to be going much longer than 5 or 6 hours between sessions if possible to avoid). Fitting in numerous pumping sessions every night is like the clustering that breastfed babies often do at every and will help to boost your supply. Milk supply at this stage is controlled primarily by supply and demand, so in order to up supply you need to increase the demand.
If additional pumping at night is not possible, try to do a power pumping session on the weekend. Many women find that this will help to give them a boost by about midweek although their supply will likely dip again by the weekend necessitating another power pumping session.
While not particularly enjoyable, pumping during the night can be a useful way to get in an extra session and make use of the high prolactin levels in your body. Pumping between about 1 and 5 a.m. can sometimes help.
Consider if your supply decrease started as a result of some change such as changing pumps, starting a new medication (including birth control) or supplement, or lifestyle change.
You can of course look at taking some type of galactogogue (milk increasing) such as fenugreek, blessed thistle, or alfalfa. There are also prescription medications that can be taken, but in your situation, I would not say they are appropriate.
You definitely need to look at all aspect of your pumping routine such as the pump you are using (ensuring it is in good condition including the tubing and diaphragms), flange size you are using, length of sessions, consistency pumping, etc. While it is definitely possible to maintain a strong supply when exclusively pumping, it is also much easier to lose your supply without good pumping habits. Seemingly small changes or inconsistencies can affect your supply.
Hope that helps.
May 8th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Hi Doaa Salah,
First off, congratulations on the birth of your baby!! Amid all the stress of new motherhood, enjoy your baby!
At only 9 days old, you have many options available to you. I would strongly encourage you to seek the help of a skilled lactation consultant if you would like to breastfeed. Your baby has the skills and inborn instincts and reflexes necessary to breastfeed and with some help you may be able to transition to breastfeeding exclusively. You have definitely done a wonderful thing by pumping and protecting your milk supply regardless of how you choose to proceed. You may be interested in baby-led breastfeeding as a means of returning your baby to the breast. Please contact me directly if you’re interested in more info on that.
To answer your question, yes, it is really okay to exclusively pump in that it protects your milk supply, provides you with options, and provides your baby with the nutrition he/she is born to expect- his/her mother’s milk. Pumping, however, is hard work and requires a lot of dedication, time, and effort. But the risks of formula feeding, in my opinion, make the challenges of exclusively pumping seem very minimal.
I will always encourage women to breastfeed their babies, however, I do understand that this is not always possible and in these cases, exclusively pumping and feeding your milk by bottle is definitely the next best alternative. Babies will miss some aspects of breastfeeding that assist in normal development such as the development of the oral cavity, but this isn’t to say that babies fed with a bottle necessarily develop difficulties in this respect. (Dr. Brian Palmer’s website is a good resource for more info about this.) Breastfeed babies also have lowered risks of obesity, diabetes, SIDS, and numerous other diseases and conditions. Some of these are a direct result of the milk itself, but certainly some are, at least in part, a result of the method of delivery. When bottle feeding, it is always adviseable to feed as much as possible as a nursing baby would feed- small amounts more frequently, allowing the baby to regulate their own supply by using paced bottle feeding techniques, etc.
With regards to your questions about impact on milk supply, many women are very successful pumping exclusively and are able to maintain a strong supply for as long as they wish often producing more than their baby requires. However, some women do struggle with supply issues and some require supplementation with formula. The best way to ensure success is to use the best pump you can get, be dedicated and consistent, use good pumping protocols, and don’t be in a rush to drop pumping sessions.
Hope that answers your questions.
Stephanie
May 18th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Hi,
I just want to first say I was so happy to find this website, I too thought I was the only weirdo EP for my child. Brody was two weeks early, had a very small mouth, and extra skin holding his little tongue back. They said snip it but I couldn’t do it. I started pumping in the hospital and it took away the stress of nipple extractors, crying (both me and him), and I knew he was getting the best milk out there. Anyway, my question, I am going on a trip to SF- san francisco- and I will be flying. How do I pump in an airport if there are no AC outlets? Both of my pumps require a plug and I don’t have the money to buy a new battery operated single pump.
Thanks so much for this website!
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:20 am
Hi Danielle,
There can be a wide range of normal, but generally you should be seeing your supply peaking by around 3 weeks or so post-partum- at least 750 ml or 25 oz. It has been shown that mothers’ milk supply does not fluctuate significantly between 4 weeks post-partum and 6 months, so you should be reaching a level that will sustain your baby for the first 6 months of his/her life. The average intake is about 32 oz. with a wide range of normal.
At this point you need to be pumping at least 8 times a day with at least one session in the night between 1 and 5 am. Again, while there is a range of normal, you should be aiming for at approximatey 120 minutes/day divided among your sessions- so about 15 minutes per session if you are pumping 8 times a day. Depending on the pump you are using and how you respond to it, you may need to increase this amount.
It is unusual to be seeing a reduction in supply at this point if you are indeed pumping frequently enough, long enough, and with a good quality breast pump. Frequency is absolutely key in the early days and weeks and can greatly impact your supply both now and down the road. You need to evaluate your pumping schedule and pump and ensure you are doing everything necessary to initiate and maintain a supply. If your schedule is good and you are indeed pumping frequently enough and for long enough with a good pump, then you need to evaluate other possible areas that may be impacting your supply.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:21 am
Hi Alice,
I do not have any personal experience pumping at airports but I know that there are many women who do. I am assuming that you will be taking your pump with you? I would call the airport that you are flying out of on both ends- or perhaps the airline could also help in this regard. See if they have a specific office to help people with special circumstances (I’m thinking things like a child flying alone or an elderly person that needs transportation and accompaniment, etc.). Explain your situation and that you will be requiring an electrical outlet for your pump while you are in the airport. Never hurts to see if they can accomodate you in some way. Many airports have special passenger lounges and such and you may be able to get into one of these.
You do not mention how old your son is now or how often you are pumping. Another option is to simply alter your pumping schedule on the days you are flying. Pump just before you leave and immediately upon arriving at your destination. You may need to add in a couple extra sessions to make up for any missed while in the airports or on planes, and you may need to add an extra session or two for a couple days just to ensure your supply is maintained. This may not be possible though depending on how old your baby is and how often you are pumping.
Hand expression is another option. Some women do very well with it and it certainly can be done anywhere. And depending on your financial situation, a manual pump is not too expensive. You may also be able to find a gently used manual pump that you can sterilize and use. Personally, I think having a manual pump is not a bad idea if you only have an electric pump. (I speak from experience after living through a blackout for two days when I was EPing!)
Perhaps others will add their thoughts and experiences here. And as an aside, be sure you are familiar with guidelines for taking liquids- specifically breast milk- on planes. Here’s a link that may help http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm
Enjoy San Fransico!
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Hello - What a fabulous website! I am incredibly relieved and delighted that there is now so much support for EPing. My question is: My son is 5 months, and he has been bottle fed (from my EPing) the last 4 months. I DESPERATELY want him to get back to nursing, but he doesn’t want to have anything to do with the breast! I’ve tried everything (nipple shield, different positions, skin-to-skin, while sleeping, you name it). The LC in my area are of no help. Does anyone have experience with this?? I’ll take any suggestions, ideas, anything! Thank you!
June 6th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Question about going from 4 pumping sessions a day to 3. I have been pumping for 20 minutes 4x a day, and am now back and work and trying to switch to 3x a day for 20 minutes each. I have been trying to extend the time between pumping sessions, but haven’t been able to get to eight hrs yet (it’s been a couple days) without starting to leak. I’m wondering if my approach is right and if this will work out soon, or if pumping 20minutes is too much at a session and this is why. I typically get about 10-12 oz total (~4.5-6oz per breast) at each pumping session. Thanks in advance for any insights you can provide.
June 7th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Hi Susan,
First off, it will take you longer than two days to see any effect from a change in your pumping schedule. While it is sometimes hard to wait, it will likely take at least a week or more before you are comfortably into a new routine. Be consistent and try to be patient.
When dropping a session, it is a good idea to increase the length of the remaining sessions so that you are pumping for about the same total amount of time per day and maintaining that demand on your body. You may be finding it difficult to extend the time between sessions if you are not emptying as fully as possible when you are pumping, and this may be happening if you are not increasing the length of your remaining sessions.
Depending on your supply and your storage capacity, it can sometimes be challenging to drop a pumping session without decreasing your supply. Simply extending the time between sessions and lengthening the time of remaining sessions is usually the best way to go about it. You can also try to drop the least productive session of the day- which is usually the late afternoon- and work out a schedule for the remaining sessions that works for you.
Another consideration is that you do not need to space all sessions out equally in the day. If you, for example, take a 10 hour period for sleep, that leaves you 14 hours for the three pumping sessions which are then about every 5 hours.
You do not mention how old your baby is. Generally, the younger your baby, the more likely you will find it difficult to stretch the length of time between your sessions. Early on, there is still a lot of hormonal involvement in lactation and you can only alter that so much. And if you are still early on in the game, you may want to be cautious about dropping pumping sessions too early since it can impact your supply in the long-term.
Hope that helps!
Best wishes,
Stephanie
June 10th, 2008 at 7:30 am
I am having lots of difficulty getting my 1 month old to latch on correctly and am thinking of going to exclusively pumping (or at least during the day). I am not sure exactly how to do this. He usually eats every 3 hours during the day and can go 4.5-5 hour stretch at night. When I start to pump should I do 1 breast or two? He usually eats only from one. What if I do not get enough ounces for a bottle in one pumping session? How will I ever stay on top of things?
Thanks.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Hi Sarah,
My first advice would be to ensure you have exhausted your local resources in terms of breastfeeding support- health units, lactation consultants, breastfeeding clinics, etc. Breastfeeding is always the best option, if possible, and definitely less work! If your baby is latching and gaining weight appropriately, consider having a consultation with a board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) to work on improving your baby’s latch.
If you are switching from breastfeeding to exclusively pumping, my advice is usually to get a good pump. A hospital grade is usually the best option, but many women are also able to maintain a supply with a personal double electric pump such as the Medela Pump in Style or the Ameda Purely Yours. Because the milk ejection response is largely a conditioned response, my suggestion is to begin with a pumping schedule similar to what you would do immediately following delivery. So that means double pumping at least 8 times a day for approximately 15 minutes/session.
Double pumping (i.e. expressing milk from both breasts at the same time) is always preferable when exclusively pumping since in doing so you will increase your prolactin levels and you also benefit from the oxytocin release which triggers let-downs in both breasts. When exclusively pumping, it is important to have as strong a supply as possible (within limits) in order to ensure you are producing enough for your baby’s needs, but also to make your pumping as efficient as possible by removing as much milk as possible to ensure both a strong and consistent supply and ample milk for your baby’s needs.
There is so much information that I can share with regards to the logistics of pumping, milk management, etc., but that is outside of the scope of this FAQ section- not to mention it would take a book. I would recommend that you visit one of the message boards dedicated to exclusively pumping such as the one at iVillage and read some of the archives as well as ask some specific question of concern. Here’s a link to the iVillage board http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppexcluspump and there are many others you will find links to in the Resource section of this website.