Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply the pumping life

Hello Ladies,

Guess I just need a little encouragement here...

I have been pumping for three weeks now after some 60 days on the accelerated protocol. Initially it was so exciting, the first tiny drops appeared after 24 hrs and gradually increased to about an ounce per day. However, I now seem to be somewhat stuck at that - production does not seem to be increasing and sometimes it looks like it is actually going down. I still have not seen a serious spray.

Please tell me this is normal and will change soon!!

Another thing that concerns me is how long it takes for the milk to start coming at each session - I rarely see any real milk for the first ten minutes or more and end up pumping for half an hour or more. This does take a lot of time but that is not even the point - I just don't see how a hungry newborn will take to this!!!

Once again, look forward to your input.

Love,
Chris

You should trying massaging your breasts for a few before you pump...that might help.......

thats all i can say
Good luck <img src="http://www.asklenore.com/ubbthreads/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />
nikki

Also try putting warm towels on them before pumping and massaging. Then turn your "speed on high" Like a baby would be at the beginning of a feed. After about 2 minutes turn the speed down. But NEVER go past medium on your suction.Make sure your taking all your herbs and domperidone. And drinking your water. Try pumping while your on the computer.. Time flies then and you don't realize it.

Chris,

I'm just a week ahead of you on the protocol, so I can't give you any real guidance, except to let you know what's happening with me. I, too, got drops pretty quickly, but I haven't progressed very far beyond that. I don't even think I'm pumping an ounce a day. I haven't been measuring because it seems like so little, but I'll try to measure it tomorrow.

As for when the drops appear, mine start immediately, but level off and stop after about 7-10 minutes. When I do the massage, tickle, jiggle routine, though, I usually get more, though not that much. But definitely no spray.

I keep hoping that when the baby comes, she'll trigger something. I've bought a Lact-Aid, and one of these days I plan to sit down and figure it out.

Keep pumping, and good luck.

Margaret

How often are you pumping? One thing that helped me is before I hooked up I would undo my bra cups and bend over at the waist. Let your breasts hang and jiggle them, then massage them in that position with both hands in a C position from your chest wall downwards. The other thing that may help is using triggers to think of your soon to be baby, like an outfit or baby lotion that smells like a newborn. I always smelled baby lotion when I pumped. If you see the drops stop unhook and do the massage jiggling again and start over. There is an art to pumping and it takes your body awhile sometimes to give the milk. Hang in there you will get it. Also as for the nursing baby they are so much more efficient than a pump. Once you get a good latch their sucking will draw the milk out and help your supply to grow.

Ladies,

Thanks so much to all of you! Great advice.

Actually today has been much, much better - maybe just venting the frustration I was beginning to feel helped.

Laurie, I'm beginning to believe in the psychological thing - I pumped more than I ever did in a single session this afternoon just after getting back home from the first major "shopping for baby" outing. (This involved telling birth grandma / dh's sister that no, we will not be needing any bottles, and my Tagalog really is not up to explaining the workings of a lact-aid!!!)

I've been pretty regular about domp + herbs, have been eating oatmeal every day lately and drinking lots of water anyway (but then it is really hot here in Manila)

I am finding it difficult though to pump more than about 6 times a day - I realise I should be doing more but it is not easy. I do admire all of you who have done it while working outside the home or taking care of small children, that is pretty amazing.

Again, thanks to all of you!

Love,
Chris