You mentioned that most of your clients pump 20-30 minutes. Sometimes I pump and after 8 minutes the flow stops, other times, I can pump for 15 minutes. How do you know if you will get another let down or if it is really just time to stop pumping? Would love a video on this or a link to one you've already done. :)
My pump has a letdown setting, where at 0 minutes it is on suction 1, at 30 seconds it goes to level 2, at 1 minute, suction goes up to level 3, and so on, up to level 6, where it stays for the remainder of the time pumping. I've found that if I pump the first 10-12 minutes, then restart the pump (to restart the letdown mode at 0), and pump another 10-12 minutes, I get a 2nd and sometimes 3rd letdown. It has helped me get more milk to do two 10-12 minute sessions like that than Just pumping 20-30 minutes straight through without starting the cycle over halfway. Hth! ❤
I had my daughter 3 weeks ago. It took 6 days to get a single drop of anything, and even today, I'm still pumping only an average of maybe 20 ml (2/3 oz) per pump session. My record high was almost but not quite 2 oz. and there are still usually a couple of times a day that I barely get a couple of milliliters. It's really disheartening when I look up tips for low milk supply to see that the people complaining are actually making 2 oz. per pump, more than I've ever made. Also disheartening when professionals tell me that baby is more efficient at removing milk, when the baby will ravenously gulp down her usual portion after breastfeeding for 10 minutes, and when I will pump the same amount afterwards. Then they will ask me if I still feel engorged afterwards, but like, I've never gotten engorged to begin with? A couple of days ago, the lactation consultant had me breastfeed in her office so that she could weigh her afterwards, and it was determined she'd taken in about 5 ml (about a teaspoon) of milk total. I wish this were easier. It feels like an impossible task right now. I'm hoping there'd be a day I can produce at least 2 oz. per pump, but I feel like I'm glued to the pump and it's not doing anything.
When my baby turns one, I'm planning on still breastfeeding in the morning and evening, but I'll largely stop pumping at that point. It's hard to focus on work when you're interrupted every few hours!
Welllll my hand pump can get quite a bit of milk out in about 5 minutes lol. HOWEVER, I’m exclusively breastfeeding so I’m not pumping for supply. Only to relieve a little bit of fullness sometimes.
After one year old? You sure can! In some states, there are less laws to protect that time for you, so that can make it harder. But any reasonable employer should allow for it.
This has been so helpful
Just had my daughter almost a month ago, I’m exclusively pumping and it is a lot but I feel blessed to even be able to do it & it is very empowering
You mentioned that most of your clients pump 20-30 minutes. Sometimes I pump and after 8 minutes the flow stops, other times, I can pump for 15 minutes. How do you know if you will get another let down or if it is really just time to stop pumping? Would love a video on this or a link to one you've already done. :)
My pump has a letdown setting, where at 0 minutes it is on suction 1, at 30 seconds it goes to level 2, at 1 minute, suction goes up to level 3, and so on, up to level 6, where it stays for the remainder of the time pumping. I've found that if I pump the first 10-12 minutes, then restart the pump (to restart the letdown mode at 0), and pump another 10-12 minutes, I get a 2nd and sometimes 3rd letdown. It has helped me get more milk to do two 10-12 minute sessions like that than Just pumping 20-30 minutes straight through without starting the cycle over halfway. Hth! ❤
I had my daughter 3 weeks ago. It took 6 days to get a single drop of anything, and even today, I'm still pumping only an average of maybe 20 ml (2/3 oz) per pump session. My record high was almost but not quite 2 oz. and there are still usually a couple of times a day that I barely get a couple of milliliters. It's really disheartening when I look up tips for low milk supply to see that the people complaining are actually making 2 oz. per pump, more than I've ever made. Also disheartening when professionals tell me that baby is more efficient at removing milk, when the baby will ravenously gulp down her usual portion after breastfeeding for 10 minutes, and when I will pump the same amount afterwards. Then they will ask me if I still feel engorged afterwards, but like, I've never gotten engorged to begin with? A couple of days ago, the lactation consultant had me breastfeed in her office so that she could weigh her afterwards, and it was determined she'd taken in about 5 ml (about a teaspoon) of milk total. I wish this were easier. It feels like an impossible task right now. I'm hoping there'd be a day I can produce at least 2 oz. per pump, but I feel like I'm glued to the pump and it's not doing anything.
When my baby turns one, I'm planning on still breastfeeding in the morning and evening, but I'll largely stop pumping at that point. It's hard to focus on work when you're interrupted every few hours!
I love that plan! 💙
How much should a 9 month old be eating of breastmilk when we're at work?
Welllll my hand pump can get quite a bit of milk out in about 5 minutes lol. HOWEVER, I’m exclusively breastfeeding so I’m not pumping for supply. Only to relieve a little bit of fullness sometimes.
Can we still pump at work after one?
After one year old? You sure can! In some states, there are less laws to protect that time for you, so that can make it harder. But any reasonable employer should allow for it.