No success with pumping after baby turned 4 months

Lucy - posted on 08/19/2009

Try pumping while your baby's feeding on the other side. This is the only way I can get more than 1oz no matter what time of day i pump!

Krystal - posted on 08/18/2009

Try pumping in the morning after the baby's first meal. This is when your milk supply is highest. Then, pump occasionally even when you don't need it and freeze it. It won't matter that you are only getting 50mls if you have 4 bottles of 50 mls.

VANESSA - posted on 08/17/2009

When my daughter was born, she would breastfeed 45 minutes and 30 minutes later she wanted it again, I felt like I was always breastfeeding and she was always demanding more, until I realized I wasn't having enough milk that's why she was always hungry, I consulted a lactation consultant at a hospital and she referred me to FENUGREEK it is a natural remedy which you can buy at GNC a big bottle for $7, I took 4 pills a day for 4 days, and after that I had so much milk I was always leaking, then my daughter got sick at 4 months old, with Kawasaki disease and was in the hospital for 10 days, those 10 days she refused the breast and I pumped and pumped every 3 hours I had tons of bottles ready for her, when she was discharged from the hospital she still did not want the breast it actually took her a whole month to learn how to breastfeed again but I pumped regularly every 3 hours and kept my milk flow going, I just weaned her at 2 years 7 months!!!

Lori - posted on 08/15/2009

Have you tried pumping in the morning instead of 11pm at night? I think I read that your hormone levels are higher in the morning, and so you get better amounts. I generally pump 2 or 3 times a day when I'm at work, so generally late morning and afternoon. The one time I tried a late night pump was a complete waste of time - I barely got a few tablespoons after 20 minutes.
Also, are you pumping both breasts at once? If you happen to have a double pump, this helps to stimulate the let-down (plus it's faster, of course).

Eirini - posted on 08/15/2009

Quoting Kelly:

Quoting Christina:

are you consistent? you need to pump at the same times every day to increase your supply if you are looking to build a supply of bottles.

 

I used to pump every night around 11pm as this always seemed to be a safe time (ie if she hadn't woken before 11pm she generally slept til morning). When that stopped working I tried pumping at the end of each feed. It almost seems like I'm just not getting the suction from the pump (my partner has tested it but seems to think the pump is still working fine).

after you pump have you tried hand expressing to see if you still have milk coming out? if your breast are not completely empty then more than likely your breast are getting used to the pump...I have been through the exact same thing...try to get a warm compress and set in on the side/top of your breast to release the milk then massage the part  that is under your arms(by your arm pit) towards the breast to encourage milk flow...also cooked oatmeal (not instant) will boost your supply..then you can try pumping when you get out of the shower...I was told that what stimulates a let down is different for women..some women respond better to the pump than other and some respond better to the actual warmth from your hand or a child's mouth....

Kelly - posted on 08/14/2009

Quoting Christina:

are you consistent? you need to pump at the same times every day to increase your supply if you are looking to build a supply of bottles.

I used to pump every night around 11pm as this always seemed to be a safe time (ie if she hadn't woken before 11pm she generally slept til morning). When that stopped working I tried pumping at the end of each feed. It almost seems like I'm just not getting the suction from the pump (my partner has tested it but seems to think the pump is still working fine).

Christina - posted on 08/13/2009

are you consistent? you need to pump at the same times every day to increase your supply if you are looking to build a supply of bottles.