Pumping tips please

Kathryn - posted on 02/11/2010

I had great results with the simple $25 Medela manual pump for 2 kids. The best results always come if you let-down. Sounds obvious, but it is important! I always played with the nipples for a couple seconds and felt the let-down, then the milk came easily. Don't forget to get storage bags too, they make freezing (and thawing) so much easier than keeping it in the little bottles, and you can write the date on them too.. Good luck!

Sashell - posted on 02/07/2010

An electric double breast pump is best for stimulating milk production.

Alicia - posted on 02/06/2010

My tip is that "let-down" in whick the heavier flow of your milk comes out is directly connected to your emotions. I pumped for 2 months while my daughter was in the NICU. I stared at her picture to calm me down and get those mommy feelings going. So just remember to take a deep breath and focus on your baby to help with let-down.

Jessica - posted on 02/06/2010

You may want to try to rent a hospital grade pump. I have heard alot of good things about them. My aunt used one with her kids and she had 6 months stored in her freezer!! Hope this helps.

Julie-Ann - posted on 02/06/2010

Hi. I recommend getting an electric or battery operated double breast pump, that has adjustable suction power. Also, the more you nurse and pump the more milk your body will produce to meet the demand. It's great to pump in between feedings to increase your production and start a supply to keep in the freezer for babysitters and dad to have a chance to feed your baby. Good luck!

Crystal - posted on 02/06/2010

I have never pumped or breastfeed before. this will be my first time trying. I never really gave it any thought when my son was born. so i went right to formula but this time around i really want to at least try and see if i can pump. I know that after having my son i leaked a lot and the nurses told me that was a good sign and asked if i wanted to at least try becuase i was having so much milk come out. but i turned it down. This time i want to at least try like i said.

Jessica - posted on 02/06/2010

I never could pump...Do you know if you can pump, have you tired before?? I have bought 5 different brands of pumps. electric, manual and everywhere in between. and none of them worked for me!!

Christina - posted on 02/06/2010

Good for you! It's like supply and demand, and pump every 4 hours no matter what! Eat protein and drink lots of water! Try to pump every 4 hours. I had a dual electric pump by Medula -pump n style backpack. I used it for both of my children believe it or not. Make sure the pump breast shields are the right size for you (smiling) i was bigger with my second baby.?!? The lactation consultants at your birthing center should be able to answer any questions about this topic as well.Sheeze I pumped my B milk for 12 months with my first child.. so please feel free to message me if you need to. P.S I did not get a chance to read all the other post first. Tee hee ..Go Mama!

Misty - posted on 02/05/2010

Medella breast pumps are fabulous! I would take mine with me to work and hide out and pump on my lunch break. Years ago I had a manual one and it didn't work at all, I know Medella is more spendy but well worth it. I know you can find them on Craigs List quite often for a bit cheaper and then you can go to Babies R Us and get new breast pieces if you don't want that part to be used.

Khadija - posted on 02/05/2010

La Leche League has many resources on pumping. They have a book which you can get. I did this before the internet, but I'm sure they have a website. I used to pour the milk into the plastic bottles (which look like bags) that fit into the Playtex nurser, and then tie the ends and freeze the milk so it would last longer. To defrost, the babysitter would put them under warm running water. Microwaving is not a good way to defrost. An electric pump is best, but most expensive. For the cheaper ones, the cylinder pump is the best.

Kathy - posted on 02/05/2010

I don't think I culd manage to pump full time - I'm just too damn lazy! Loved sitting back and catching up with my reading! So good on you for taking on all that hard work! Pumping isn't necessarily as effective as baby's suckling, nor is it as relaxing. Maybe you could have a chat to a lactation counsultant or similar? They know lots about pumping and can give plenty of information. All the best!

Kristie - posted on 02/05/2010

when I chose to breast feed, i really did not know how painful it was. I did not want to give up, so I chose to pump. I pumped for 2 straight months. Now I am a full time nursing mom. My daughter is 4 months now. My tips to you are, drink plenty of water, and make sure you eat plenty, do not diet, your body will tell you what you need. I would pump everytime she was being fed by my husband w/ a bottle.

Regina - posted on 02/05/2010

One really good tip on pumping( ihad pumped for 10 months with my daughter): use nipple cream right before you attach the suction cups - this will reduce the pain of suction and save your nipples from cracking. The cream is totally safe for babies:) Good luck!

Emily - posted on 02/05/2010

I would really, really encourage you to try breastfeeding, even if just for a little while. It is waaaay easier than pumping exclusively, and much less time-consuming. I only have to pump for work, and I absolutely hate it. I can't imagine having to do that all the time, on top of everything else. There is just so much extra stress (and time) involved with pumping... (e.g. am I pumping enough? crap I have to wash bottles! baby is crying and I am still attached to the pump! you get the idea). Sooooo much easier to just let the baby nurse and then you don't have to worry about the other stuff. Besides the bond with your child while nursing is a really special thing. You might consider finding a La Leche League in your area and attending a few meetings. The support and advice is phenomenal.. not to mention, free! :)

Crystal - posted on 02/05/2010

yes i will be pumping exclusively.

Amanda - posted on 02/04/2010

I was planning on breastfeeding my son but unfortunately he was tongue tied and couldn't latch on properly. We tried for a week but it was horribly painful and frustrating. I decided that if I couldn't breastfeed than I would just pump and feed him my breast milk through bottles. I got (for free, on loan) a hospital grade electric pump from my towns WIC center. I would HIGHLY recommend a hospital grade electric pump! I also got a hands free pumping bra because otherwise you have to sit there and hold the pumps to your breasts for 10-30 minutes and that gets very tiresome. Here's a link to the one I bought - I loved it! http://www.easyexpressionproducts.com/ While your pumping you'll find you produce more milk when your looking at, holding, or thinking about your baby. And warm wash clothes wrapped around the breasts for a few minutes before hand really do help too. I was producing a ton of milk so this was all working out great for me except for one thing... I was spending more time with the breast pump than I was with my son =( I would feed him, then I would pump, then I would store the milk, then I would wash and dry all the parts to the pump, then I'd get it set up for the next pumping, then it would be time to feed him again, then the cycle would just continue. Pumping also hurt my back tremendously. I don't know, it must of been sitting in that same position for so long so many times a day... it was really getting to me. And you have to pump at least every 3 - 4 hours to keep your milk going strong. I lasted a month. I just couldn't stand it any more. I wish you luck! Definitely get the hands free pumping bra!!! I wouldn't have lasted another day without it!!!

Emily - posted on 02/04/2010

Just read your other response.. so are you just talking about pumping for occasional feeds by others? In that case you could probably get by with a cheaper pump.. it's not all that complicated, just need a few bottles and you're set.

Emily - posted on 02/04/2010

Are you talking about pumping exclusively, or just pumping for when you go to work? It is way easier to just breastfeed. Even if you plan to only pump, it's better to breastfeed for the first few weeks to get your supply established. A pump can only mimick what a baby will do on the breast, but it can't completely replicate it. For this reason, pumps often will not be able to get out as much milk as a baby can. So I caution you if you are planning to only pump and not breastfeed. Besides that, it will take double the work because not only do you have to pump (sometimes while your baby is screaming in hunger), but then you have to feed that bottle. Just some things to think about in your decision.

Carrie - posted on 02/04/2010

First, you a have to be comfortable expressing your owm milk, like into a bag lined bottle or coffee cup. Second, some pumps are better than others...as some one in the lalache (sp) league. Back in the day, manual was better than trying to use a pump. I expressed into the bottle bags held in the frame and them froze it. Usually, after a feeding was over to stimulate production. The less you feed, the less you produce. Really if you wash your hands, you don't even need a pump. The sucking action isn't the same as the nawing and pulling a baby does. If you grasp outside the areola and compree towards the nipple you should have no problem. If you go to long, it helps to start massage from your arm pit area where you will get backed up to and work it forward. Hope it helps.

Julie - posted on 02/03/2010

I pumped for 4 months because my daughter was born 8 weeks early (in NICU for 3 weeks) and never caught on to breast feeding. If you plan to pump only (and not simply to supplement your breast feeding) I would HIGHLY recommend a hospital grade pump. The pumps available through baby stores and registries are not strong enough to pump enough milk so that you continue to produce enough milk. The hospital where I gave birth rented hospital grade pumps and the price wasn't terrible. I think it was $15 for 2 or 3 weeks of use. I probably could have pumped longer had I started out with the hospital grade pump instead of the one I got through my registry, near the end I simply wasn't producing enough to pump.

I found that pumping could get a little frustrating because you feed your baby, then pump, then clean up from pumping (clean the parts of the pump and the bottle you just used), then soon it was time to geed and pump again. BUT~I am so glad I did it for as long as I did. Even with my daughter being pre-mature, she has barely been sick since she was born (she is 2 1/2 now) and is in perfect health with no side effects from being born early. It truly is one of the very best things you can do for your baby! Best of luck to you!

Crystal - posted on 02/03/2010

No not becuase i will be working or away from the baby. I picked to pump just becuase i know that with pumping my husband and others in the house hold could help with feedings. while i played with my son or cleaned cooked.

Nora - posted on 02/03/2010

I have a 4 week old baby girl and have been solely pumping to feed her from bottles. The reason is she falls asleep in 5 minutes every time when feeding directly from the breast. Pumping also gives me the freedom to go to the store and such with out her and my husband can help with night time feeding on the weekends. I invested on a Medela Pump In Style. I had one once before with my first daughter and LOVED it. I pumped for 9 months that time :) That was 7 years ago and I thought I was done having kids so I got rid of it. Anyway, the Medela double pump I have is AWESOME. I personally pump 4 times a day and rarely once in the middle of the night. I produce 1 1/2 to 2 feedings each time (pumping for 20 min.). So, I have extra in the fridge but not enough to need to freeze any. I definately reccommend spending the money and getting an electric double pump (it saves time). Make sure it's a pump for everyday use not occassional. Also, I find it super helpful to have a special place set up in the house for pumping. A sudoku or crossword or tv nearby. Something to help pass the time. And throw pillows to make yourself comfortable too. Good Luck.

Jen - posted on 02/03/2010

Hello! Are you pumping because you will need to be away from the baby for missed feedings or because he prefers the bottle?
If pumping and working, there is a great book callled "Working and Pumping" You could find it on Amazon.com. I pumped for the first year successfully after my maternity leave and here is what I found helpful: I used the Medela Pump n Style electric double pump. I found it helpful to look at a picture of my baby while pumping - it helps stimulate let-down. The other supplies you will need are bottles, flanges, tube (most of these come with the breast pump), but you may find it helpful to buy a different size cup depending on the size of your breasts. You may also want to buy breast milk storage bags - again depending on why you are pumping. I had to pump, store, and freeze my milk. Good luck to you.

Bongi - posted on 02/03/2010

I'm still breastfeedback and my little is now 15months old. The one way that i found it easy with pumping was immediately after I fed the baby but I still didnt have enough, until her paedetrician said what I should try doing is pump while she's feeding - you know when feed on the one boob and the other one leaks. I thought that would be a mission to hold two boobs in one go. I have a Medela electric pump and it worked wonders. how I did this was to cross my legs, sit up, put baby on a pillow while she was feeding, put the pump on the one boob - guess what I was filling 250ml of beastmilk at each baby feed. Try it

Aileen - posted on 02/02/2010

I pumped for 5 months 4 times a day. Get an electric pump. It is much easier than the manual one. Also, get a hands-free pumping bra. It cost around $45 including shipping. The bra saved my life because I have carpel tunnel. Your hands can be free to do whatever you want while you are pumping (you can find it online). Place a hot/warm towel on your breasts before pumping and then pump for 15-30 minutes on each breast. I had the Medela pump (back pack style, cost around $300) and I loved it. Initially, I rented one from the hospital but it was very noisy and heavy. The Medela one was light and I carried it on my back when I was out so I could pumped in the car or where ever. It takes batteries.

Pumping is easy. You will have no problem!

Jennifer - posted on 02/02/2010

There all all kinds of things to meet ur needs, online. I liked "Motherhood" n mall they have neat Everything .If anything u really need bottles/bags for freezing(never enough lol), Breast pads,disposable or cotton (I found disposable to b expensive, all women produce milk differently ) ,"Lanolin" VERY important to new breast feeders keeps ur self from getting chapped n cracked, If the baby latches incorrectly it can cause discomfort to ur nipples. so this is a must if no classes were taken,lol .Maturnity feeding bras , therefore u dnt have to stay away from ur family while feeding.
Make sure to always keep ur breast clean of course, showers or warm wash cloths or allowing baby to root in area directly b4 feeding, will help to make feedin easier. Dnt run to shower every cpl hrs lol unless u feel more relaxed this way. And most importantly just eat, sleep , and take care urself . Best of wishes!

Sally - posted on 02/02/2010

I have a Medela pump (backpack) and I really like the Medela bottles too. I've been told that's it's "more productive" to pump both breast at the same time. (Certainly saves a lot of time too). It's a bit tricky to hold the pieces to my boobs and turn the thing on. I know I've seen one that has a handle on the pieces for that precise purpose.
If you really want to up your supply, you could pump both, and when you feel like you're done, start pumping just one, then switch back and forth a few times.
After a while, you'll develop your own feel for what works best for you.

Sandi - posted on 02/02/2010

I agree massage your self about 5mins before pumping. Also take advantage of when you have a good supply and put them into the freezer. You can buy bags or bottles for this. Although they last a while in the freezer I wouldn't leave it too late to use them as you milk changes as your baby progresses so the milk at birth isn't the same as 3 months down the line. A few deeps breaths also used to make my milk come in.
Best of luck!

Sarah-Anne - posted on 02/02/2010

i got the AVENT electric pump to match our bottles, but it's not really strong enough, so i just used it manually which worked much better. it took almost a week for my milk to come in. pumping wasn't working, so i pretty much had to force my daughter to breastfeed. She usually freaked out because once the milk started flowing, it didn't stop and she usually got squirted in the face, but her sucking got my boobs working. i pumped every 6 hours and got up to 10oz at a time. Which was much more than she needed, so i was able to freeze. when the 4x a day thing got to be a pain, i switched to every 8 hours. I was still getting between 35 & 40 oz a day this way and Bella was eating some solids by now so i still could freeze. By the time she was 6 months my boobs started to dry up, so i was able to go every 12 hours and soon it was once every 24 or 36 hours. My freezer supply lasted for about 6 weeks past then.



taking a hot shower before or sitting in a steamy bath while pumping does help a lot. Also don't forget about boob pads for leaking. i liked the thin disposable one for day time because they didn't show thru a shirt, but i needed the major huge super absorbency ones with the sticky stuff for night. I also had gotten the nursing bras, but ended up hating them. It's easier to pump without one, but only if you get a double pump cuz when one boob starts, the other will follow within seconds, no stimulation needed.



i chose pumping instead of breastfeeding because then i wasn't the only one able to feed her, but she still got the benefits of the boob juice. She's 10 1/2 months now and is on formula and all the food she can get her hands on. I wish i still was able to pump because formula is so expensive. we spend just over $30 to make 1 gallon of formula, this last maybe a week if we're lucky.



Oh, and get a dishwasher safe pump if you have one, it makes washing and sanitizing much easier.

Ruth - posted on 02/02/2010

you know what the best thing is to have a bowl of warm water and a washer and just lie the warm washer across ur boob 4 couple of secs and the milk will just flow nicely a couple of times i would lie in a warm bath and pump was so easy and yes it was a clean bath lol

Rita - posted on 02/02/2010

Hi Crystal,

There's not all that much you need to know about pumping. You need a breast pump, whether you choose manual or electric is up to you, personally i preferred manual, because i found i had more control. You need to make sure you clean and sterilise the pump properly, so look for one that is easy to clean.

Pumping itself is pretty straightforward, but is not a reliable replacement to solely feed on (unless you're lucky and produce tons of milk!) Most mums find that they will need to express a few times to get enough milk to make a full feed, which can be a bit of a pain. However if you're just planning on supplementing with it, there shouldnt be too much of a drama. The biggest thing is to relax when you're pumping, it helps the milk to flow. I also found that warm washers placed above and below the breast can help to let the milk down.

Good luck with it!

Debbie - posted on 02/02/2010

I know everyone is different, but i found that before i pumped i had a really warm shower and massaged my boobs, I had to finally give up as i just couldn't produce enough milk, but i stretched it out for 3 and half months pumping, if you can try and pay a little more for the pump and get the automatic pump instead of the manual.

I hope i've helped a little bit

Good luck and i hope you have success with what you do

Cheers :)

Amy - posted on 02/02/2010

Get (or hire) an electric breast pump if you can - they are fantastic. Just remember too that the more you pump the easier it gets. I pump every night before I go to bed and so now have a really good supply of milk in the freezer to give my son when he goes to daycare!