We are experimenting with some alternative methods of feeding around here. No, Jon and I are still eating with knife, fork, and the occasional chopstick. Lucy, on the other hand, is entering the wonderful world of silicone nipples.
The other day, I realized that I could really benefit from the freedom to miss a feeding perhaps once a week and do something restorative. After a good conversation with Jon, I began to think that maybe God would have something good for me and Lucy in that experience, too. So, off Jon went in search of pump-sterilization equipment.
The good news: today Lucy took her first bottle. She seemed uncertain about it for just a few seconds, but after Papa squeezed a bit of milk onto her lips, she got the gist and sucked away eagerly. Jon had a lot of fun feeding her, and I must say she looked pretty cute, just like an Avent ad.
The less-good news: pumping is not easy! After several attempts yesterday, I’m realizing that pumping after a feeding isn’t the best strategy. Today I tried pumping instead of a feeding (while Jon fed Lucy from the bottle), and that didn’t work too well either. It doesn’t help that the whole process causes me stress. The fears echo: “What if I don’t get any milk? How can I make this go faster?” However, I am convinced that it is possible to pump. I know lots of women (many who are readers here) who have had to pump and figured out a way to make it work. There must be a way to get more than 3/4 oz after 10 minutes of work.
In some ways, this process feels like learning how to breastfeed all over again. Only this time, instead of a cute little baby sucking away I have a very modern-looking machine. A bit too industrial. Deborah said it well when she described it as “bovine.”
Why not just supplement with formula? Well, there are several of reasons, but I’ll tell you the main reason: formula makes babies’ poop stinky. Right now Lucy’s poop doesn’t smell. (Well, it does smell, but not bad, just a little like Cheerios, believe it or not.) Another reason? The secret reason that I stuck with breastfeeding through the first tough weeks: I didn’t want to spend the money!
Keep it up…it will come. One thing, I personally make more milk at night and early morning so at first I would pump for 10 mins (both sides at once because that get chemicals in your body to tell your brain to make more) at 4 am…this is not a magic hour, I just was engoraged (sp?) and it hurt and I wanted it out. now I pump at 10:20am (my break hour). Don’t forget to get you brain-aids…think Lucy, fat legs on that little girl, look at pictures of her or at her, it really does help. Let me know if you aren’t making more by Friday…I can bring my pump with sterilized parts and you can see if that helps (it is a powerful one [Medela], recomended by my nurse sister and mother of two).
DON’t go formula if you can help it, but if you need to then you need to. I have some cans that were given to me by the hospital that you can have. We haven’t used formula and don’t plan too.
Just keep on trucking you can do it.
Hey – check your email. I asked some people who have used Isis before, and they had some suggestions about your particular pump. Rather than post them all here, I thought I’d email them to you.
According to the kellymom website, “Most moms who are nursing full-time are able to pump around 1/2 to 2 ounces total (for both breasts) per pumping session. Moms who pump more milk per session may have an oversupply of milk, or may respond better than average to the pump, or may have been able to increase pump output with practice. Many moms think that they should be able to pump 4-8 ounces per pumping session, but even 4 ounces is an unusually large pumping output.”
I hope that’s somewhat reassuring! You’re doing fine. Just give it time!
yup, yup, yup. Bovine is definitely the right adjective.
you’re doing great. my first pumping was about 5 ml… though that was when the babies were one day old, so I’m sure that was part of the reason. what I should have said earlier instead of getting distracted by funny stories, is that pumping is the same as nursing — you just need to relax and think about something else. For me it worked to read and read and read.
The first few times you don’t get much. After a week or two of it (at least if you pump a lot) even the sound and the feel of it will make you produce milk… kind of a Pavlovian thing. Though it was odd to pump with other women in the NICU, we ended up being a tag-team cheering section: “look, when I started I didn’t get more than 5 ml. Now three days later I’m up to 3 oz, and Suzie over there who’s been doing it for two weeks is getting 10 oz… ” or whatever. Everyone that I saw who really tried it, succeeded… and that was, for most of us, without getting to nurse our babies.
If you know there’s a time you have more milk (like first thing in the morning, or late in the evening) – a time when you hear Lucy swallow and swallow and swallow – that would be the time to pump. For me I got the most milk at 3 AM, not that you want to wake yourself up to do that. Most women do make more milk (and richer milk) at night, I think it’s the body’s “go back to sleep quickly, baby” response. Early evening is I think usually the leanest time, and therefore the worst time to pump.
You could also try nursing Lucy on one side while you pump on the other side. That will make the milk come faster, and Lucy can finish off the pumped side if she wants.
Not only is your milk cheaper and less stink-producing than formula, but it pays off tons of amazing dividends for Lucy’s health both now and even 80 years from now. Less risk of everything – athsma, leukemia, diabetes, obesity, you name it. It’s astounding. Not to mention your own health benefits. One of the easiest ways I can think of to stay healthy… far easier than an Exercycle anyways :o)
Ann, I love how you make me think back on Madelyn’s and my journey so far. Thanks. I was thinking, hence the first statement, about pumping and you know if Lucy is nursing and you are only getting a bit afterwards, that is Awesome…it means she is being an effective nurser. I think it would be a bad thing if you were able to get tons right after she nursed. There is no science behind that thought, just a katrina thought. Kelly is right about times of day though. One other thing my nurse told me was when you are pumping you can massage your breast. Make sure you are relaxed, don’t think about quanity (that is stress and stress is the devil) then once you let-down gently rub from armpit to nipple. This can help with getting that good fatty milk too. If you can pump at the same time every day your body will start to assume it is Lucy needing the extra feeding and it will make more for the pumping session.
When I first started pumping I only got an ounce or two and I was afraid that it wasn’t a good output, the nurse laughed at me. She assured me that it was much more than most. Now I am a COW, we just finished packing and Brian was cleaning out the freezer and we had to toss 10 bags of milk each with around 6 ounces and I still have the same amount in there. The point is, don’t worry, it will come and come and come.
So I think you are doing fine. Keep at it sister!.
I think the hardest part of pumping was getting that very first bottle. Once I got that, I pumped during or after the missed feedings and was able to get about 3-5 oz total and then could store that for the next feeding.
Keeping well-hydrated helped me, as well as squeezing my breast as I was pumping. Fenugreek caplets also upped my supply quite a bit. I think you’re doing a great job! Having a bottle in the fridge or freezer is so freeing — it’s so easy to get lazy about it though (because pumping is seldom anyone’s favorite thing to do).
And, as far as sterilization goes, these rock.
Oops — the URL didn’t post:
http://www.shopping.com/xPO-Medela_Quick_Clean_Micro_Steam_Bags
Hi Ann – just to reiterate everyone else here – I was told by the lactation consultants, that first thing in the morning is the best time to pump as that is generally when you have the most milk. For my first several pumping sessions, I would either look at Benjamin (if he was sleeping in his bouncy seat for example) or a picture of him, or even just close my eyes and imagine him nursing. I would also do the breast massage thing. After I got comfortable with it, I would watch TV or read during pumping. I purchased a nifty hands-free pumping bra (http://www.easyexpressionproducts.com/) that was really nice because I didn’t have to hold the pump.
Like Katrina, I used the Medela pump – it’s a commerical grade pump (rather expensive, but worth every penny). Some insurance providers will cover a breast pump if your OB writes you a prescription for engorgement. Is your pump electric or hand powered? I have heard that the electric pumps are more effective at getting more milk out of your breasts – you might try Katrina’s out and see if it makes a difference.
Nicole
I always had much more luck getting more milk when I would lean forward as I was pumping… not as comfortable, but got it done much faster so I was free. Having said that, I pumped little and when the feedings started to spread out I didn’t notice being very tied down by my little nursling.
You are doing great – your whole little family deserves a pat on the back for being flexible and willing to experiment… there isn’t really a decent book of directions for the day-to-day care and feeding of a Lucy – you’re writing it now.
Ann,
I pumped for six months with MIriam because I never made enough milk and the latching on never worked because of how I’m made and how impatient Miriam was. I also supplemented quite a bit with formula. It’s true that early morning pumping is supposed to be the best.. I always made the most then. But don’t stress about the formula if you do decide to go that way. I know when I couldn’t breastfeed exclusively, I got feeling real guilty, but then I realized just how many people had been formula fed exclusively and lived to tell the story! Miriam certainly has done just fine, though I’m glad I pumped so she got the antibodies. I think that’s the most important part of the breastfeeding medically. Otherwise, you just want to make sure that feeding isn’t stressful but a bonding experience, and whether that’s you or Jon, breastmilk or formula, isn’t quite as important in the long-term.
You are all so wonderful! It is really helpful and encouraging to hear everyone’s experiences. I had a bit more success today — I pumped this morning and got a full ounce!
I’m using an Avent Isis single electric pump (Nicole I think you asked that question). It has an optional silicone thing that helps with let-down supposedly, but today I tried using it without it and it worked much better, I actually saw squirts of milk instead of just drips (TMI?). Thanks to Deborah for posting on Craigslist and getting that tip!
I’m just going to try to not pressure myself and keep practicing for a week and then we’ll see where we are at. Jon is excited about feeding Lucy that ounce later today! :)
If you do want to supplement with formula occasionally, you don’t have to pay for it. I got free formula at the lactation center when I had to start supplementing. Plus free cans of it when I bought something at Motherhood Maternity (they sign you up for information). I also got a free can and diaper bag when I left the hospital. And today at my 6 week post partum checkup, I received another diaper bag, and 2 other small bags each with a can of formula in it. I still haven’t bought formula, and Mo gets about 2-4 oz of formula each day along with all the breastmilk he can eat. No wonder he’s 10.8 pounds!
Oh I HATED to pump!!! Bovine…yes, yes…that feels accurate. I had a medela pump that had the bells and whistles..it still was yucky (or sucky, pun intended)
Glad you are all doing well!!