Breast Pump - Chula Vista,CA

Hi D., You have already gotten a lot of good advice so I really don't have any more for you. What I did want to do is acknowledge for being the type of husband and dad who would take the time out to ask the question. Thank you. It's nice to see.

Drink LOTS of water...no fluid in, no fluid out and pump in the morning...her supply is the greatest in the morning, so she'll likely have extra at that time of day more so than any other.

Good luck!
-M

Sorry, sometimes that is just the way it is. I always had enough milk for feeding but never for pumping. I made a decision to NOT supplement with formula. It was my choice to feed my baby the best I could until I couldn't any more.
Two choices, you can supplement with formula (not my recommendation) or
just enjoy this short time with the baby.

Another thought... What about a "day IN at the spa"? Plan an in-home day off. There are many providers who will come into your home and offer services. Massage therapists, estheticians, hair stylists, so many will come into the home and take care of the new mom. Hire a sitter if you can't be there but make sure someone is there to handle EVERYTHING for the baby. All mom needs to do is feed and release.

Good luck!

B.
Family Success Coach

Of course it's ultimately your choice... I had a friend who had this experience for the 9 mos-12 she feed her baby. I just want to say, it's okay to go to formula if it's easier. The baby will get the nutrition he/she needs and your wife will get the rest and mental sanity she needs to enjoy the baby. The calm and peace is worth alot. My sister tried to breastfeed for 6 weeks and was miserable. She then went to formula and all were better off. Just look at the big picture... I wish you the best!

One of the biggest things about pumping is that it is so different from baby that your body has to learn how to respond. I had to pump for 12 weeks following the birth of my preemie. Things that helped me were a good double electric pump, quiet space, comfy chair and visualization. Silly as it sounds I would sit, relax and actually imagine my milk letting down, visualize tiny flood gates opening and milk flowing. It actually worked! It would help get a let down going.

You can also try pumping one breast while baby is nursing from the other.

If baby is sleeping thru the night, mom can pump later at night before going to bed. Or get up early before baby and pump since milk is usually most plentiful in the early am. You'd have to time it at least a couple of hours before baby would want to nurse.

I am a hard core breastfeeding mama but there is no shame in introducing a little bit of formula so mom can have a few sanity hours every once in a while. It's important to take care of mom too.

If you can get a doctor to prescribe it you can rent one from a health supply place and your insurance will pay for it.. . it will be like the ones in the hospital.. I had to do this for a while when our child was in the NICU.

I pumped exclusively for the first two months for my daughter, I now brestfeed primarily and I cannot for the life of me get a letdown from the pump anymore. It is frustraiting even trying :( The only way I can get it at all is if I have the baby feed on one side and then pump on the other side. I also have a much better chance of getting milk out if I pump before I feel the baby. The pump is not sufficient at getting the end milk out. So I would suggest having her iether pump while she feeds on the other side or pump for a few ounces first on each side and then feed. The baby can get the hind milk out if he needs. The worst case for him getting enough food is he will cluster feed for a few days until her supply goes up but he wont starve or really get too hungry she should comphensate easily. I find now that the pump doesn't matter much as is the enviorment and time in which I pump (before or after feed)

He is also at the age where if she needs a break at night or something if you chose a bottle of formula can help. in fact our little bean with hardly eat at night unless it is from me but the sucking sooths her back down to sleep so my hubby feeds her ocasionally to let me rest. Either formula or breastmilk as sometimes he is too lazy or tired at night to warm up the frozen breastmilk. I don't blame him lol

Hi D.,

I was also very worried about the amount of milk I could produce via pump vs breastfeeding - initially two ounces was the most I could produce. Both my midwife and pediatrician recommended I try taking fenugreek pills (as opposed to the tea) and it's helped significantly. The key for me is to take them consistently and as frequently as the bottle suggests and to drink a glass of water whenever I take them. If I don't do this, then I do not produce more. Additionally, we've found that pumping while feeding also produces more milk.

Good luck.

I was able to exclusively feed pumped milk for about 3-4 months... then within one week I wasn't able to pump more than 2 oz at a time. NOT near enough. The trouble isn't with her supply. Sometimes the milk just won't 'let down' for the pump like it will for the baby. Make sure she's relaxed (stress will definitely reduce the amount pumped), maybe give her a neck & shoulder rub... have the baby near her, maybe pump when the baby cries to help with letdown. If you have to, you could save and freeze those 2 oz. a day until you have enough to get away. It's perfectly safe to mix different 'ages' of breastmilk as long as the oldest is still good... In the freezer it can keep up to 3 months (the regular type...) The fridge is good for 3-7 days... so maybe you will have to stockpile for a while before you have enough to take off...

Unfortunately some Mom's just don't respond to the pump no matter what you do. How old is the baby? How long is she looking to get away? Are you freezing those two ounces? How much do you have you stored? Has she tried pumping on one side while nursing on the other?

Give the baby some formula. How old is the baby? If breastfeeding is established, it won't hurt.
I've had two kids and breastfeeding both was a challenge, I hung in there as long as I could but I always barely had enough milk... so I could forget pumping "extra" to save for a rainy day. I supplemented with formula. It was fine. Of course "breast is best" but formula ain't bad! I think if it will give your wife a break to be able to leave the house by herself and leave the baby in your care, go for it.

Oh, I hear yah! I collect 2-3 oz everyday... it is such a frustrating process! It does add up, however... unfortunately, I am building mine up so I can work a little more than I am now (I am away from the house for 5 hours one day a week... so far). Does the little one sleep for any length of time at night yet?? One suggestion is if your little one actually sleeps at night... have your wife pump in the middle of this "stretch"... she may be more full, and her body will adjust and think the baby is eating more. The downfall to this of course, is compromising the only sleep she may be getting! good luck!

Hi D., don't know whether you and your wife consider this an option or not....

But all three of my breastfed babies were getting a little formula mixed with BM in a bottle by 4 or 6 months. Mostly so Dad could get a chance to feed, or Grandma.

Since your baby is 8 months now and probably getting solids, why not a bottle, too?

It's nice to have the flexibility. Maybe just use one ounce of formula to two oz of BM at first, see how it goes?

My kids had no problems going from breast to bottle and back.

:)

Hey D.,
Is you wife breastfeeding your baby? If so, is your baby getting enough to eat? Depending on the age of your child he or she should have anywhere from 6-8 dirty diapers a day.
If your wife is breastfeeding your baby, and your baby is getting enough nutrition, than it might be that she is not using her pumps correctly. Also, is she pumping after she feeds the baby? If this is the case then she wouldn't have a full milk supply so 2 oz sounds reasonable. I have used a hospital pump, the Medela Pump in Style and was successful with both. Hand pumps did not work at all on me.
My suggestion would be to hire a lactation consultant from the hospital and have her evaluate your wife while she's pumping. That should help explain what the issue is.

I rented the Medela Symphony. I could get the initial let down but that would only give me like 2 oz. If I turned the pump off and restarted it in the "let down phase" and concentrated lovingly on a little picture of my newborn baby, I could get another let down ... it came out to about 4-6 oz total. Keep in mind, I pumped 3 times a day at work for 9 months once I went back to work at 3 mos....and I was under pressure to "perform" so to speak since I needed enough milk for daycare provider. I ended up having enough to freeze. Some women just can't get anything with the pump -- not what you want to hear but apparently true. I used Fenugreek capsules I bought at GNC (took 3 two to 3 times a day) when my supply would dip because of a cold or stress....just until it appeared to come up a bit.

Last resort would be to do formula for the baby on the day she wants to get away (of course this will not do her supply any favors but the baby would get fed). Sorry :( Best wishes!

EDIT: I just read someone's response that insurance will cover medical supply rental pump with a doctor's script -- well, that is only true in certain states that your insurance will cover it (I know Massachusetts does, Illinois - where I live- doesn't) so that will vary depending on your state.

Drink lots of water, fluid, and eat lots of stuff. When I breastfed and did my pumping like every 2 hours, I even eat in the middle of night. It helped your boby to produce milk. And, massage will help. Also, sleep and not stress too much. It will take like few days to increase the supply.

I used Medala Pump In Style Advance, great pump. I used for my two kids to breastfeed until they are 1 year old as I am full time working mom.

Good luck.

I had the same problem. The most I ever got was 4 oz, so in order for my husband to help with the feedings we gave our children formula. It wont take away from breastfeeding(as I did both for both of my children) and your wife will enjoy her time away(because frankly, all mothers need a little bit of time away from the baby).
GL!

Go with the hospital grade pump and pump for 10 minutes after each feeding. Hopefully her supply will go up. You can also freeze the 2oz per day and in a few day's you will have enough for her to take one feeding off...
OR you could give a bottle of formula.
I am one of those women who just doesn't make enough milk... I have had to supplement my twins and now my son with formula to get them the calories they need. You could replace one feeding a day with formula to get her a break if you wanted to...

i'd use some formula. 1 day is not going to make a difference for your child, but, it will make world of difference for your wife.