Pumping Mamas..help?

Question

My son is getting plenty to eat, I can tell as he is gulping and swallowing frequently, lots of wet/dirty diapers, and gaining weight. But when I pump I don't get nearly as much as I feel I should, and I can feel a lot of milk left in my breasts after I pump. I'm nervous for going back to work as I'd really rather not supplement if I don't have to and I'm concerned about my supply dropping since my breasts don't fully empty. ( I will be working 8-10 hour days 5 days a week.) Any advice/tips?

Answer

You can try putting a warm compress on for a few minutes/or just a warm shower, massage a little and then pump for about 20 mins. It usually does the trick for me.

Answer

I work my hand around the breast looking for heavy full spots in my breast and then massage them. Sometimes just holding constant pressure gets them to release. Also, changing the angle of the flange in the pump helps a lot for me.

Answer

How long do you typically pump for? I know for me to feel 'empty' I need to go for at least 30 minutes, with 45 really being ideal. I've been back at work for a month, and I really only have time to pump at 11:30 and 1:30 (I'm a teacher so I have a set schedule). I only get about 20 min pumps at work if I'm lucky, so i try to really get longer pumps in at home. That helps me. Good luck!

Answer

The pump never pulls as much milk as the baby. I pump for 20 minutes and then hand express at the end if I still feel full...sometimes I can hand express another ounce after pumping.

Pumping Mamas..help?

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey