Breastfeeding and Pumping Struggles
I decided to write this post in hopes that it could help other moms that are struggling with their breast milk supply. I found breastfeeding and pumping with my first daughter to be very difficult, and it was probably the hardest part of motherhood for me.
Overstressed and full of Anxiety
It was stressful not knowing when your baby would wake up crying out of hunger. Or trying to do errands and hoping that your baby won’t need to eat during the middle of your shopping, or rushing to get home because you are the only food source they have. Even though I had a small stash of frozen milk at home, we tried not to use it unless it was for an emergency because I wanted to save as much milk as I could for when I returned to work. My breastfeeding journey was tough, but I am thankful I was able to make it through the first year.
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Something had to change
Fast forward two years later, while pregnant with my second, I found myself thinking about the times I would accidentally spill my breast milk and would burst into tears. This wasn’t something I wanted to stress about with our second child. Thankfully with a lot of prep and research, I was able to learn how to pump to maximize my milk production properly. Here’s what I learned.
My pumping process
Get the correct breast shield
The first thing you need to do is to measure your nipple with a ruler for the right breast shield size. It is so important to get the size that best fits you so pumping will be comfortable and productive. Pumping with the wrong size shield will quickly become painful, and you will produce a lot less milk.
Prepping
I put the heated packs over the breast shields before pumping. I’ve noticed that my breasts will empty a lot faster, and I produce about half an ounce to an ounce more milk with the heat packs. I start the cycle at 70 and vacuum at 3 for about 2-3 mins or until the milk comes out. Then I change the setting cycle to 38 and vacuum at 7. Set it to your highest comfortable suction level. Every person will be different.
During
I massage from the top part of my breast towards the nipple and find it especially helpful doing breast compression on areas where I have plugged ducts. When the milk slows down I change the cycle back to 70 and vacuum at 3 until the milk flows again (about 1-2 minutes). Then I switch the cycle back to 38 and vacuum at 7. I alternate between the 70 cycle/3 vacuum and 38 cycle/7 vacuum for about 3-4 times until my breasts are soft and empty. Lastly, I change the cycle to 54 and vacuum to my highest comfortable suction level which is 7 for about 3-4 minutes until the milk stops. During this cycle, you will get more of the fatty milk, so it’s important to do breast compressions to get every last bit of milk.
Other Pumping Notes:
- I prefer to pump with a nursing bra instead of a pumping bra. It’s faster to put the breast shields on top of the nursing bra for support and it’s much easier to massage my breasts during pumping
- I bag freshly pumped milk in 3-4 oz portions and freeze them right away. You can also freeze 1-2 oz bags just in case your baby needs a little extra milk.
Why keep a schedule?
It’s more convenient to know how much free time/sleep we have before the next feeding. And exactly how much milk our baby drank throughout the day. We also like that our baby doesn’t wake up crying out of hunger with our set feeding schedule. It’s quite the opposite, we pick her up sleeping, and continuously wake her up to finish the bottle. She sleeps 22 hours a day because we think she is always so full.
If you are nursing your baby, you can nurse on demand and pump after your morning feedings to start storing some milk. Your pumping time will be shorter since you breastfed your baby. Try your best to empty your breasts as often as you can to begin producing more milk since babies don’t completely drain your milk supply.
My feeding/pumping schedule
First 6 weeks
We were feeding our daughter about every 2 ½ hours to bring her weight up. Which came out to 9 feedings a day (2-2 ½ oz per feeding)
- 6:00 am (husband feeds, and I skip this pump to sleep in)
- 8:30 am
- 11:00 am
- 1:30 pm
- 4:00 pm
- 6:30 pm
- 9:00 pm
- 11:30 pm (husband feeds)
- 2:30 am
Week 7
Our baby is doing great, so we decided to stretch out her feedings to about every 3 hours with 8 feedings a day (2 ½ – 3 oz per feeding)
- 6:30 am (husband feeds, and I skip this pump to sleep in)
- 9:30 am
- 12:30 pm
- 3:30 pm
- 6:30 pm
- 9:00 pm
- 11:30 pm (husband feeds)
- 2:30 am
Week 9
Our daughter was sleeping through the night so we decided to do 7 feedings per day but we increased her milk intake to 3 – 3 ½ oz per feeding.
- 7:00/7:30 am (husband feeds)
- 10:00 am
- 1:00 pm
- 4:00 pm
- 6:30 pm
- 9:00 pm
- 11:30 pm (husband feeds)
- 4:30/5 am (We don’t wake up the baby in the middle of the night to feed her. I just wake up to pump so I can maintain my milk supply but I will remove this pump session once I return to work)
Month 6
I returned to work and cut back to 7 pumps a day. Our daughter now feeds 6-7 times a day with 4 oz bottles of breastmilk.
- 6:00 am
- 9:00 am
- 12:00 pm
- 3:00 pm
- 6:30 pm
- 9:00 pm
- 11:30 pm
These schedules work best with my husband’s work time and our pick up/drop off schedule for our oldest daughter. You can adjust to what works best for your family.
Should you pump exclusively?
I currently pump exclusively because I find it easier on me with having two kids. I typically pump 25-30 mins for the first two morning feedings. Mainly because that’s when I produce the most milk. All the other times I would pump for 15 mins or less. It also gives my husband a chance to feed the baby, and you can tell he enjoys their quality time together. Plus I get to have longer stretches of sleep since I can sleep right after my last pump at 11:30 pm and I can skip the 6:30 am feeding to sleep in.
Pumping Supplements I use to Increase my Breast Milk Supply
Lactation Supplement
First off, you should follow Legendairy Milk (@legendairymilk) on Instagram. They have a wealth of information that you may find useful and sell the best supplements that will help you increase your milk supply. I started with the best seller bundle. To test them, I tried each product separately for 10 days (2 tablets 3 times a day) to see which one produced the most milk. I also purchased Lactivist and tried it for 10 days (1 dropper full 3 times a day) after finishing the bundle pack.
Results
-
- Milkapalooza – I didn’t see much of a change
- Liquid Gold – I noticed my milk was thicker and my milk supply had increased
- Pump Princess – I produced the most milk with this product, but my milk was not as rich as the Liquid Gold
- Lactivist – My milk supply dropped dramatically after I finished the Pump Princess, but it did make my milk very rich. Note: the taste is unpleasant.
I decided to repurchase the Pump Princess to bring my milk supply back up and to continue with the Lactivist. Now I produce large quantities of enriched milk =)
You also have the option to build your own bundle.
Every person is different, so I would recommend trying out their products to see what works best for you.
Lecithin
If you are overproducing or your baby isn’t eating enough to empty your breasts, this will help with the milk flow and plugged ducts.
Calcium Magnesium Citrate
About 2 ½ months postpartum, I got my first menstrual period and my milk supply dropped dramatically. I was only pumping out a third of what I was normally producing. I decided to start taking these and noticed I was getting 1-2 ounce more per pump. After I completed my menstrual period, my milk supply was back to normal.
All the Items I Use for Pumping
Nipple Ruler
I use this to measure my nipple for the correct breast shield set.
Hot or Cold Breast Pack
https://amzn.to/2GUG5Ps
I use these warm packs to start my pumping.
Pump
https://amzn.to/2Kjaqci
Game changer! This pump is so much better than my old Medela pump. It has a hospital grade suction, portable, quiet, and less painful. I think it’s worth the extra $40 dollar to make it portable but if you’re on a budget, the Spectra S2 is exactly the same pump but without the portability.
https://amzn.to/2YQGzjD
External Charger for Spectra 2 (pink)
https://amzn.to/2GSs057
If you already own the Spectra 2 and want to make it portable.
Extra Pumping Set
Breast Shield Set
https://amzn.to/2YNcYn6
Make sure to measure your nipple for the correct breast shield set. The Spectra comes with the standard flange set of the 24 mm and 28 mm. For me, the 21 mm was the best fit.
Duckbill Valves + Silicone Diaphragm
https://amzn.to/38cQQHT
https://amzn.to/2RuSyhk
I replace these every month to maximize my milk output. I did notice an increase in my milk supply. I tried a few other brands since I first made this post and these are my favorite so far.
Vitamin D drops
Our Favorite Non-Toxic Baby Items:
Diapers – https://amzn.to/3m7spo4
Wipes – https://amzn.to/3m9rrYr
Baby powder – https://amzn.to/3kScbzx (Talc free)
Diaper cream – https://amzn.to/3zUOE5c
Multipurpose ointment – https://amzn.to/2ZyENWk
Hand wipes – https://amzn.to/3hD6vrs
Hand wash – Mysuds2go
Baby shampoo + wash – https://amzn.to/3md0R0f
Lotion – https://amzn.to/2XU3hbP
Lip sunscreen – https://amzn.to/3ieM58m
Sunscreen – https://amzn.to/3AVgMqr
First aid spray – https://amzn.to/3yVM5zX
First aid gel – https://amzn.to/3yVtPH0
Bandages – https://amzn.to/3AXPBLY
Ibuprofen liquid medicine – https://amzn.to/3okyiRd (dye-free)
Acetaminophen liquid medicine – https://amzn.to/2Y3OP1y (dye-free)
Antihistamine medication – https://amzn.to/3uizztl (dye-free)
Thermometer – https://amzn.to/3F49SBp
Nail scissors – https://amzn.to/3ijyGfc
Nail file – https://amzn.to/3umaxtf
Nose tweezer – https://amzn.to/3kRM4Zu
Nose suction – https://amzn.to/3igGkGY
Saline – https://amzn.to/3ifyMoc
Detergent – https://amzn.to/3F104It
Oxygen Whitener – https://amzn.to/3ASLGje
Fabric softener – https://amzn.to/39Lx89b
Portable high chair – https://amzn.to/3kPpTDs
Baby Carrier – https://amzn.to/2ITumEC
Sound machine – https://amzn.to/3mbYBGB
Nursing Cover
https://amzn.to/2Ywjrrh
I use this when I pump in public
Silicone pump
https://amzn.to/2H5ckeX
I used this when I did nurse. My daughter would go on one breast, and the silicone pump will on the other to catch the milk.
Digital food scale
https://amzn.to/2KkRkms
An accurate way to measure out the milk for the bags.
Breast Milk Bags
https://amzn.to/2Tlu2zL
They never leak. Make sure to leave some room for the milk to expand when it freezes.
https://amzn.to/3kauHD5
Best to remove all the air before sealing.
Pumping bra
Nursing bra
Reusable nursing pads
Disposable nursing pads
Nipple cream
Cooler bag
Ice packs
Baby bottles
Preemie nipples
I hope this helps increase your Breast Milk Supply
My little one turned seven weeks, and I already have 125 milk bags stored in the freezer. It is such a relief not to worry about my milk production. No more crying over spilled milk or trying to ration my supply to make it last. With a happy and well-fed baby, our family is doing so much better this time around. Getting plenty of sleep and spending a lot more quality time together. I hope that these tips will make your breastfeeding journey enjoyable and will give you one less thing to worry about.
In addition to this post, Califoreigners.com has other baby-inspired content on the site, including some family-friendly places to go or even travel tips about traveling with a baby.
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