Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Tricks about expressing milk?
Does anyone have any tips on getting your milk to "let down" when you pumped when you went back to work full time? I'm pumping three times a day when Ben is at daycare and I'm hardly getting anything. My best pumping time ... 3 am after he's slept a long stretch. I'm about to call the doctor to get a prescription of nasal oxytocin but am seeking advice! Let me know!
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7 comments:
I didn't go back to work, but when my milk production slowed a bit I started taking phenugreek. It stinks, but it did improve my supply.
I found that keeping a photo of Zippy with me helped - I could look at the photo and think of her, and it really helped the milk flow! Also hot compresses can help.
Sometimes the pump is the problem. Some of the less expensive pumps just can't seem to do the job. I'm using a Medela Pump-In-Style Advanced and getting good volume. Another option is to rent a hospital grade pump but they're not very portable and it'd probably have to stay at your workplace. On the pharmaceutical side of things, metoclopramide can be prescribed by your doctor to improve milk production. It doesn't always work, but it helps some moms. Good luck!
Mother's Milk tea helped me. Ditto on all the above as well.
Eat oatmeal in the mornings. I read about this on KellyMom (BEST nursing website EVER), and it really helped my supply. Also, to keep from stressing about how much you're producing, cover the bottles with foil, so you can't see.
I agree with the comment to try a different pump. Sometimes a different style can make a big difference. The first pump I tried didn't work at all.
Most importantly, R-E-L-A-X. Listen to music, watch a soap (heh!), or eat a little chocolate... anything to help you wind down a little.
I agree with everything posted above. It is so true that if you are stressed out or watching the milk come into the bottle and start to worrry that it isn't enough, that you will get less milk. Stress will play a huge factor in pumping. I always had a picture of my kids handy to look at for a few minutes when I'd start pumping, and think relaxing thoughts. The covering up the bottle is a great idea too! Try to not worry about it too much, as it will all come out well in the end... sorry about the pun there. ha ha Hang in there, and remember you are doing a great job!
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