Pumping. How to Increase milk supply.

Pumping. I have mastered pumping. I have not mastered breast feeding. I have two preemie babies and breast feeding is still a work in progress. I return to work at the end of Sept. So pumping might me our way.

I logged on to baby center today, the first time in a long time that I actually had some time to browse the broads and postings. There were so many post and questions about pumping and how to increase your milk supply. Well I feel like I have been there and done that with those questions. I researched so much about increasing my milk supply and found what worked for me.

My babies were born at 33 weeks and spent 3 weeks in the NICU. I started pumping the night they were born. I knew from research that in order to get my supply in, keep my supply up, and increase my supply I had to pump regularly and for at least 15-20 minutes. So that night I started pumping every 2 hours around the clock. The nurses tried to tell me to get some sleep and not to worry so much about pumping around the clock but I didn’t listen. My babies got jibed out of 7 weeks in utero I was determined to do my part by providing them liquid gold!

 Within 2 days my milk came in. I was pumping several ounces and had much more than my babies needed. Each day I took a supply of breast milk to the hospital and froze some.

When my babies came home I had so much milk in the freezer we were able to make 24 hours of bottles in advance which was crucial to surviving the first few days.

After the babies came home life got busier and I was not pumping as regular and my milk supply greatly decreased. I was relying on my freezer stash to get us through the days and before long that stash was gone and I was not producing enough to feed both babies. So we started supplementing with formula. That was a huge mistake because I had it in my mind I did not have to make as much breast milk because they were having some bottles of formula.

I was frustrated I didn’t understand how all of a sudden when my babies came home my milk supply decreased. Well after researching this… it was easy to see, I wasn’t getting enough sleep, and I wasnt pumping as regularly.

So I tried to start pumping on a more regular basis and slowly my milk supply increased. But it wasn’t enough.

I wanted to quit. But I felt I owed it to the babies to give them breast milk at least until they were considered term. On a selfish note I didn’t want to quit because I didn’t want to spend the money on formula! They are on the preemie formula and it is super expensive!

So I spent most of my free time trying to figure out how to increase my supply.

I read a lot.  A lot of findings said, most women think they don’t have enough milk but that is rarely the case. I started drinking Mother’s Milk tea it helped. I took Fenugreek it helped. But it makes your pee smell really bad and it’s not something you want to take forever.

But what really helped was my Simplest Wishes hands free pumping bra. It made pumping more enjoyable because It gave me time to do other things like use the computer. Most of the time I am pumping and bottle feeding a baby at the same time. So the bra is a time saver and allows me to have free time. Which makes pumping a more enjoyable experience.

The bra also helped me to increase my supply because it holds the pump firmly in place on the breast.

I no longer take the Mothers Milk or Fenugreek because I do not need to for my supply. But in my research found it is good to use if you need to build a stash of milk before departing from your baby, or undergoing surgery or something when you will not be able to provide your baby with fresh breast milk.

So here are my tips for increasing your breast milk supply and for happy pumping.

1.      MUST have a hands free pumping bra… I recommend the Simple Wishes one

http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Wishes-Hands-Free-Breastpump-XS/dp/B00295MQLU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345565255&sr=8-1&keywords=simple+wishes+hands-free+breastpump+bra

2.      Drink plenty of water

3.      Drink an Ensure daily. This helps your body not feel so drained from pumping. I drink mine first thing in the morning.

4.      You must pump regularly. I pump every 3 hours during the day. I do not pump at night. You also need to pump 15-30 minutes (how long will depend on you and or time of day) to empty the breast to signal the body to make more.

5.      To create a milk stash and get supply up use Mother’s Milk tea of Fenugreek. It is important to know that some babies stomachs may not be able to handle it. Mine did fine.

 http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Mothers-Milk-Tea-Bags/dp/B0009Y8AGI/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1345565429&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=mothers+milk+tea

http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Way-Fenugreek-Capsules-180ea/dp/B0009ETA6W/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1345565492&sr=1-1&key

6.      Buy a nice pump I have the MEDELA PUMP IN STYLE

http://www.amazon.com/Medela-Pump-Style-Advanced-Breast/dp/B004HWXCJS/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1345565354&sr=1-1&keywords=pump+in+style+advanced

7.      Have some nipple cream handy. Your nipples will hurt in the beginning and from time to time so the cream helps. Over time your nipples get used to it and it no longer hurts.

http://www.amazon.com/Lansinoh-Lanolin-Breastfeeding-Mothers-Grams/dp/B005MI648C/ref=sr_1_2?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1345565394&sr=1-2&keywords=nipple+cream

8.      DO NOT supplement this tricks your mind and body into thinking you do not need more. I read one article that said think milk, lots and lots of milk.

9.      DO NOT GIVE UP IT WILL GET BETTER J it’s the best for you, your baby, and your wallet!

P.S. I am pumping right now.

Hope this Helps!
Heather