Low Milk Supply but

Having the same issue. Exclusively pumping due to latch issues so pretty stressed. I’ve found if I massage my breast while I pump I get a little more but it’s so tedious. Would love ideas also.

Babies are the best pump you have. They will affectively pull milk out better than any pump. It may look like you aren’t getting a lot because your body might not respond well to a pump. If you are worried about your baby getting enough, you could always do a weighted feed!

@Lexi I’ll try massaging and see if that helps me any!! It is stressful like you said!

Do you so different settings on your pump in the same pump session? What pump are you using

@Cassidy what is a weighted feed? I don’t think my baby gets enough because she cries after latching on for a little bit. I have Spectra pump and at the hospital they told me to get the 21 flange size and I did but I do not know how to use it since it’s so tiny and rubber and the spectra one is big and plastic not rubber.

@Incognito @Lexi you can buy lactation massagers to help express! To be honest they just look like a little vibrator 😂

Leaking doesn't mean good supply. I will leak but have low supply (diagnosed). Low supply means baby is losing weight and not producing sufficient diapers.

I had the same problem at first so I ended up supplementing with formula for about a week until I was able to bring my supply up so could focus on that without worrying about my baby having enough food. And to increase my supply I was pumping every 2 hours (even at night) for one week, drinking a whole lot of water and body armor and eating lots of protein rich foods and it worked

@Cassidy do you mean a weighted feed as in adding baby oatmeal to milk during a feeding or weighing the baby before and after a feeding? I know some people think a weighted feed means adding food to formula or breastmilk which is why I'm asking for clarification. My MIL used to tell me to do those with my first kid and I was like absolutely not that's super unsafe lmao

Noooo not adding cereal. That does nothing for baby! I mean weighing baby before and after feed to see how much they are taking in.😊

@Incognito a weighted feed is weighing baby before and after the feed. It will tell you how many oz baby is taking in. For example, if they weight 3oz more after feeding that means they ate 3oz! Have you talked to a lactation consultant? They may be able to help you. Baby could be pulling off for a number of reasons, it doesn’t always mean low supply. They can also help size you and show you how to use your pumps and inserts so they fit correctly!

@Alyssa yes I do and I’m using Spectra S2 Plus

@Cassidy omg I did not know that

@Charlie oh wow, had no clue ☹️

@Paola I pump every 3 hours, have been eating protein and body armor drinks everyday but not so much water 😭 I need to work on that more.

@Cassidy I haven’t talked to one, the last one wanted to charge but don’t insurance cover any ?? And okay gotcha. Well I breastfeed or pump and give my baby that and formula too.

It's a let-down reflux and I think it's normal, I experience same. The body is built that way😀

Depending on insurance, they should cover as an office visit, at least that’s how mine works. I am able to talk to an LC when I go in for any appointments (it just falls under that appointment, so I don’t get charged for 2 office visits), or last year when I had concerns/ issues with nipple pain I made an appointment with the nurse/LC and I think it just ran through insurance that way.

I EP’d with my first and here are my pumping tips: 1. The hospital LCs suck when it comes to pumping. They told me to use 21mm flanges when I needed 13mm and now my nipples are messed up so bad in ways that not only made me unable to nurse my first, but still a struggle with my second now. Check your size yourself with a tape measure. 2. A “lactation massager” is just a fancy term for a vibrator. Most women I know have one already, just wash one you have and you’re good to go, pop it in your pumping bra about 2 inches away from your nipple closer to your armpit. If it’s oblong, don’t have it pointing towards/away from the nip, you want it perpendicular. 3. Toss a tiny towel or blanket in the dryer until warm, set it over your chest as you pump. 4. Snack while you pump — every time. 5. Hydrate!! If you don’t like water, add LiquidIV packets (my faves are the Açaí Berry and Popsicle flavors). 6. Supplements — keep taking your prenatal vitamins throughout your entire journey. (1/??)

Iron supplements are also super helpful, especially if you notice you get a bit lightheaded after pumping. LegendairyMilk also makes good lactation supplements, I recommend the Sunflower Lecithin for anyone regardless if they’re nursing or pumping. Check out their Bestseller Bundle too, I find the Pump Princess one in it to work the best for me but everyone is different. 7. Power pump! Most people recommend 20/10/10 w 10 minutes in between so I’d try that type of power pump first and do it twice a day for a few days. If that doesn’t work, if you have the time, energy, patience, and support, you could also try 15 minutes every hour on the hour for 6ish hours — that’s the only type of “power pump” that worked for me. 8. A protein shake and a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. If you’re not hungry enough for both, mix em together 🥴 I’ve put chocolate protein shakes in my oatmeal instead of milk or water several times 9. Check the strength of your pump. (2/3)

If it doesn’t feel like it’s suctioning enough, then it likely isn’t. But also if it’s suctioning too hard, you can collapse the milk duct and then you’ll get even less. Find a middle ground that works best for you (and sometimes that unfortunately means a different pump). I have a Medela Symphony and a Medela Pump in Style. The first time around, I had the Symphony near max suction and the PiS was stashed in the travel case because it was too gentle. With my current second baby, the PiS is used regularly whenever I’m on the go, and the Symphony never goes past level 3 😅 and that’ll change throughout your journey. Some pump sessions, level 3 is too strong, and other sessions a level 7 feels like it’s not even on. 10. A cream (usually lanolin but there are other options out there) for your nips! Helps prevent cracked nipples, but it can also exacerbate “elastic nipple” issues. If you try it and find yourself getting even less milk, try applying it after you pump instead of before. (3/4

11. Silicone inserts — helps immensely if you have “elastic nipples” where essentially the pump pulls on the nipple and your nipple just… keeps going with it instead of resisting so the suction can pull out the milk. Silicone inserts basically help to just keep your nipple from stretching out all the way like that. They come in different sizes so you can put them into “standard” flanges if you need smaller than the standard size options (very helpful if you have a wearable pump with limited size options). 12. Last but not least, get as much sleep and relaxation as *possible*. Nothing kills supply like stress and exhaustion. 🥲

@Brynne that is what I need I am sooo tired today ☹️

@Cassidy oh okay I will see if I can do that!!

@Brynne you’re the BEST 🤩 thank you so so much for those tips. Definitely some new tasks that I need to try :)