Expert: Sally Wendkos Olds - 1/11/2006

Question
Hello.  My name is Shawna and I have a question regarding my milk supply.  I have a 3 month old who I am exclusively breastfeeding.  I have not used any supplements and would rather not start.  I also have a two and a half year old who I breastfeed until he was 18 months.  And I had the same problem with him.

My question is:  Why is it that when I want to pump a bottle for my daughter I can only get about an ounce of milk?  This has been going on for about two weeks.  Prior to that I was able to pump at least 2 to 2 and half ounce in ten minutes.  Could it be because my milk isn't letting down for the pump?  I never feel it let down when I pump like it does when I'm nursing.

I stay home with my children so I rarely need to pump bottles.  I would say I pump about one bottle every two weeks, for babysitting purposes.

My daughter seems to be getting enough milk to satisfy her at feedings.  She is not losing weight.  I don't understand why I can't pump as much as she eats at a feeding.

Is there anyway to increase my milk supply so I will be able to pump her 2 or 3 ounce bottles again?  Or by increasing my supply will I start to get engorged because I'll be making more milk then she can eat?  I know the more they eat, the more milk I will make.

Thank you for your time.
Shawna K.
East Bethel, MN


Answer
Dear Shawna,

First, congratulations for giving your children the best start in life by breastfeeding them!

I am attaching an excerpt from my book (see below) on enhancing your milk production while pumping. I don't know why you are able to pump less milk now than you had been doing before. You may be busier these days -- with two small children, rest is a scarce commodity, I know -- but get as much as you can. And you do know that a vigorously suckling baby always is more efficient than even the best pump!

I would suggest pumping more often, maybe enough for a bottle every week. You can then refrigerate or freeze the milk so you'll have it on hand. And don't worry about getting engorged -- your milk supply should increase somewhat but not to the point where it should create engorgement.

I have a complete chapter in THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING about pumping, storing and feeding breast milk, so if you can take a look at a copy, that might answer some more questions. Meanwhile, I hope the following will help.

Good luck!

Sally

Sally Wendkos Olds
Author, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING: Eiger & Olds, 3rd edition 1999, published by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books, and available in most public libraries, bookstores & La Leche League chapters.
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ENHANCING MILK PRODUCTION WHEN EXPRESSING OR PUMPING

You may want to try one or more of the following methods to increase the amount of milk you can collect for your baby. Different ones work well for different women in different situations. If you're pumping at work, for example, some of these suggestions will not apply. As with the rest of this book, take the suggestions that make sense to you, see which ones work, and stick with them.
  * First, take care of yourself: get as much rest as possible, and be sure you're drinking enough liquid throughout the day.
  * For two to five minutes before you begin, do deep breathing or some other relaxation exercise.
  * Drink a cup of hot tea before beginning. If your baby is not sensitive to cow's milk products that you eat or drink, you might try warm milk or cocoa.
  * Make yourself as comfortable as possible. If you can, sit with your feet up.
  * If you have time, massage your breasts. Just before you begin, if possible, lay a warm towel on your breasts for a minute or two. (The towel is helpful, but not essential.) Then massage your breasts gently, one at a time, starting from the top and moving around the sides and the bottom, moving your fingers in a circular motion. With your fingertips, stroke yourself lightly from the armpit, from above and below the breast, and from the middle of the chest toward the nipple. You don't need to massage or stroke the nipples themselves. (If necessary, you can massage your breasts even while you're dressed.)
  * Pump both breasts at the same time, using a good electric pump.
  * If you are expressing one breast at a time, switch breasts at least once during each session and preferably twice, to insure maximum draining. Usually the second expression on each breast is briefer than the first.
  * Pump frequently. It's better to pump three times for no more than 10 minutes each time than to pump twice for 15 minutes each time. It yields more milk, it's more efficient, and it's also more comfortable, since it will cut down the likelihood of trauma from too much pressure exerted for too long a time. Some women get sore nipples from pumping more than seven or eight minutes on a breast.
  * Prop a photo of your baby in front of you. Look at it and remember what it feels like (or imagine what it will feel like) to have him at your breast. (Or use a photo of you nursing your baby.)
  * Visualize your baby in your mind. Imagine what she looks like, sounds like, feels like, smells like when she nurses.
  * Make the time go faster while you're expressing or pumping by talking with a friend, listening to the radio, reading something light, or watching television.
  * If your baby is present but cannot suckle and if you don't need two hands to express, hold him while you're pumping.
  * Wear comfortable clothes that open up or pull up but still cover your shoulders, so you don't get chilled.
  * Listen to a musical record that you associate with nursing. This works best if you play the record initially during actual breastfeeding sessions; then when you're expressing, hearing the same music may help evoke the memory and the sensations you felt then. (Handel's "Water Music" gets high marks from women who enjoy classical music.)