Using a breast pump takes a bit of trial and error.  Depending on the type of breast pump, there are two major adjustment knobs. 

One knob is for vacuum adjustment, that will affect the comfort level for suction.  Less is more with this knob.  Mothers have been too quick to turn this knob to high, trying to get milk out fast.  This can cause a number of problems, like sore and cracked nipples.  Start on a lower setting and work up to higher settings, if necessary.

The second knob controls the speed of the electric motor.  It can be selectively varied to increase the frequency of the suction cycles, which can vary between 20 to 44 cycles per minute. The breast cup may collapses during a part of each cycle to simulate the peristaltic action of a suckling infant. This is how it is supposed to operate.

So, one knob for suction level and the other for speed of motor.  Test these two knobs at varied levels until you find what works best for you.

Another issue could be, that you need to feel more comfortable using a device to express milk.  Sometimes, it takes some getting used to.  Getting into a mind set to let a device extract your milk is easy for some, while others have an adjustment. 

Here are a couple of tips to help you relax and let the pump do its job.  First, you could have your baby near you while you pump.  Our motherly instinct will kick in and let milk flow, sometimes even when we don’t want the milk to flow.  When you baby is near, milk comes out more easily.  If you don’t want to pump near your baby, hold on to or wrap your baby’s blanket where you can smell it.  Have a picture of your baby so you can see it while pumping. 

The next step is what some people call the athlete’s success process.  When you begin your pumping session, use guided imagery.  Picture yourself as a fountain of breast milk that will feed your healthy plump baby with milk that flows freely.  Mothers have reported that using guided imagery has allowed them to relax enough to feel the same “let down” reflex that they feel when their baby is nursing at breast and they pump plenty of milk out.

These are a few ideas that might help.  Email your success or questions to us at GotBreastPump.com.  We love to hear from moms.

I am sad that I stopped breastfeeding and want to start again

I really hope you can help me.  My son is several months old and I did breastfeed him for about a month after he was born.  I seriously want to breastfeed again.  Can this be done? Can a mother start making milk again?

I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP!

Hi,

Starting up again with breastfeeding is definitely possible.  Many mothers have been successful in relactating.  Our bodies are designed for feeding babies for nearly our whole lives. I’m not saying this will be easy at first, but since you recently been breastfeeding, your body is already set.  You just need to start some hormones back into action, again.

Your biggest challenge may be getting your son to accept breastfeeding again.  Nursing requires more effort for the baby than a bottle.  Sometimes babies refuse to accept nursing once they have a bottle.

To begin with, breastfeed with your son in a quiet place that has no interruptions and low lighting.  You may have more success if he is sleepy but not fussy.  Play soothing music and be very relaxed.  Be patient; you may have to do this a number of times to get him back on breast. If you are relaxed during each session, your baby will be too and your success may hinge on your attitude when you and your baby begin this process.

To bring you milk back, you might want to do some breast pumping with a hand pump or an electric pump. Begin with 6 - 8 pumping sessions each day.  This is important to regaining milk supply; begin 2 night pumping sessions will go a long way to increase breastmilk.  The reason for this, is a hormone that women produce during weaning, called “feedback inhibitor”.  This hormone is triggered when a mother produces less milk.  Even if you pump during the day, without night pumping, you may not be able to get an ample milk supply. 

During, at least half, of these pumping sessions, empty your breasts, once your milk comes in, even if you are only getting small amounts. Emptying each breast completely 3-4 times a day will do two things. First, you will be getting to the “hind milk”, the richest milk and when this milk is removed, another hormone is signaled to increase milk supply.  The second reason is that this is the milk that babies love.  It is richer, sweeter, and more satisfying to the baby.

All the milk you pump, can and should be saved in the refrigerator or freezer. Read this article about Breastmilk Storage for detailed information about saving your breastmilk for future use.

If your son takes to the breast easily, you may be able to cut out a lot of the pumping, especially if you milk comes back with enough volume to satisfy your baby.

Try to avoid a pacifier, even if he is using one now.  Instead, let your baby come to breast when he needs to suck.  This will also help bring your milk back faster.  This may be difficult for the first few days, but there are lots of success stories about relactating.  But pacifiers can be a big part of why a baby won’t come to breast.  After several months of breastfeeding, you might let him have one, but anytime you add a pacifier you take the risk of the baby giving up on breastfeeding.

I hope this gives you some help toward relactating.  This is a great choice for both health and financial reasons for your baby and your family.  Here is another article that will give you great information on the cost of using formula, it is called Mother’s Milk Makes Cents.

The Milkmaid Tea, Fenugreek and More Milk Plus Vegetarian Capsules are good for any lactating mother. You could take them right away.  Even mothers who have never had a baby can lactate by using the techniques I have noted above.

The last piece of information I would like to share with you is to have confidence in your ability to regain your milk supply.  Believe in your ability to produce enough milk for your baby.  This process worked for thousands of years, before bottles and formula.  To say the least, it is tried and true.  The last 4 or 5 decades, women have done a lot less breastfeeding and this has led to a loss of knowledge and lack of confidence in mothers about breastfeeding. 

I wish you the very best in your efforts to breastfeed your baby.

Toni

 Most Women Can, But There is Work to Do, First 

Question from an Adopting Mother
  
   I was looking for any site that gave information on restarting breastmilk. I praying to find a some ideas on ways bring my milk in again.  My family is adopting a child in some time in the next month or so. I breast fed my other children. Yet, I haven’t breastfeed in 10 years.  How do I start producing breast milk again so that I can breast feed the adopted baby.  I was read about the Milkmaid Tea and the Milk Plus Capsules. Are they just for women who have just given birth?  Is there any hope of restarting breast milk. Thanks for looking into this for me. 

Roxanne

Answer from Wendy & Toni

The Milkmaid Tea and More Milk Plus Capsules are for any lactating mother, so yes, you can take them right away.  Even mothers who have never had a baby can lactate.  With only a month until your new baby arrives, you have some preparation to build your milk supply, to keep your baby interested in nursing.

To start up you milk supply, consider taking the supplements above.  Also, a breast pump will really help you get started before the baby arrives.  An electric double pump with 40-60 suction-and-release cycles per minute will get you on your way to breastmilk production. Begin with 8 to 10 pumping sessions each day.  In preparation, 1-2 night pumping will go a long way to increase breastmilk.  The reason for this is a hormone that women produce during weaning, called “feedback inhibitor”.  This hormone is triggered when a mother produces less milk.  When babies begin sleeping though the night and mom stops night feedings, this hormone signals the mammary glands to slow milk production.  Even if you pump during the day, without night pumping, you may not be able to get an ample milk supply. 

Avoid using pacifiers or bottle supplements until you and the baby are comfortably nursing on a regular basis.  Bottles and pacifiers take away a babies motivation to breastfeed.  Breast feeding is more difficult than taking a bottle.  Many mothers have found out that introducing a bottle too early will create a problem with nursing.

You can store the breastmilk you are pumping before your baby arrives, by freezing it until you need it, so your time pumping is not wasted.  You can use this when the family wants to feed the baby, after your nursing pattern is set.  They will get to be part of the feeding process, as well.

If your milk does not come in as well as you want, your doctor can prescribe some medications that support lactation.  Research these medications, Reglan and domperidone.  These meds do come with some side effects that a lot of mothers have found undesirable, like depression and other concerns. 

With your new baby on its way, don’t forget to take really good care of yourself.  Lactation requires a mother to eat well and get as much rest as possible.

Below is a list of the 10 Ways to Increase Breast Milk:

   10 Ways to Increase Breast Milk Supply                                                                                              

1.      Water – always make sure to get plenty of water during your breastfeeding or breast pumping experience. If you need a way to increase breast milk supply, you will be surprised just how quickly your supply will increase when you getting plenty of water in your system. The Mayo Clinic recommends that lactating women consume 3.1 liters (about 13 cups) of fluids a day.

2.      More Milk Plus Vegetarian Capsules - increase breast milk supply quickly. (Start increasing your breast milk supply by purchasing More Milk Plus Vegetarian Capsules now.) They are available on our website. These organic time released herbs encourage increased breast milk production. Check out our new video about More Milk Plus Capsules.

3.      Fenugreek – you may probably find that this will increase breast milk supply within 1-2 days. In addition, it is very simple when taking the capsule form. (Start increasing your breast milk supply by purchasing this incredible capsule containing Fenugreek now.)

4.      Oatmeal - I began eating oatmeal immediately when I noticed my milk supply getting low. It always seemed to keep my breast milk supply up.

5.      Relaxation – you’ll be surprised, once you begin to relax while breastfeeding or your pumping sessions, at just how much more milk you will begin to have. If you are breast pumping, it is important not look at the breast milk going into the bottle while you are pumping.

6.      Sleep – Everyone says to get enough sleep, but what new mother gets enough sleep during those first weeks after the baby is born. The good thing about breast pumping is that dad can feed the baby while you get a few extra hours of sleep.

7.      Milkmaid Tea – you may find that this tea will begin to increase breast milk supply in about 2-3 days. Some moms have even said that it helps their baby with gas and colic. However, to prepare, steep like traditional tea. (Start increasing your breast milk supply by purchasing Milkmaid Tea now.)

8.      Brewer’s Yeast & Blessed Thistle – you can also take Brewer’s Yeast in capsule form. Some moms have found Brewer’s Yeast this causes gassiness for the baby and increases yeast infections. You can also take Blessed Thistle in capsule form. Some moms use these supplements in a mixture with other ingredients to create their own herbs.

9.      Breastfeed or Pump more frequently – If you need to increase your supply, begin to breastfeed or pump again more often. If pumping, each session will bring you fewer ounces, but with the extra pumping sessions each day, the total ounces should increase each day.

10.   Prescription drugs – After speaking with your doctor, you may decide that prescription drugs are the way to increase milk supply. However, beware of the side effects of these medications.

I Dieted and Now My Breastmilk Supply is Low. Can You Help?

Good morning, I found your website and thought I might be able to get some information from you.  My baby boy is 5 months old.  He drinks only breast milk and eats cereal twice a day.  I am having a difficult time with the pumping enough milk.    I have been dieting, could this be the cause of my milk supply dropping?  I have stopped dieting again, but still not seeing an increase in my milk supply.  I purchased the More Milk Plus and Milkmaid Tea but I am not able to pump nearly as much as before.  My son is drinking more than I am able to pump. 

How can I get my breast milk supply up? He nurses in the morning, I pump several times at work and he nurses a couple of times in the evening before bedtime. 

Where do I begin? I am very worried.

 Thanks from a challenged mom. 

Hi

When a mothers milk supply decreases, it may take several attempts to figure out how to get back on track.    

Successful breast pumpers will emphasize the importance of at least one or 2 night pumping sessions.

At the very least, while you are trying to bring you milk back, add 2 pumping sessions between your baby’s last feeding in the evening and the morning feeding.

It is great that you are pumping and breast feeding.  Breast pumping is also wonderful, because your baby gets the extraordinary benefits of breast milk while you are away from her.

Once you add the 2 night feedings, you will most likely see an increase, usually, by the 2^nd morning after the 2 night pumping sessions, if not the next morning. You may not get very much milk at all during the first night sessions. The purpose for adding the night pumping is to discourage the hormone, feedback inhibitor from reducing your milk supply.  Many hormones are at work during breast milk production. 

I know you were dieting, but this is an important not to make too many dietary changes. Dieting can clearly affect breast milk production.  Breast pumping moms swear by  a bowl of oatmeal as a food that  keeps milk supply up.

Also, check out the article on our website for 10 Ways to Increase Breastmilk Supply.  These tips have helped a lot of moms. 

We, at GotBreastPump.com, wish you the very best in breast pumping and breast feeding.

Milkmaid Tea Is # 7 of the 10 Ways to Increase Breast Milk Supply at GotBreastPump.com

Milkmaid Tea – you may find that this tea will begin to increase breast milk supply in about 2-3 days. Some moms have even said that it helps their baby with gas and colic. To prepare, steep like traditional tea.                             

Start increasing your breast milk supply by purchasing Milkmaid Tea now at GotBreastPump.com.

The ingredients in this teaare natural breast milk enhancers and have a lightly sweet flavor. The list of ingredients are USDA Certified 100% Organic: Trigonella foenum-graecum (organic fenugreek) seed, Foeniculum vulgare (organic fennel) seed, Rubus idaeus (organic red raspberry) leaf, Citrus sinensis (organic orange) peel, Urtica diocica (organic stinging nettle) leaf, Mentha spicata (organic spearmint) leaf, Pempinella anisum (organic anise) seed, Carum carvi (organic caraway) seed and Medicago sativa (organic alfalfa) leaf.. All of the ingredients in this tea are galactagogues.

Galactagogues are any substances that encourage new mothers to increase breast milk production. Though some pharmaceutical companies have developed prescription drugs for this purpose, most smart moms prefer to approach the supply issue in a more natural manner, with herbs that women have used safely for hundreds of years.

Enjoy this tea and relax while the organic ingredients begin to help you milk flow.

Sleep is # 6 on Our List of Ways to Increase Breast Milk

Sleep – Everyone says to get enough sleep, but new mothers find out quickly that no new mother gets enough sleep during those first weeks after the baby is born. The good thing about breast pumping is that dad can feed the baby while you get a few precious hours of sleep.

Sleep is a serious human requirement for survival.  Most new mothers suffer from some level of sleep deprivation.  Sleep deprivation can cause a wide variety of problems for new parents.

Learning to cope with less sleep requires new moms to take some specific action to avoid the potentially debilitating effects of lack of sleep.

First things first -  GIVE UP GUILT!  You don’t need to feel guilty for your moods, the cleanliness of your house or anything else for that matter. Give yourself kindness and understanding you need to recover from the birthing experience and all the hormones bouncing around you body, like a computer game malfunction.

·        Please nap when your baby rests.  You really need to do this to keep up your strength to maintain your breast milk supply and to heal.  Too many mothers feel guilty napping.  They think they have to catch up on house work.  Dust is less harmful than sleep deprivation.

·        Go to bed early. Let your partner look after the baby, because you will be up later.  Breast pumping moms, let your partner, family, and friends feed the baby as often as possible, so you can sneak in a power nap.

·       Do less housework than you did before the baby.  This is one of the most difficult things to deal with after having a baby.  Only do the important work, and let others help.  Say YES when anyone offers help.  Cancel visits if you are not comfortable with people seeing your house look less than perfect.  Super moms end up exhausted and often sick or depressed; don’t go there.  Your body has gone through a lot, be kind to yourself.

·       Eat well.  This first month is not the time to diet.  Your body needs to heal and you are feeding two people. Consuming less than 1,800 calories a day will put your breast milk at risk and will stress out your immune system.  New mothers should eat about 2,500 calories each day.  The hormones produced by breast milk mothers will help with a slow steady weight loss.

Experienced mothers have learned the art of getting sleeping whenever they can.  You and your baby will benefit from the sleep you get.  A tired and stressed out mom can have a stressful effect on the baby.  This could turn into a difficult cycle.

Give up the guilt!  Sleep when the baby sleeps, as often as you can.

Also, if you suspect that you are getting depressed because of sleep deprivation, tell anyone and everyone!  Tell your doctor!

Too many mothers try to muddle through Post Partum Depression.  This can be very serious.  Get help right away, please.  We know first hand, just how serious Post Partum Depression can be.

Relaxation

Relaxation – you’ll be surprised, once you begin to relax while breastfeeding or your pumping sessions, at just how much more milk you will begin to have. If you are breast pumping, it is important not look at the breast milk going into the bottle while you are pumping.

At GotBreastPump.com, we talk to mothers all the time.  Many moms put themselves under terrible stress.  They call and email, telling us that they pump every hour because their milk supply is low.

Pumping that often will only cause stress and trauma, which in turn will reduce breast milk supply even further. 

One piece of advice I wish new moms would listen to, is that they can produce enough milk, if you stay calm and avoid stressing about breast milk production.

Breastmilk is important, but nearly all babies will survive and grow if they get formula.  This does not mean that we support giving formula to babies.  But it is not the worst thing that can happen if you can’t produce enough breast milk.

Too many new mothers pressure themselves to be perfect.  Perfection is not healthy or real.  The pressure to be a perfect mother can lead to harm to mother and perhaps the baby, as well.

The key word is RELAX.  Ratcheting down the pressure is important.  Relaxation will aid in more milk production and a calmer baby.

In preparation for a pumping session, use your favorite relaxation technique.  Some mothers play soothing music, some use visualization of calming places before they begin pumping.  A warm cup of herbal or chamomile tea before and during pumping will create a relaxing environment.

Take a deep breath, let the stress go and watch the milk begin to flow.

Hi, my name is JA and I gave birth to my son, on August 27th.  I am finding that I prefer to pump and bottle feed as opposed to traditional breast feeding.  He is a big boy already and at two weeks is taking 4 oz every 3 hours.  I am barely keeping up with him.  I am wondering if I am not pumping enough or if my milk is not totally in or if it will ever come in.  I would appreciate any advice you might have. 

New mom, 

JA

Hi Jill,

Jill, congratulations, you seem to be doing well with your new son.  You are not alone in your preference to pump and bottle feed.  How fortunate that we live in a time where there are so many choices. You will be able to let others help feed your baby so you can rest and pump.

Without question, mother’s milk is the best form of nutrition for your baby. So keep up with the pumping.  Here are some tips that may help.

First, your milk is in by now.  The number of times you pump is more important right now than the amount you get from each time you pump. Frequent and effective pumping is important to establish abundant milk production in the first few weeks after birth.  Completely emptying each breast during pumping will prevent “Feedback Inhibitor of Lactation (FIL)”.  FIL tells the mammary glands to decrease milk production. FIL is the reason mothers who don’t pump frequently enough begin to have milk supply problems.

Also, completely emptying the breast helps to develop richer, higher fat content milk that is more satisfying to babies.  The hind milk, the milk that is pumped out last, is the richest, so keep pumping completely each session.

Here’s the hard part.  Right now you cannot afford to skip night feedings.  I always dislike giving new moms that piece of news, as I am sympathetic to how tired you are.  Try to nap during pumping at night and day if you can. But pump 2 to 3 times each night.  A schedule similar to 10PM, 1AM, and 4AM should keep you milk supply up.

There is a list of 10 Ways to Increase Breast Milk Supply on our website that gives important suggestions to help maintain and even increase milk supply.

So, pump, pump, pump, empty each breast fully, and be confident that you can produce enough milk for your baby. 

Breast wishes in feeding your baby,

Momma Toni

I read in your monthly magazine that you breast pumped for your daughter for over a year. I have a 4 month old and I pump every day.  I work full time. I pump often to make sure that there is enough for the sitter who is with my baby, while I work.

Would you mind answering a few questions to help me figure all this out?  First, how do I increase breast milk to stock pile?  When my baby was taking 4 ounces every 3 to 4 hours, I had plenty in the freezer.  Now the baby drinks at least 5 ounces at each feeding.  I am getting less out each pumping session and my stock pile is getting very low.

I will admit that I do not get up during the night to  breast pump, but my baby wakes up between 4 and 5 in the morning, and I pump while I feed her.

I am taking the More Milk Plus Vegetarian Capsules that I purchased on your site. It helps, but I still need to make more milk, if that is possible.  Is there anything else that I can take, that you know of?

Also, are there foods or recipes that you know of that will help me make more milk?

Thank you for your help and information.

Suzie in Ontario

Welcome Suzie,

It sounds like you are doing well so far.  I would not recommend taking any other supplements.  The More Milk Plus Capsules do an excellent job. We sell other products, but I would rather see you try a couple of other things before adding another supplement.

My first thought is that the night pumping has to make a come-back.  As a working mother, I remember so well, being tired and not wanting to get up at night, but I got up two times each night. 

Those night pumpings made all the difference in the world to my breast milk supply.  I actually pumped at night through the whole year that I was pumping.  I admit I tried to get away with out pumping a few times and I could tell the very next day.  By pumping at night, I had enough milk for Gabrielle and I donated the extra to a breast milk bank donation center for sick babies.

I was always flowing with milk.  Regular pumping is the key.

The second thing to do is make sure that you completely pump all your milk at most pumping sessions.  If I was in a hurry at one pump session, I made sure that the next pumping, I emptied both breasts.  The “hind” milk is the richest and helps maintain milk supply.

You are right to consider your diet.  Some foods and herbs in recipes can help make more milk too.  Be careful with and read the information on our site about decongestants and medications that may dry your milk up. Check out our Increase Breast Milk Section for diet related ideas to help.

Breast Wishes for feeding your baby,

Wendy

Some days, no sales show up and we get a sinking feeling. Invariably, a new mother will call and have a problem with breast milk supply.  Wendy and I jump into action. 

Helping mothers with milk problems is the reason Wendy started the GotBreastPump.com in the first place.  All the other parts of the company came afterwards.

Taking the time to talk to a new mother, pumps us up.  Knowing that there are so few places for mothers with breastmilk problems to go, and that they found their way to us, makes us feel really great.

After helping a mother, we jump back into our many/varied daily tasks with a whole new attitude.  We remember that its not about what we sell.  It is all about being there for the mother in need, Many times, the mother only needs a suggestion and kind words, when she needs it most, “To Feed Her Baby”.

Call us anytime for help with breast milk problems or concerns.  This is what we are all about. 

We look forward to helping you or someone you know, who needs support and advice with breast milk needs.