Power pumping to increase supply

So if baby is only 15weeks and refusing breast and bottle I'd definitely recommend power pumping if you can do it at 10.30-11pm do that as at night you body produces the hormone that helps up your breast milk I'd also say try to get another pump session in those 7-8 hours she's asleep because if she isn't feeding over night you will loose a big chunk of your milk supply you will feel full and potentially leak through those 7/8 hours so that's why I'd recommend you waking up a few hours later to pump again for 10/20 mins max to relive some of that milk your going to gain but also so you don't loose it through leaking breastfeeding and pumping is very tricky and takes up alot of time and energy I'd also suggest trying to drink at least 3ltrs a day if you are breast feeding because if your not you won't make up milk that you need.. if you need any more advice you're more then welcome to Dm me hope this helps xx

Hi, I exclusively express and do a lot of things to help with supply. Easiest things to try are eating oats, malt (milo!), ensuring you are eating enough generally and drinking lots of water. I also take domperidone a prescription to increase milk supply. Power pumping is a good way to tell the body you need more milk and may help as well.

thank you so much. The baby only occasionally sleeps thru the night and has been waking up once at random hours. Anytime between 3-8am. It’s the one of 2 times a day I can breastfeed so don’t want to drain my milk. I’ve been pumping after every feed to drain my breast. Do you know is the power pumping will generally work after doing it for 7 days?

thank you so much. Will try to do those things. Just wondering if you know if power pumping can be done at night (for a week) and the effect can carry on during the day. And my breast won’t feel extremely full of my baby doesn’t wake up at night to feed. She wakes up more often then not to feed but sometimes she doesn’t

hmm I suspect it may mean you get more milk around that time, tho prolactin is highest from about 12-4am anyway so that's a great time to pump as you'll get a good milk yield. Could you do it first thing in the morning with a double pump and pumping bra? That's when I power pump and I just put my pump in my pocket and get on with washing up, bottle feeding baby, brekky etc? It's not the easiest I must say but it gets it out of the way for me personally

oh my nipples are a weird shape and I don’t wear a pumping bra and I find I have to hold the pump in place otherwise it will leak😅. Can I ask do you power pump daily or can you power pump for a week and then can go back to normal pumping

I powerpump daily but that's because I don't breastfeed at all and I have low supply issues. With my first it only took a week of power pumping and I'd give myself an oversupply with direct feeding as well so you might find you only need to do it for a week and you're fine.

I am low in supply thus taking medication (Domperidone) together with Fenugreek tablets :)

thank you so much for replying. I would love to keep breastfeeding but the baby refuses and will only feed during the night if she wakes up and first thing waking up. My supply is so bad I’m pumping out ~40ml per 2-3 hours and that is both breasts combined, far from enough for the baby. Be super happy to just double that and then top up with formula.

just don't exhaust yourself triple feeding (breastfeeding, pumping and formula). You need rest too!

haha. I use to do that now I breastfeed her the first 1-2 feeds of the day and then just go straight to pumping since I know 90% of the time she will refuse breast. Yesterday she even refuse bottle 🤯. Thank you for the support

thanks I might go get some fenugreek tablets too. I hope your supply is going ok now.

just be careful with fenugreek. It can either increase or decrease supply. It works for some and not others. For me it decreased

oh really? Hmm. I just bought some oatmeal. That should be safe?

definitely 👍

and I tried power pumping for the first time last night and i had palpitations all night. I got up to pump at 6 and then the baby woke up soon after 😅. Yesterday she woke up at 9.

oh wow! I've never had that before!

if I have other questions would I be able to pm you?

yeah of course!

I’m having supply issues too. I’ve booked an appointment with an independent lactation consultant (not through child and family health) this week so if there’s anything I can share from that I will.

ah yea I could probably do that during my baby’s nap. She doesn’t sleep for an hour but usually will sleep for at least 40. Thanks for sharing

Thank you so much and I really hope they will be able to help you.

I don’t have hands free. I find that even my current pump (Spectra) I have to hold it in place otherwise it leaks. Any movement and it will leak.