Hello! I’m looking for encouragement and support from our amazing community. I started my relactation journey at 12 weeks postpartum. This community has been one of my motivating factors for trying again, so I hope you can cheer me on!
You can ready my story here:
Please help me succeed by sending love and positive thoughts my way! Also any of your experiences, mantras, and tips.
I’ll be posting every week in /breastfeeding and /breastfeedingsupport. Let’s do this together! Love you all!!
——
Progress!
Total daily pump output
Day 1: drops on the flanges
Day 7: 0.2 oz (6 ml)
Day 14: 0.5 oz (15 ml)
Day 21: 0.8 oz (23 ml)
Week 1 progress:
Week 2 progress:
Week 3: Hi, I’m still here. Still pumping away. After last week’s setback, I’ve managed to pump 6-8 times per day, with more power pumps, SNS use, and nursing. So, at least 8 opportunities for stimulation and milk removal each day. My daily output increased by 8 ml, which I’m trying to remind myself is a 50% increase since last week(!) - but yeah, still overall small. I’m committed to powering through another week on this journey.
I had an appointment with my LC last Friday, who encouraged me to redefine what success looks like. We talked about how every body is different, the “switch is flipped” on different timelines for everyone, and how there are some unknowns (hormone levels, etc.). I’m not sure if this was code for “this isn’t working.” Honestly a little disappointed, since the first two LCs I worked with immediately postpartum were all “I support you if this is too hard” when what I needed was support and encouragement during a super difficult time. So, PLEASE send encouragement and your success stories!
Things I learned this week:
- I’ve been warming my flanges in my bottle sterilizer/dryer, which I feel like has increased output. I’ll get more immediate output when pumping while the flanges are still warm.
- My daughter can suck on the SNS tubing even when my nipple isn’t hard, which defeats some of the purpose of nipple stimulation. I’ve been making her “work for it” a bit to make sure she’s getting my milk.
- Hand expression is still tricky for me (I have large floppy breasts). I’ve been trying this technique from Elizabeth Pogge (Part 1:
and Part 2:
)
- Hands on pumping works! I’ve been using this technique: https://med.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/ppc/documents/Nutrition/Hands-on-Pumping-English.pdf (includes link to video). I’ve learned where my milk ducts like to be squeezed
——
Routine
I’m aiming for 8x daily pump sessions BUT prioritizing time with my baby and sleep, so I skip or postpone a pump session occasionally. My pump schedule is: 3 am, 6 am, 9 am, 12 pm, 2:30 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm, and 10:30 pm. I pump 10-25 minutes during each session, and incorporate massage, heat, and hands on pumping as much as possible. I try to include a power pump once a day, depending on when I can find 50 minutes to make it happen. I’m using a Spectra S1 pump with Nuliie flange inserts, with the Momcozy hands free pumping bra and coconut oil as lubricant. I clean my breasts after pump sessions with a baby wipe.
I use the Lact-Aid SNS at least twice a day during daytime feedings. I use 3M first aid tape to keep the tube in place.
I’m supplementing with Motherlove Goat’s Rue tincture (6 ml daily = 1 ml 1:1 tincture taken at 3 am, 9 am, 12 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm, and 10:30 pm) and Mary Ruth’s Milk Thistle Seed tincture (0.5 ml taken at 6 am). Also taking my regular daily routine of vitamins: New daily prenatal vitamin, iron supplement, Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, and Sunflower Lecithin.
I’m trying to keep up my hydration and calories. I eat Purely Elizabeth Superfood oatmeal every morning for breakfast - it has oatmeal, flax, chia, and almonds (all supposedly supportive breastfeeding foods).
I’m using Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter to keep the nips happy.
And letting my daughter nurse as much as she’d like.
You can ready my story here:
Please help me succeed by sending love and positive thoughts my way! Also any of your experiences, mantras, and tips.
I’ll be posting every week in /breastfeeding and /breastfeedingsupport. Let’s do this together! Love you all!!
——
Progress!
Total daily pump output
Day 1: drops on the flanges
Day 7: 0.2 oz (6 ml)
Day 14: 0.5 oz (15 ml)
Day 21: 0.8 oz (23 ml)
Week 1 progress:
Week 2 progress:
Week 3: Hi, I’m still here. Still pumping away. After last week’s setback, I’ve managed to pump 6-8 times per day, with more power pumps, SNS use, and nursing. So, at least 8 opportunities for stimulation and milk removal each day. My daily output increased by 8 ml, which I’m trying to remind myself is a 50% increase since last week(!) - but yeah, still overall small. I’m committed to powering through another week on this journey.
I had an appointment with my LC last Friday, who encouraged me to redefine what success looks like. We talked about how every body is different, the “switch is flipped” on different timelines for everyone, and how there are some unknowns (hormone levels, etc.). I’m not sure if this was code for “this isn’t working.” Honestly a little disappointed, since the first two LCs I worked with immediately postpartum were all “I support you if this is too hard” when what I needed was support and encouragement during a super difficult time. So, PLEASE send encouragement and your success stories!
Things I learned this week:
- I’ve been warming my flanges in my bottle sterilizer/dryer, which I feel like has increased output. I’ll get more immediate output when pumping while the flanges are still warm.
- My daughter can suck on the SNS tubing even when my nipple isn’t hard, which defeats some of the purpose of nipple stimulation. I’ve been making her “work for it” a bit to make sure she’s getting my milk.
- Hand expression is still tricky for me (I have large floppy breasts). I’ve been trying this technique from Elizabeth Pogge (Part 1:
- Hands on pumping works! I’ve been using this technique: https://med.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/ppc/documents/Nutrition/Hands-on-Pumping-English.pdf (includes link to video). I’ve learned where my milk ducts like to be squeezed
——
Routine
I’m aiming for 8x daily pump sessions BUT prioritizing time with my baby and sleep, so I skip or postpone a pump session occasionally. My pump schedule is: 3 am, 6 am, 9 am, 12 pm, 2:30 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm, and 10:30 pm. I pump 10-25 minutes during each session, and incorporate massage, heat, and hands on pumping as much as possible. I try to include a power pump once a day, depending on when I can find 50 minutes to make it happen. I’m using a Spectra S1 pump with Nuliie flange inserts, with the Momcozy hands free pumping bra and coconut oil as lubricant. I clean my breasts after pump sessions with a baby wipe.
I use the Lact-Aid SNS at least twice a day during daytime feedings. I use 3M first aid tape to keep the tube in place.
I’m supplementing with Motherlove Goat’s Rue tincture (6 ml daily = 1 ml 1:1 tincture taken at 3 am, 9 am, 12 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm, and 10:30 pm) and Mary Ruth’s Milk Thistle Seed tincture (0.5 ml taken at 6 am). Also taking my regular daily routine of vitamins: New daily prenatal vitamin, iron supplement, Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, and Sunflower Lecithin.
I’m trying to keep up my hydration and calories. I eat Purely Elizabeth Superfood oatmeal every morning for breakfast - it has oatmeal, flax, chia, and almonds (all supposedly supportive breastfeeding foods).
I’m using Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter to keep the nips happy.
And letting my daughter nurse as much as she’d like.