BF/Pumping Question

JessicaAlice · January 2012

I EP for Cullen. Starting yesterday morning I'm only getting around an ounce combined after pumping for over 30 minutes and I cant figure out what is going on. Everything was fine on Monday and there were no issues. It just started all of sudden yesterday morning. My left side is worse than the right and am barely getting anything out of there. It feels hard in places like there is milk in there but nothing is coming out. I have no pain, redness, or swelling in the areas and my pump seems to be working fine. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

alliapistor · January 2012

It sounds like a plugged duct to me, although it is weird that it is on both sides. (I have one right now and it is a PITA.)

Use warm, moist compresses. Take some ibuprofen and pump as much as possible while massaging the hard area. Massage the area while in the shower and let the water hit your breasts.

For me, with a plugged duct hand expressing is easier because I knock the flange off while trying to massage the plug area. Plus sometimes I think the pump contributes to the plug and so I recently (as in this morning) moved up a flange size to see if that would help.

http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html

Do you have a fever?

Jennrs · January 2012

Call a lactation consultant if the issue is still persisting.

JessicaAlice · January 2012

alliapistor:

It sounds like a plugged duct to me, although it is weird that it is on both sides. (I have one right now and it is a PITA.)

Use warm, moist compresses. Take some ibuprofen and pump as much as possible while massaging the hard area. Massage the area while in the shower and let the water hit your breasts.

For me, with a plugged duct hand expressing is easier because I knock the flange off while trying to massage the plug area. Plus sometimes I think the pump contributes to the plug and so I recently (as in this morning) moved up a flange size to see if that would help.

http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/mastitis.html

Do you have a fever?

Thanks. I looked at that article on kellymom earlier and I dont seem to have any of the symptoms of mastitis or a plugged duct because it is not painful. It seems like it only happens during the day and then in the evening I can get more milk out of there. For instance, right now I am sitting here pumping and it is flowing well. One side was engorged. I'm wondering if it had anything to do with me getting of my regular pumping schedule since I was off work for so long.

Jennrs- I will call a lactation consultant if it doesnt stop in a few days...unfortunately the ones that I have tried to contact around here wont talk to you without you coming in and paying them and my insurance doesnt cover it. I will do it though, if nothing else works. I'm determined to not let this affect my goal of giving him BM for a year...I've made it this far, I cant quit now.

TeacherTiff · January 2012

Have you changed your pump membranes lately? I know that doesn't explain the lumps, but it may help the output.

JessicaAlice · January 2012

TeacherTiff:
Have you changed your pump membranes lately? I know that doesn't explain the lumps, but it may help the output.

Are those the little white things that flap?? Embarrassed I havent changed anything on my pump yet and I've had it for about 5 months now. I thought about needing to change things anyway, so maybe I will try that anyway.

TeacherTiff · January 2012

JessicaAlice:
TeacherTiff:
Have you changed your pump membranes lately? I know that doesn't explain the lumps, but it may help the output.

Are those the little white things that flap?? I havent changed anything on my pump yet and I've had it for about 5 months now. I thought about needing to change things anyway, so maybe I will try that anyway.

Yep! They're very inexpensive if you don't have extras laying around. Target, BRU, etc. all carry them (for Medela at least). I'm not sure how often you are "supposed" to change them but I know that whenever I did it greatly increased my output.

JessicaAlice · January 2012

I do have an extra set that came with my pump so I will change them tonight and see if that helps. I did pump from about 7:30 to 8 and there was still milk coming out, but I had to stop to put him to bed, and I had pumped over 7 oz by then. So I'm at it again and hoping to relieve whatever is stopped up in there.

ColleenS629 · January 2012

I only BF the twins but I do pump once in the morning after feeding them so I can freeze. I get lumps only on my left side and usually only in the morning but it happens pretty consistently. They are usually still there after I feed them and I have to massage them while pumping to get them to go away. Sometimes I strangely get much less with no explanation. I usually get 10-12 oz but yesterday I only got 7oz. I know that's still a good amount, it's just a lot less than normal for me. Today I was back up to 10 so maybe it's just a fluke and your output will bounce back. My weird pumping problem is that some days nothing will come out at all until I massage/ use breast compressions but when I do, I will get my normal amount. No clue what that's about... the suction on the pump seems the same.

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