My son was in ICU when he was first born, so we had alot of complications with breastfeeding when we got home. After much work with a lactation specialist, I decided that pumping would be the best alternative. I use a medical grade breast pump two to three times a day for about an hour (for 7 months now) and I am able to produce enough milk. My question is...am I causing any harm to my breasts for pumping so long/so often? I have noticed that I have what appears to be spider veins on my breasts. Is that normal?
I did the same since I wasa not producing enough milk and wanted to see how much my baby was taking in. I had some spider veins but they went away. I would ask your OBGYN for advice since everyone heals differently. My breasts got saggier the normal but no scars or veins remained.
Are you pumping for 1 full hour at each pumping session? If so, that seems too long....usually the rule of thumb for producing all the milk that the baby will need is to pump for 10-15 min immediately following each nursing session(5-8x per day, depending on their current nursing demand) and always pumping first thing in the morning when milk production is the highest.
Maybe it is completely normal or maybe not...check with your hospital lactation consultant.
Congrats on all the hard work and for choosing to breastfeed even though it wasn't easy! You have provided a wonderful gift to your baby!
C., I pumped 3 times X day (10-15mins) for a year and currently pumping for my 6mo old 3xday (10-15 mins). I will continue also for a year. You're doing the best for your baby, keep it up. I use Advent manual pump and it's portable and easier on my breasts. I think the spider veins could be due to engorgement
My son was also an ICU baby so I understand where you started. I was told to pump as often as he would be eating and for about 15 minutes. I found that I needed to pump at least 20 minutes as I had a great let-down around the 20 minute mark but I do think an hour is too long. Try just pumping every 3 or 4 hours for a shorter amount of time. Your body will adjust.
and ps-we were lucky enough after 6-8 weeks of hard work at home that I was able to teach him to learn how to breastfeed and did for almost 16 months!
I don't know about the spider veins, but I think if anything you are doing your breasts a huge favor by sticking with the pumping - studies show that breastfeeding reduces cancer in breasts - but only the breast that actually produces the milk, rather than a collective benefit. So, your amazing determination will ultimately benefit you (and your kids since you will live longer!). Don't give up!
I have been nursing for almost a year. My breasts have more visible veins, they have some stretch marks, and are already a little droopier. I think it's just all part of the deal. On the plus side, it helps me reconnect with my daughter when I get home from work, she's only been sick twice in her life, and I only have 2 pounds to go to reach my pre-pregnancy weight. I've never heard of any problems from pumping (I did that for almost 10 months). Good work!
I have never heard of varicose veins on the breast before. I would call and ask my Ob/Gyn.
If you already have the vein damage, I don't know if changing your pumping habits would do anything for you other than to stop any more vein damage. Besides, you are getting close to the winding down phase of needing breastmilk as your child starts eating solid food and learning to drink from a sippy cup.
I have very fair skin, and since starting breast-feeding I have noticed that the veins in my chest and breasts have gotten more prominent. Sometimes the veins will even bulge a little, especially when I am closer to engorgement.
You should also put baby to breast whenever you can. The more you extract milk, the more milk you produce. So pump but not for an hour, for about 20 minutes.
Normal. Frustrating and painful; but normal. Contact La Leche League (google them) and they will direct you to a counselor. Meanwhile, congratulations on your newborn and many blessings being a mommy...
Holy cow! Honey, an hour is way too long. With a medical grade pump, you should be able to pump both breasts simultaneously in 15 minutes. Are you actually getting milk the whole time you are pumping, or, are you getting milk, then spending an inordinate amount of time waiting for a second let-down? 15 minutes every 3 hours would be much kinder to your breasts, and should still produce enough milk. (ex: 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm)
I don't know about medical grade pumps but regular pumps are what I used...Medela. And I pumped for about 7 mo as well and was very happy with it. Your breasts should be ok. The spiders are from the swelling and shrinking of the breasts. You can double check with your doctor to make sure. Back then I was pumping every 2-3 hrs.....too many times but worth the effort. I also put the baby on the breast from time to time to help reserve the milk resource flowing.
Good luck.
