Pump Resistance?

I haven't heard of pump resistance either, but like all the other moms, I've had supply issues...particularly if either I or the baby has been sick. He's 10 months old and eating solids like a champ, but I'm working to keep my supply up so I can get him through his first birthday. One thing that I did that seemed to help some was to get a different type of breast shield. I have the hard plastic ones that came with the pump, and I also purchased the SoftFit breast shields and connectors by Medela. It seems to help!

I have never heard of Pump Resistance, but I did have a slight decrease in milk flow. I was told that warm/hot showers and massaging your breasts will stimulate production since massaging simulates the baby's feeding (you know pulling, and pushing on the breast while feeding), I tried it and it worked a little to good. Just make sure you have a clean empty bottle just in case some milk comes out.
It is really refreshing hearing that you want to feed until your daughter is 1, I did with both of mine 6yrs and 10yrs and got critized for it that many years ago.
Just out of curiosity what is the environment at your workplace like, that could have something to do with it.

Maybe you need to try another pump? It could be that you've desensitized yourself to that particular pump and maybe a new one would restimulate? Try the First Years Single Electric. Switch back and forth betwen the two.

Hi R.,

The fenugreek work great for me. I was taking the 610mg caps 3 of the 3xa day and it really helped. I have pumped for almost a year now, and have never experience pump resistance(not sure what that is) I do know that my supply seriously ebs and flows from time to time, and the fenugreek coupled with pumping correctly has helped me maintain feeding my little one for a year with no supplementation. My lactaction consulatant did mention to me that I was not pumping for long enough..I basically was pumping until the milk flow stopped, and she corrected me saying that I needed to pump both sides for at least 10-15 minutes..but more would be better.. So I pumped until I could not stand it any more...the good news to that is she said instead of every 3 hours(which I was doing) that I could go up to 4 hours between pumping. Between doing this and the supplements, my supply stays pretty steady, I admit I test it from time to time, but it bounces back pretty quickly. I also have the Medela Pump in Style.

Hope this helps!

K.

Hi R.,
I also had the same problem with my first child. I tried everything and nothing seemed to work. As she started solids and I was back to working my milk supply just started to diminish. I was pumping 30 minutes on each side and only producing 2-3 ozs total. I felt terrible. Finally, I decided that it was okay if she had formula occassionally and nursed her in the morning, as soon as I was off work and again before bed. She nursed for a little over a year before she weaned herself. She is incredibly healthy and a great eater. I hope this helps.
Good luck! A.

I have never heard of pump resistance. My first child would not nurse, even with help from lactation consultants, so I pumped with her. I did find that even though I pumped at the same frequency, as she got older, my milk supply seemed to gradually decrease. I am nursing my second child and pumped as well for a while to have some extra milk. I also noticed that even if he was nursing the same number of times everyday, my milk supply has steadily decreased. Now I nurse him only a few times daily, and pumping became fairly unsuccessful, so I stopped. I figure I'll continue to breast feed him for up to a year twice daily, and then supplement the rest of his feedings with formula. That way I feel he at least gets some breastmilk each day. Have you discussed it with your ob/pediatrician? I am not familiar with fenugreek - is it a prescription or over the counter medication? I know a prescription called reglan (metoclopramide) supposedly increases milk production - but you'd have to speak with your doctor to get it. Unfortunateley there is lots of help to be found if one has quesios about breastfeeding, but almost none where pumping is concerned. Good luck! -JM