u/Green-Switch-5166

Am I doing the power pumping right? Spectra 9+

I also posted this in another subreddit, not sure why it will not allow me to repost, but hopefully some of you might help me

Hello! I have a 6 month old that I combo fed since birth. My supply went really low this last month and I try to at least do a power pump after baby is asleep, I am just not sure if I do it properly. So it goes like this:

First 20 minutes: I start with massage setting at level 5. Milk flow starts in maximum 1 min (I see it and also get a burning sensation in the breasts). As soon as it starts I switch to expression mode at level 9, milk comes pretty fast (i get around 1 oz in the first 2 minutes), then stops almost entirely, no matter if I do compressions or anything else to help, so at around minute 5-6 i switch back to massage mode, nothing comes out/some drops, at minute 12-13 I get another letdown and the fast flow starts again, but only lasts like 30 seconds and barely give me more 0.25 oz. Even if nothing else comes out, I leave it on expression mode until minute 20.

10 minute break

10 minutes: Start with massage. Around minute 5 I feel the flow start, switch to expression, again get only around 0.25 oz then nothing, leave it on expression.

10 minute break

10 minute: Start with massage, sometimes flow starts but does not give much, but most times nothing happens and I just stay on massage mode till the end.

I changed all the parts of the pump, no matter what I do the outcome is always the same.... also, I feel like I get the same no matter if I pump one hour or 3 hours from the last breastfeeding. I did this evening powerpumping in the past as well (when BF went better) and it was the same.

Is it possible that I just cannot respond better to the pump? In the past when breasts got more hard I was able to remove more milk. Any tips, suggestions are so much appreciated, thank you!

Hello! I have a 6 month old that I combo fed since birth. My supply went really low this last month and I try to at least do a power pump after baby is asleep, I am just not sure if I do it properly. So it goes like this:

First 20 minutes: I start with massage setting at level 5. Milk flow starts in maximum 1 min (I see it and also get a burning sensation in the breasts). As soon as it starts I switch to expression mode at level 9, milk comes pretty fast (i get around 1 oz in the first 2 minutes), then stops almost entirely, no matter if I do compressions or anything else to help, so at around minute 5-6 i switch back to massage mode, nothing comes out/some drops, at minute 12-13 I get another letdown and the fast flow starts again, but only lasts like 30 seconds and barely give me more 0.25 oz. Even if nothing else comes out, I leave it on expression mode until minute 20.

10 minute break

10 minutes: Start with massage. Around minute 5 I feel the flow start, switch to expression, again get only around 0.25 oz then nothing, leave it on expression.

10 minute break

10 minute: Start with massage, sometimes flow starts but does not give much, but most times nothing happens and I just stay on massage mode till the end.

I changed all the parts of the pump, no matter what I do the outcome is always the same.... also, I feel like I get the same no matter if I pump one hour or 3 hours from the last breastfeeding. I did this evening powerpumping in the past as well (when BF went better) and it was the same.

Is it possible that I just cannot respond better to the pump? In the past when breasts got more hard I was able to remove more milk. Any tips, suggestions are so much appreciated, thank you!

I read at some point a post about a mom that EBF but her baby was always angry, pull off and then pop back on during a feed and that she was seeing other moms having peaceful BF sessions. My question is, if you have such a baby, how do you know when the feed is over and when to insist more?

I am asking because I have a 6 month old, combo fed since birth, introduced solids (not eating that much, but getting some in for lunch). She was always like this, angry at the breast, but would take the bottle easily, so most days I did not insist with the breast that much, and I assume this reduced my supply, so then thought I have no milk left and that is why she is angry and this led to a self fulfilling prophecy. Pumping never worked well for me. Well, in the last month she started acting the same way with bottles sometimes (tried increasing nipple flow and fix other things that might bug her). She was getting usually around 12-15 oz of formula per day. Today she literally refused bottles and stayed attached at the breast more, would still do that pop off, hop back on thing, I just insisted a bit more. She only drank 8 oz total of formula and seemed fine with it. I feel at a loss... is this a sign I should insist more with the breast? Is there a way my milk supply could increase in time? I feel really confused as now there are so many thing to weigh, she is so easily distracted, she is not giving proper hunger cues, will seem very hungry but then attach to the breast for 30 seconds and seem fine and not interested in a bottle afterwards, she is very gassy no matter what I try.

She grows fine in weight and just started to crawl. Sorry if my post might be chaotic, I just hoped so much that in time BF will become easier and when solids would add more value to the daily caloric intake, feeding could feel less of a burden.

Hello! Basically the question above. When did your little ones show affection towards you? As in: oh, they do this because they love me? I am 6 months in and it still feels one-way only most of the time. Yes, she smiles and I can make her laugh, but she will give even bigger smiles for grandparents and even strangers, will not calm down in my presence/being held by me, she is never seems to care if I leave the room or some stranger is holding her (for example went recently at a family party and family members she had never met held her and walked her around while I was in another room and she did not mind at all). Also, she has a love/hate relationship with my breasts as she needs them to fall asleep but will fight them hard at first and she also mostly eats from the bottle now.

Last night she was really fussy and I ended up sleeping only 1 hour so that she can get her sleep, so now I am drained and emotional, just wanted to know when or if I will ever feel that she cares about me, that she sees me as the person taking care of her 24/7, that I am her favourite person.

Hi! I tried to re post my question but it does not work, so making a new question. 6 month old only latches at night for one meal that will last around 13 minutes total. Then ask for it a few more times but short 10-20 seconds to continue her sleep.

Then during the day she will only take the breast to fall asleep (though sbe will fight it so much at first but nothing else makes her fall asleep), then continue to keep the breast in her mouth for the sleep, will do a gentle suckling motion, I hear a few gulps but not that many.

Since sge is combo fed, I am unable to estimate her daily income. We have started solids but she is not interested for now, will continue to offer. My main issue is that she is only taking aroud 12-14 oz of formuula per day, not more than what she was taking when actually accepting the breast before the bottle, and I feel that the time spent on the breast cannot compensate for getting enough oz.

To mention she is happy, developung fine, 6-7+ wet nappies (some very wet), poop once daily or every other 2 days.

I guess my main question for this group is: Do you have babies that will only latch while sleeping and actually transfer milk despite not hearing them gulping? Thank you!

Ps Her latch is not terrible, but not the best, no one really manahed to do something about it.

Hi! Baby is 5 months and 3 weeks, we have combo fed since birth, in the last months she took around 7-12 oz of formula daily as supplement apart from what she ate at the breast. She was never a big eater, part of why I combo fed her, as she had a tendency to lose weight only with the breast. Everything was ok, we started solids for a few days (she was not interested) but then had to stop at the pediatrician advice (she had a vomiting issue most likely unrelated - which has passed a few days ago and will resume solids).

Now my concern is: in the past weeks she kinda refused the breast, only took it while sleeping (she has a sleep asociation with it, but even then I don't really hear her gulp much)... but her supplement has not increased, she still only eats around 12-14 oz of formula per day, no matter how often I try to offer. Should I be concerned? Are there any other babies that drink this little per day? I assume she is getting some calories from the breast... but is she actually taking milk if she is only lightly suckling but with no audible gulp? She has a lot of good, wet nappies per day, poops every 1-2 days, she is developing beautifully and has gained weight properly so far, she is very happy and curious.

Thank you for reading!

Ps: She had blood tests done recently and they look great as well.