Wendy wrote:

"So I got to thinking, what about when a mom works full time?  My thought
> would be then, that a lower storage capacity mom would need to pump more
> often than a high capacity woman.  I have known some women who could
> pump out 8 ounces with a silly old formula company pump, where others
> work excruciatingly hard to pump out 2 ounces with a hosptial grade
> pump.  One such woman I knew pumped in the AM before she left for
> work, 3-4 times per day at work and then at night after baby went
> to bed in order to meet her babies needs.  You could just see her face
> drop when others would speak of how much they could pump. Any tips
> for these types of moms?  I know the usual type info, like relaxation,
> bending over and shaking your breasts, massage, etc... Is it getting
> more let-downs that will help these women then?"

Wendy, you described my two experiences with pumping in exact detail.  I
was working 12 hour rotating shifts on L&D with other nursing moms who
could easily pump 8 ounces every three hours and our babies were very close
in age.  I was lucky to get 3 or 4 ounces per session.  Seeing all of their
milk in the fridge compared to my miniscule amount was quite disheartening.
 I also was having to supplement with formula from about 4 months on
because I simply could not keep my supply up.  I tried everything under the
sun (sort of quitting my job) to increase my supply and nothing worked.  If
I have the same problem again, I'll probably try using galactogogues to
increase my supply this time around as I didn't know about them with my
last two children.

Maurenne Griese, RNC, BSN, CCE, CBE
Birth and Breastfeeding Resources  http://www.childbirth.org/bbfr
Manhattan, KS  USA
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