How Much Do You Pump?

Hi D.~

I wasn't producing much milk and actually found a breastfeeding clinic, which really helped. I don't know where you are located, but here is the weblink for more info. http://www.columbiapediatrics.com/faq.asp

Also, the lactation consultant recommended Fenugreek, which is an herbal supplement that I bought at a local vitamin store (like GNC) and I took nine a day...three with each meal. This really increased my milk supply and had no effect on my daughter. I was able to have a two month supply in the freezer at all times and this helped me make it to a year with breastmilk. I pumped six times a day with no problem.

Good luck!
K.

I'd say, it's not you. I breastfed both mine exclusively and when I tried to pump to have some in the freezer I was lucky to pump an ounce. Babies get more when they suck than pumping, although I know some woman can pump enough to feed an army! LOL.

Your'e doing a great job. Yes, if she is continuing to grow and gain weight appropriately, she is getting enough intake (ie: breastmilk).

Remember, breastfeed BEFORE solids. After nursing you can wait a few minutes, then give solids. **Giving solids "before" nursing is usually done to "wean" from breast.

I know you work from home...but I would recommend that IF it is possible, try breastfeeding her whenever you can instead of pumping... this helps production and flow, versus a pump. It's 2 different "sucking" methods...and direct nursing always stimulates the breasts better than a pump to maintain the milk flow.

For me, at this 6 mos. age, with both my kids, I was still breastfeeding every 4 hours...upon morning wake time, before morning nap, after morning nap, before afternoon nap, and after afternoon nap, before bedtime, and "on demand" other than that. I did that despite their eating solids, and throughout the first year.

And yes, breastmilk/formula is THE PRIMARY SOURCE of nutrition for a baby, throughout the first year of life.... even if they are going on to solids.

You are doing great... just beware of the "growth spurt" phases... at these times their intake increases and they nurse more and more often. If this happens, don't withhold nursings, they need to feed. Growth spurts occur typically at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months and so forth.

Also coming up will be teething... SOMETIMES during teething, they may "appear" to lose interest in suckling... but it's only temporary and because their gums are uncomfortable. Don't automatically assume it's because they don't want to nurse, or because something is wrong with your milk. See if it's teething first...before altering your feeding routine with her.

take care and all the best,
~Susan
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo

Hi D.,
Judging from the responses below you have plenty of good advice, but i hope this helps.
Basically, it is supply and demand. As long as you stay consistent with the schedule you will be ok. I nursed both of my boys exclusively and started pumping at six months when i returned to work. I would just pump every three hours and when I was with them I would nurse. Nursing does produce more. I also used Blessed Thistle and Fenugreek for about three months when pumping. Of course, by 11 months, I started using either formula or water with their cereal and saved the breastmilk for their bottles.
Between six and 12 months, there never drank more than six ounces per feeding, as they ate more then i think i switched to two bottles per day instead of three when they were with my mother-in-law, but still the same amount for the day.

good luck, it all works out in the end. Enjoy your baby, they grow so, so quickly.

M.

It sounds to me like you are doing awesome! It is very difficult to keep your milk up especially when solids come into play. As she eats more, she will drink less and you may be able to pump more. She will give you clues as to how satisfied she is, so if she is growing fine and sleeping through the night, you are golden! As my milk supply started getting low, my son started waking more at night. He also got very frustrated while breastfeeding. Just some things to look out for, but for now, keep up the great work, you are doing everything right!

It is all about supply and demand. Pumping is not the same as nursing. It does not create the same supply, so you are sabotaging your milk supply by pumping daily. Nursing is what keeps the milk flowing. First time moms do tend to worry, I know, but don't worry about this. Nurse more and more milk will be produced. Don't worry about your freezer stash. Don't worry whether she is getting enough. Stop measuring. Since you work from home, do away with some of those bottles and nurse her. Your supply will go up and your concerns will go down. :0) And enjoy that sweet little girl!

I have a 6 month old boy and was recently having a shortage of milk myself. It sarted dwindling after I went back to work full time. So I started pumping extra at work and at night. And even started getting up extra early to pump in the morning before I nurse him. I'll have to give him a small bottle too once he completely drains me. And I started pumping for 30 min. instead of 15, even after the milk stops. Sometimes more will come after several minutes. If it doesn't, I massage my breast as I'm pumping and found that a little more will come that way. It's time consuming, but after nearly a week of doing this, my supply increased and I can finally keep up with him again. Hope that helps.

I have a 4 month old daughter currently drinking breastmilk. My day starts everyday at 5:30am. I usually get ready for work and nurse her from 6-6:30am. I usually dont pump until about 11:00am. By then, I am engorged because of the milk. I usually pump 8 oz. I pumpo again at 5pm. and can usually get about 7-8oz. Keep in mind the more you pump the more milk you produce. Try to pump right before you feed your baby. I think you should be ok. Dont stress yourself out. Keep in mind she is starting to eat food now so she will drink less milk.

You will be fine. Good luck

I also pump when i am at work and it seems like each time it gets less and less during the day. But i do KNOW that a breast pump does not pump as much as if your baby was nursing.
My baby is 8 months old and exclusively breast feeds, MAYBE she will eat once a day, cereal or other food but prefers mommy. I usually can pump 8-10oz in the morning and then by the end of the day maybe only get 4-6. She sleeps through the night so i know she is getting plenty. Try not to worry about it. just drink lots of water and the mothers milk and your baby will be great! your body will produce what your baby needs.
Good Luck! and God Bless!

My baby is almost 11 months and I've just started pumping only 5-8 ounces a day. I returned to work (unfortunately) when she was just 8 weeks old and I too was determined to have breastfed exclusively until she is a year old. So far, so good. I have a stash that I keep in the freezer too. I saw that goes through about 2-3 8 ounce bottles a day and then I breastfeed her when at home at night. Until recently I pumped about 16-18 ounces a day (I could usually fill up two nine ounce bottles). Your baby is getting enough to eat as long she is growing and developing normally. She will let you know if she's hungry because she will be cranky and fussy. At 6 months you can start giving her juices-even if you water them down a little. It doesn't take from the breastfeeding. I started giving my baby juices but as far as milk she still only gets breastmilk-no whole milk, no formula. I've never heard of anyone pumping 40 ounces a day-especially not at the rate you pump. I think I was only able to pump two nine ounce bottles because I was only puming 2-3 times during the day at work, so there were a lot more hours between the times I was pumping and the times you're pumping. But don't worry. It sounds like you're doing a great job so far.

You have to remember everyone is different and it depends on the pump and how you adjust to it. I breast fed my son up until about a month ago (he turned 2 yesterday) and I started weaning him in Novemember and that's when I quit pumping. I BF'd him first thing in the morning, pumped at work about 10:00 and 2:00, then BF'd on demand in the evening. When I was going full-force, I would get between 4-8 ounces per breast usually in 10-15 minutes twice a day. I had a double pump so I could go sit and get it all done pretty quick. I found eating oatmeal and drinking mother's tea increased how much I got. Certain herbs like oregano definitely decreased what I got. Don't worry about getting 40 ounces, it's possible, but unless you pump every time she would normally eat, you won't actually see it. Sometimes it's easier to just let her latch on and munch away than try to count. Good luck and keep up the good work.

Hi Mama D.,
My family trick, that has been passed down to me, is to eat lots of ginger. Specifically in a soup that has bones with meat (I use Oxtail or chicken) and lots of veggies and ginger. It works so well that every time I eat this I am leaking through my shirt in the middle of that night and the next day. Both my Chinese grandmother and my Thai MIL serve this when we see them. They always give it to me and say "good for your milk!", and it is! Also I've heard brewer's yeast works, but I tried it and could not stand the taste. Good luck and kudos to you for making your goal one year!

D.,

Pumping makes breastfeeding a little more complicated but basically breastfeeding is supply and demand. The more "demand" you place on your breasts, the higher your supply. So if you feel that your milk supply is low, you need to pump or nurse more. Since you pump for no more than 15 minutes, try bumping that up to 30. You won't see more milk right away but if you are consistent, you will likely see more milk (for me it always builds slowly but within a week or so I'll start getting another ounce or so and over the course of a day and many pump session that really adds up) or you could add another pump session or two each day. If you do that, try pumping on one side and nursing on the other first thing in the morning - your milk producing hormones are highest in the morning.

For the record, if your baby is happy, healthy and sleeping through the night, I doubt she's hungry.

There is always a bit of uncertainty with breastfeeding because you can't "see" what your baby is consuming. But you just have to trust the process and watch your baby's cues to make sure they are getting enough. It sounds like you are doing great. FWIW, I breastfed both my boys and I pumped for work through the first year with both of them. Their milk intake didn't change much at all between 6 & 12 months, not even with starting solids. So it didn't increase or decrease. If you are meeting her needs now, as long as you don't do anything to screw up your supply (like quit pumping or start skipping pump or nursing sessions) you should be fine.

:-)T.

Hi D.:
I had similar concerns, but a close friend reassured me that the babies are more efficient than any pump you can buy. Even if you are pumping a small amount, your baby still can express more than you can pump. BUT, your body will start to tell the difference between pump and baby, so be careful not to loose your supply.

From what I remember, you need to continue pumping even after the milk stops, just like the baby that is suckling for pleasure. I would try pumping an extra 5 minutes after the milk has stopped. That should help boost your outtake.

I don't pump anymore, but when I did, I could get 4-8 ounces, per breast. The problem with that is it took a long time. I would have to pump for about 1/2 an hour on each side. Which is why I no longer pump.
If your daughter is not waking up a lot at night and not fussing during the day, I wouldn't worry too much. Babies mouths are designed to get the maximum amount of milk out efficiently, unlike the pumps. Even though you think you're empty, your breasts continue to produce milk all the time. Plus with the introduction of solids, you will start to produce less.
Oh! The other thing I heard is that around six months, the breasts start to regulate the amount of milk, so you don't feel as full all the time. I thought I was running dry and moved off caffine when my daughter was about six months, and my mother laughed at me when she heard that (she is a baby nurse).
Well, I think that I am all over the place, but the bottom line is your daughter is probably fine and you will be fine too.
good luck
R.

similar situation. I had the same goal--to breastfeed for the 1st year, but now at 7mo, my "boobsicle" supply is almost out. I can pump 3-4 oz during the day, but I don't enjoy it and it's hard to do with my work schedule...so I said screw it...it's not worth stressing over. I'm sure stressing only makes it harder to produce milk and it's just not worth it. I only work part time, so I just stopped the morning pump session and breastfeed the rest of the day.

I cam pump more in the morning like you, so I do that sometimes. I figure I can still somewhat meet my goal of breastfeeding one year, with a really slow weaning process. (I am going to use the free samples of formula when the frozen stuff runs out.) Good luck!

Don't worry and especially don't make yourself feel inadequate. Yes, you will always make what your baby needs, because that is how milk production works; supply & demand. However, there is no greater milk production stimulaion than your baby, that is why pumping doesn't work as well as your baby's feedings. (After you've breastfed you baby all weekend, you've probably notice you pump more on a Monday, than on a Friday.) You also need to keep in mind that your baby is starting more and more solids and will not need the same amount of milk because she'll have a fuller tummy. You will also, by all means possible, reach your goal of nursing for at least one year, you've already made past the more difficult stage. Good luck to you and keep enjoying your baby.

Hi D.,
Before six months I was able to pump so much that I had to freeze or give away 8-10oz a day. But- I noticed a really big change at right around six months. Even if I pumped more often, I just didn't get as much milk and it didn't seem as high in fat content. So- I never quite believed it when people said- "well the baby gets a lot more from nursing than you can from pumping". By the time I weaned my son at 11 months, I was producing less than three ounces per pumping, and when I pumped more often, I got less per pumping. The part that convinced me that my body just was slowing down, was that one of my breasts was producing about one third that the other one did. I decided that it was time to give my body a break- no matter what other people thought I should do. But that being said- I am still very curious how much milk a 2-year old is getting when he/she is nursing. My gut is that it is not much at all, but maybe that is my own milk inadequacy insecurity?! I'm sorry that I have no better input. I just wanted to tell you that I had a lot of the same worries and I feel for you. Breastfeeding is more complicated and fraught with emotion than I had thought! I wish you and your little one all the best!
S.

I've never been able to pump more than 3 oz at a time, and I had to be nursing on the other side to get me started. As long as your baby is healthy and gaining weight normally you shouldn't worry about how much she is getting from you. Babies are more efficient at getting milk from the breast than any pump they make. As to the possibility of pumping 40 oz, you may or may not be able to do that. The reccomended amount of formula for 6-9mos is 24-37oz and it goes down (not up) for 9-12mos

I used to pump before their first feeding of the day, so for you, around 5am and then again after they go to bed at night, after your last feeding of the day. What you eat affects your supply more than what you drink, "You are what you eat." Goes for your milk too. Whole oatmeal is supposed to help, but really just be sure you're eating ALOT.

don't stop pumping when the milk stops. you're conditioning your breasts to stop when the stimulation stops. after the milk stops, pump for an additional 5-10 minutes to increase the demand on your breasts. after a couple of days, you body will accomidate the demand and produce more milk. its a supply and demand process, if you demand, your breasts supply :) also, if your daugheter likes the cereal, but not the fruits and veggies mix little bits of them into her cereal. sometimes flavors are too strong for babies at first. by mixing them with somehting she already likes, it will acclimate her to the new flavors and give her new textures. just add a spoonful or two to the cereal/breastmilk mixture, and each week add another scoop until it is half fruit/veggie and half cereal. good luck!

I usually pump 3 to 4 oz but I am not consistent with it right now as I was because I have been home for the past four months and would only pump in preparation for an occassion when I would be away from baby. i.e. date night. the more I would pump the more I would get each time. I was told by the nurses that your body will supply differently for the pump and baby. So, if you are pumping at the same time every day your body will be prepared to have milk supply for the pump and the same for the baby. I was also told that you will not be able to pump as much as the baby is able to get. You may only be able to pump 6 oz while the baby may get 8 or more (hypothetically). I am a first time mom too and no one I knew had breast feed so I felt totally lost. I felt like I was able to give him enough, but I realized bf babies eat more often. One thing I will suggest if you are worried about your supply, make the cereal with water. My son likes it just fine like that. But if you feel like that does not make that much difference continue with what you feel is best for your baby. I have started pumping more the past few weeks because I am going back to school. If I am away from my son for more than an hour or two I can come back and pump about 6 oz or more. As long as your baby is gaining weight and looks and acts like a healthy baby I am sure your supply is fine. I am not sure if this answers your question but I hope it helps.

What I started to do is in the middle of the day give my son a small bottle of half juice and half water. This way I could store more milk for the day and he wasn't missing out on the nutritional end of things.