EBF for five weeks, pumped today and was not happy. Advice?

kbud9

So I have been breastfeeding for five weeks with no problems. LO is getting nice and plump and diaper output is normal. Sometimes she wants to nurse all the time but thats about it. I pumped today for the first time ( I wanted to introduce her to the bottle since i will be going back to work in two months) and was disappointed. First time i pumped about an hour after a feeding and only got about an ounce. the second time I got a little under an ounce. DH fed her the roughly two ounces and she took the bottle very easily. She was still hungry a little after so i fed her on one side.

I decided to pump the other side and was really surprised when i only got half an ounce. I really expected that i had more milk because BF has been going well. Could she really be thriving on only an ounce or two per feeding at five weeks old??ANy advice for me please? I am nervous I may not be able to pump enough for work (i have a medela pump in style). Will the pumping supply pick up?

TIA 

pkate98

Yeah, your supply will increase as LO needs it.  What I do to pump and EBF is pump on one side and feed him on the other side when I'm engorged in the morning.  B/C he won't take two engorged breasts. It took about 2 months before my supply really got going.

SapphyrEyes

Pumping sometimes you just don't get the same volume that your baby gets while nursing because they are so much more efficient at it.  If you keep pumping after each session you'll be able to build a freezer stash but it will take patience and a lot of pumping.  Also, as you go through the day you'll pump less because most of the milk you have is generally in the morning.  You baby should also be coming up on a growth spurt shortly and the constant non-stop nursing for those couple days will up your supply as well.  When you're done a nursing session for now, drink a good size glass of water, try to relax and then pump an hour later for 15-20 minutes several times a day if you can.  Also, try massaging your breasts while pumping if you can since that can help empty ducts the pump isn't getting just by holding the flanges to yourself. And the more you pump with the nursing will also boost your supply.   Good luck!

Sharra711

 I get up while DD is STTN because I NEVER got more than half an ounce after a feed, even in the morning. Now when I pump while she is asleep I get about 5-6oz that goes to a freezer stash.

If you want to increase your supply there are a few things you can try: 

Drink water all day (don?t force it, but always have a bottle handy)

Take Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle 3 tabs 3X a day (or More Milk Plus concentrate)

Eat well (protein)

Pump after each feed

I have also heard that Ovalteen, Brewers Yeast, dark beer, malt (like for shakes) all help too.

Some tips for puming too;

Pump hands free but do compressions https://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html Use warm washcloths on your breasts before pumping Have some ?inspiration? like a picture, blanket or lovey that reminds you of your LO Check your flange size, many people pump with the wrong size. Turn the pump to the maximum you can stand, then turn down slightly. If the pump doesn?t have a let-down button, adjust it manually to start quick/shallow then to slower/deeper suction. Try pumping while watching TV or something (don?t sit there and look at the pump) to get your mind off the task.

*pistol*packin*mama*

Sharra711:

 I get up while DD is STTN because I NEVER got more than half an ounce after a feed, even in the morning. Now when I pump while she is asleep I get about 5-6oz that goes to a freezer stash.

If you want to increase your supply there are a few things you can try: 

Drink water all day (don?t force it, but always have a bottle handy)

Take Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle 3 tabs 3X a day (or More Milk Plus concentrate)

Eat well (protein)

Pump after each feed

I have also heard that Ovalteen, Brewers Yeast, dark beer, malt (like for shakes) all help too.

Some tips for puming too;

Pump hands free but do compressions https://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html Use warm washcloths on your breasts before pumping Have some ?inspiration? like a picture, blanket or lovey that reminds you of your LO Check your flange size, many people pump with the wrong size. Turn the pump to the maximum you can stand, then turn down slightly. If the pump doesn?t have a let-down button, adjust it manually to start quick/shallow then to slower/deeper suction. Try pumping while watching TV or something (don?t sit there and look at the pump) to get your mind off the task.

wow nice list! i do most of these things but ive never seen it written out that that

DallasHorn

There are some really important points to know about pumping:

 1. Baby is SO much more efficient than a pump
2. Pumping is a learned skill.  It will take some practice and patience as your body learns to respond to the pump
3. Add techniques (breast massaging, compressions, and relaxing) will alll help your output at the pump.

 With both my kids, in the first days of pumping, I only got a very small amount. Just combine what you pump into one bag (so you have enough for a feeding).