Help BF mommas!

Kelli-n-matt

Am I all alone? I've looked at tons of posts, and I feel like Iam the only one in the world who has this problem. I feel like maybe my milk supply is not enough. I work full time now so I've been pumping 2-3 x's a day but all I am ever able to get is 3 oz. 4 or 5 very rarely! I have NEVER leaked like everyone else says. I don't know how you mommys get 6 or 7 oz, and I never feel like my breasts are full! My son seems to be gaining weight but doesn't always seem satisfied after feedings. It has been this way even when I was EBF. Does anyone else feel this way? I feel so inadequate

daisygirl2010

I went through a period of time where I was feeling this way too. It's an awful feeling - but try to go easy on yourself.  It sounds like if your LO is gaining properly, you are doing just great! 

I got some advice from a LC and they say that as long as your LO is gaining weight & having normal diaper "output" (LOL) then you do not need to worry about low supply.  Some woman NEVER feel a sense of fullness - just due to differences in our bodies.  And the amount you pump is NOT a sign of how much milk you actually have - your baby is much more efficient at sucking than a pump is.  Again, I understand your frustration - I was really nervous about this too.  But you just need to look at weight gain & diapers to judge...the rest doesn't mean a thing.

 

daniellepanda

Are you sure you are using the right size breast sheild? Sometimes if the sheild is too large for your nipples you will get less milk. Also it could just be that you do not respond well to your pump, try massaging your breasts while pumping that usually helps more milk come out. If you feel like it is a supply issue and not an issue with you pump sometimes stress can affect your supply, also not drinking enough h20 also.

Etta07

I feel exactly the same way. In fact my LO lost some weight but I think that was due to his decrease in feedings not my supply.  I always can feel my let down while he is nursing so I know something is coming out and his diapers are still wet.  I too don't have very much success with pumping and feel inadequate when I read about other people pumping as much as 8 oz at a time from each breast, so I can't offer much help there. 

All I really can say is, no you are not alone and as long as your LO is gaining weight and still making dirty diapers your supply sounds like it is perfectly fine.

Aviee

I only get maximum of 4 oz when I pump both breasts (usually 3) which is a full feeding for DD with a bottle.  I don't pump enough at work, so she eats my stash when I'm gone. 

Some babies just eat more or less than others.  DD eats 3 oz in a feeding from a bottle, but other babies her age might eat 5.  She only eats one side of me in 10 minutes, whereas others eat both breasts for hours!   The times of the day that DD is not happy with how much milk she's gotten I try to up my supply a little bit by pumping after she's eaten.  Sure, I don't get anything out of it, but in a couple of days she's usually not ticked at me for running out of food. 

I've also found that if she wants to comfort suckle, she HATES empty breasts to do it on.  I have to give her a paci sometimes if she's drained me too much because she'll get fussy and not comfort suckle to sleep.  

I had felt inadequate a few times, but having a positive attitude helps a ton.  Drinking more liquids than I care to helps, too.  I figure that as long as DD is growing great and wetting/messing her diapers, all is well in the world :-}

magdalina.h

I feel like that too. I'm taking fenugreek capsules, drinking mother's milk tea, eating oatmeal and pumping 4 times a day and I'm just now feeling like I'm making more. I can make about 5-6 oz out of lefty first thing in the morning and the rest of the time it's about 2-4 oz out of each. I started the strict pumping and taking all that crap last week and now he's able to eat off of one side in the morning and be good to go for 3 hours where before he needed both boobs. At night I nurse him on both sides because the supply goes down throughout the day.

I have a slow gainer, just hit 9 lbs and is still in NB clothes, but he's gaining 4 oz consistently for the past month.

vflipo

The only time I get 6 or 7 is when I cant pump for 8+ hours because it's busy at work, When I pump every 3-4 hours I only get 3-4 oz. I would kill for the supply some women have.

ETA: Those amounts are total for both breast. I wish I could get 4/boob at each session. I can only ever get 4 out of my right boob. Ole lefty is a slow producer