How often do you pump?

MommynTeacher

If you suppliment, how often do you pump?  I was having issues with my supply and someone at my OB's office told me I might be pumping too much and to pick 2 or 3 times a day to pump and my supply with go up in a week or two. I nurse then offer the bottle.

katie4253

MommynTeacher:

If you suppliment, how often do you pump?  I was having issues with my supply and someone at my OB's office told me I might be pumping too much and to pick 2 or 3 times a day to pump and my supply with go up in a week or two. I nurse then offer the bottle.

This is not good advice unless you are also BFing.  

Can you tell us a little more?  How many times a day do you pump?  How long do you pump when you do pump? What kind of pump are you using?  Do you nurse as well?  How much are you getting each day when you pump?

MommynTeacher

I nurse until she wants to stop or gets fussy, I'm assuming from the milk stopping- usually 15-20 minutes. Then I give her a bottle, usually with 2 ounces in it. She has started to not finish the bottle so I'm assuming she is getting milk. We saw the doctor today and the weight gain is good- 6 pounds 5 up from 5 pounds 11 last week.

katie4253

MommynTeacher:

I nurse until she wants to stop or gets fussy, I'm assuming from the milk stopping- usually 15-20 minutes. Then I give her a bottle, usually with 2 ounces in it. She has started to not finish the bottle so I'm assuming she is getting milk. We saw the doctor today and the weight gain is good- 6 pounds 5 up from 5 pounds 11 last week.

Okay, if you are nursing then pumping 2-3 times a day is fine.  Depending on how much she empties your breasts, 2 might be sufficient.  Once she is stronger and emptying more you can just pump in the AM or drop pumps all together.  

Have you gone to a La Leche meeting or asked your pedi if you could do a weighted feeding?  The amount you pump is not representative of the amount your LO gets to eat.  

Basically you need to try to weigh baby, feed, and weigh baby again to see how much your LO is taking in.  Any of the above sources could help you.  Also, pumping more than a few times a day AND nursing may cause an oversupply issue in the future.  

Also, some babies just like to suck.  She may not be hungry even though she is eating those 2 oz.  She may have just wanted to suck on something. 

If I were you, I'd do the weighted feed.  It will give you a lot of insight.  

haziedaze

We're not giving many bottles now, but in the beginning we gave 2 fortified bottles daily. I pumped when he took the bottle and I would just try to match him in ounces. Matching his intake with my pumping helped ward off the oversupply. HTH!

MommynTeacher

katie4253:

MommynTeacher:

I nurse until she wants to stop or gets fussy, I'm assuming from the milk stopping- usually 15-20 minutes. Then I give her a bottle, usually with 2 ounces in it. She has started to not finish the bottle so I'm assuming she is getting milk. We saw the doctor today and the weight gain is good- 6 pounds 5 up from 5 pounds 11 last week.

Okay, if you are nursing then pumping 2-3 times a day is fine.  Depending on how much she empties your breasts, 2 might be sufficient.  Once she is stronger and emptying more you can just pump in the AM or drop pumps all together.  

Have you gone to a La Leche meeting or asked your pedi if you could do a weighted feeding?  The amount you pump is not representative of the amount your LO gets to eat.  

Basically you need to try to weigh baby, feed, and weigh baby again to see how much your LO is taking in.  Any of the above sources could help you.  Also, pumping more than a few times a day AND nursing may cause an oversupply issue in the future.  

Also, some babies just like to suck.  She may not be hungry even though she is eating those 2 oz.  She may have just wanted to suck on something. 

If I were you, I'd do the weighted feed.  It will give you a lot of insight.  

Thanks for the response! I'm going to call tomorrow and find about the weighed feeding. I might get a baby scale just to put my mind at ease. Again, thanks for the info, it was very helpful