Little BM better than none at all?

qt030603

My LO and I have had a love/hate relationship with BF. I am not EP, but not getting very much. I pump every 3-4hr during the day, but not at all at night. I am aware that is the reason that I don't have as much as I would like. My supply took a total nose dive and I am lucky if he gets 3oz of BM a day. 

Is the pumping worth it? Is he going to get the benefits of BM even if he's only getting a little each day?  

CurbsideProphet

I am confused. You are not exclusively pumping? If you are pumping in addition to nursing, I would not necessarily expect you to get that much from pumping.

In any case, I think a little breast milk is better than none at all. 

qt030603

CurbsideProphet:

I am confused. You are not exclusively pumping? If you are pumping in addition to nursing, I would not necessarily expect you to get that much from pumping.

In any case, I think a little breast milk is better than none at all. 

The word not slipped in there. I am EP. 

qt030603

jfresh:

Yes, a little BM is better than none. Have you tried anything to up your pumping amount? Like power pump sessions?

I tried lactation cookies, mothers milk tea, and do a power pumping session every morning. Yesterday morning I did one and got 1.5oz combined from both breasts. I went from getting 5-6oz every morning to getting 2 on a lucky day. 

desertmouse39

For lots of reasons I won't go into here, I have only been able to pump between 3 - 4 oz a day, and I nurse LO in the morning and before bed.  After several weighed feedings and consults with LCs the first few months of her life, I figure she is probably getting about 5 or 6 oz total BM each day and the rest is all formula.  It's not what I wanted, but it's what we got and I have stayed firmly committed to providing that for her.

I do think that even this small amount has benefit, and like a PP said, I have read that as little as 50 ml, or close to 2 oz/day, is still helpful. I, too, drank the tea, took the tinctures, ate a million lactation cookies and still have oatmeal almost every single morning and the only things I've noticed make a small difference are the oatmeal and drinking TONS of water. If I skip oatmeal and don't drink enough, the next day I will pump about an ounce less.

HTH

qt030603

desertmouse39:

For lots of reasons I won't go into here, I have only been able to pump between 3 - 4 oz a day, and I nurse LO in the morning and before bed.  After several weighed feedings and consults with LCs the first few months of her life, I figure she is probably getting about 5 or 6 oz total BM each day and the rest is all formula.  It's not what I wanted, but it's what we got and I have stayed firmly committed to providing that for her.

I do think that even this small amount has benefit, and like a PP said, I have read that as little as 50 ml, or close to 2 oz/day, is still helpful. I, too, drank the tea, took the tinctures, ate a million lactation cookies and still have oatmeal almost every single morning and the only things I've noticed make a small difference are the oatmeal and drinking TONS of water. If I skip oatmeal and don't drink enough, the next day I will pump about an ounce less.

HTH

I haven't tried eating oatmeal. I will try that and see if I get any more. Thanks 

desertmouse39

For what it's worth - I got tired of eating a bowl of oatmeal every morning so I now make a shake with 1/4 cup oats in it.  you can use milk, almond or soy milk, whatever you like.  I let the oats sit in the milk for about 15 minutes while I'm getting ready in the morning and then add frozen berries, banana, etc... It's made it a lot easier and more palatable to get my daily oats