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Breastfeeding
amount of expressed milk?
My son is EBF and is 5 weeks old. I started pumping once a day to start a freezer stash. Currently, I'm pumping about 2-3 ounces a session (from both breasts combined). Is this amount ok for someone like me who EBF and pumps just for extra stash? I go back to work in January and I would really like to be pumping much more at each session. once I start work I will be mostly pumping throughout the day and just nursing in the morning and at night so will I be expressing more milk at each pumping session?
I have been reading posts on the board and I have come across some that are able to pump 4-10 ounces a session. Is this for exclusive pumpers?
thanks for the advice. I appreciate your help!
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Re: amount of expressed milk?
First of all, your DS is absolutely a cutie pie!
You are only pumping 2-3 oz, because your body only makes what your DS needs. As he gets bigger and needs more milk, your body will adjust and make more milk. My DS is 3 months, and I usually pump about 6 oz per session (from both sides). I nurse on demand while I am home and pump twice a day at work. Sometimes I also pump from the side he does not eat from in the middle of the night,and first thing in the morning.
There is no set amount that you need to pump for a stash. As long as you have enough for your DS, you are fine. Just freeze whatever you have extra. In my experience, you don't really need a huge freezer stash to go back to work anyway. You will be pumping on Monday for DS to drink on Tuesday, for example. So you shouldn't really ever have to dip into your freezer stash at all.
I hope this makes sense and helps you out!
I think pumping 2-3 oz/session is great! I am definitely not one who has great output when pumping. With my first DD, I was lucky to get 9-10 oz total when I was at work and this was 4 pumping sessions. This time around I'm pumping between 10-14 oz total in 3 sessions.
I would recommend reading the Work and Pump website for helpful tips/information. Good luck!
For having a 5 week old and just pumping once, I think you're doing great!
I did the exact same thing. Basically, you're training your body to think your baby needs an extra feeding session each day -- so you're making more than he needs, which is a good thing!
I think the more you pump, the more you'll be able to get -- I started pumping once per day when DD was 4 weeks old, and I only got a couple of ounces at first. I stopped pumping when she was around 2 months old (because she started refusing a bottle), and by then I was getting closer to 6 ounces each time, sometimes more. I didn't do anything differently, just kept pumping once per day.
Also, I'd read the Kelly mom page on proper use of a freezer stash. It had some really interesting things to say about not every supplementing with the freezer stash because doing so will hurt your supply -- stuff I'd never thought about.
I was doing about the same amount at that time. I was able to get a little more if I wasn't pumping after I nursed. Now, the amount I pump is about 3.5. ounces per side - so it has increased. I am going back to work in January as well and figure that I can combine freezer bags in order to make a bottle for him.