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Breastfeeding vs pumping time??

blessedinthewestblessedinthewest member
in Babies: 3 - 6 Months

I work part time.  So I pump once while I am at work.  I get 2.5 oz per breast after pumping with an electric double pump for about 20-25 mins.  So translating that back to breastfeeding how long should I be breastfeeding LO for??  I've heard that pumping takes longer but how much longer?  Should I be breastfeeding him about 15 mins per side maybe? 

Just curious what your experience is.  The reason I really don't know is because up until now LO wasn't really on a schedule he would just feed throughout the day but now I would like to get him more on a schedule of eating every 3 hours if possible.  I know everyone is different but I thought I heard somewhere that around his age they start to become really efficient at breastfeeding and can eat in as little as 5 mins per breast??

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Re: Breastfeeding vs pumping time??

  • Ivana_StolichnayaIvana_Stolichnaya member
    I produce a little more.  At 15 minutes I can pump out between 6-8 oz total.  I think it depends on the quantity and also how many wet diapers your LO is having per day.  Just remember that a pump isn't as good as a child.
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  • blessedinthewestblessedinthewest member

    imageIvana.Stolichnaya:
    I produce a little more.  At 15 minutes I can pump out between 6-8 oz total.  I think it depends on the quantity and also how many wet diapers your LO is having per day.  Just remember that a pump isn't as good as a child.

    Good to know.  I think my let down is a little slow seems to take awhile.  How long do you breastfeed for?  Is she on a schedule?  I guess introducing solids changes everything anyways.  I'll be doing that in a few weeks.

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  • Aimlc1281Aimlc1281 member
    I pump for 15 minutes 3 times per day.  When LO nurses, it also takes him about 15 minutes.
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  • Jenice32Jenice32
    I get about the same amount when I pump. Like pp said, baby is much better at getting milk than a pump, and every baby is different, so when he's able to go longer between feedings he will. I don't think this is something you can force on him.
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  • kimmyg000kimmyg000 member
    I just let her go until she's full. Sometimes it takes five or ten minutes, sometimes longer. There is no way to tell how much they are getting, but she'll let me know when she wants more or she's had enough. I feed on demand, not trying any schedule, but it turns out she now eats at certain times every day. I guess he made up her own schedule.
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  • 4realyo4realyo
    This really depends on how efficient you are at pumping. If I pump the opposite breast while LO nurses and get the natural letdown (I do this in the mornign when I am really full) I can pump like 7 oz out of my one boob in like 12-15 min. However if I am away from LO and try to pump Im lucky if I get 3 oz in 30 min. LO is more efficient now and usually nurses in under 10 min. Sometimes she will nurse longer for comfort in the early morning or evening.
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  • Mereou12Mereou12 member

    DS is a leisurely eater...sometimes he'll be on the breast for 30+ minutes. But when I pump, the milk stops flowing after about 5-10 minutes. My body doesn't respond well to the pump, and I rarely get more than 4 oz even if I miss a feeding.

    I've never nursed by the clock--DS lets me know when he's done, whether it be 10 minutes or 40 minutes. He is, however, on a schedule of eating every 3 hours. If he's hungry before then, I'll feed him, but when the 3 hr mark hits, I feed him even if he isn't acting hungry. He's used to this by now and always eats. (But if he's sleeping I don't wake him, obviously).

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  • littlemaybabylittlemaybaby member
    imageMereou12:

    DS is a leisurely eater...sometimes he'll be on the breast for 30+ minutes. But when I pump, the milk stops flowing after about 5-10 minutes. My body doesn't respond well to the pump, and I rarely get more than 4 oz even if I miss a feeding.

    I've never nursed by the clock--DS lets me know when he's done, whether it be 10 minutes or 40 minutes. He is, however, on a schedule of eating every 3 hours. If he's hungry before then, I'll feed him, but when the 3 hr mark hits, I feed him even if he isn't acting hungry. He's used to this by now and always eats. (But if he's sleeping I don't wake him, obviously).

    Almost the exact same here.  Sometimes DS will eat forever and sometimes he eats for 5 minutes and wants no more.

    When they were super young, making sure they ate for a long enough period of time was critical to building supply, but now, I just follow his lead and let him nurse for as long (or as little) as he likes.

    And I also don't do very well with the pump!

    ds #1 | our perfect miracle born 39w1d | 12.9.2009 loss #1 | natural m/c 7/2010 (~8w) loss #2 | chemical pregnancy 6/2011 (4w4d) loss #3 | chemical pregnancy 7/2011 (4w3d) loss #4 | natural m/c 11/2011 (10w1d) RPL Testing 12/2011. Results 100% normal. ds #2 | our 2nd perfect miracle born 36w3d | 12.31.2012
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