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Georgia Babies
Pumping
Hi guys. I'm back to pumping routinely. I am a bit concerned with how much I'm getting. I'm only able to pump 3-4 oz per session (abt every 3 hours during normal business hours). How many oz do you get? Any additional tips on how I can increase my supply and be effective at pumping? TIA!
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Re: Pumping
Hey Donna! I hope the transition back to work is going well for you!
The amount I got when pumping seemed to vary throughout the 9 months that I did it, but it was definitely common for me to only get 3-4oz per session for a while. I think when Brady first went to daycare he was taking 4-5oz bottles so I would pump at work at the times that he would be feeding and then I added in a nursing session right before I went to bed to make up for the difference between what I pumped per session and what he drank. I also used to get the most milk during my first pumping session of the day, so I would try to do it as soon as possible when I got to work and then wait a little longer between that session and the next. I had to drink a TON of water to be sure my supply stayed up and could definitely tell the difference when I hadn't drank enough. Also eating enough calories - be sure to snack between or during pumping session. And I used to make these oatmeal chocolate chip breakfast bars that I swear helped my supply!
And keep a picture of Samantha with you at work so that you can see her while pumping... that helped me, too.
Good luck, Momma!
Mommy to Abigail Elizabeth (11/4/11) and Brady Jasper (7/2/09)
my blog
I was pumping to donate and I averaged that amount.
Have you tried eating oatmeal everyday? Also heard that beer can help - which you could also use Nonalcoholic Beer one a day. I heard great things about Lactation Oatmeal Bars, let me know if you need the recipe, posted here before. They look yummy and supposedly help with supply.
Call Northside for some advice or to see what they have to say.
That is all I ever got the whole time (12 months) that I pumped. Ava never really took more than 4 oz in a bottle at any point. The frequencey of feeds would increase but not the amout given. Here is something I found very helpful on Kellymom.com: https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html
Hey Jess! One other thing to remember is that your supply should naturally adjust as Reese starts eating more. If you are keeping up with her now, that is great. As she starts to take more per session your body should start making more - especially if you add in nursing sessions instead of pumping.
If you wanted to add in an extra pumping session (about half an hour after the first one of the morning is a good one to start with) then you could start building up a little extra supply for the days where you may not pump as much later. Don't stress over building up a freezer stash at this point, though. You're doing great!
Mommy to Abigail Elizabeth (11/4/11) and Brady Jasper (7/2/09)
my blog
you've gotten some great feedback already, but i also found that if i pumped immediately following bf then i got more than when i pumped later.
so i'd feed him in the morning and pass him off to DH and then pump right away. then do 2 pumping sessions at work.
i also didn't get much more than you at any point when pumping.
pic by http://www.southernportraitanddesign.com/
I hated pumping. It was a total mind game for me and ultimately, I failed miserably. This time around, I am trying not to have that kind of negative association with it b/c I really believe that is a big part of what doomed us to pumping failure. This time, I plan to start pumping early and to have a plan for keeping it relaxing and even trying to make it enjoyable. I'm considering a "reward system"- thinking of watching DVD's or something fun while I pump so that I'm not thinking about it so much and that at the end of the week getting some kind of reward for it. I just have to break that negativity cycle. I was lucky in that I really didn't HAVE to pump everyday- I could just go downstairs to daycare and nurse when I needed to. But ultimately, this meant that we had to stop sooner than I wanted b/c my body "forgot" how to let down for the pump and when I had to travel, I had to wean. So just keep doing it on your regular schedule, don't stress, and try to find a way to keep it a happy experience. That's all the advice I've got!
I also needed this information! Thanks so much. I just went back to work this week also. I was getting worried because I can only get about 3oz pumping and my little one is taking a 6oz bottle at daycare now. I started taking fenugreek this week to see if it helps get my supply up at all.
Water and food are my biggest things, as well as getting rest (not easy with 2, I know!). Looking at pictures helps too. I try to eat oatmeal or the lactation cookies, as well as lots of protein.
My pumping supply this time around hasn't been as great. I posted a few weeks ago that I wasn't sure if I would make it a full year....on the suggestion of a few people here, I started taking fenugreek a few weeks ago and it has really helped. My supply came back up and I'm definitely going to make it now! I would give it a go.
Donna - Here is the recipe I used that my bff sent me. It's funny because I just realized they are "Samantha's" recipe.
Anyway, you can make them as cookies, but I typically made them in a 9x11 pan and cut them into squares and ate for breakfast or snacks. DH loved them, too. If you buy a can of the Quaker Oats there is a recipe on the top that gives an idea how long to cook when making the bars....
-----
Samantha?s Addictive Oatmeal Cookies for Milking Boobies ;-)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
? teaspoon allspice
1 cup shortening
1/4 cup granulated [white] sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 ish teaspoons vanilla extract
2 eggs
2-3+ cups of oatmeal (depending on how oatmealy you want them)
1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate chips (optional but tasty)
Sift together flour, baking soda, spices and salt in small bowl. I
actually just use a wisk.
Cream together shortening, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla
in large mixer bowl.
Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; gradually
beat in flour mixture.
Stir in Oatmeal. You want a kind of stiff batter. Add chocolate chips.
Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake in preheated 375-degree oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden
brown. Let stand for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool
completely.
Sidenotes:
You can add up to 3+ cups of oatmeal. Partly it depends on how
oatmealy you want them and how big your eggs are. I prefer a lot of
oatmeal? makes them seem like they are more ?nutritious? that way.
You can substitute the white sugar and use all brown sugar. But they
won?t have that nice little bit of a gloss then that white sugar
brings to a cookie. They don't have as much sugar and most cookie
recipes so that aren't "too" sweet but they still have plenty. Another
way to make them seem more "nutritious" and worthy of breakfast...
You can use butter if you prefer instead of shortening. You will end
up with a crisper cookie? I like my cookies soft. Also if you cookies
get too hard after a couple of days, put a piece of bread wrapped in a
paper towel in the cookie jar, it will soften the cookies up a little
bit? not that cookies ever last that long in our house.
Sometimes I make them with the spices (cinnamon & allspice) and other
times I make them without. Its all personal preference either way they
are tasty.
------
Mommy to Abigail Elizabeth (11/4/11) and Brady Jasper (7/2/09)
my blog
These also make a GREAT gift for new mothers
You can add more oats or yeast to up supply more!
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons flax seed meal
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups oats
1 cup chocolate chips
2-4 tablespoons brewer's yeast
1. Preheat oven to 350?.
2. Mix the flaxseed meal and water and let sit for 3-5 minutes.
3. Beat butter, sugar, and brown sugar well.
4. Add eggs and mix well.
5. Add flaxseed mix and vanilla, beat well.
6. Sift together flour, brewers yeast, baking soda, and salt.
7. Add dry ingredients to butter mix.
8. Stir in oats and chips.
9. Scoop onto baking sheet.
10. Bake for 12 minutes.
11. Let set for a couple minutes then remove from tray.