How much do you get when you pump?

choogasian · June 2011

Hi There,

My baby is 18 days old and I feel like I am just not making enough milk. I am wondering how long do most of you pump for? My lactation consultant said I shouldn't pump more than 10 minutes, but my milk tends to not even start flowing till the 6 or 7 minute mark. When I do pump for like 20-25 minutes, I get about 3 ounces total. I am drinking lactation tea and taking fenugreek pills and doing my best on water (I probably could drink more.) Are you pumping for less time and getting more milk? Is there any hope for me (and my little girl?) We are having to suppliment formula a couple times a day. I would like to be able to exclusively give her breastmilk. (Also, I am only breastfeeding her twice a day, because my nipples are sooo sore, eventually I would like to get away from pumping all together.)

Xles10 · June 2011

I've been exclusively pumping for about a week. Lately, I've been pumpting 6 x's a day and getting 30-40 ounces, but I think I tend to over production. I also drink water like crazy. I force it down if I have to. The day that I didn't drink that much water I only got like 24 ounces. Try drinking A LOT of water and see if your production increases. If it does, that will be motivation enough.

IrishEyes0530 · June 2011

I am in almost the same boat. We went to a lactation consultant, we had to start using formula. I just started the Fenugreek pills and ordered some other pills online called Mother's Milk Plus. My baby is 9 days old and I pump every 3 hours and get about 1/4 ounce

I really want to get back to EBF, so hopefully all these pills work.

Lisa Frank · June 2011

To get 3 oz a pumping session when you have an 18 day old is really great.

Every answer here is going to be different, because as baby gets older, supply gets higher. So, you really have to ask how much the gals with babies your age are pumping.

I never had an oversupply with DS, and I don't now so please don't be discourage if you aren't producing these astronomical amounts. My 4 week old is taking about 3 oz per feeding right now so like I said, it sound like you are doing great.

choogasian · June 2011

Lisa Frank:
To get 3 oz a pumping session when you have an 18 day old is really great.
Every answer here is going to be different, because as baby gets older, supply gets higher. So, you really have to ask how much the gals with babies your age are pumping.
I never had an oversupply with DS, and I don't now so please don't be discourage if you aren't producing these astronomical amounts. My 4 week old is taking about 3 oz per feeding right now so like I said, it sound like you are doing great.

Thanks for the encouragement. It's just hard because my baby is kinda big (born at 8lbs 5 ozs) and she is currently eating 4-5 ounces per feeding, so I am not making enough to keep her happy. I am sad to be giving formula. Heck, I am sad to be pumping at all. I figured I would be able to breastfeed her alone. Is it possible to get more milk (and less painful nipples?)

Bluescarf · June 2011

As PP said, 3 oz. at 18 days is great. I have never really pumped much at all myself, and yet my ds is in the 74th percentile for weight now and seems to be doing great. I know that my lactation consultant said that when they are very young, as your lo is, their stomachs are very, very small. Your body is producing the amount your lo needs at this stage, and it will gradually increase as lo's weight does.

vintagemommy · June 2011

jackieboyd:
I am in almost the same boat. We went to a lactation consultant, we had to start using formula. I just started the Fenugreek pills and ordered some other pills online called Mother's Milk Plus. My baby is 9 days old and I pump every 3 hours and get about 1/4 ounce I really want to get back to EBF, so hopefully all these pills work.

This happened to me with LO. I had to give her formula and breastmilk until about 8 weeks and then I started to take Blessed Thistle an Brewer's Yeast with Fenugreek that I was already taking. Now I have 170 oz in the freezer! In the beginning I almost gave up because I wasn't making enough. Now I am very happy that I stuck with it!

pepomntpat · June 2011

Can you nurse more often for just short periods and then pump after those short sessions? You really shouldn't pump more than 10-15 minutes per session. Your baby will be better at stimulating a let down so you won't be wasting time with that. So if you nursed ten times a day and then pumped for ten minutes after each of those sessions and fed LO whatever you pumped from the previous session you should be good to go.

And what have you done about the sore nipples other than not nursing? Have you worked on fixing the latch? Have you been checked for thrush?

Vincent · June 2011

I have to agree with pp's, how great for you to get 3 oz after only 18 days. I just started pumping last week (I'm getting prepared to go back to work) and in my 15 minute pumping session I get 4 ozs (2 ozs I use the next day and 2 ozs I freeze).

In the beginning, I also had problems breastfeeding. I was seeing the LC every other week (4 visits since my delivery), drinking the mother's milk tea, plenty of water, dealing with sore nipples that eventually moved down to my feet (an entirely new problem in itself), massaging the breasts before and after session. I was also posting on the BF board which seemed like every day and really feeling very frustrated.

One thing that really helped me was all the comments I received about sticking with it, even when it got really tough and painful. I have to say I didn't feel really comfortable with what I was doing until about 4 weeks. At my mom's support group they said it takes about 40 days to really get the BF concept, both you and LO are learning and it takes time.

My LO and I still have days when the BF session doesn't go 100% perfect but for the most part my discomfort has subsided and we really have a good session. It's much easier to say stick with it, you'll get through it (I use to cringe when people said that to me) but now that I'm on the under side of frustration I can see their point and believe it's very true. Good Luck and hopefully everything will work out.

drea_raye · June 2011

What kind of pump are you using? If you are trying to establish supply with a pump (instead of LO doing it) you should be using a hospital grade pump. You can usually rent them from the hospital.

YisraelAmmi23 · June 2011

I know this is probably stupid, but are you using lanolin? I had sore bleeding nipples at first, but the LC gave me medela nipple shells (best thing ever) and lanolin, and I'm doing great now 11 days in.

I also pump about 5-6oz every pumping session.

jandy09 · June 2011

I know that in that first month it seemed like LO was eating constantly and my boobs always felt empty because of it. I never had to supplement, I just let her nurse until she was done and she has grown incredibly- 5 pounds since we left the hospital.

This is just a guess, but maybe your LO is getting full enough from BF but she prefers to stay on the breast for comfort. I always feared my LO wasn't getting enough since she was cluster feeding the entire first month, but our one month checkup quashed that fear when she had grown so much.

I was unable to pump for the first month because LO left me nothing to pump after feedings. When she started sleeping 6 hours at night I would pump at 3 hours (when I was feeling more engorged) and could get a good amount. Now I am at work and have no problems pumping the amount she requires plus a little extra for storage.

Keep in mind that formula takes longer for LO to digest and will therefore keep her full longer. Also, LO's tend to overeat from a bottle. So don't give up, slather on the lanolin, and let LO nurse for as long as possible. It WILL get easier once they are older.

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