Pumpers.....how much milk?

Nita2603 · September 2012

Hi ladies,

So it looks like history is sorta trying to repeat itself....breastfeeding is not looking good. Crohn's came back with a vengeance this morning. There is no way I can sit through a feeding of longer than 15 minutes. Without being too graphic, at least not without diapers, a bucket and serious dignity loss.

Anyways, I think I can still pump. So far, I am pretty determined to stay off meds and my milk is there. Now, I have no idea about this.mhow much milk does a newborn need? And can someone bring me up to snuff with milk storage and all that? Does breastmilk need to be thrown away after an hour too? I am happy anout any advice.

Thanks, you guys....

PurpleDrewbie5 · September 2012

I am not sure about the amount either. I think it depends on the baby. I would try a few ounces and if your LO still seems hungry offer more. Here is a link to breast storage info that may be helpful.

https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/milkstorage/

Sorry you're dealing with Crohn's I applaud you for pumping.

ETA: I didn't see that Spicy had posted the same link

Nita2603 · September 2012

SuperDeDuper:
We were told to give T 30ml (about an ounce) every 3 hours for her first couple weeks. If she ate more, great, but we had to make sure she got at least 30ml. Part of this was because she lost over 10% of her weight in the first few days due to not latching and just plain refusing to breast feed. Thus the start of my EP journey. We dropper fed her for the first week or so but I wish I had just moved onto a bottle right away. It was much easier.

I've heard milk can stay good at room temp for up to 10 hours, but many people go by the Rule of 3. Up to three hours at room temp, up to 3 days in the fridge, and up to 3 months in the freezer. I think this is overly cautious but it's easy to remember. (We gave T milk that had been at room temp for 6-8 hours all the time and never had an issue with it. It was much easier than constantly having to warm up a bottle from the fridge.)

At the beginning, when I pumped I simply put it in a bottle for the next feeding and left it out because she always ate within a few hours. As my milk supply increased I'd keep enough out for the next feeing and any extra went into an extra "back-up" bottle in the fridge that I would use every other day and then start a new one. (So I always had one or two back-up bottles in the fridge that were no more than a day or two old). As my supply increased even more I bought the Lansinoh storage bags and labeled them with the date for the freezer. When those got a couple months old I'd start using the oldest milk and put my fresh milk into the freezer, thus having a rotating supply.

Of course when I stopped pumping 8 times a day and my supply tanked I had to start using my freezer stash every day just to keep up.

If you don't already have it, buy a hands free pumping bra. I repeat, buy a hands free pumping bra! It is 100% worth the investment. I'd also recommend buying more than one set of breast shields, bottles, etc because you'll be pumping a lot. I ended up with 3 sets of the shields/bottles and two hands free bras. Worth. Every. Penny.

Good luck!!

Thanks, Super (and of course everyone else).

I must ordered a bra last night and cut an old sports bra up until then.

It's such a wild ride right now....I am still in shock of how much happens at once. While I do enjoy my babies, 3u3 won't be happening.

Super, I may draw on your knowledge every now and then if you don't mind. Just seems we are in similar boats, or I am getting into the one you are leaving or whatever.....

K, off to get some milk out of those boobs.

LCass · September 2012

Super's a much better source of info than I am since I didn't pump all that often, but I wanted to say that I think these ladies are being VERY cautious with the amount of time for storing their milk. The most conservative I'd heard was going by 4s (4 hours out, 4 days in the fridge, 4 months in the freezer), but most sources I saw said that it could last in the fridge for about a week and 6 months in the freezer. Also, if you're getting close to the week mark you can freeze the fridge milk. Of course, if you're EPing, you'll probably be able to rotate through the milk faster than that anyway.

Good luck, Nita! And sorry that your Crohn's is messing with your plans. Maybe A will be a quick feeder? Lily never nursed for long sessions, especially not after the first few weeks.

Also, does your area have breastfeeding support? Public Health here will set you up with a breastfeeding buddy, plus they have nurses and LCs you can talk to or see to get help. Maybe get in touch with your Public Health office and see what they offer and if they at least have some resources that can answer some of your questions.

DoctorWorm222 · September 2012

I think Super covered a lot of ground and has more experience with pumping than I do. I just wanted to add that I pumped for the first time at around 2 weeks and only got about 2 ounces. I was pretty surprised at the low volume since E was breastfeeding nicely and gaining plenty of weight. Remember that their stomachs are very small and they really don't need much.

Also, I second the advice to buy extra pump parts. When I went back to work, I pumped 3x per day. Therefore, I bought 3 sets of parts and bottles. I don't like having to wash more than once per day. I don't know how this would shake out if you plan to pump exclusively, but you definitely won't want to wash the parts every time you pump. Its worth considering.

LadyMadrid08 · September 2012

No clue on pumping, but I applaud you for sticking with it and trying to pump even though BFing isn't working out right now. I hope you feel better soon--is Crohn's acting up because of the breastfeeding? Or is it something you always have issues with?

mrsgabus · September 2012

Nita2603:
Hi ladies,

So it looks like history is sorta trying to repeat itself....breastfeeding is not looking good. Crohn's came back with a vengeance this morning. There is no way I can sit through a feeding of longer than 15 minutes. Without being too graphic, at least not without diapers, a bucket and serious dignity loss.
Anyways, I think I can still pump. So far, I am pretty determined to stay off meds and my milk is there. Now, I have no idea about this.mhow much milk does a newborn need? And can someone bring me up to snuff with milk storage and all that? Does breastmilk need to be thrown away after an hour too? I am happy anout any advice.

Thanks, you guys....

Awe Im soo sorry Nita, Mine acted up after levi was born and he ended up on formula for good.

Kudos for you for sticking to it and trying it.. Hows your C/S healing ? I hope that Dh is taking good care of you and the boys

katecham · September 2012

SuperDeDuper:
We were told to give T 30ml (about an ounce) every 3 hours for her first couple weeks. If she ate more, great, but we had to make sure she got at least 30ml. Part of this was because she lost over 10% of her weight in the first few days due to not latching and just plain refusing to breast feed. Thus the start of my EP journey. We dropper fed her for the first week or so but I wish I had just moved onto a bottle right away. It was much easier.

I've heard milk can stay good at room temp for up to 10 hours, but many people go by the Rule of 3. Up to three hours at room temp, up to 3 days in the fridge, and up to 3 months in the freezer. I think this is overly cautious but it's easy to remember. (We gave T milk that had been at room temp for 6-8 hours all the time and never had an issue with it. It was much easier than constantly having to warm up a bottle from the fridge.)

At the beginning, when I pumped I simply put it in a bottle for the next feeding and left it out because she always ate within a few hours. As my milk supply increased I'd keep enough out for the next feeing and any extra went into an extra "back-up" bottle in the fridge that I would use every other day and then start a new one. (So I always had one or two back-up bottles in the fridge that were no more than a day or two old). As my supply increased even more I bought the Lansinoh storage bags and labeled them with the date for the freezer. When those got a couple months old I'd start using the oldest milk and put my fresh milk into the freezer, thus having a rotating supply.

Of course when I stopped pumping 8 times a day and my supply tanked I had to start using my freezer stash every day just to keep up.

If you don't already have it, buy a hands free pumping bra. I repeat, buy a hands free pumping bra! It is 100% worth the investment. I'd also recommend buying more than one set of breast shields, bottles, etc because you'll be pumping a lot. I ended up with 3 sets of the shields/bottles and two hands free bras. Worth. Every. Penny.

Good luck!!

All this.

I EPed from 6 weeks on, but before that had to pump because of mastitis/poor latch/bloody nips (super fun). He hate about 2-2.5 ounces. DS was a pretty big baby but didn't eat every 2-3 hours, it was more like 3-5 hours. I pumped every 3 hours for the first few weeks and gradually dropped the middle of the night pumps and went to every 5-6 hours. I had a huge oversupply and was trying to regulate it (soaking thru shirts at the grocery store is so embarrassing). At first I got 2-4 ounces per pumping session and gradually it went up. I still have one boob that only gets 2 ounces but the other gets 5-7 (I'm down to 3-4 sessions a day). Also, try and keep your pump sessions short. I would pump until my boobs didn't let anything out for 5 minutes and it would take me over an hour each time - they would just be slowly dripping FOREVER, like maybe one drip per 3 "sucks" of the pump. Just massage your boobs to make sure you get all the ducts cleared out to avoid plugged ducts and mastitis.

I second getting a hands free bra, especially with 2 kids to watch. Do you have help watching them? Until you can get yourself on a pumping schedule (during naps, etc.) it's going to be hard to pump (but not impossible!). I only had one and it was hard without DH!

I hate throwing out milk. I have used milk that has been at room temp for 10 hours, and if he doesn't finish a bottle I'll put it back in the fridge and let him finish the next time he eats. We've been trying to keep our freezer stuff under 6 months old. If it smells funky, we throw it out.

DRINK WATER! When I don't my supply tanks bad.

Pump parts are a pain in the butt to wash every single time you pump. I rinse mine and put them in the fridge. I use one set/day and wash them after pumping before bed.

Good luck! Sorry about the Crohn's.

katecham · September 2012

I also wanted to add -

DS has been taking 4 - 4.5 ounces in a bottle since about 2 months old. He is almost 1 and still takes 4 - 4.5 ounces. Per day he drank about 24-28 ounces from 2-7 months and has gradually decreased to 12-20 ounces per day. 8 months was really hard - I think he had a growth spurt and was drinking way more than I could pump. He slowed back down at 9.5 months.

thetheisens · September 2012

I just want to offer my support Nita. You are doing an amazing job and I know bfing was important to you since you didn't get to last time. Just know even if it doesn't work out this time you are an amazing mommy and both time you tried your hardest to bf. I wish you luck and hope everything works out, but I know you will do what's best for your family and you.

BeesMomma00 · September 2012

Here's what I know about storing milk. Sometimes it stores well and is great after a period of time. Sometimes it isn't. Point being just SMELL IT!

I could always tell if the stored milk was "off". Perhaps I didn't get it into the fridge fast enough, or maybe the fridge was opened/closed more than normal. Whatever the case, guidelines are great, but the bottom line is, you will know when the milk is off. When in doubt, dump.

Nita2603 · September 2012

Thanks, everyone...so far I am doing well in the pumping department. I hope I can keep it up.

LCass, yeah, public health is not as quick around here....plus, Aidan is no quick feeder....at all. I think pumping works well for us. It is done is 15, I can still snuggle with the kids later, i'd rather pump in front of Alastair than feed - there is no hands free when I am latched etc. I think I made peace with the idea. Plus, from the looks of it I produce enough to be able to either stash or give a little bit to Alastair as well. So that is awesome and eases guilt....

Lady, Crohn's often goes into remission during pregnancy....and comes back after, that is what happens here.

MrsG, I am healing ok, considering that crappy healing is one of my Crohn's joys. Also awesome for bloody nips! Grmpf. DH is taking good care of us though. I feel bad about it.

Thetheisens, thanks so much! I know, it was a big deal both times, but I think I can compromise with myself here.....and pumping works! I am quite the milk machine it seems!

All you ladies are awesome, thanks for all the support!!! And for sharing your stories - it helps a lot!!!

LCass · September 2012

Nita2603:
I think pumping works well for us. It is done is 15, I can still snuggle with the kids later, i'd rather pump in front of Alastair than feed - there is no hands free when I am latched etc. I think I made peace with the idea. Plus, from the looks of it I produce enough to be able to either stash or give a little bit to Alastair as well. So that is awesome and eases guilt....
DH is taking good care of us though. I feel bad about it.
I am quite the milk machine it seems!

Wahoo! So glad to read all of this! Way to go, mama!

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