How much breast milk per 15 min pump?

anieto81 · August 2013

I just started to pump for the first time this morning since I'll be going back to work in a couple of weeks. I wasn't impressed with the results. I pumped for 15 minutes and ended up with hardly any milk in the bottle. I bought the Medela pump in style advanced. I did notice that the breast shield was a little big so I'm hoping that a smaller shield will result in more efficient pumping. I know my baby is getting enough because he keeps growing and he has plenty of wet and dirty diapers everyday. I was wondering how much milk you guys produce on average when you pump for 15 minutes.

ChinaFamily · August 2013

I get about 4-5 oz, mostly from my right side... I only get an oz on my left side.

amcongdon · August 2013

Depends on when I pump. If it is right after I have finished feeding him not much at all. If I've been away from him for a couple hours then I'm averaging about 5 ounces between both - mostly my right which seems to be the super producer.

Kashy · August 2013

I can get 4-6oz. I only pump one side (the side lo doesn't eat from) in the morning.

kriskell · August 2013

About 3 ounces. I pump just once a day in place of a feeding, otherwise I EBF. I just want DD to be used to a bottle for when I go back to work. I will say I used to get really discouraged hearing all these moms pumping 8 oz but that's not typical. I pump enough for her nightly bottle and that's all that matters. Try not to stress about ounces. Chances are, your body is making what your LO requires.

mattandlora · August 2013

I have over-supply issues, so I'm not "normal" by any means. I feed from only one side for 8-12 hours straight. At the end of the time, I feed him one more time and then then pump both sides until they feel soft. I get 7-10 ounces. I only get 1-2 from the side he's been feeding from and the rest come from the engorged side.

babybranch · August 2013

I just started pumping today and asked others who have pumped, and do not stress first day or even second day pumping. Chances are you won't pump much at all the first few tries. My sister in law suggested that try pumping every two hours to help increase and get used to the pump. I've also read that you can nurse on one breast and pump on the other. I have not tried that though. I'm hoping my supply increases each time I used my pump. For me, its just frustrating because I'm not used to it. I hope he gets enough when I nurse, but one never knows.

freesia12 · August 2013

I too have an oversupply so I'm also not reliable. I EP 7-8 times a day and can get anywhere from 9-18 ounces total each time. I have the same pump and will say that the correct size breast shield makes a HUGE difference. I've tried 3 different sizes to get the right fit. Once I found what worked for me, I was able to get the most I ever had.

luvmyducks · August 2013

I can't see how old LO is bc I'm on mobile. DD2 is 5w old and when I pump right after a feeding I get maybe an ounce. If I pump instead of a feeding I get about 2.5-3oz. I do not make much milk--just enogh for LO pretty much. It was like that w/DD1 as well.

carrotcake06 · August 2013

I have twins. When I pump after a feeding in the morning, I usually get around 3 oz. when I Pinot to replace a feeding, I get between 6 and 7 oz. I pump for 15 min after a feeding and 25 to 30 min to replace a feeding. Remember I'm feeding 2 though, so I'll produce a little more.

jessykay87 · August 2013

I'm still having a slight oversupply issue, but I pump once a day, in the morning, and get a consistent 5-7 oz. DD only gets one bottle a day, I EBF the rest of the time.

carrotcake06 · August 2013

Silv3rlining said:

freesia12 said:
I too have an oversupply so I'm also not reliable. I EP 7-8 times a day and can get anywhere from 9-18 ounces total each time. I have the same pump and will say that the correct size breast shield makes a HUGE difference. I've tried 3 different sizes to get the right fit. Once I found what worked for me, I was able to get the most I ever had.
Do you have larger bottles or do you switch out bottles/restart pumping? (I have never 'emptied' my breasts since the medela bottles only hold 5oz each)

Dr browns bottles also fit the Medela pump, so you can pump up to 8 oz per side using the full size bottles.

Oohgurl · August 2013

ChinaFamily said:
I get about 4-5 oz, mostly from my right side... I only get an oz on my left side.

Exactly same

LBeez13 · August 2013

I get about 4 oz each time but it definitely takes longer than 15 min for me. I usually pump for closer to 30 mins to get 4 oz.

Melissa0926432 · August 2013

I have been pumping for only about a week and only once a day in the morning. I only get about 2 to 3 oz. I have been using the Medela Harmony manual pump

smilejenn · August 2013

I think I have an oversupply as well. My LO is a week old and I get about 4-5oz when I pump after her feeds. My pump sessions are usually 5-8 minutes.

sgerrity23 · August 2013

ChinaFamily said:
I get about 4-5 oz, mostly from my right side... I only get an oz on my left side.

I have the same, but I have been pumping for a little over a month. When I first started I barely got an ounce out. My left side produces a lot less than my right.

LJUTCMommy · August 2013

DD is only two weeks old. When I pump, I get 1-2 oz. I was told this is a normal amount to be able to pump when you are full time nursing and pumping for a newborn.

LJUTCMommy · August 2013

smilejenn said:

I think I have an oversupply as well. My LO is a week old and I get about 4-5oz when I pump after her feeds. My pump sessions are usually 5-8 minutes.

I'm jealous! I wish I could get that much after nursing DD. Then, I could actually start my stockpile.

aiche Umm Ayoub · August 2013

It depends on how often you pump and correct size shields make all the difference, I have a huge oversupply I breastfeed on demand and pump 2 times in the am and 3 in afternoon and 3 in the pm and I get alot of milk both the bottles are full when I am done pumping I pump 20 minutes each as that's what a lactation specialist told me to do , my toddlers have been drinking the milk I pump off from cups they seem to like it alot

pinottoparenthood · August 2013

Like PP's said, you may not get much if you are pumping after a feeding. Keep doing it at the same time every day and your body will adjust to make more at that time (if you need it... But enjoy time with your LO, don't kill yourself trying to make a "stash". Also try breast compressions while you are pumping. , looking at pictures or videos of LO while you pump can help with a first or even second letdown.

pinottoparenthood · August 2013

aiche Umm Ayoub said:

It depends on how often you pump and correct size shields make all the difference, I have a huge oversupply I breastfeed on demand and pump 2 times in the am and 3 in afternoon and 3 in the pm and I get alot of milk both the bottles are full when I am done pumping I pump 20 minutes each as that's what a lactation specialist told me to do , my toddlers have been drinking the milk I pump off from cups they seem to like it alot

If you have an oversupply, why the eff are you pumping five times a day? This makes NO sense. I call MUD.

JCWhitey · August 2013

If I pump after a feeding I get about an ounce from Leftie and two ounces from Righty. If I pump after skipping a feeding (when DS gets a bottle) I will get an ounce and a half from Lefty and 3-4 ounces from Righty. I try pumping twice a day. Oh, I get more in the AM than I do in the PM but I prefer to pump at night so I'm not so engorged in the morning.

freesia12 · August 2013

Silv3rlining said:

I too have an oversupply so I'm also not reliable. I EP 7-8 times a day and can get anywhere from 9-18 ounces total each time. I have the same pump and will say that the correct size breast shield makes a HUGE difference. I've tried 3 different sizes to get the right fit. Once I found what worked for me, I was able to get the most I ever had.
Do you have larger bottles or do you switch out bottles/restart pumping? (I have never 'emptied' my breasts since the medela bottles only hold 5oz each)

I switch bottles if I need to continue pumping. If I only pump what the bottle holds, it would be way too uncomfortable for me.

freesia12 · August 2013

carrotcake06 said:

I too have an oversupply so I'm also not reliable. I EP 7-8 times a day and can get anywhere from 9-18 ounces total each time. I have the same pump and will say that the correct size breast shield makes a HUGE difference. I've tried 3 different sizes to get the right fit. Once I found what worked for me, I was able to get the most I ever had.
Do you have larger bottles or do you switch out bottles/restart pumping? (I have never 'emptied' my breasts since the medela bottles only hold 5oz each)
Dr browns bottles also fit the Medela pump, so you can pump up to 8 oz per side using the full size bottles.

That's good to know! I have Dr Browns so I will try that next time. I know I have an oversupply because I haven't nursed DS at the breast. I do give a lot of my milk to my cousin who had a baby in March that doesn't produce a whole lot of milk.

kcooper1986 · August 2013

I only get about 1 oz right now, but I also have been pumping on the later parts of the day. I read that morning pumping (about 30 min after the first feeding) is actually better. I am going to try it tomorrow!

carrotcake06 · August 2013

aiche Umm Ayoub said:
It depends on how often you pump and correct size shields make all the difference, I have a huge oversupply I breastfeed on demand and pump 2 times in the am and 3 in afternoon and 3 in the pm and I get alot of milk both the bottles are full when I am done pumping I pump 20 minutes each as that's what a lactation specialist told me to do , my toddlers have been drinking the milk I pump off from cups they seem to like it alot

If you'd like to correct your oversupply, stop pumping and just nurse on demand. Your supply will regulate in a few days to a week.

trudibell · August 2013

1-2.5 ounces but I had a breast reduction when I was a teenager so my supply is pretty low as it is.

hollandgirl1981 · September 2013

Medela makes 8oz bottles, and these great bottle covers that let you mark what day (and am, noon, or pm) you pumped :-) well worth the cost (6 for $11 on amazon) since my foggy baby brain causes me to forget when I pumped (not always pumping everyday, but trying to start a small stash for when I go to work in 3 weeks)

katiedid0907 · September 2013

I have been pumping on the side that lo is not currently nursing on (and I don't do it at every feeding, especially at night when he gets fussy and wants to eat more) but I have been getting 1 oz on the left and 4 oz on the right so far. It usually takes me about 10 minutes.

vbarnes91 · September 2013

i use a manual pump, im able to get any where between 3-5 oz out of each side. At the beginning though it was an oz the first week 2 oz the next, it depends on how often you nurse and how often you pump. Its supposed to be a supply and demand, so if you make your body think it needs more milk it will produce more milk. Try nursing more often like 2 hrs and be sure to pump opposite side when you nurse. build your supply.

magdalina.h · September 2013

In the morning I make about 4-5oz after that, it's usually 2 oz

SweetNiks · September 2013

I pump 15-20min and get anywhere from 6-8oz combined from both sides. I usually only pump to replace a feeding...but pumping after I get 1oz....2 if I'm lucky. I do know that if you pump early in the morning(1am-7am) your supply is usually at its highest.

Lelo2006 · September 2013

I pump after feeding him in the morning and I get between 3-4 oz.

jenberes6 · September 2013

My baby is 8 wks old and I pump 2-3 times per day, getting 5-7oz each time, mostly from the right side. I pump right when I get to work, again at lunch, and then usually once around midnight when baby is sleeping, but I'm full. I do this to make sure I keep my supply going because when I pumped 3 years ago for my first baby, my supply dwindled around 6 months making it frustrating for her to latch on and "wait" for the let down. This time I'm making sure to keep up my supply better and/or also setting aside a stash for times when I'm at work or for when I'm ready to be done bf, but I still want my little one to have breast milk!

RissNRuss · September 2013

I pump 15-20 minutes and get between 4-10 oz (total from both) at each session (3 sessions a day at work, with less produced at each progressive session). My girl is 11 weeks now, at a few weeks, I was pumping only after her morning feeding and getting maybe 3-4 oz total from both (in the same amount of time).
My pumping is basically getting me the amount she's taking in at daycare, plus maybe an additional bottles worth a day (on a good day).

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