Community› The Bump Message Boards› Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding
New Discussion

Pumping at work inconsistent and low volume

CapricornPigCapricornPig member
in Breastfeeding
Perhaps it's a little early for me to be worried about this, but I went back to work this week, and I pump 2x per day. I'd add in a session, except that I'm getting very inconsistent volume per day, and seem to do better when they are more spaced out. One day I barely got anything in the 1st pump (4 hours after I nursed), maybe a total of 1.5 oz, but I got a whopping 5 oz total in the 2nd pump (again, 4 hours later). The next day, I got more like 4 oz in the morning, and nearly 5 in the afternoon. Today was more like the first day, barely 2 oz in the morning, after pumping for more than 15 min on each side, but 5 oz in the afternoon. I nurse LO in the morning before I leave, she gets 3 oz bottles, 3x per day while I'm gone, and I breastfeed her again before she goes to bed at 7:30. She usually wakes up around 11pm and again around 3am for additional feedings. So she's getting a total of 7 feedings per day. My concern is I'm not pumping enough to keep up with what she's getting from bottles, so my freezer stash is going to diminish rapidly.

I'm eating steel cut oatmeal for breakfast and drinking nursing support tea 3-4x per day. Anything else I can do to help increase my supply so I can keep up with LO's needs? 
BabyFruit Ticker
Report Reply to Post

Re: Pumping at work inconsistent and low volume

  • ErinO21ErinO21 member
    When I went back to work, which was 5 weeks after LO was born unfortunately, I was pumping 4x a day. Once he hit the 3 month mark I dropped to 3x and now at 9 months old I am still pumping 3x a day. There are days where that 1st or 3rd pump gets me about 1 oz, but I keep doing it so my body knows to make more milk. Depending on how you LO is, I would be worried your supply can't keep up long term by only pumping twice a day. It might work for a week but you never know and I wouldn't want to take that chance.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • CapricornPigCapricornPig member
    My LO is 5 months. I'll add a session just to keep it going and hopefully trigger additional production. I was also wondering if more frequent snacking/grazing would help my body produce more steadily. I know it's only been a few days, but it is frustrating to be in there for 30+ min and get barely an ounce!
    BabyFruit Ticker
    Report Reply
  • ErinO21ErinO21 member

    Snacking might help too. I've been using a calorie tracker for months now to make sure I'm eating enough. You're also going through a change of going back to work, so it might just take time. Try to relax, drink more water than you think you should, eat enough, play with the settings on your pump and stay consistent.

    I also wake up early in the mornings to pump. I couldn't have made it this long without doing that. LO gets up at 6ish, so I get up at 5 to pump and get 506 ounces. It also allows me time to get ready in the morning. If your LO STTN this might be an option. It sucks and I'm counting down the days until I can sleep until 6, but its very helpful.

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • CapricornPigCapricornPig member
    Thanks mamas!

    As of this week, my LO still gets up around midnight and then again around 4:30am, so not sure I can pump again, since I get her up before I leave for work to BF, around 8:15am (not to mention how exhausted I'd be at work from getting up so much). I might be able to squeeze in another pump between her 7:30pm bedtime and that midnight-ish feeding, but she's been inconsistent with that, sometimes she wakes around 9:30pm and then again around midnight/1am. So I was worried I wouldn't have enough for her if that happened. Getting her on a regular schedule will certainly help me regulate my pumping schedule. 
    BabyFruit Ticker
    Report Reply
  • CapricornPigCapricornPig member
    Thanks everyone, good to know pumping will signal more production, with a little time. I'm adding a pump during the day, and will squeeze in an additional pump at night. Also working on keeping calories up better - maybe will drink a glass of almond milk (baby seems to have a milk protein allergy so I'm off dairy) after the night feedings, and will make sure I'm snacking between pumps during the day to give my body something to make more milk with. 
    BabyFruit Ticker
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"