how much breastmilk are you getting?

Question

I started pumping due to shallow latch and painful nipples. I was giving my nipples time to heal and bottle feeding her  BM. Now she doesn't want the boob 😭. So I pump approx. every 2 hours and get 2oz, which is enough to fill her but I feel like it's still a small amount. I was hoping by now my supply would be more. I have had to supplement with formula some nights when I pumped and BM wasn't enough. I have a Medela Pisa but bought a Spectra as I read many moms got more milk when pumping while using Spectra vs Medela.

I would like to know, how much breast milk you are pumping and how often? How long do you pump?  Also, how many days postpartum?  I am 8 days pp. Will I always have to pump every 2 hrs?

Answer

Someone else posted this so stole it..I want to build a freezer supply and I've noticed my production has decreased a bit, I need to get it back up. I'm getting about 5oz per pump session from both breasts, I was getting 4-5oz per breast when my milk first came in. Drinking lots of water too!

Answer

I've been exclusively pumping since my son lost a lot of weight due to poor latch and not breast feeding well. I'm 3 weeks pp. I pump every 2-3 hours and get 3-5 oz total from each session. I usually pump for 15-20 min - I try to wait until the flow stops since that's what triggers your body to continue to produce milk (if you stop pumping before your flow ends, your body will think you don't need as much milk). My son eats 2.5-3 oz at a time every 2-3 hours. I pump about 10 oz/day more than what he eats so I've been building a freezer stash with that. I have started fenugreek to try and up my supply so that I can pump more because I know I'm bound to dry up sooner (or give up) with exclusive pumping and want him to get breast milk for as long as possible.

Answer

My little guy is almost 3 weeks. We've been exclusively pumping the whole time because he had to spend a couple days in nicu and we just never got breastfeeding going. I pump every 3 hours (for each time he eats) and get anywhere from 4 oz to almost 8 oz (total from both breasts) at each session. I pump for 20 minutes each time. Be sure you're drinking enough water, and eating a snack each time you pump! That's really all I'm doing to try to make sure I'm producing enough. I have some mothers milk tea that I've tried a couple times, but it's kind of gross so I haven't been able to stick with it. Keep at it, and good luck!

Answer

My daughter is almost 2 weeks. I'm only pumping one side while my breast heals. LC told me to pump every 3 hrs. I started out getting almost an ounce from one breast. Now I get maybe half an ounce if I'm lucky. The breast I am still nursing on seems to have more to offer bc baby nurses off of it a lot more. Really hoping I can heal quickly and get her back on the pumped side to help improve supply and fill her up more (LC told me baby emptied the breast much more efficiebtly than the pump), and to just be done with pumping so often around the clock.

My issue is the part of the  breast that my pump covers (it covers the aereola) always seems full. I can't massage it while pumping or I'll break suction so it doesn't seem to get emptied entirely for that reason alone. Hand expression does not work for me either :/. If any one has tips on how to deal with this I'd love to hear them!

Answer

My little booger has the exact same issue and by day three of nursing my nipple bled and turned into scabs. It was so painful so I had to let them heal and now my supply is soooo low it's pathetic. I readjusted my pump flange sizes and they finally arrived today but I've been following the power pump rules and I only get an ounce between both boobs, it's so frustrating. Sometimes is just under and ounce and I have no idea what to do so I supplement with formula. I don't want to give up on feeding breast milk all together but I feel like there's very little point to try so hard for nothing. ☹️

Answer

I feel like my supply is decent, but not super high. I don't drink near enough water. But I've built a pretty good freezer stash so far---probably 80+ 3oz bags so far. He has had several bottles of pumped milk already too.

My son is 3.5 weeks old. I started adding in pumping at about a week old. I pump once a day for 5-7 minutes from both sides after he eats in the morning before we get up for the day. I typically get 7-9 ounces total (both sides) when I do this. I feed him from the breast the rest of the time unless we are out and about. I don't like to breastfeed in public (personal preference), so I'll take a bottle if we are out. If that happens, I'll add an additional pumping session when we get back home so I don't get engorged and don't trigger my body to produce less.

Half of my freezer stash (or less) is actually from pumping though. I use a Milkie's Milk Saver on the side he doesn't eat from. He only eats from one side each time he eats which is every 3 hours. I get anywhere from .5-1.5 ounces each time depending on my water intake and if I had just pumped both sides the previous time or not.

This is the routine we have just kind of fallen into and it works for us so far. I have the Spectra 1 pump. Love it so far! I have not had to pump more than 7 minutes before my breasts are empty. With my oldest son I used Medela. It seems like I remember having to pump a lot longer than that and got less milk. Pumping was a chore with him. So far this time, with it only being once a day for about 5 minutes it hasn't become burdensome yet. Hopefully we can keep up this routine.

Answer

I'm in the same boat. Baby boy is also underweight so I'm pumping and/or nursing every hour. Only got 2 oz (highest ever) from a pump sesh once and that was when I waited a little longer after his feeding. Made some lactation cookies and muffins today so hopefully I'll be able to start a supply. Good luck!

Answer

This happened to me and I just ate oatmeal for breakfast, kept drinking water throughout the day and an extra session on the breastpump and my supply boost within two days

Answer

Take fenugreek. It doubled my supply.

Answer

I pump every three hours and get about 3 oz every time 4 once in awhile if I'm lucky! My boy was diagnosed with disorganized sucking pattern so he won't latch either. 😢

how much breastmilk are you getting?

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