How much milk should I get when I pump?

Question

I am breastfeeding but I am trying to build up a store of milk for when I go back to work. My 3 week old feeds every 2 hours or so during the day and every 4-5 hours at night. Every time I have pumped, I am only getting less than one ounce per side. Less if I have just fed her off that side. At this rate, I have to pump every time I nurse to build up any sort of supply. Is this normal? How much do you get when you pump?

Answer 1

I'm no expert. In fact, I'm not a woman! However, I am the father of 8.5 month old twin girls, and we feed them pumped BM exclusively (and solid foods now, but no formula).

I can tell you that your supply will naturally increase if you keep pumping/feeding regularly. If you skip your supply goes down, if you add a pumping, it will go up...though there is a limit to how long you will be willing to be attached to a baby/pump!

I can tell you this... at 8.5 months, my wife gets about 10 oz total per session, this fluctuates quite a bit. At 3 weeks, I think it was about what you are getting. To increase supply, this is what she did;

1) Being regular about pumping sessions. For us the girls eventually switched to bottle (bottled BM, not formula, which one of them is allergic to), this is because BFing twins takes waaay too long and it's hard to do both at once (it can be done, a close friend's wife BF her twins exclusively for a year, no pumping!) Now, only one will actually BF (like once, in the morning). Since you are breastfeeding, you should pump after to get all the milk our. In theory, pumping FIRST is better because then the baby gets "hind milk" but I think most people prioritize feeding the baby, which is, after all...the whole point!

2) Pump both sides at once with a good electric pump, a hand pump or single sided pump will just make you nuts as you sit there for way too long! (Hey, you have better things to do!)

3) Try taking Fenugreek supplements. A LOT of women swear by this. It's just ground fenugreek seeds, which is a spice used in curry and stuff. It MAY make you smell like maple syrup! (My wife does not smell like maple syrup, but some women report that, and it's actually a flavouring used in making syrup!). It's a natural product. But of course, google search it and ask your doc about it. Also said to help is "Blessed Milk Thistle". I know you can get Fenugreek at Whole Foods and some other places like GNC and some supermarkets.

4) Don't give up. Once you stop I think it's gone.

Take heart, you will get enough milk if you are religous about bf/pumping. Some of our "parents of twins" friends gave up and thus they just don't produce milk now. We have been feeding our girls BM exclusively until a bout a month ago when we started also adding solid foods (BM is still the primary source of nutrition, solid food is for practice. This is true for the first year I think). Not only that but I HAD TO BUY A FREEZER to store the extra milk. So on top of the fact that we are feeding twins, we have a freezer full of "backup" milk!

I should also point out that my wife went back to work full time at 3 months and pumps I think once in the morning before work, twice at work (usually, unless she misses the afternoon) then at least twice at night, so that's 5 (sometimes 4) times per day. We both feed the kids together. Oddly, sometimes I'll feed them while she pumps, which seems counter-intuitive (hey, why not just BF!) but like I said, only one will BF now, and also my wife has made pumping almost into a sport where she is obsessive about the amount she gets and logs everything!

Anyway, keep at it and your supply will increase as the baby needs it. Your body will get the signal that it has to produce more if you demand more!

Good luck!

Answer 2

Try pumping in between her feedings for a couple days. That should help boost your supply so that you can pump more.....just make sure you drain as much as you can so that your body will produce more. Supply and demand!!

Answer 3

Sounds normal t me.  i was recently asking these same questions.  You still don't have a full milk supply at only 3 weeks so it's normal to only get 1/2 to 1 ounce each time especially when your baby has already emptied a breast. Wha I found is that I have been getting more over time, finding a pump that works comfortably for me (a manual), and tandem pumping to increase supply.  I pump in the morning before he wakes up if I can and I usually get about 2 ounces from the engorged breast and one from teh other.  Then whenever he nurses once or twice a day I pump the other breast at the same time.  I get about 1 ounce per breast that way but don't be surprised if you aren't getting much.  Don't let it discourage you and keep pumping.  My supply is slowly building up now that I have extra milk to pump. Also somem days expect less, same thing with different times of teh day.  If you can't tandem pump, pump before you feed.  The baby will still get enough milk, I promise.  I was going through the same thing about two weeks ago so hang in there!

Also, freeze them in 2 to 4 ounce portions. you'll waste less this way.  WHat I figured out to do is everytime I pump I put the milk in the bag ( I pour it out of the bottle form the pump) in teh refrigerator and I do that until I have 4 ounces, then I stick it in the freezer.  That way you don't have a million containers of 1 ounce portions.  

Right when you get out of the shower is a good time too!

Answer 4

it really matters but if you keep your self attached to a pump like you have been it might actually help you produce extra milk but i tried slim fast or equate along with my meals by the end of 3 days i had like 6 oz each breast try it oh don't get the ones with appetite suppressant just the meal replacements it works

Answer 5

i loved breastfeeding but it always seemed like i couldn't get "enough" milk out. i was told it was normal and just to keep doing it. i became so frustrated! because i would get a few ounces and that's all. there's plenty of milk, however the breast pump can not get all the milk out like the baby can. i loved it when my new born slept through the night or skipped a feeding at night, at least because then i would become engorged and use that time to pump. i didn't mind getting up and doing in fact i loved seeing all the milk filling up in the bottle because that meant more time i could do something for myself while daddy cuddled and fed our baby... just keep trying... it's only been 3 weeks so your body is not yet use to your milk supply. it'll all work out, just make sure you take advantage of pumping when you can.oh and real quick... it helps to massage your b*****s for a minute or two before pumping, this gets the milk going and it's easier, it was for me at least...