Getting Enough Milk?

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Love, G.. :0)
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It really sounds like you are worrying for nothing.

You should not be pumping anymore than what you normally feed her. So if you normally feed her twice in four hours then your pumping is fine. Since her diapers are frequent and wet and she's happy then you have nothing to worry about. She will let you know when what you supply her with is not enough. Pay attention to her cues and everything will be fine.

Pumping before bed is a good idea because there's nothing worse than waking up painfully full.

Hi G.,

Keep in mind that your daughter is more efficient than the breast pump, so she's probably getting more milk while nursing than you're getting pumping. I do pump before going to bed at night so I know I have plenty for the next day.

Jennifer

I also went back to work when my daughter was about 3.5 months old, but I went back full time. I was getting about 18 oz a day, but again that was because I was gone up to 10 hours. I asked my baby's doctor about it and she said that my daughter only needed about 24-26 ounces a day. It is hard to know how much she gets when she breast feeds but I usually guess about 5-7 ounces because babies are more efficient at getting the milk out than a pump. And at 4 or 5 months my baby could go 3-4 hours between nursings. I'm sure your baby will be just fine! If you get a total of 5 ounces to give her while you are out that will be plenty ESPECIALLY if she is nursing every two hours.

Supply and demand with pumping can get tricky since the pump isn't as efficient as the baby. I took lots of More Milk Plus capsules for a couple of days and noticed an increase right away and then didn't need to take any more. I think the extra pumping you are doing is a good idea until things get settled.

I felt like I wasn't pumping enough too, but I found that my baby didn't eat as much from the bottle as with me, so it worked out for us. I would say that if she isn't getting fussy in between bottles, having the good number of diapers, gaining well... then it's working out.

Hi G.,

I had a similar problem when I went back to work. I was pumping about 10-12oz per day. The first thing that helped was drinking a lot more water. You are supposed to drink 8 16oz bottles a day. I could do 6. Also, try cleaning out the motor of your pump. You can remove the cover and clean out the moisture. They tend to not be as powerful after they get used a lot. I also found that if I pummed earlier in the morning at work I could get more milk. Your milk supply is strongest in the morning. Finally my baby ended up wanting more than I could produce so we used formula to supplement. I felt so releaved when I didn't have so much pressure to produce. If she seems to want more she probably does need more. Good luck and don't feel quilty! Pumping at work is hard and you're a great mom for doing that.

At 4 months you can feed her cereal and fruit to hold her longer. Give that a try. Also, don't be afraid to add formula to the pumped breast milk. As long as she is getting breast milk, she is getting all of the antibodies. Also, a 4 month old should not be eating every 2 hours - more like 4-6 hours.

If she is hungry every 2 hours, she is not eating enough.

Good Luck and God bless.

I thought the same thing and asked a similar question a few weeks ago. I was relived to hear from so many moms with 4 month olds that this is the same amount of milk they are getting when they pump - 3-4 ounces. I guess I was comforted thinking that if that many 4 month olds are eating 3-4 ounces, then that must be what they need and that I was probably wrong in thinking that mine should be eating more per feeding. Not sure if that helps you, but it does sound like your baby is getting enough considering wet diapers, etc.
W.

Quality lactation centers (like "Day One" in SF) will rent you a digital scale.

Weight baby before and after breastfeeding, and keep a log. But don't change her diaper in before the 2nd weighing for a feeding - cause the digital scale picks up that ounce! If baby is gaining weight, everything is good. If you notice over a week baby is only loosing weight....

(if she was only bottle fed, we could say a 9lb baby needs 24 oz a day but that math is out the window when she is on the breast. On the breast is best for your supply, hence the digital scale)

Or call your doctor for a perscription of Reglan, explain you are going back to work and need the support to keep your supply up.

she is and will be fine! I went back to work full time when my daughter was 4 months old and she still (at 8 months) doesn't really even care for the bottle. In an 9-10 hour day at daycare, she will eat anywhere between 8 and 12 ounces. SOMETIMES she will drink 16 ounces. On the days that she eats less, she just makes up for it by nursing more in the evening (and sometimes during the night or early morning). My daughter also eats in 2 oz increments because she gets so distracted (and would rather not eat from the bottle). If you are only gone 4-5 hours, 4-6 ounces should be fine! Good luck and hang in there! Relax and think about your baby when you pump and drink lots of water! It helps me.

Just wanted to add my schedule:
I feed her when I wake up (6am), then pump ~4oz
Pump 8oz at ~10-10:30am
Sometimes go to daycare to feed her at lunch
Pump 4oz at 3pm
Feed on demand all evening (5:30-8:30 or 9)
She will occasionally wake around 4 or 5am to eat instead of waiting until 6

Hi G.,

Sounds like you are doing all the right things. Is she still hungry after she drinks the bottle when you are gone? If so, and you don't start producing more during the work pumping, then you can pump right after you nurse her too. That will give you just a couple of ounces more and will also increase your supply. If she isn't still hungry after the bottles, then don't worry.

Blessings, T.

At about four months babies go through a growth spurt, so it is not unusual for them to eat every two hours. I sometimes take "Mother's Milk" just before I go to work. You can get it at health food stores, it made me become engorged again. Also, just relax about the milk amount because the stress also reduces how much you make.

It sounds like you're doing just fine with pumping, but if your little one is wanting to eat every two hours she may be ready to begin some rice cereal before each nursing/bottle feeding. At four months she really should be able to go at least 3 hours (if not nearly 4 hours) between feedings.
You say you're only working four days a week. I would introduce the cereal (mixed with breastmilk for a familiar taste) during the first feeding after you get home on your last working day of the week. That way she'll get three + days of practice with you before she has to eat from a spoon with someone else. Messy fun for all!

My son just turned 6 months and I have been back to work for 3 months, pumping as well. This was one of my fears when I went back to work because I didn't feel like I had enough milk saved up to last. It turns out I did, and some days he would eat more than I produced while I was at work that day and others he ate less...so it tends to even out. You said you pump at night after you put her down..I pump in the morning (if he has not just eaten) so that he'll have a bottle ready for when he wakes up, plus I've read you produce more at this time of day (not sure how true it is, but I've noticed more in the mornings...), and also, it makes it easier for me at work. I know I pumped at 6:30...so I know I have to take a break around 9 or so. You'll have to try different things. I've moved my breaks around, pump at home at different times when he's already fed to boost my production level up, etc. I also take my I-pod on my break to listen to music to help me relax, and I have a picture of my little guy there with me too. The best thing to do, is what people have already said...don't stress about it. It will all work out. Good luck!!