Only Getting on Average 2-3 Oz Each Time I Pump - Is This Normal?

K.-

3-4 ounces is a LOT! look at her fist size/ that is the size of her stomach... how much do you think you can put in there?

commercial bottles at 4/6/8 ounces are very misleading...

babys take 1.5 - 3 ounces in a feeding.

P., RLC, IBCLC
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions

K., 3-4 oz is good - I would only get 2 oz but had enough for the babies. To get the most from pumping I would do it in the morning (when you make the most milk) and at the same time every morning. I would put the baby on one breast, and pump on the other. It was tricky, but having the baby on one breast caused the other breast to let down.

First off, Congrats on Breastfeeding! You made one of the best decisions for your baby that you'll ever make.
I experienced the same thing as what you described. When I would pump I would only get about 2-3 oz. When I checked around the answer I was given is that your baby is eating the rest. Basically, you're pumping the excess that she is not consuming. I think that's a good thing. You should keep it up because it will keep your supply at that level. That is enough to feed your daughter and enough to pump a little to save. What I did was pump in the AM after my son's feeding and then pump during the day (if I had time) and pump at the end of the day before I went to sleep. This would usually yield a full feeding (6oz) that I would store in the freezer bag. After you return to work you will see that your output will increase, because you won't be nursing.
As for the extra hand thing with the pumping...I found a bra at motherhood that was a life saver. It actually held the pumps in place so my hands were free. Now, if you go there and ask for the pumping bra they won't know what your talking about and will probably sell you something else. Here is the link to a picture of it http://www.motherhood.com/Product.asp?ViewSource=&Pro...
The way the bra is designed you can slide the cup pieces of the pump into the cross-over pieces of fabric, where you would open it to nurse the baby. I'm sure the bra isn't designed for this purpose, it's just a bonus of the design. I really think that much of my success was attributed to this bra. It freed my hands to trun pages in magazines or books, surf the internet and play with my baby while I was pumping. It was also a great help when I was pumping at work. I highly recomend it. Be sure to get the right size though. The fit needs to be snug. And I would get atleast two...they get dirty with the drips and all:-)
Good luck with your continued breastfeeding!

That could be perfectly normal considering how young your baby is and if you are breastfeeding full time. I would recommend a hands-free pumping bustier == I have one called Easy Expressions. You can find it online (might suggest ordering a band size larger than you need -- they are tight, especially if you are a larger cup size). I use it at work and type or review books while I pump (I am an attorney) 3 times a day. You could also make something like the bustier by using an old strapless bra and cutting holes large enough for the pumping shields to fit through. Makes things much easier.

Also, I cannot just double-pump the recommended 12-15 minutes and get enough milk. My milk doesn't have a "stopping point" but continues to drip. I can usually stop my pump for a minute or two and then restart and trigger a whole additional let down for a few additional ounces. If you have any other breastfeeding questions or pumping -- let me know. I pumped exclusively for 4 months with my daughter (now 20 mo old) --latch never worked even after many lactation consultants -- and have been nursing my almost 5 mo old son since birth -- plan to keep it up for a year or so! Good luck!

K.,

The organization http://www.llli.org/ deals with questions such as yours. The web site has the contact information.

Good luck!

If you are exclusively nursing and pumping, then you are probably getting the right amount. I swear by the Medela pump. Yes, it is expensive but worth every dollar. At one point, I had to order new tubes for the pump and was forced to use the Avent pump until the new parts came in for the Medela. I amount I pumped with the Avent was significantly less than the amount that I can get with the Medela. It would take me nearly an hour to get 5 oz. with the Avent, but I could/can get 8 oz. in less than 20 minutes with the Medela. Hope this helps!

K.:

I am not sure what the average amount you are technically to get when you pump, but I too have the Lansinoh Double Electric pump (and bought it for the same reasons as you!), and when I pump I easily get 4 oz. on each side, so I don't think the pump is the problem.

I had my first child mid February of this year, and used the pump from about the 3 days after birth on. I used only the one side first as well for the same reason you are (it was hard to get two sides held)! However, I have been using both sides for about a month now. I think the easiest way to do it it once you figure out the suction and speed you need to 1)get one side on 2)then I hold the one side with my thigh and attempt to get the other side on. I am not a small person, so this is hard for me to do! I also find that sometimes if I hold the one that is suctioned and then use the other hand to get the opposite side on that it is easier to adjust once the suction is on both sides! I think it is all trial and error!

I am not sure if this helps a whole lot, but I usually don't respond to questions and I knew the pump was working well for me! Your "A little about me" sounded a lot like me too, as I had my first in Feb., have been married almost 6 years, and will be returning to work full time at the end of leave.

I successfully bf my 4 kids(my 4th is 7.5 and close to 18lbs) and could never pump more than a couple of oz at a time. I finally gave up, because it was more of a struggle than it was worth, and when I needed to go out, I used a formula bottle. I, though, SAH, and never needed a big back up supply. You probably will be able to pump more when you return to work, and aren't nursing as frequently. Also, the more you pump/nurse the more of a supply you will have, but because the pump will never be as effective as nursing, you may not see a big output at one time. Just keep nursing on demand and pump when and whatyou can.

Good luck!

I was an ep-er for a bit of time and I had a few tricks I used that seemed successful. For a myriad of reasons (that don't need to be listed here) I never successfully put my baby to breast yet managed to feed him breast milk for quite some time.

First of all, when you pump try to pump about 5 minutes longer than when the milk stops coming out. You probably know that breastmilk production is a 'supply and demand' issue. If you 'tell' your body it needs more, then the body will make more - hence the longer pumping periods.

Next, make sure you stay hydrated. The amount of water you drink does not equal the amount of milk you will make, but remember that the creation of milk (plus pretty much everything else going on in your body) is a chemical reaction that requires water. So stay hydrated in order for ALL of your bodily processes to function their best. I would drink a 24+ ounce glass of water every time I pumped.

Third, I don't know if this honestly made a difference but in my mind it did - hah! I ate a TON of oatmeal, at least one bowl every day. If the oatmeal is just a myth, well, at least you're eating something healthy that has good carbs, whole grains, and protein - a healthy food to consume anyway.

Finally, I used both pumping receptacles with a cheap nursing bra I got from Target. I would open up the flaps and set the 'shields' inside the bra openings. You can also find a hands-free pumping bra but honestly I was too cheap to get one!

Good luck to you - I felt 'part cow' with the amount of milk I was producing. I pumped 8 times a day for 15-20 minute sessions and made at least 6 ounces per session (mornings were always the most...I did not wake up and pump because, seriously, mama needed her sleep!, and evenings were always lighter).

pumping 2-4 oz at a time for a 3-week old sounds just fine to me. She probably wont eat more than 3 oz in a feeding anyway - maybe more like 2 even. their stomachs are very small.

how much you pump is NO indication of how much you produce. the key to getting any amount when pumping is to get a good letdown. lots of things can affect this (distraction, being cold, feeling hurried or stressed, to name a few). As for having enough hands, I use one hand to hold everything (right hand on the left side and pressing in with right forearm for the right side) while I sit leaned slightly forward. Then I can keep my left hand free to adjust. Honestly though, I just use the fastest setting the whole time (I have an Ameda Purely Yours pump that I am using as I type here). I dont know much about the Lansinoh pump or whether the motor is strong enough for daily use, which is what you will need when you go back to work.

having a small freezer stash is nice. even if you just pump an extra 2 oz/day, after a month this is 60 oz, so don't stress about it.

Personally, I like the Medella pump in style double electric breast pump. I can hold both and I just pump three times a day for 10 minutes each. I usually pump anywhere from 5 to 8 ounces each time (2 to 3 ounces from each breast). My 8 week old son gets formula at night because he sleeps longer. There is also a strapless cotton bra you can buy that fits over the pump parts and holds them for you. For the first two weeks I pumped every three hours regardless of whether on not I nursed to establish a good supply. The more you actually nurse, the more you will pump as well. Drink lots of water, relax and pump near your baby to help you stimulate increased milk flow. Good luck!

You got a lot of really great advice. I only noticed "let-down" mentioned once. This is a big one. Have you felt it? The rush, it's a kind of warmth and tingle and then the milk flows. It came the best for me, double pumping. Just checking to see if you have felt this yet. Keep up the good work.

3-4 oz per pumping is plenty, in my experience. My 4th child is now 4 weeks old. I'm getting 3-4 oz per pumping as well. She's gaining weight quickly so I know she's getting enough. Like others have said, the more you pump, the more milk your body will produce. In my opinion, it doesn't sound like your pump is too weak. If you're wanting more milk, just pump longer and more often. Babies hit growth spurts at 3 wks, 6 wks, 3 mths, 6 mths...so your little girl may start wanting to nurse more often now anyway...as you feed her more frequently, she'll get more milk and then when she starts feeding less frequently again, she'll just get more at each feeding. Does that make sense? So if you pump more frequently, you should have the same result...more milk. Congrats on breastfeeding successfully...it's one of the most demanding/draining/worrisome experiences of motherhood, yet it's one of the best blessings/rewards at the same time both for baby and for you!

K.,

I am not familiar with that pump, but your amount sounds right. you have to remember that your baby girl is much more effective at getting milk from your breast than any pump will be, so she is getting enough. She is still small and your milk will increase. when you start with the bottle have your husband, or whomever, start with one ounce first, that way your baby will get used to the bottle - which she won't like at first - and you won't waste milk if she doesn't eat it. We started with one bottle a couple of days per week at 3 weeks of age, our son did fine.
my son, whom I am still exclusively b-feeding is 3 months old and I was getting the same amounts at 3 weeks. I use the Medela pump 'n style. Keep pumping in the AM, it is your best milk supply.
you are doing everything right, don't worry.

Good Morning K.,

Congratulations on the new baby---2-3 oz is pretty good for a store bought pump---my advice if you want to build up your milk supply is you are going to have to rent a hospital grade pump, use that for 2-3 months & then use your store bought one--also, you can get one of those halter tops for using a breast pump that holds both flanges (sp)--the cups in place & keeps your hands free--you can find them on-line when your looking up feeding, nursing for newborns--I like the halter one better than the strapless. I have my hospital grade one set up for this week & will use that for approximately 3 months, & then back to my Medela P & S Advanced for work (w/my halter)My c-section is going to be on Tuesday, April 14th. I was able to give exclusive BM for 15 months with my first doing the same thing, so I will try & repeat the same schedule----the only way to increase milk is pump or nurse more often, drink lots of water & I know there are some herbs like Fenugreak--I have never tried the herbs, but a lactation consultant can really help---I feel the best thing that worked for me was to pump (a lot) in the beginning to build up supply, & then just be consistent & I only had to pump at work once a day--I pumped before I left & when I came home & before I went to bed. It might be harder, because I have a 3 yo at home now, but I will try my best. I hope this helps a little. Please feel free to contact me w/any additional questions.

You are doing great! The amount of milk that you pump with each pumping session totally depends on the mom, time of day (you do pump more in the morning), age of the child, time since you last breastfed, etc. Your supply will also increase the more you get used to pumping (and your body gets used to the pump). I know it doesn't seem like much right now, but you are building up a great supply for later on. Typically if you are pumping while you are away from your baby, you aim to pump as much as your baby will take during a feeding. At your daughter's age, that 3-4 oz is probably just about as much as she would eat at a time, so it sounds like you are doing great!

I used the Ameda Purely Yours pump, which is basically the same as the Lansinoh double electric. It took time to get the hang of doing it at the same time, but rest assured with time you will find tricks that work for you. I tended to put both flanges on and then held them in place with one arm across my chest while I used the other hand to adjust the switches. It does take some practice! Sometimes it helped when I had them on sitting down at a table and leaned over, resting the bottles on the table when it did it. I loved the pump as well. I pumped for my son for a full year while working full time and had ample supply.

I also highly recommend going to a La Leche League meeting (go to www.llli.org to find your local chapter). Both the leaders and other moms at the meeting can help answer your questions about pumping and breastfeeding in particular. I liked going to evening meetings myself, because I was able to meet some working moms who had pumped while working full-time. Good luck, it sounds like you are off to a great start!

It takes practice...make sure your are in a comfortable place, no stress and the more you do it the more you will get.

Right after my twin boys were first born, I tried pumping and had a lot of trouble with it too. I also had a hard time expressing more than a few ounces at a time, even though my boys were getting enough milk through breastfeeding. I finally figured out that I wasn't producing enough milk during pumping because I was too stressed out to "let down" completely. I think a big part of it was that I was so stressed out about the amount I could pump that I could never really relax enough. Another friend of mine also had a hard time with pumping, and she successfully breastfed her son for two years. If you're committed to pumping, I would first try contacting a lactation consultant (they might be able to find a pump/method that works for you). I would also recommend doing whatever you can to make pumping relaxing: have your husband or someone else watch your daughter while you pump, look at a picture of your daughter or something else that you find soothing (i.e., a picture of the ocean), anything you can think of that will help take the stress out of pumping. If in the end pumping doesn't work, don't beat yourself up about it: pumping didn't work for me and I ended up nursing and supplementing with formula. The most important thing about nursing is that you're passing on your immunities to your daughter, and you will still be doing this even if you end up supplementing with formula (for instance, you could always supplement with formula when you're at work and nurse her in the evenings and mornings). Find out what works best for you and your daughter. Good luck!

I've breastfed both of my daughters, and pumped to have freedom as well. I would say that on average I get about 3 oz. per breast if I have not nursed in 3 or so hours. I was told to pump about 1 hour after the morning nursing because you have more milk in the AM. That has always worked for me.