I have a pumping question!

Jessica - posted on 01/25/2010

I would feed my son on one side until he was full then I would pump that same side right after. I would finish pumping on the opposite side and then start with that side for his next feeding. It seemed to get my supply up. I pumped constantly. Also try to pump the opposite side when he's eating.

Abby - posted on 01/25/2010

It's fine i founf it really hard to feed my baby off of both breasts because they were so sore so i used to feed him 2 or 3 thimes off of 1 then then pump the other one because it was more comfortable my milk didn't go so don't worry hun x

Jessica - posted on 01/24/2010

When i was breastfeeding and started pumping they told me to feed with both breasts, then pump both after each feeding to increase my supply. First feeding feed right left, next left then right and continue to rotate.If he will only feed on 1 for the entire feeding you should always be pumping the other for the same amount of time it takes him to feed (or atleast 6 times daily).

Bonnie - posted on 01/23/2010

You will only produce what you need, while your son is feeding on one breast try pumping the other breast during or after you are finished feeding your son after each feeding pump the breast he isnt feeding from and this way you will produce the extra, the more you take out the more you will make breast milk is all supply and demand

Tiffany - posted on 01/23/2010

My suggestion -
have him suckle more often. even if he isnt eating. it will stimulate more milk = more to pump.
I think if you have him do 2 feedings on one boob you'll lose more than you'll gain.
Another idea, try feeding him on 2 boobs per feed. like 10mins on R and 10 on L. That worked for me - to bring in more milk.

Liz - posted on 01/23/2010

hi jeannette i had to pump after 8 weeks as i has milk cysts mastitis as we had latching issues bla bla bla i had no issues pumping and bottle feeding my milk did not decrease with no suckling and i continued pumping and bottle feeding untill 9 months.
the only reason my milk dried up was due to a bout of food poisioning i was so dehydrated my milk stopped so i hope this is of some help to you

Lexie - posted on 01/23/2010

Elie slept through the night since about 7 weeks, but I had to get up and pump in the middle of the night still to keep my supply up. I did this until she was about 10 months old. I did notice a drastic drop in supply once I stopped pumping at night though. It gets tiring, but once you get used to it, it becomes easier.

Michelle - posted on 01/23/2010

Christal, why can a pump not empty you? How do twins feed then? The hospital where my friend had her baby used to make her feed on one side and use the electric pump on the other to simulate 'twins' this way when she was not in the hospital with her baby they could feed her the breastmilk via tube.
I think most moms have different ways to get more amounts of breast milk. most of these posts suggest different things. Maybe speak to a lactation consultant Jeanette. Get some sound advice that works best for you and your baby.

Lise - posted on 01/22/2010

My suggestion would be to pump off whatever side he's not eating on. That was great for me - didn't have to add any pumping sessions in, and I get almost twice the amount when she is eating because she can bring in my letdown easier.

It's usually recommended not to have bottles bigger than 4 oz. Babies only take in about an ounce an hour.

If you are breastfeeding full time, then getting 0.5-1 oz per pumping is average.

Heather - posted on 01/22/2010

I would suggest pumping both breasts after every feeding to increase your supply. My son is 7 weeks old and is eating 6-8 ounces every 3-4 hours and I just pump whatever I can. It's built up my supply quit a bit...I have about (50) 4 oz. bags frozen. If your getting 4 oz a day, I would just make the 4 ounce bags to freeze. It makes them quicker to thaw out and it's not a problem to combine 2 bags in one bottle.

Also, what pump are you using? Having a good pump with strong suction could help increase production as well...I use the Lansinoh double electric pump and it is amazing!

Chrystall - posted on 01/22/2010

Before I went back to work I pumped early in the morning before I woke my daughter because that's when your prolactin levels are highest and I was usually able to get 3-4 ounces from each breast and still be able to fill her up when she awoke.
Now that I'm back to work I still stick to that routine, pump twice at work and get 6-8 ounces total and feed her as soon as I get home as many times as she needs before bedtime.
I stocked up about 100 ounces in the freezer before returning to work to be safe but have found that I'm usually able to replace in expressed milk what she eats by bottle while I'm away.
My daughter's 2 months and eats between 3 and 6 ounces from a bottle but I still don't freeze more than 4 ounces per bag, to cut back on wasted milk.
Hope this helps

Juliana - posted on 01/22/2010

I had to pump after every feeding and I think it is best to rotate him on each breast. i also ttok herbs to increase the supply. Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle capsules. 3 of each, 3 times a day.

Christal - posted on 01/22/2010

the way breastfeeding work is the baby can eat and empty your breast, therefor your body will fill it back up. so if he only eats on one side and you pump on the other then your milk supply will be a little off on one side because the pump can not empty you. i would pump 15 mins before you know he will want to eat on both side and then feed him on both side so that your milk comes in more. thats what i do and i am back at work now and wheni pump i get like 4 oz on each side each sitting.

Michelle - posted on 01/22/2010

That sounds complicated! Why dont you just express from one breast while hes feeding on the other. Get an electric breast pump so you have your hands free. This way your milk will stay regulated unlike if you pump here and there. the only thing about feeding him twice in a row on the left breast is that there may not be enough milk after the first feed for a few weeks until you get into a routine of when you pump and when you feed.

Try writing it down what your plan is so:

8am Left breast feed, and pump right breast either at same time or after hes finished.

11 am Feed of right breast and pump left breast

and then alternate it like this. You will in time build up your milk supply ddoing it this way.



Other problems you may experience is masititis if you leave your other breasts to get engorged by missing feeds. Say if your letting the left breast be emptied twice, and the right only to be emptied once by pumping (after you have left it to build up milk).



He wil need more milk soon and you may notice he gets a growth spurt very soon too and he will require more milk then.



If you get an electric pump and express while feeding him on the other breast :

1. it will save time as you wont have to wait until hes finshed to express

2. you can spend more time with him as your not overtaken by expressing

3. your milk will regulate and you will produce more milk

4. you can then freeze the expressed milk and save for later (no more than a month)



When you start back to work this allows you to cut back on feedings as well as expressing, so your milk will stay regulated. You can express the night before and in the morning when hes feeding before you go to work, this will then give him enough feeds for the day depending on how long you are going to work for per day.

Britteny - posted on 01/22/2010

Hello, your questions are so honest! breastfeeding is not an exact science... I nursed both my girls (now 7 and 3) for the first year and it is not easy. My youngest liked just one side to nurse off of and so that breast produced more. I found it made more sense to me to pump that unused breast right after she was done eating and i could put her down... so to my milk supply it was almost like she was sucking both sides, and i could get a good4- 6 oz. from that side. and the supply was even then also. Pump as much as you want too. hourly if you'd like. it cannot hurt anything except take up your time and make you feel kind of like a cow. lol but it is what is best for your little guy.

Shaina - posted on 01/22/2010

From my experience the best way to increase the milk supply is to pump after every feeding. You may only get half an ounce or so but in time it will increase. I'm a stay at home mom so its not exactly the same but when I need to pump I'll take fenegreek once a day for a day or so. For me it works GREAT! It adds to my supply so eve after my son eats I'm still able to pump and get an extra 2-3 oz. The only thing I can think of as far as 'how much' I'd try giving him a bottle to see how much he takes. My son would eat about 6ishoz when he was about 2 months but every baby is different. I hope that helps. Good luck and keep up the good work! : )