I've been breastfeeding my baby for almost 5wks now, but I've been giving him formula sometimes...

Jackie - posted on 07/24/2009

also, i was told by my lactation consultant that your breasts are never truly empty, so whenever you want to try with the pump, you should get at least small amount. As a previous mom said, your baby does a better job of eating than a pump does. My mom had the same exact issue with my sister. She would pump and honestly get around a tablespoon of milk, but she strictly breastfed my sister. She had enough milk to nurture her, but let down was horrible for her when she wanted to pump. Honestly, I would reccomend calling a local hospital's lactation consultant and they can give you information over the phone. The same goes for your baby's pediatrician and you OB/GYN. I hope this helps!

Jackie - posted on 07/24/2009

I have more than a few reccomendations...

-take a fenugreek supplement, thats what my lactation consultant told me to do when my supply dropped.

-try pumping in the morning, thats when you have the most milk

-when you want to pump, hold your baby, it will help your milk drop

-strictly nurse your baby for a few days and then your milk should readjust itself. I don't know if you were told this but breastfeeding is a supply and deman process. When your baby demands the milk, your body will supply it. Once you have gotten into the routine of nursing your baby, pump instead to build your supply for daycare. Your body won't know the difference and will still produce milk, just pump and save it instead of nursing.

Felicity - posted on 07/24/2009

ive breast fed both my babies one till he was 18 month old with out formula i think he was dead clingy and didnt want to wean at all and my new born i have given him a bottle at night and he sleeps through and is not as clingy and the pumps are useless i feel u get nothing out of them and if there use to a breast the dont really wanna take it out a bottle

Michelle - posted on 07/23/2009

the letdown is much different when you put him on the breast....it might take some getting used to, but that is the best way to increase your supply in the beginning. after your body gets used to him nursing, and the supply starts to gradually increase, then pumping can sustain the same supply.

Meg - posted on 07/23/2009

You should look up pumping on Kellymom, because there is some great advice there. I do pump while at work (and did so with my older child also). What kind of pump do you have? It is possible you need a better one. Most working moms I know use a Medela Pump in Style. On the other hand, you might consider simply pumping more often. More frequent, shorter pumping sessions work better.

Also, make sure you are getting plenty to eat and drink. Do some good visualizations while pumping (imagine you are nursing your baby; or visualize rivers of milk; whatever works).

Lucy - posted on 07/23/2009

I find i can pump more if i pump on one side while nursing on the other side!

Paige - posted on 07/23/2009

You will be able to pump much more when you are back at work because you won't be nursing. I notice a big increase in my pumping output when I eat oatmeal for breakfast, so I highly recommend that if you want a supply boost.

Stacy - posted on 07/22/2009

Thanks Nicole!! I will definitely take your advice! :)

Nicole - posted on 07/22/2009

Oh, and I give my children breast milk only. However, I do give my daughter one 6 oz bottle a day just so she'll take a bottle in case it's ever needed and we get to go out sometime or something. My son is 2.5yrs so he can drink water, etc.. if needed. Anyway, I have super good production, just always have and I can pump at least 6oz between both breasts the one time a day I pump. Sometimes I can pump 12oz though, 6oz from each breast. Or sometimes I can pump 6oz in the AM and 6 oz at night. But at a minimum I can pump 3oz from one and 3oz from the other the one time I pump a day, minimum.

Worst case, daycare will have to give some breast milk and some formula. Best case, you will be able to pump what you need.

Best wishes!

Nicole - posted on 07/22/2009

Your baby will be able to get more milk than you will be able to pump. They are just better at it. They stimulate the breast more. Your milk supply is all about demand. To make more you need to demand more. A lactation consultant told me to nurse on one side, that is dinner, then nurse on the other and that is dessert and then pump both for the left overs that is to be done after every feeding. Then you can also try pumping in between at times too.

It does take a few days of demanding more for your body to make more too.

So I would suggest the following. When you're pumping, even after you stop getting any milk, pump for at least another 5-10 mins to try to stimulate more production. Then I would try to nurse more often too.

Remember, while I totally think the 4oz bottle you give is fine, that is a 4oz feeding you are not demanding of your body and thus your body will never produce that 4oz. So what about maybe holding off on that for a little while and nursing during this time to try to increase your supply. Again remembering it will take a few days.

Also, things that help w/supply... fenugreek, oatmeal, dark beer. Every time I have a dark beer my supply jumps in a day or two.

Best wishes!

Stacy - posted on 07/22/2009

I pump on average about 5 to 6 times a day. I try to do it every 2 to 3 hours. I also breastfeed throughout the day also. Sometimes, I just breastfeed instead of pumping if it's already time to pump. I recently started pumping after every feeding just to be sure he emptied all the milk. And I breastfeed all throughout the night. I give him his formula bottle around 8 or 9 then lay him down. He's usually back up by 1 or 2am and I just breastfeed him about every 2 hours after that. I've never tried to give him anymore than a 4oz bottle because I figure if that's all I can pump, then that's most likely how much he's getting when I breastfeed him.

Chelsea - posted on 07/22/2009

How many times a day are you pumping?



When are you pumping?



How many times a day do you breastfeed your infant and how much formula on average are you giving him?