How much can you pump at once??

Elizabeth - posted on 07/09/2010

It is a common thought that drinking more water will increase your milk supply. At my lactation course I learned that the only thing that will affect your milk production is how often you drain your breasts. Pumping every 5 hours will not keep your supply at a good range. You are telling your body that you don't need that much milk anymore so your body will stop making that much. It is totally a supply and demand system. The thing to do is to pump every 2 hours. It will take you less time through the day to pump every 2 hours than it will to pump every 5 and you will get more milk. Another thing to do is to take a video and some pictures on your phone and look at them while you pump. Before you pump take a minute or two to stimulate your nipples. This will increase your milk production as well. If you are having a problem getting a break every couple hours then start taking a restroom break or a "smoke" break. It is only fair in my opinion.

If what I am telling you sounds compeletly foreign call your local hospital lactation consultant or Le Leche League to confirm. I swear it works.

R - posted on 07/01/2010

I do not get as much from the pump if my baby does not nurse in between pumping but my supply has not decreased. I thought it had but then I realized it was the pump, not me. Try fenugreek if you think it is decreasing and watch the wets and dirties I would say as well as weight gain of the baby. I think howevver, that if you are not emptying them out as in the pump is not getting enough, the supply will go down so I have been told to pump more. What I do instead is BF at lunch with morning and afternoon pumpings and I get enough. If I pump all day however, I do not.

Karen Sue - posted on 04/09/2010

When my daughter was first born, I had to pump before I could feed her or she couldn't keep up with the flow, so for the first couple of months back to work, I had a milk supply stashed for her dad to feed her while I was at work. When I returned to work, I was getting 6-8 ounces each time I pumped. My daughter is 4 1/2 months old now and I only pump 2-4 ounces at a time. Because she has such a big appetite and her dad seems reluctant to actually feed her (she is on some solids - rice cereal and first foods), she now gets at least 6 ounces a day of formula as well as my milk while I'm at work.

Aicha - posted on 04/03/2010

for me it just depends on the day and time most often I get about 4 ounces from each breast after the baby has nursed if I pump without her nusring it is about 8 ounces each breast I make alot of milk and have to pump even when feeding on demand

Sarah - posted on 01/04/2010

When he nurses it seems he is nursing longer now but my morning pumping I get about 7 oz, when I pump at work its between 3-6 oz, but if I pump any sooner than every 3 hours I dont even get that. I wish I could build it up, maybe I should drink more water. didnt know it would really help

Kathy - posted on 01/01/2010

My pumping amount varies through the day. As long as I pump equal to or more than she is consuming at daycare, I am happy. With my previous children, I have found that drinkng LOTS of water helped to keep the quantities up. Like other posters, I also can see when I am stressed or sick by the amount I get pumped.

Michelle Carpenter - posted on 12/30/2009

Wow, you guys are amazing!! I am one who only gets between 2-4 oz per pumping. Obviously my son does better as he is 4 months old and 18 lb EBF...but I am at work most days and pumping is tiring since he eats a lot when he gets a bottle. Interesting question though, I have always wondered that too

Amanda - posted on 12/20/2009

I pumped that much from when he was 3 months to about 10 months

Angela - posted on 11/17/2009

How old are your guy's little ones? Mine is 6 months.

Amanda - posted on 11/17/2009

I always got 9+ ounces with my morning pump. My other two pumps were about 3-6 ounces each.

Nicki - posted on 11/16/2009

I pump twice at work (I am only there 7am-12pm) and I get a total of 8-10 ounces depending on how much my son ate when I nursed him before I left for work. It also depends on how much water I drank so far that day and if I am stressed out. Sometimes i can get all the way up to 12 ounces and sometimes it goes down to about 6 ounces...but on average 8-10.