when your pumping breast milk/breast feeding how do you know when you have emptied your breasts after each feeding/pumping?
2006-06-13 10:53:54 · 23 answers · asked by hoffnerhooper 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Pretty easy. You haven't. Your breasts are *constantly* making milk; there will *always* be milk in there until after weaning.
Why are you asking, though? If you have been told to pump "until your breasts are empty", the person giving the instructions either was ignorant or meant it as shorthand for "until the milk won't flow anymore". You'd have to ask her/him to know for sure.
2006-06-14 01:15:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 1⤋
I breastfed both of my children and I also am a working mom so I had to pump. At first not much milk will be emptied from pumping. Your nipples are not use to the artificial pumping action. You will see only 2 to 3 ounces your first couple of pumping sessions. As your breasts get use to the pump you will dump more. Also remember the more you pump the more your body will produce milk. It is demand and supply. Before you know you will be overflowing an entire bottle.
2006-06-13 18:01:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you're feeding, it's difficult to know. When you're pumping, you may or may not feel a let-down several times whilte pumping (kind a tingling feeling). You should pump for no less than 10 minutes each side. If you're wondering whether there's still milk in your breasts after feeding, you can pump, but do so with caution...if your baby was satisfied, you may over-produce by pumping after feeding. Also, lactation consultants are usually free to talk with over the phone and very helpful.
2006-06-13 17:57:28 · answer #3 · answered by SurferRose 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, you will see that the milk stops coming out, but if you wait longer, your milk might let down and more may come out...if you're wondering how long to pump, I suggest pumping for 10-15 minutes for both breasts. Eventually you will just know when you've pumped it all. Besides, your baby will eat a pretty regular amount and that will be fairly standard across pumping sessions...
2006-06-13 18:28:37 · answer #4 · answered by sarahnsquirt 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The breast feels soft. And really the breast is never empty (as we define empty) just you release the milk that is ready to be extracted but as this happen, your body is already producing more in response to the demand. This is a supply-demand perfect equation. The more you feed and/or pump the more your body produces.
2006-06-13 18:02:23 · answer #5 · answered by townsizz7 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In terms of breastfeeding, you wont completely "empty" as long as there is sucking, more milk will flow, but it will slow down. When your baby starts to pull off OR if you dont hear him/her swallowing anymore than he/she is done. Pumping doesnt work completely the same as your baby, so you wont produce as much milk with a pump as you do while breastfeeding. However, if you have gone 5 minutes and have not had a let down, I would say that is probably all you are going to get on that side
2006-06-13 18:22:21 · answer #6 · answered by dixiechic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that they actual are ever "empty"... but it depends on how comfortable your breast feel after the feeding/pumping... b/c you know the more you pump/feed the more milk you will produce... and as long as you do not have knots or soreness you shouldn't worry about them being completely empty...
2006-06-13 18:16:23 · answer #7 · answered by MsBusyBody 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You just do,I used to make 9 oz of milk on each breast every 3 hours, I will use the pump until I couldn't get more milk out of my breast and I started to stop at 9 oz . It depends on your body I guess
2006-06-13 17:58:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont think you can empty it out. As you pump more, then more gets generated. I think most women just pump until they get tired and they just put the extra bottles in the fridge. If it keeps pumping out, then I would think you would just want to keep pumping it out so that you can make more milk or until no more pumps out.
Pumping is generally good for women because it helps you lose the fat you gained from the pregnancy.
2006-06-13 17:58:00 · answer #9 · answered by Sean I.T ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When your breasts feel soft and nothing is coming out.
I pumped for 6 months with both my kids due to working full time.
This is how I worked it - for example: baby is eating 4 oz every 3 hours. I need to pump every 3 hours, approx 6 oz.
Pumping at the same rate baby is eating will keep you on schedule with baby for later nursings, and to keep your body clocks working together.
I tried to pump until there was 1 1/2 "servings."
This made sure there was extra for sortage - freezing - mix w/food, whatever. I always tried to go through 2 let-downs to get the hind milk.
Good luck!!!
2006-06-13 18:01:45 · answer #10 · answered by tibdoml 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋