every time I pump. Since about 1 week after my milk came in I have been having to supplement with formula as he is just way too hungry to only have 1 oz every feeding! Is it normal to only be making that little milk?
2007-02-26 07:40:40 · 10 answers · asked by ? 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
OK sorry I forgot to mention these things...I always breast feed him first then give him the bottle, he eats about every 2 - 2 1/2 hours AND I am back at work so I have to pump.
2007-02-26 07:57:35 · update #1
I promise he is getting more than you can pump. I had the same issue...I couldn't believe how little I was pumping. It took me forever to get any milk saved in case I needed a bottle. You are producing what he needs. Just remember baby is a better pump than anything you can buy. If you supplement with formula, do it AFTER he breast feeds so you maintain you milk supply. It is normal for him to want to feed every 2-3 hours. Check with your doctor and if he says his weight gain is fine then you shouldn't have to supplement. Here is a great growth chart to use month by month.
http://www.mybirthcare.com/favorites/babygrowthchart.asp
I've been breast feeding for 7mo now. (he just started solids 1mo ago) and I can only pump out about 6oz MAX usually only 4 1/2 oz. My baby has always been in the 75th-90th percentile, so that proof that he is getting more than the 5ish oz.
2007-02-26 07:53:35 · answer #1 · answered by Lil'Mama 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Pumping your milk really doesn't give an accurate measurement of how much milk your baby is getting when he nurses. However, a lot of babies (once they have been fed with an artificial nipple) will get lazy at the breast because a bottle takes less effort to nurse from. My third baby was my champion nurser and she could go from bottle to breast fairly easily. However, I didn't introduce a bottle to her until she was two weeks old. Whenever I would pump I was discouraged as to how "little" it seemed that I had gotten. If you are serious about pumping you need to be very dedicated. I had to offer the breast first then use a bottle to finish up and then I would pump for about 30 minutes. I did this routine for every feeding in order to keep up my milk supply. You might also try taking Funugreek (an herbal supplement) because it really helped me to produce more milk. You can buy it at any health food store and it is non toxic to you and baby. It will make you smell like maple syrup and I can't tell you why. Another resource would be consulting with your lactation consultant at the hospital you gave birth in, or contact your local La Leche League chapter. They were very helpful with my breastfeeding questions. Good luck!
2007-02-26 15:52:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your body is smart....it knows you are not feeding a baby when you are pumping. I successfully breastfed my youngest son exclusively (no supplemetation at all) for 7 1/2 months, then continued until he was 14 1/2 months. I could never pump more than 1 oz in 1/2 hour. My body just would never let down for the pump. Also your body is going to make less milk than being demanded because your supplementing. I would stop the supplemental feeds and just straight breastfeed.
2007-02-26 15:55:18 · answer #3 · answered by Angela G 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Talk to your OBGyn. Mine gave me Reglan to help build my supply. I was also told to try breast feeding and / or pumping every 2 hours to build my supply. Unfortunately, mine started off big (I could pump 4oz or more) and then after the first month, I couldn't get more than an oz.
If you try, they're still getting some breast milk and a nurse told me that what I've done for him to that point was great and better than if I hadn't tried at all. Just don't give up and try everything first.
Also remember this - if you can't get your supply up, don't feel bad. Not all women can breast feed. Even after taking the Reglan, I was never able to get my supply back to where it needed to be. I even felt down (almost like I failed my son) for the following month. The important thing is that you have a healthy child. Good luck!
2007-02-26 15:47:53 · answer #4 · answered by reandsmom77 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't need to supplement! That is how your milk will dry up even more until you are completely formula feeding!
Stop the supplements right now!
THe reasn you only pump out 1oz is because you are PUMPING! Your baby is MUCH better at getting milk out than a plastic thing!
Trust that your body can do this it was made to feed your baby.
Feed more frequently, every 2-3 hours in the daytime so you can get your milk supply even more. And drink lots.
BUT dont supplement!!!
2007-02-26 15:46:33 · answer #5 · answered by cigaro19 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Pumping is not a good indicator of how much milk you produce even a baby with a poor latch can get more milk then a pump.
If you are trying to increase your milk supply you will need to STOP suplimenting with formula. Have a few days long lie in (in your case use the weekend) with baby where you hang out in bed and nurse nurse nurse. To sucessfully nurse you really need to nurse on demand even if baby seams to always be nursing and ignore everyone who tells you otherwise. I would also recomend you connect with your local La Leche International group. Also you should pump very frequently for a week or so to increase you milk supply since you cant be with your baby all the time. And you might want to try a different brand of pump different brands work better for different women.
2007-02-26 16:56:24 · answer #6 · answered by CowtownMummy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ive never been able to get more than an oz out at a time, pumping. I now have a very healthy 14 mo old who is still nursing for at least half of his nutrtion.
Pumping is NO indication of supply. And as a PP said, supplementing will only decrease your milk supply.
Below is a link on weaning from supplements.
2007-02-26 15:51:09 · answer #7 · answered by Mommy to David 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
how do you know how much baby is getting when it is nursing? babies are much better at it than a pump so just because you are only getting 1 oz when pumping doesn't mean that is all baby is getting. also breastfed babies need to eat more often than formula fed babies i know that with my 3 children it seemed all they did was nurse. i would let his weight gain determine if he is getting enough milk.
2007-02-27 00:23:31 · answer #8 · answered by carly sue 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
AWWW I'm sorry, I had this problem too. I finally had to just give up. I was pumping nearly every hour and getting about 1/2 oz to an oz. TOTAL from both breasts and it too wasn't enough for my baby. It was taking such a toll on me and doing no good so I finally threw in the towel. I guess some people just don't produce enough. I've heard you can take fenugreek and it might help, but even my lactation consultant told me it wouldn't be much help for me. I wish you luck and LOTS of patience! :-)
2007-02-26 16:11:02 · answer #9 · answered by totspotathome 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
no, it's not normal. the problem might be that you are supplementing. the more you let him feed and stay on the breast, the more milk you will make. try drinking lots of water also.
2007-02-26 15:44:15 · answer #10 · answered by redpeach_mi 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋