Trouble pumping breastmilk!?!?

Question

My baby is 13 days old and I am already back to work (yuck!). I have been nursing her at least 10-15 minutes on each side (20-30 min total) and then offering her formula, and she drinks 3 oz! I have been pumping and don't even get enough milk to cover the bottom of the bottle. Any advice? Do you think I'm just not producing very much milk? Any tips on pumping?

Answer 1

You probably need to pump more often and for longer periods. Your milk replenishes every 90 minutes, so you can pump that often if you need to. However, I would just suggest pumping more often than you do now and pump for 5 minutes longer on each breast. I strongly recommend an electric dual breast pump. It will pay for itself if you plan on breastfeeding for a year. You can also rent them on a monthly basis from most hospitals. Anyway, it will take about a week for your milk production to go up, so don't get frustrated if you don't see much improvement within a couple of days. Also, make sure you are drinking enough fluids. You may also want to check with a lactation specialist to see if your baby is latching on properly. If she's not, then she won't be getting enough milk. Most hospitals have a lactation specialist on staff. I would try the hospital where you delivered at. Good luck.

Answer 2

I always worried about pumping enough - I contacted a lactation consultant at the hospital and she was very helpful. In the beginning she said pumping even an ounce is good. They're bellies are so small and since they eat every 1 1/2 - 2 hours they don't take in very much when they're that small.

She also said that babies drinking from a bottle will drink more, even if they've already been breastfed; all they know at that age is sucking - it soothes them so they'll continue to eat if given a bottle after being breastfed. I would try not to give formula and just continue to feed her as often as you can when you are with her and as you go you'll also be able to pump more. I imagine it must be hard since she's so little and you already have to go back to work.

Get a good electric double pump, relax and make sure you're drinking plenty of fluids.

Answer 3

Your back to work after 2 wks?! What does your Dr say? Arent there laws against this? Im so sorry! anyway ... start pumping as much as you can! just pump and pump and them pump some more! the more you do it the more milk you will have.
You are right in giving formula after nursing. some may say not to do this but if your baby is still hungry then you MUST! so good job.

Answer 4

Your body may not be getting the message that as your baby grows, she needs more milk. After the milk stops flowing, turn pump to stimulation phase for 2 minutes before stopping. If you get another letdown, switch the pump to expression phase and keep pumping. But always end with the 2 minute stimulation phase, just like a baby would if they are wanting more. If you are not opposed to formula, supplement til you are getting enough milk. The mathematical formula is : (baby's weight x 3) / total # feeds per day= total amt per feed in ounces. Add in the amount of formula to baby's feeding to make up the difference you could not pump. I started taking fenugreek (2 caps 3x day) when my baby was 2 months old and the results were amazing after only a couples days! Make an appt with an experienced lactation consultant. They are invaluable!!!

Answer 5

Check your pump. You may have it on too low of a setting. Turn it all the way up and see what happens. Also, what kind are you using? The hospital grade ones that you can rent seem to be the most effective at getting the most milk out.

Answer 6

I don't know what kind of pump you have but when I pumped since my son was in NICU I had to have it on a stronger setting, I don't know how to explain it really, the suction had to be harder or I wouldn't get anything out. After I figured out the suction needed I was called the milk queen because 3 days after he was born I was pumping 8 ounces out of each breast. I was also drinking massive amounts of water to build up my supply since I would have to go to and from the hospital I didn't want him to have to be put on formula for lack of breast milk.

Answer 7

I pretty much found you have to just relax and think about feeding the baby. That some of it is psycological with the let down.

I think theres a new book out too, on pumping and working moms, something like 'the pumping journals" If I find a link, Ill post it.

Answer 8

are you pumping before you feed her? You should pump before you feed her because that's when you'll have the most milk. When did you start offering her formula? It could be that she has gotten used to just sucking on your breasts and getting some milk but, not really that much, and then she sucks again on the bottle and gets to get filled up more easily. Babies have to "work a lot harder" to get milk out of a breast than out of a bottle. If she learns to crink froma bottle, she will not learn to suck hard enough to get milk froma breast.

Answer 9

It takes at least 2 months to get a good supply of milk going. You should be exclusively breastfeeding until then if you plan to continue breastfeeding. Otherwise, your milk will just dry up. Is it possible for someone to bring the baby to you at work for feedings? That would be the best option since staying home doesn't appear to be an option.

Answer 10

The more you pump or the more you nurse her, the more milk you will produce.
That sucks you're back to work already.
It could be stress that's affecting your milk supply too.