Is my milk supply normal if I pump this much?

Question

I have a 3 month old baby boy. He's not gaining weight very fast.

I can pump 2 1/2 ounces in 15 minutes.

I know it's not possible to judge how much milk you have from pumping, but is this about an average amount to pump in 15 minutes, or is it too little?

Answer 1

You don't get nearly as much milk from pumping as from actual breastfeeding. That sounds like a normal amount of milk to me. Pumping has to be the most frustrating thing! You work away at it and get next to nothing.

Don't worry, you're probably making enough milk. I never thought I was getting enough from pumping, but I had this huge baby, so I guess I was.

Answer 2

I can't really answer your question, but I wanted to comment on it that I'm having the same problem. I have a 7 week old and I've been pumping from the 1st week. He would not take to the breast. At first I had a 50 dollar pump and was doing great, I was getting about 8 oz. at a sitting and was pumping about 4 or 5 times a day. Then I started getting less and less, I was down to 2 oz per sitting if I was lucky. I switched to a medela pump and increased about 2 more oz. I had been a little ill during that period and very sleep deprived from having a newborn, and I think that's what was decreasing it. I have to pump every time my baby eats, and sometimes between to get enough milk. He eats about 4 oz every 2 or 3 hrs, and it's hard to get enough milk to keep up. So I have been taking the vitamin, Fenugreek, which has helped a little, and also I've been drinking one bottle of non-alcoholic beer for the yeast in it. It has also helped a little, but only for one or two pumping's, then it's back down to 4 oz. I just purchased Mothers Milk tea today, and will see how it works.

My suggestion is to maybe try a few of these products to see if they work for increasing your milk supply, and also make sure you eat plenty and drink enough water. The healthier you are, the more milk you produce. I had to learn that the hard way.

Good luck on increasing your supply!

Answer 3

It really depends on how long the interval was between the time you pumped and the time you last nursed as to if that is a good amount or not.

Breastfed babies gain steadily, not rapidly. For both of ours, this is how the gain was.

When I pump at work, that is how much I get out using a pump. It has either been 3 hours since my last pumping session or since I last nursed- so it depends.

I don't want you to read these answers and decide you are not making enough for your baby. If you want to ensure he is getting enough- nurse and nurse often. Do not worry about how much you are able to pump. I have a great pump- and sometimes I still feel like I have more milk in there- when only a dribble is coming out. You always have more milk in your breasts even after you pump and nothing is better to draw out more milk than breastfeeding.

Answer 4

It's really hard to tell from pumping. I had more than enough milk for my daughter, but could never pump more than about 1/2 oz. at a time - my milk just wouldn't flow unless there was an actual baby latched on. ;-)

If you're concerned about your milk supply, let your baby nurse as often and for as long as he wants. The more he nurses, the more you'll produce.

Answer 5

2.5 oz. in 15 minutes of pumping is pretty darn good.

Are you trying to say you feed 2.5 oz. to your baby? At 3 months, he should have 4 oz. At 4 months, he should have 5-6 oz. 4-6 times a day.

Answer 6

feed on demand... whenever he is hungry not on a shedule
attach that baby straight to the sorce
dont worry about pumping

Answer 7

i would say thats a good amount for 15 minutes. but it sounds like you need to pump more if he isn't gaining weight.

Answer 8

That seems far too little. Try to increase pumping intervals. Increase in demand = increase in supply.

Answer 9

Thats not alot of breast milk for a 3 mo old to drink.