How much milk do you get when you pump? I saw someone say they get 6 oz of milk from each. Thats amazing to me and makes me wonder if my milk supply is not so great.
I average 2 oz on each side. When my milk first came in i could get 4 oz from each, but not anymore.
I EBF and have to pump 3 times a week when my baby has to go see his daddy. : (
I should pump b4 i go to bed. i wasso engorged this morning.
I never got much from pumping.
But I had lots of milk and my kids grew like weeds and all on just breastmilk.
My Pediatrician was always amazed at how they grew! Just on breastmilk.
Pumping does not necessarily, reflect the milk you actually have in boobs.
I average about 1 and a half to 2 ounces on each side. If I pump first thing in the morning, it's 4-5 ounces on each side. I only pump a few times a month and I use a manuel pump. My baby is 4 months old.
As long as your baby is satisified after nursing, gaining weight and having wet diapers, your milk supply is fine. The pump does not get out as much milk as a baby does.
Your son is just a month old - right?
At one month - I was getting maybe 3 to 4 ounces...as they got older? I could fill the bottles...this was with my first son...I wet-nursed two of my GFs kids and gave them my extra milk - we joked I could feed Ethiopia - I had that much milk!!!
My second one? I had trouble just keeping enough for him...I used the electric Medela Pump In style - LOVED IT!!! Got all the hind milk out!!
You have a ton of stress in your life right now...so stress levels have a lot to do with how much we produce....do things for yourself to relax...take a deep breath and don't worry about how many ounces you get....don't try to compare yourself to someone else - as EACH PERSON IS DIFFERENT!!!!
I am with my son all day, so I nurse him all day and then pump about 4-6 oz. before I go to bed, since my son sleeps through the night. When my son is at my in-laws (once a week) and/or I miss a feeding, I pump about 10-14 oz. The funny thing is my right breast produces twice as much, sometimes three times as much, as my left one. My son is huge and drinks 6 oz. from a bottle per feeding. It's not uncommon for women to pump less than they produce while nursing. If you need more milk than you're pumping, try pumping after feedings or before you turn in for the night. Good luck!
Pump output does not equal actual supply.
Don't allow this notion to permeate your thoughts.
My boobs hate the pump. I never got much.
It did always help me to switch between my manual and automatic pump-maybe that would help you?
If someone got 6 oz from each side, I would think that would be because they pumped BEFORE nursing the baby and then maybe bottle fed the milk to the baby, for some woman this way of feeding is easier.
If I pumped before nursing, I could get about 10 oz. total. If I pumped after, I'd get maybe 3-4 oz total, if that.
In the beginning - I got about 2.5 ounces per side. By month 4 - I was getting under an ounce each side. I exclusively breastfed my child without any supply issues while on depo and working full time - college part time (by month 5 I had a job where she came with me) until she was around 9 months, when she finally started solids. She continued to nurse until she self weaned at 4.5 years.
Pumping is NOT the way to gauge or estimate your milk supply... the pump barely can get 25% out of your breasts while the baby's suckling easily gets 100% out every time with a good latch.
Pumping isn't easy... at least not for most Mommies. To help with pumping, maybe have your child START the let down, move him to the other breast and pump the first side he started on while he's nursing. That may help you get more.
When I pump 1st thing in the morning, if he doesnt wake up before I have to go to work, I usually pump anywhere from 6-8 oz total. When I pump after that, I maybe get 3-4 oz.
I also wonder if my lil guy is getting enough from me, but he is gaining weight & has plenty of wet diapers. After reading other answers, it makes me feel better to know that the pump may not be getting everything my baby does.
The amount you pump is not an accurate reflection of how much milk you are producing. Pumps are not as efficient as babies. They work differently than babies mouths. I was not a "good" pumper, but my 3 kids never had a drop of formula and were all nursed til around 2.
You will need to invest a bit in working with your schedule. Try before and after each feeding. Try upon waking or at bedtime. Try mothers' milk tea. Make sure when you are pumping you are relaxed. If baby is not there, look at a picture of baby to help with your letdown. Keep doing it so your body gets used to it. Your son should also not be away from you for too long. But when he is pump so that it simulates his feeding time and keeps your supply up!
