how much milk do you pump?

[Zangua]

i am trying to buildup a freezer stash of milk and i'm finding it incredibly difficult. Amaia nurses so often that when I pump its hard to get more than a few oz.

I know I have plenty of milk- she has a great latch, is gaining weight nicely and I can always hand express.

I have a hospital grade pump, have tried all the different sizes of 'cups' and am pounding the water and lactation tea.

Am I being unrealistic to expect more? How much can you pump per session? can we all weigh in and get an average?

[MommaCrystal]

2-4oz at a time using both breasts. I get the most after I've slept for an hour or 2 (or more). I know I have to sort of train my body to let down for the pump. It wasn't automatic.

[pleasantlyfurious]

Good thread! I'm interested in what people are pumping, too. I'm able to pump 3 oz at best - and that's assuming I've given them some time to build up. Right after a feeding I'm lucky to get 1 oz between both breasts. Of course, I'm BFAR, so my output may be low.

[feminist~mama]

I've got enough milk to feed 3 children apparently and have no troubles with the pump getting it out. I had the same experience with my older DD. I've used Medela pumps both times- a Lactina then and now a PIS.

I'm pumping at least 6 ounces in under 10 minutes...

[organicpapayamama]

Originally Posted by feminist~mama

I've got enough milk to feed 3 children apparently and have no troubles with the pump getting it out. I had the same experience with my older DD. I've used Medela pumps both times- a Lactina then and now a PIS.

I'm pumping at least 6 ounces in under 10 minutes...

Wow! I wish I had your boobies!! Haha! So my pumped amount varies. If I don't feed dd I can get as much as 4 oz combined. Between feedings maybe 1 oz combined. I am finding it hard to build a stash but isn't it still a bit early for that? I mean our supply is still being established right?

[DeChRi]

I went back to work with my last DD, so I was pumping like mad at this time. By the time she was a couple weeks I could get 4oz total. By the time she was 4-8wks I could get 8oz IF timed right, and about 4oz otherwise. Here is what helped me:
1) Learning to let down for pump helped infinately
2) Pump one breast at a time vs 2...I had hospital grade pump that I could do both at same time, but doing 2 at once never worked for me.
3) First pump of the morning got me tons of milk. I capitalized on this one.
4) I pumped whichever side the baby was not on, when she nursed.

Really, I got about 80% of a pump session quantity within about 4 min of letdown, so letdown was the key for me. I pumped frequently, caught the letdown rush, the repeated often. Esp when babe was on one side.

Right now, when just pumping once every couple days, I get about 3-4oz if I am patient enough to sit there. That is Not first morning pump and not w/ baby on other side.

[brooklyn_warbler]

all of these stories are making my head spin. you ladies are productive pumpers!

both of my children have chunked up like crazy after birth so i've never worried about supply...but if i am pumping in addition to feeding, even first thing in the morning, i will only get 1-2oz from 1 breast. in lieu of a feeding (ie when i was teaching) i would get 3-4oz from 1 breast. this was normal enough on my nov07 ddc.

[KSDoulaMama]

I have a bit of an oversupply so I am avoiding pumping, even though my DW is breastfeeding our daughter a couple of times per day. But, when I did pump I could get like, 5 ounces in a 10 minute pumping right after a feed.

However, the oversupply/overactive letdown is really not helpful since it makes DD gulp down her milk really fast and projectile vomit after feeds, poor thing!

[Zangua]

Thank you. This is so helpful. I guess I just need to build the freezer supply slow and steady- a few oz at a time.

I was complaining to DP and he says "hire a wet nurse"
Now why didn't I think of that? lol

[Tenk]

well I pump every 3 hours every single day and get 4 or 5 ounces TOTAL from both sides combined, that's about how much she's eating every 3 to 5 hours, at night I don't pump and get 8 to 12 ounces at 7am total from both combined. She's sleeping through the night so every other day i'm freezing about 12 ounces because I'm ahead of her.

We are trying to nurse some now that's she's bigger but even after a feed I can still pump 3ounces total.

[Tizzy]

I aim for 4oz/day, that's generally first thing in the morning and last thing at night. But I just pump to relieve some pressure, or empty out one side if she falls asleep too soon.

[Dee-Groovy]

I get 3-4 oz in between feedings from both breasts combined. I think that's totally normal. I'm trying to build up a little stash for when I return to work in August so I'm trying to pump once per day in the morning. If I pump after a feed I get very little, maybe 1-1.5 oz.

[Bubblette]

When did everyone start pumping? I have to go back to school the last week in July- so I figured I'd start up at the start of July.... is that cutting it too close? I wanted to just establish supply with Charlie.... but now I'm wondering.

[Starry-eyedMom]

Originally Posted by Bubblette

When did everyone start pumping? I have to go back to school the last week in July- so I figured I'd start up at the start of July.... is that cutting it too close? I wanted to just establish supply with Charlie.... but now I'm wondering.

I think I'd start now just to get something in the freezer. I waited with my last child and ended up having to supplement some. Of course, I waited longer than you're planning to...

[rhiOrion]

DDCC from April-

I am getting 2-4 ounces from both breasts combined. I've only tried it a few times, though, because I hate it.

I need to get on it. I have to go back to work in three weeks.

[Zangua]

We are a mixed bunch over here. I am light skinned Moroccan and my partner s African American. Amaia is a dark baby. Already almost as dark as her dad.
The comments have already started. The other day someone asked me where I "got" her from. I told her "my vagina".
I figure battling the ignorance of others is just a tiny thorn in the side of the deliciousness of our gorgeous babies!