how much (work) is 2 oz worth

[liz-hippymom]

lets say for some reason you cannot nurse your baby at all. if you could get out 2 oz by pumping 4-5 times a day, would this be too much work for the amount? like what i mean is, will 2oz really make that much difference??
liz

[PatioGardener]

I believe it does make a difference.

(I'd be looking for donor milk too.)

[leafwood]

I would do it. The benefits of breastmilk are far to pleantiful to miss out on even one single ounce. I would pump, and pump, and pump as much as possible while trying to increase my supply and looking for donor milk.

[sbgrace]

For me 4 pumps would have been 1 hour of time for holding my babies. I was a pumper and I do think breastmilk matters. However, no way would I have done that for 2 ounces (edited to add: I'm assuming this 2 ounces isn't at the start of pumping when milk supply is being established; if it is the person would be pumping for way more than 4-5 times; if the person is also breastfeeding and pumping at work is maintaining supply for breastfeeding later at home I don't count that as getting only 2 ounces).

But if the entire supply is 2 ounces and the child gets formula for the rest? My kids lost a lot of comforting and holding while I pumped. Would nursing 4 to 5 times be worth it for 2 ounces? Yes...because you're also holding and having contact with the baby. Not so with a pump, just the opposite.

[VijayOwens]

I would make sure you have the best pump and the right size horns. Make an effort to be relaxed and thinking about baby while pumping. Take whatever natural supplements seem to work for you to increase supply. Even domperidone if you want.

Just think of it as a marathon, not a sprint. Better to pump 1-2 oz a day for a year+ than kill yourself getting 3-4 oz a day but only manage that for 3-6 months.

Just imagine if someone offered to give you a free low-dose liquid multivitamin that strengthens immunity and has many other benefits? Wouldn't you have your child take it?

Hope that helps,

-Vijay

[Sandstress]

Background: DD was in NICU for 12 weeks, then I ended up EPing for 16 months.

I had a really slow start and increase in volume for the first couple weeks. The first few days of pumping I had under 100 mL (about 3oz) total for the day. But I saw some increases each day, maybe every other day. And I had the expectation that it could continue to increase. At the end of my EPing time, I quit when I was getting less than half an oz per pump- it was a lot of work for me and DP, work was longer, commutes were chilly, etc.

I've heard some EPer's say that you get benefits from 4oz a day, but I don't have any actual data or literature.

Personally, if that's all I was getting, there was no sign of increase, and it was not colostrum....I think I would stop.

Please PM me if you want- It's a very emotional thing- I had LC's telling me to quit at the beginning because I would just sit at the pump and cry.

Hope that helps.

[liz-hippymom]

thank you for your responses. *this person* actually got out 4 oz so far today!!! i wish i could elabarate on the situation, but because of the issues behind it i cant..
lets just say *this person* has been pumping for 6 months while nursing a toddler. once toddler slept through the night, milk supply per pump went from 2+oz to less than 1/2 oz.

how does one purchase domperidone? if you need a perscription, its a no-go.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by liz-hippymom

thank you for your responses. *this person* actually got out 4 oz so far today!!! i wish i could elabarate on the situation, but because of the issues behind it i cant..
lets just say *this person* has been pumping for 6 months while nursing a toddler. once toddler slept through the night, milk supply per pump went from 2+oz to less than 1/2 oz.

how does one purchase domperidone? if you need a perscription, its a no-go.

There is an excellent low milk supply sticky at the top of the breastfeeding challenges forum with other great ideas to increase milk supply.

How long each pumping session? Soemtimes moms find that they get more milk with shorter, more frequent sessions (that is, sometimes pumping for 7 minutes 8 times a day gets more milk than 4 times for 30 minutes each.) Also, using a double pump can help capture milk from the let downs in both breasts at the same time.

And for the 4 oz!

[katheek77]

Depending on how long the pumping sessions were, I would

I still pump for my DD (25mos), and I'm only getting 3.5 oz/day right now, in 2 sessions (about 30 minutes each). Right now, I'm weaning, but, obviously, I could do it cold turkey if I wanted, but, it's not interfering with anything else, so, I keep doing it.

In the beginning (ie..the first nine months or so), I was spending 3-4 hours a day pumping for a max of 14 oz. That's how important I think it is.

I believe you can order domperidone from Canada w/o a prescription. You can also try fenugreek which you can get at helath food stores.

Good luck!!! If you absolutely feel you have to stop, I would gently suggest trying to pump enough for a few bags in the freezer...I know that when Katie had a stomach bug a few weeks ago, I had to bust out my stash of frozen breastmilk, as that was the ONLY thing she would take for two days (and this kid eats everything that stays still long enough for her to grab it). It's nice to have on hand when you really need it, even if you can't give it to your foster son every day...

[MommyJoia]

I think every drop makes a difference.

[annie_noah]

A few other things that this person might want to try or consider:

- Calcium magnesium supplement - Assuming this person has had AF return, menstrual cycles result in a huge dip in blood calcium, which results in a huge dip in supply. Most moms find it helps their pumping output if they take calcium magnesium supplements from ovulation to mid-period, but I take them all month long. My DD is 16 months old and I am still pumping once per day at work. Before the supplements, my supply had dipped to between 1oz and 2oz for that pumping session and it is now at about 4oz, sometimes 5oz. More info here: http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/natur...s.html#calcium

- Pumping while nursing - If this person can try pumping on one side while nursing the toddler on the other side, that can help with letdown and with the amount of milk obtained.

- Pump maintenance - If she hasn't done so already, change the membranes on the pump.

Hope that helps!

[liz-hippymom]

Originally Posted by annie_noah

A few other things that this person might want to try or consider:

- Calcium magnesium supplement - Assuming this person has had AF return, menstrual cycles result in a huge dip in calcium, which results in a huge dip in supply. Most moms find it helps their pumping output if they take calcium magnesium supplements from ovulation to mid-period, but I take them all month long. My DD is 16 months old and I am still pumping once per day at work. Before the supplements, my supply had dipped to between 1oz and 2oz for that pumping session and it is now at about 4oz, sometimes 5oz. More info here: http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/natur...s.html#calcium


~~this is a a great idea, thanks

- Pumping while nursing - If this person can try pumping on one side while nursing the toddler on the other side, that can help with letdown and with the amount of milk obtained.

~~already does this

- Pump maintenance - If she hasn't done so already, change the membranes on the pump.
~~dont think this is an issue

Hope that helps!

thanks so much!

[liz-hippymom]

responses below

Originally Posted by katheek77

Depending on how long the pumping sessions were, I would

I still pump for my DD (25mos), and I'm only getting 3.5 oz/day right now, in 2 sessions (about 30 minutes each). Right now, I'm weaning, but, obviously, I could do it cold turkey if I wanted, but, it's not interfering with anything else, so, I keep doing it.

In the beginning (ie..the first nine months or so), I was spending 3-4 hours a day pumping for a max of 14 oz. That's how important I think it is.

~ you rock

I believe you can order domperidone from Canada w/o a prescription. You can also try fenugreek which you can get at helath food stores.

~aha! found some places online. Fenugreek does nada...



Good luck!!! If you absolutely feel you have to stop, I would gently suggest trying to pump enough for a few bags in the freezer...I know that when Katie had a stomach bug a few weeks ago, I had to bust out my stash of frozen breastmilk, as that was the ONLY thing she would take for two days (and this kid eats everything that stays still long enough for her to grab it). It's nice to have on hand when you really need it, even if you can't give it to your foster son every day...

[liz-hippymom]

Originally Posted by PatioGardener

There is an excellent low milk supply sticky at the top of the breastfeeding challenges forum with other great ideas to increase milk supply.

How long each pumping session? Soemtimes moms find that they get more milk with shorter, more frequent sessions (that is, sometimes pumping for 7 minutes 8 times a day gets more milk than 4 times for 30 minutes each.) Also, using a double pump can help capture milk from the let downs in both at the same time.

And for the 4 oz!

hmm. pumping sessions are toddler on one side, pump on other. pump /nurse till let down occurs, then toddler runs off and milk stops flowing.... about 2-5 min each time i guess? double pump is a no go in this situation..nothing comes out ever!

[MCKH]

I think this is just a personal decision. I certainly would not blame a mom for stopping if she was doing the best she could and only got 2 ounces. At some point the trade off (ie all that time tied to the pump that I was not actively caring for my baby) would not be worth it, even though I think breastmilk is super important.

I take domperidone and I order it legally from www.inhousepharmacy.com I EP because my son is unable to breastfeed properly and domperidone allows me to pump only 3 times a day. I also use a hospital grade pump which I think is key.

[miche28]

Fenugreek really should be taken with blessed thistle for maximum effectiveness - so she could try that. Also, oatmeal has been known to help some mothers.

I think this is choice that a mom needs to make based on the overall situation, her baby's health, what kind of other support she has and what she's giving up in order to pump. I wouldn't blame her for throwing in the towel after exploring avenues to increase her pumping, but I'd give her my best support to keep at it if she felt it was worthwhile.

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by liz-hippymom

hmm. pumping sessions are toddler on one side, pump on other. pump /nurse till let down occurs, then toddler runs off and milk stops flowing.... about 2-5 min each time i guess? double pump is a no go in this situation..nothing comes out ever!

Ah ha - I see the situation now. Since there is no response to the pump alone (double pumping) I think it is awesome that toddler assisted pumping is available

[LittlePeanut]

I would but I firmly believe that every drop is worthwhile.

LP

[MaryJaneLouise]

How old is the baby? What are the issues with the non-latching? Is a supplemental nursing system (SNS) like a Lact-Aid possible? It sounds like mama has problems letting down for a pump, which is quite common. Maybe an SNS would help here?

[liz-hippymom]

an sns is not an option, nor is any latching. it would be alot better if it were! but thanks