when you pump how much milk do you produce?

I have been just breastfeeding and recently began pumping to build up a supply for future use. When you pump how much milk do you produce on each side? I feel like its a lot lower than it should be though ds is at a great weight at last check up. How much is a normal feeding from a bottle supposed to be just to see how much I should be storing and how far it will get me. Fyi he's 2 1/2 months. Thanks!!

Re: when you pump how much milk do you produce?

Remember the pump is not as efficient as your ds at getting milk out. What helped me was while I was still on maternity leave I would pump around the same time everyday between 9-10am (after a feed). In the beginning I didn't get much but now I usually get 8-10oz per feed. The amount per side changes from day to day. My dd is 3 months and just started taking 3.5 oz bottles. She wouldn't take more than 3 oz at a time until last week. She has never had a problem gaining weight. I froze milk in 3 oz increments. Good luck!

Re: when you pump how much milk do you produce?

I was never able to pump more that 1-2 oz and if I even got to 2 that was a lot. I just couldn't relax.

Re: when you pump how much milk do you produce?

There is a lot of variables that will make your numbers change from day to day! One pump you can pump an oz combined and some days you can pump 8-10 oz combined

At 2 months my DD takes 2.5-3 oz...and my last two children never went above 5.5 oz the whole year I breastfed/pumped

It all depends on your diet, water intake, when DC last fed, time of day, etc.

Try to be consistent with when you pump. I pump once a day and is is always around 8-9 am. My DC feeds off of one and then I pump both right after bec I am always at my fullest first thing in the morning! I usually pump 10-12 oz...but if I were to pump a random time during the day it would be like 3 oz.

I agree with PPer...the pump is NO WAY an indication of how much your DC is getting!

Try upping your water intake I down a huge glass before I pump and drink while I pump as well! Also eating oatmeal is also supposed to help. If you STILL feel like your supply is low..you can try fenugreek pills (3-4 pills -...3-4 times a day) They work on some people as well!

Also how long are you pumping. I always wait until after my 2nd BIG let down it usually happens around the 20-22 min mark..this sometimes give me a whole other oz from just one breast!


Good luck! Hope I've helped a little!

Message edited 2/1/2012 7:53:17 AM.

Re: when you pump how much milk do you produce?

When I pumped at home and was also nursing on demand, I only made around 4 oz per session. Now that I bf at home, and pump at work I make around 8 oz a session. I think because at home I was so worried I'd be taken from his next feeding and I don't have that worry at work.

And yes, I make more my first session. I can make 11, then 5 and then only 3 at work.

Re: when you pump how much milk do you produce?

I agree with the pp's. For me it changed each time I pumped day to day or session to session. I would get anywhere from 2-4 oz. per side.