Hello all

[mommy2dale_jacob]

hi everyone. my name is jennifer. i think i was a member here when my 2 year old was nursing still. anyways i have a new baby 3 months. i have a question about pumping. is getting only 3 oz. if i miss a feeding normal? like when he was with a babysetter and i pump i only get 3 oz. i never leak. i dont feel the pain of the letdown much anymore. i got scared and went and got some more milk special blend. i been taking it for 24 hours now. how long until i will notice a difernce? i been pumping with a hosbital grade pump every three hours. then nursing him and giving him the pumped milk. i dont know if im making any sence. just worried about it. hes going to be my last and i dont want to have to stop nursing him until he is a year old. i had to stop with the other two becuse my supply went down and i gave up i dont want to this time. thanks for any help jennifer

[StillSingingMom]

Are you exclusively pumping? I'm a little confused.

How long are you gone? Are you gone on a regular schedule, like for work or school, or just once in a while? A regular pumping schedule is more likely to maintain supply than a once-in-a-while pumping session, but OTOH, missing a feeding now and then isn't likely to have a lasting effect on supply.

If your supply lets up a bit, the first thing you do is nurse, nurse, and nurse some more. Get enough sleep (if you can), drink plenty of water, and make sure you eat enough good food. If you are losing a lot of weight, that will impact your supply.

Sometimes your supply dips a bit right before your period starts. This is normal, and temporary. Some women have found that taking calcium and magnesium supplements can help with this problem.

[mommy2dale_jacob]

i was just pumping for one day to see if i was losing my supply. i guess i just cant explain what im trying to say. he always seems hungry and will root at my breast and pull and tug on it like it is empty. so i give him formula or pumped milk. then last week i went shopping without him missed two feedings pumped and only got 3oz. i fugured that ment i was only making 3oz. then i looked for the more milk stuff. seen that women with pcos have a hard time nursing.................not losing weight i am VERY big. sleeping alittle i have a 5 year old and a 2 yearold who both suffer from sleepwalking and night terrors. i have not had a period. i think its all in my head so thanks anyway sorry i confussed you.

[StillSingingMom]

Pumping is not a good way to gauge your supply. Baby is much, much better at getting milk than a pump, and your response to baby (unless you pump regularly) will be much stronger than your response to a pump.

I don't know that women with PCOS necessarily have a hard time nursing. That may be so, or it may not. I haven't seen any good data on that. Personally, however, I can tell you that I probably have PCOS, and I have battled oversupply. I wouldn't necessarily assume that you have a lack of milk.

However, if you ARE worried about your supply, let's talk about that! We can help.

[Nipple_nectar]

I agree, pumping is an acquired skill and not a reliable indicator for measuring input. The best way to measure input is to measure output, you need to see a minimum of six wet diapers in a 24 hour period.

[mommy2dale_jacob]

like i said its just in my head. we have been really busy andi have had to give him more bottles than i would like. but today we are back on track just one bottle at 6. nows he is sleeping untill 5am. thanks