Only getting 4oz :(

[micahsmum]

Help! My DS is 2 months old and I've just started going back to work again today. I nursed him before leaving for work and pumped twice at work but only managed to get 4oz altogether. That amount is really depressing as today I found out he had 4 3oz of my expressed breast milk while i was away. He didn't finish them completely so I think he had about 10oz in the 9 hours I was away from him.

What am I doing wrong? Do I need to pump more while I'm at work? Every 2-3 hours or 3-4 hours? What about at night? Should I be pumping at night too?

Please help. I don't want to have to supplement DS with formula in case I can't pump enough for him at work.

[debra92691]

I pumped basically at the times when I found my son was eating before so if he was eating every three hours I pumped every three hours etc. Also i pumped at night before I went to bed which was a few hours after he went to bed then again early in the morning a few hours before he woke up he wakes up around six am so I pump at around four am that way I can still nurse him before he goes to bed and also when he wakes up in the morning. I am habing a giveaway on my blog for an amazing breastpump. I have written a review for it also so that you can read more about it. It has a sound feature that i think might help you with your pumping here is a link to it http://familyliciousreviews.blogspot.com/2009/11/hygeia-breast-pump-review-and-giveaway.html

[Candi]

A good way to help keep supply up as well has have enough pumped milk for baby is to pump on one side while nursing on the other EVERY morning, even the days you don't work. This was the single best thing I have done in order to keep up with my babies supply.

[Nurseliz]

Hi there,
Going back to work can be stressful. I am so proud of you for pumping, it is apparent that continuing to breastfeed is important to you.

I have a few tricks that should help to boost your supply:
1. Make a pumping schedule or plan. That way you will be consistent about emptying at work.
2. Dont miss a pumping/emptying.
3. Make sure you are using a good double electric breastpump.
4. Consider using a galactogogue (herbs or prescriptions to increase supply)
5. Do not skip nightime feedings ( a common practice among working moms: dads bottle feed to allow working mom to rest but this will cause lowered supply)

Hope this helps,
Liz Pevytoe, RN, IBCLC
You can find more info on my website that details this at:
http://www.askthelactationconsultant.com/workpumpingplan.html

[crystal555rose]

I pumped in the morning after feeding baby. This is when milk is most abundant so I think it is essential. This is when I would pump the highest volume despite pumping after breastfeeding baby. I would pump again at lunch and then I would pump at night after baby went down to sleep. I was fortunate to be able to see and nurse baby at lunch and I am sure this really helped keep my supply stimulated.

I think if you are going to pump more it may be more successful if done in the comfort of your home. I also did a lot of breast compressions to get the milk out. I could palpate what parts of the breast still had milk and literally squish it out from there in time with the pump. Can you tell I pumped for a year? :)

[micahsmum]

Thank you everyone for your advice.

Before I went back to work, I would nurse my DS on demand so I don't really know whether I should be pumping every 2 hours or 3 hours.

I have started leaving for work slightly earlier so I can pump before school starts and I now try to pump between every 2 to 2 and a half hours. My milk supply when I pump at work is now about 6-7 oz. I'm quite pleased with this although it's still not enough as I can't find the time to pump when I'm at home. I nurse DS as soon as I get home and any other free time I have is for taking a shower and having dinner. DS is being very difficult and wants to be held constantly til he falls asleep and that takes HOURS. So by the time he does sleep, I'm just so exhausted!!!

[Christal32284]

I hear ya! I was trying to pump at home between feeding, ane specifically in the am, but it seemed that my ds would be hungry right after and I felt bad - the timing was never right. Fortunately my sitter keeps me updated on how often and when my ds eats. And I try to pump at the same time while Ilm at work - typically every 2 hrs. I'm getting enough to cover his needs and sometimes a little more.
Make sure to have your favorite photos of your baby in front of u when u pump. Try to distract yourself so your no stressing about it. Also try compressions- they don't. Make a big difference for me but I get a little more.
Good luck!

[Christal32284]

I hear ya! I was trying to pump at home between feeding, ane specifically in the am, but it seemed that my ds would be hungry right after and I felt bad - the timing was never right. Fortunately my sitter keeps me updated on how often and when my ds eats. And I try to pump at the same time while Ilm at work - typically every 2 hrs. I'm getting enough to cover his needs and sometimes a little more.
Make sure to have your favorite photos of your baby in front of u when u pump. Try to distract yourself so your no stressing about it. Also try compressions- they don't. Make a big difference for me but I get a little more.
Good luck!

[jeneyjoy]

I was having same problem. So I began to use Mothers milk tea and pump when baby wasnt eating. My baby is 8 weeks now so I just pump every 2 hours(even at night) and store, store, store. I only let her drink from breast so that all my stored milk is for her to use while Im at work. This really caused my milk to come in pretty good. I will begin pumping at work on Monday cross your fingers for me.