Nursing mothers: How much is enough milk?

sneezz · Jul 7th, 2008, 01:57 PM

I'm a new mom and I've been pumping and bottle feeding mostly cuz the baby has been pulling at my nipples *ouch* But I only produce on average 3 to 4 ounces per pump every 3 to 4 hours. This isn't enough of course cuz he's been eating like 3 to 3.5 ounces per feeding (sometimes even less, I don't think he likes the bottle that much) every 2 hours at almost 4 months old. What should I do? Frequent pumping doesn't seem to yield that much more and I've been wanting to drink Mother's Milk Tea (MMT) but with this heat..it's impossible! I'm Chinese so my nanny has been making me a lot of fish and papaya soups and it's not really helping. Yesterday I had 2 cups of MMT and it seemed to give me only 5 ounces after 5 hours from the first pumping.

How much do you ladies normally produce? Does it depend on how much your baby takes in normally? I wish to go back to work soon so that I can pump ahead and store it for him but that's not happening right now as my milk supply is low I guess. Any advice is appreciated!

juicy couture jen · Jul 7th, 2008, 02:18 PM

I'm chinese too, and I'm very petite 5'2, and I also did the same thing as you. I would not recommend you only pump and feed exclusively through bottle to your baby because your supply will not keep up with your baby's demand. You should really put him to breast more because it will stimulate you to produce more milk. In the beginning I produced about 8 ounces each feeding but I starting pumping and feeding because my supply was overwhelming for my baby (he was premature and small, and I was engorged). When I did the pump and feed for a couple of weeks I realized that my supply dropped.. drastically. I could only produce 3 ounces each time! So I started putting him to breast all day, and drinking mother's milk tea too! It doesn't taste too bad, if it doesn't appeal drinking warm stuff in the heat, you should just let it cool and drink it. That is what I would do. I think the tea helps a little!

So because I pumped and fed, I could not keep up with his demand. I ended up giving him formula at 8 months old (he drinks 6 four ounce bottles a day), and I do morning, afternoon, and night nursing sessions.

I hope this helps!!!!

Good luck!!!! & Congratulations on your new baby.

ChristyR143 · Jul 7th, 2008, 02:32 PM

If you are pumping exclusively, your supply will not hold up. No pump is going to extract as much milk as a baby will. If you are having issues with the baby actually nursing, then you need to find out what's going on. Chances are the baby is not latching properly. If it HURTS then something is wrong.

If you want to pump AFTER the baby nurses, to encourage more milk, that's a great idea. Also, drink tons of water, eat oatmeal, and most of all, NURSE NURSE NURSE!!! But pumping alone will most likley lead to the end of your supply.

sneezz · Jul 7th, 2008, 06:10 PM

My issue with him is that he often falls asleep while nursing then wakes up only to need more in an hour or so. I can't seem to get anything done this way!

Lately he's been sucking then stops to look up and smile at me then sucks again then pulls away with my nipple still in his mouth!

ChristyR143 · Jul 7th, 2008, 07:07 PM

Yep, totally normal (both the sleepy thing and the nipple thing!). Just keep going. You can try to stimulate him by rubbing his cheeks and feet while nursing to try to keep him awake, but sometimes you just can't keep them awake no matter how hard you try.

Seriously, just nurse as often as he wants...it will all be fine, I promise.

kimberf · Jul 7th, 2008, 07:11 PM

Have you tried going to a lactation consultant to help you with latch and suggestions for keeping him on the breast?

Lots of babies fall asleep while they're nursing. A few things I was told to keep my DS awake: tickle him and move him a bit to wake him up, or sprinkle a little cool water on him, or get him naked so he's not as cozy, change his diaper to wake him, or keep switching sides if you have to. Unlatch him and get him up instead of just letting him stay on there, then put him back on to get some more. It doesn't sound like you're having much better luck with the bottle or getting a longer break in between, so you may as well do everything you can to keep him awake and at the breast.

And 3-4 month olds can be easily distracted and pull away to check things out. Try to be somewhere quiet and kind of dull, without many things to look at. One of my friends has to face into a bare corner to keep her baby focused.

I also didn't find that the MMT did much, have you tried Fenugreek?

sneezz · Jul 7th, 2008, 09:57 PM

^thanks for the suggestions, yes I've tried consulting a lactation specialist and she said all of the above. He's much better at latching on now...it's just keeping him attentive and interested. I will try harder and I'll try fenugreek too. Thanks ladies!

So I should still pump so as to let my DH help with the feedings in the middle of the night, no? He keeps switching on/off with sleeping through the night. I've been giving him formula during bedtime hours since he was born.

juicy couture jen · Jul 7th, 2008, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sneezz

^thanks for the suggestions, yes I've tried consulting a lactation specialist and she said all of the above. He's much better at latching on now...it's just keeping him attentive and interested. I will try harder and I'll try fenugreek too. Thanks ladies!

So I should still pump so as to let my DH help with the feedings in the middle of the night, no? He keeps switching on/off with sleeping through the night. I've been giving him formula during bedtime hours since he was born.

Yes, you should keep pumping, it's best to pump for 20 minutes after each nursing session to maximize let down & output. But it was very tough for me to BF for the first few weeks of baby's life. There are times that I wanted to throw in the towel, but hang in there!! It will get better!

When you add in formula, you body will decrease the amount of milk produced, because your baby isn't as dependent on you for milk, since your body makes milk by "supply & demand".

ChristyR143 · Jul 7th, 2008, 10:15 PM

While you are trying to get your supply up, yes keep pumping, but only after having nursed the baby. Honestly, I wouldn't let your husband do nighttime feedings until your supply issues are resolved. You need as much actual nursing time as you can get.

And I echo what the previous poster said...breastfeeding is NOT always easy in the beginning, but with time it gets easier. With my first it took us a full 6 weeks to iron out the kinks. Keep going and just have faith...your body was designed to do this!!!

Jul 7th, 2008, 01:57 PM	#1
sneezz Member Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 644	I'm a new mom and I've been pumping and bottle feeding mostly cuz the baby has been pulling at my nipples ouch But I only produce on average 3 to 4 ounces per pump every 3 to 4 hours. This isn't enough of course cuz he's been eating like 3 to 3.5 ounces per feeding (sometimes even less, I don't think he likes the bottle that much) every 2 hours at almost 4 months old. What should I do? Frequent pumping doesn't seem to yield that much more and I've been wanting to drink Mother's Milk Tea (MMT) but with this heat..it's impossible! I'm Chinese so my nanny has been making me a lot of fish and papaya soups and it's not really helping. Yesterday I had 2 cups of MMT and it seemed to give me only 5 ounces after 5 hours from the first pumping. How much do you ladies normally produce? Does it depend on how much your baby takes in normally? I wish to go back to work soon so that I can pump ahead and store it for him but that's not happening right now as my milk supply is low I guess. Any advice is appreciated! __________________

Jul 7th, 2008, 02:18 PM	#2
juicy couture jen Sale Hunter Joined: May 2006 Location: US Posts: 4,104	I'm chinese too, and I'm very petite 5'2, and I also did the same thing as you. I would not recommend you only pump and feed exclusively through bottle to your baby because your supply will not keep up with your baby's demand. You should really put him to breast more because it will stimulate you to produce more milk. In the beginning I produced about 8 ounces each feeding but I starting pumping and feeding because my supply was overwhelming for my baby (he was premature and small, and I was engorged). When I did the pump and feed for a couple of weeks I realized that my supply dropped.. drastically. I could only produce 3 ounces each time! So I started putting him to breast all day, and drinking mother's milk tea too! It doesn't taste too bad, if it doesn't appeal drinking warm stuff in the heat, you should just let it cool and drink it. That is what I would do. I think the tea helps a little! So because I pumped and fed, I could not keep up with his demand. I ended up giving him formula at 8 months old (he drinks 6 four ounce bottles a day), and I do morning, afternoon, and night nursing sessions. I hope this helps!!!! Good luck!!!! & Congratulations on your new baby. __________________ My Updated Collection!

Jul 7th, 2008, 02:32 PM	#3
ChristyR143 But it was on sale!! Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 2,370	If you are pumping exclusively, your supply will not hold up. No pump is going to extract as much milk as a baby will. If you are having issues with the baby actually nursing, then you need to find out what's going on. Chances are the baby is not latching properly. If it HURTS then something is wrong. If you want to pump AFTER the baby nurses, to encourage more milk, that's a great idea. Also, drink tons of water, eat oatmeal, and most of all, NURSE NURSE NURSE!!! But pumping alone will most likley lead to the end of your supply. __________________

Jul 7th, 2008, 06:10 PM	#4
sneezz Member Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 644	My issue with him is that he often falls asleep while nursing then wakes up only to need more in an hour or so. I can't seem to get anything done this way! Lately he's been sucking then stops to look up and smile at me then sucks again then pulls away with my nipple still in his mouth! __________________

Jul 7th, 2008, 07:07 PM	#5
ChristyR143 But it was on sale!! Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 2,370	Yep, totally normal (both the sleepy thing and the nipple thing!). Just keep going. You can try to stimulate him by rubbing his cheeks and feet while nursing to try to keep him awake, but sometimes you just can't keep them awake no matter how hard you try. Seriously, just nurse as often as he wants...it will all be fine, I promise. __________________

Jul 7th, 2008, 07:11 PM	#6
kimberf Member Joined: Mar 2007 Location: California Posts: 2,073	Have you tried going to a lactation consultant to help you with latch and suggestions for keeping him on the breast? Lots of babies fall asleep while they're nursing. A few things I was told to keep my DS awake: tickle him and move him a bit to wake him up, or sprinkle a little cool water on him, or get him naked so he's not as cozy, change his diaper to wake him, or keep switching sides if you have to. Unlatch him and get him up instead of just letting him stay on there, then put him back on to get some more. It doesn't sound like you're having much better luck with the bottle or getting a longer break in between, so you may as well do everything you can to keep him awake and at the breast. And 3-4 month olds can be easily distracted and pull away to check things out. Try to be somewhere quiet and kind of dull, without many things to look at. One of my friends has to face into a bare corner to keep her baby focused. I also didn't find that the MMT did much, have you tried Fenugreek?

Jul 7th, 2008, 09:57 PM	#7
sneezz Member Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 644	^thanks for the suggestions, yes I've tried consulting a lactation specialist and she said all of the above. He's much better at latching on now...it's just keeping him attentive and interested. I will try harder and I'll try fenugreek too. Thanks ladies! So I should still pump so as to let my DH help with the feedings in the middle of the night, no? He keeps switching on/off with sleeping through the night. I've been giving him formula during bedtime hours since he was born. __________________ Last edited by sneezz; Jul 7th, 2008 at 10:00 PM.

Jul 7th, 2008, 10:15 PM	#9
ChristyR143 But it was on sale!! Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 2,370	While you are trying to get your supply up, yes keep pumping, but only after having nursed the baby. Honestly, I wouldn't let your husband do nighttime feedings until your supply issues are resolved. You need as much actual nursing time as you can get. And I echo what the previous poster said...breastfeeding is NOT always easy in the beginning, but with time it gets easier. With my first it took us a full 6 weeks to iron out the kinks. Keep going and just have faith...your body was designed to do this!!! __________________