Pumping and Not Liking It So Much.....

i don't know if I already responded to you but drink plenty of fluids and eat lots of fruits.

You are doing GREAT!!! At this age 4 oz is actually a very good amount of milk to get. In time, if you keep nursing and pumping that amount will increase. You'll find you probably get the most milk early in the morning, so try to pump then. Also pump just before you go to bed if you can, so that it'll "tell" your breasts to produce more. If that's too much though, and you're nursing through the night, don't worry about it. Make sure you drink lots of water and get as much rest as you can, even if that sounds pretty unrealistic right now :)

You didn't mention how long you pump or what type you use, but if you have a good electric pump and use it for at least 20 min per session that usually works best. You can try compressing or massaging your breasts as you pump too, which sometimes helps get the milk out. Check out the Yahoo group pumpmoms. You'll get tons of information and support from there. Pumping is definitely a learned skill, so just keep practicing and it will get easier and more productive.

Good luck and congrats!

It's not realistic to expect to get 8 oz. each time you pump. Breastfed babies typically only take 4 oz. at most per feeding, so that's all your breasts are going to make. The most I ever got in one pumping was about 6 oz., and I have a very high milk supply. If you want to get more milk, you're going to have to pump more times per day. I would also suggest that you check out the breastfeeding center (www.breastfeedingcenter.org) in downtown DC. They have free classes (including one on pumping) and individual consultations for a fee. They also sell different products and supplements that are supposed to increase your milk supply. Hope that helps!

Hang in there! Breastfeeding will always yield more than pumping, but something is better than nothing, and believe me, if you stop or slow down with the pumping, your supply will only get worse.

A couple of things I have done that have helped (a little):
*pumping more often
*continuing to pump for a few minutes after the last drops
*massaging the breasts & holding the breast by making a C with your hands and sort of squeezing and then rotating the position
*repositioning the breast shields when the flow slows

A couple other things I have tried that I can't prove work but I'm still trying them:
*oatmeal every day
*Mother's milk tea
*having a picture of baby near me & thinking of him while I pump rather than staring at the bottles filling up

My baby is 10 months now, and I've been pumping at work since August. It is not fun but I feel like it is a sacrifice worth making. I had to come to terms with the fact that I would have to supplement with a little bit of formula when I wasn't able to pump enough at work to keep up with him. But you gotta do what you gotta do.

Your baby is lucky that you are doing this for her! Good luck!

Pumping to determine how much milk you are making and/or how much baby is taking in is not at all accurate. Babies are much more effective at removing milk than a pump, and the amount they take from a bottle may not be the same as what they would drink from the source. If you really need to find out how much she drinks per feeding, rent a baby scale from a lactation consultant or breastfeeding center. You weigh the baby before each feeding and immediately afterwards in the same clothes to see how many ounces she ingests. Weighing can become tedious, but it's WAY EASIER than pumping! I pumped full-time for my son and was successful producing milk for 12 months, but I hated it. I nurse my daughter and only had to pump at work in the first year, and still hated it! I drank breastfeeding teas and ate outmeal on occasion for me. Beware of holiday foods that have lots of sage and other herbs - they can lower your milk production. Many moms report dips in supply around Thanksgiving!

Also, if you're home full-time with baby now, pumping throughout the day will affect how much is available to her during feedings, so if you want to nurse full-time, only pump in the morning when you have extra milk.

I read your question and your update and just wanted to say I think you're doing the right thing...your milk production will catch up eventually. Your daughter may just be on the small side, and that's okay (I speak from experience). It's still really early, too. As long as she pees, poops, and seems content most of the time, she's fine. Great job and congratulations!

Steph, Congrats on the new addition and your doing a great job! Please don't feel like your not doing enough or giving your baby what she needs. Breastfed babies do not put on weight as quick as formula fed babies so please take into consideration if your pediatrician is a BF- friendly doc. Some doc's will push for you to supplement very quickly.
Try pumping one side as your feeding the baby from the other side too. If you want to increase your supply, continue to drink lots of fluids, also you can add or increase in your diet: sweet potatoes, pecans, apricots, carrots, leafy green veggies, asparagus. Try getting some Fenugreek as well--excellent for increasing milk supply. You can get it in tea, herb or pill form. There's also a tea called Mother's Milk tea that you can find at Whole Foods or My Organic Market(MOM's). The MOM's closest to you is probably in Alexandria. Best of luck