https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 23 May 2026 01:03:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1538402 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 20:36:24 +0000 Foodnerd81 1538402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is really interesting! I guess I have a small capacity- she always takes both sides, had always been a slow eater- early days 30 minutes a feed was normal, now at 8 months it's still almost 20 minutes fairly often. She's gained weight just fine but for a long time seemed to eat more frequently than other babies. And yeah, night feedings. </p> <p>I will think of this next time I'm up in the motn. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1538238 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 19:44:03 +0000 MoonMoon 1538238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm confused because I fit both descriptions! What does this mean, I wonder?</p> <p>LO always drank from 1 breast, sometimes even the same breast for 2-3 feedings. (block feeding to address oversupply)</p> <p>Gained weight just fine.</p> <p>Sometimes fed less than 5 minutes, sometimes much longer.</p> <p>Slept long stretches for a while, but for last several months has never slept longer than 3-4 hours at a time at night.</p> <p>At almost 10 months, still nurses 8+ times per 24 hours.</p> <p>Sometimes when I pumped, I'd get 5-6 oz from 1 breast, sometimes barely an ounce.</p> <p>??? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1538187 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 19:30:18 +0000 sandy 1538187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't really say but I think having her on a good day schedule combined with nap/sleep training directly impacted our nursing relationship. We went from 10 feedings in a 24 hour period to 6-7 relatively quickly. She nursed for a good amount at each nursing session but we only has 6 nursing sessions in a 24 hour period at 3 months. </p> <p>• Is satisfied with one breast at most or all feedings.<br /> She nursed from both sides for several months and then we went to just one side </p> <p>• Is finished breastfeeding much sooner than other babies (sometimes just five minutes).<br /> I think she nursed longer than average (15-20 minutes) for a long time and didn't get down to 5 minutes until closer to 8 months</p> <p>• Gains weight well on fewer feedings per day than the average eight or so.<br /> YES! She was always around the 80th percentile for weight/height. She was down to 6 feedings in a 24 hour period by 3 months. </p> <p>• Sleeps for longer-than-average stretches at night.<br /> She STTN 10-12 hours at 3 months and then 12-14 hours around 5 months </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1538162 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 19:25:54 +0000 pl0508 1538162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This fit us perfectly! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1538160 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 19:25:16 +0000 cmomma17 1538160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting! And I do think I have a small capacity! LO has always nursed on both sides and we are still night nursing at almost one year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1538142 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 19:18:58 +0000 lilteacherbee 1538142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, I'd say I have a large capacity. He usually only takes one side and is satisfied. He's finished in about 15 minutes and nurses 6-7 times a day. He started sleeping longer stretches at around 12 weeks and at 4.5 months, he has 7-8 hour stretches.</p> <p>Interesting! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1538122 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 19:07:43 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1538122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting! I have a large capacity for sure, especially based on LO at one month.<br /> She is still a really quick eater, only ever takes one side per feeding, and can go several hours between feedings during the day.<br /> But...she's still nursing 2-3 times per night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1537115 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:51:33 +0000 Kemma 1537115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Danizaur: ha, my toddler is still having seven feeds some days!</p> <p>My LO only nursed on one side but that was due to her being a happy chucker who would gorge herself if given the chance! And at almost eighteen months she still has a night feed most nights. Personally, I've always thought I must be a producer rather than a storer because I've never been engorged (not even on the very early days) and have very rarely leaked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1537104 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:49:30 +0000 immabeetoo 1537104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. He has never nursed often, but nursed overnight until 9 months. But always a quick nurser, would often only take one side, and has been a chunky monkey. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1537091 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:45:51 +0000 bhbee 1537091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely fit the large storage capacity. I had a ton of milk and LO rarely nursed more than 5 minutes, often only 1 side. she STTN at 8 weeks. I nursed about 6x/day once she wasn't a newborn until she started solids. I could pump more than needed until she was about 9 months old and then it evened out to her needs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1537082 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:44:43 +0000 lawbee11 1537082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sunshine: Same! LO almost always only nurses on one side for 8-10 minutes. But she still wakes 2-3 times/night to nurse. Boo! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1537064 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:40:47 +0000 Anagram 1537064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is interesting, but I feel like it doesn't address the obvious missing link--the LO! Won't breasts (the average breast, I mean), make what is demanded of them by a baby? So if a baby doesn't eat much, the breast will produce less?</p> <p>I'm just wondering. For me, it's a moot point because I EP, but I know I have average-to-large capacity because I've pumped up to 16 oz in one go before (in the morning) but obviously a LO would never drink that much. </p> <p>Interestingly, although my baby has always had more milk than she can need and the "easier" bottle to drink from, she still has never beena big eater and even now at 8 months will wake twice at night to eat just because she doesn't eat much at any one feed. Not sure how that would translate had I only BF her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1537043 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:38:08 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1537043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Everything except sleeping longer stretches indicates that I have a high storage capacity. Wish it made her sleep longer stretches!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1537024 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:32:27 +0000 sorrycharlie 1537024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we definitely fit the description for large capacity.</p> <p>with the exception of - after 3.5 months, she went from sleeping almost 7 hour stretches to sleeping horribly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1537002 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:27:52 +0000 Beyond2 1537002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitly fit the description for large capacity. I used to be able to pump 9 ounces from each side in the morning, on top of my sons feeding at the breast (thats how i was able to donate so much breast milk). Even at 12 weeks pregnant with number 2 I pumped 7 ounces (both breasts combined) after a skipped feeding. I had major over supply issues in the beginning though that made it difficulty for DS to nurse. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1536969 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:19:02 +0000 artsyfartsy 1536969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>T takes one breast at 90% of feedings.<br /> He takes FOREVER to finish but he's turned into a lazy eater.<br /> He's gaining weight well but I'd say we are still nursing about 7 times a day.<br /> Yes. He's sleeping a 6 hour stretch at night and he's not even 6 weeks old yet.</p> <p>I would think I have a large capacity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1536942 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:11:05 +0000 avivoca 1536942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I have a large capacity, with the exception of sleeping longer stretches at night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1536928 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:07:27 +0000 Adira 1536928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm... based on that description, I have small or average breast storage capacity (based on one month). But by the time Xander was 12 weeks, we were down to 6 feeds a day and I could often go 4-5 hours between pumping at work and pump 6 oz, so... *shrug* </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1536924 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:06:50 +0000 Mamaof2 1536924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting!</p> <p>DS - 1st baby:</p> <p>NOPE • Is satisfied with one breast at most or all feedings.<br /> NOPE • Is finished breastfeeding much sooner than other babies (sometimes just five minutes).<br /> NOPE • Gains weight well on fewer feedings per day than the average eight or so.<br /> NOPE• Sleeps for longer-than-average stretches at night.</p> <p>guess I had small capacity</p> <p>With DD - 2nd baby</p> <p>YES • Is satisfied with one breast at most or all feedings.<br /> YES • Is finished breastfeeding much sooner than other babies (sometimes just five minutes).<br /> YES • Gains weight well on fewer feedings per day than the average eight or so.<br /> NOPE • Sleeps for longer-than-average stretches at night.</p> <p>So I guess I had a larger capacity.</p> <p>------------</p> <p>although I think my DS was more of a comfort nurser while DD was business only nurser! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1536900 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:03:32 +0000 maybebaby 1536900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm interesting. I think I have large capacity because if I go all night between feeding/pumping, I am able to pump a lot--but I think it takes a while for my breasts to fill to capacity. So we still have frequent night feedings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-storage-capacity-was-this-true-for-you#post-1536874 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 12:58:52 +0000 Revel 1536874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p><a href="https://breastfeedingusa.org/content/article/does-your-older-baby-still-need-night-feedings-0" rel="nofollow">https://breastfeedingusa.org/content/article/does-your-older-baby-still-need-night-feedings-0</a></p> <p>I saw this article posted on Kellymom's facebook page about night nursing patterns varying by mother-baby pair. It talks about small versus large storage capacity for milk, describing these characteristics:</p> <p>After baby’s first month, a mother with a large storage capacity may notice that her baby:</p> <p>• Is satisfied with one breast at most or all feedings.<br /> • Is finished breastfeeding much sooner than other babies (sometimes just five minutes).<br /> • Gains weight well on fewer feedings per day than the average eight or so.<br /> • Sleeps for longer-than-average stretches at night.</p> <p>If this describes your breastfeeding experience, your baby may already be sleeping for longer stretches at night than other babies you know. But if after the first month of life your baby often takes both breasts at feedings, feeds on average longer than about 15 to 20 minutes total, typically takes eight or more feedings per day, and wakes at least twice a night to breastfeed, your breast storage capacity is likely to be small or average.</p> <p>I pretty much fit all the characteristics for small to average capacity, and we do a lot of night nursing still at ten months. </p> <p>No real question here, but I was just curious what others' experience had been. </p>