https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:18:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1381500 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 12:47:48 +0000 mdf106 1381500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted 6-9 oz. However, I would probably breastfeed when together and pump once at work if I were far from producing what LO needs, so he is still getting a significant amount of breastmilk, but I am not going crazy. LO is only taking 10-11 ounces a day, up from about 9 ounces. However, LO's weight has always been good, so he must be eating more than three ounces at the breast. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1380927 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 10:38:13 +0000 Alivoo01 1380927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think pumping at least what he takes at daycare would have to make it worthwhile for me so 15-20oz. I nurse before and after daycare. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1380899 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 10:29:25 +0000 maybebaby 1380899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Revel: Absolutely not! I do, on a daily basis, tell myself that it is OK to give it up, or cut back, or not, whatever feels right. And just to take it one day at a time. For today, it is to continue pumping :) And I have to admit, as much as I look fwd to ditching the pump, for now I love the mandated breaks to watch videos of LO or facetime with him and DH while LO's awake! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1380865 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 10:21:43 +0000 Revel 1380865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: Glad that was helpful! I re-read my comment and hoped it didn't come off like continuing pumping was the only way to stay connected - my intent was just to suggest re-framing if you aim to continue. Good luck figuring things out :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1380783 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 10:07:07 +0000 maybebaby 1380783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Revel: I think this is absolutely the best way to think about it! Even though I dislike pumping, it does feel like an active way to participate in his care while I am away. Thanks for putting it that way--makes it easier to approach :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1380736 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 09:57:03 +0000 edelweiss 1380736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i said other, because it would depend on the age of LO and how much he was drinking in bottles at the time. for a while, i wasn't pumping enough to cover what he ate (about 20 oz at daycare), and had to supplement with 3-4 oz of formula each day. that was okay with me, and i continued pumping and eventually i caught up.</p> <p>however, if my supply took a major tank and i was supplementing with much more than 50% formula, i would strongly consider dropping the pumping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1380695 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 09:46:37 +0000 Mamaof2 1380695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think for me it would have been all or nothing. My kids took 12 oz per day while I worked so I would have to pump that amount and I did </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1380680 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 09:43:46 +0000 Revel 1380680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: I hear you, it's tough! I know our LOs are very close in age, and nursing at times has become a struggle - she's so distracted for most feeds except for the MOTN ones.</p> <p>Maybe try dropping one of your work pumps for a week and see what happens? You could always add it back in. </p> <p>Maybe it's also a good idea to start thinking of pumping in terms of something that helps maintain your nursing relationship, rather than something you measure in ounces. This sounds silly but when I first went back to work I kind of felt like pumping was a little lifeline to LO, because I liked the feeling of sending milk back to her in those early weeks of separation. It helped until I got into the routine of being back at work and managing her milk needs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1380660 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 09:38:47 +0000 mrsjyw 1380660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I nursed AM &amp; PM and needed at least 9-12 oz to keep up with his intake. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1380655 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 09:38:01 +0000 maybebaby 1380655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Revel: at this rate I am giving him 1-2 bottles of BM a day and 2-3 bottles of formula. He only nurses in the early am on days I work or after naps on the days I'm home. My fear in stopping pumping is the same as yours--we already nurse so little (his choice not mine) that I'd be so scared to lose out on it before I'm ready! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1380617 Tue, 28 Jan 2014 09:27:35 +0000 Revel 1380617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Very interesting question! I pump a lot, including on weekends and evenings in addition to the work day. I've just never produced that much in a single session. So I guess I may be more willing to pump than many others.</p> <p>That said, my main concern at this point with dropping pumps would be having to stop nursing when we're together if my supply totally dried up. I love nursing and I think I would stick with pumping for quite a while if it meant I could keep nursing through to at least a year, regardless of the ounces I was getting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379737 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 19:42:26 +0000 daniellemybelle 1379737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Right now I can get about 2 oz per session. I am currently a SAHM &amp; we nurse &amp; supplement. If I were at work I would pump to maintain my supply so we could keep nursing when I was home. As long as LO was still interested in nursing I would keep pumping. If she wasn't nursing I would say any less than 1 oz total per session would be my cut off. But I have a lower threshold because I've always had a low supply. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379731 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 19:37:37 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 1379731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I said other, because it depended on his age. 3-9 months I would've said 9-15 oz. Closer to 12 months I would've said less. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379653 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 18:57:11 +0000 Anagram 1379653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted thinking of my own situation as an exclusive pumper. I wouldn't continue EPing unless I was making 15-20 oz a day (total). Any less than that, and I would just do 100% formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379554 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 17:38:38 +0000 lawbee11 1379554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At least half of whatever LO was consuming. If I had to supplement but could give 1/2 BM I would be ok with that. Otherwise I'd probably just stop pumping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379530 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 17:31:45 +0000 coopsmama 1379530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, I'm still pumping 2x a day (morning and night) but otherwise DS is formula fed. My supply dropped after pregnancy and I tried to keep it up but it was draining me so much and made me feel horribly sick to nurse/pump so we weaned at 5.5 months old.</p> <p> I only get about 4-5oz a day but it's worth it to me to keep it up for as long as possible. He's 7.5 months and still receiving some BM which makes me feel good. Once my supply drops below 2oz I'm not going to worry about it though and am so thankful that formula has worked out just fine for him! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379504 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 17:23:10 +0000 pelikila 1379504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I selected 6-9 oz. C only took 4-5 oz per bottle no matter how old he got so if I could get two bottles worth per day (and he had 3-4 bottles while at daycare) then I was hitting 50%+ of his intake while away from me, which was worth it. When I dropped below 50% and couldn't get it back up no matter what I did, that is when I stopped pumping at work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379416 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 16:46:59 +0000 Adira 1379416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted 6-9, which would have been half of what Xander needed for daycare. I think I'd need to be able to pump/nurse half of what he needs in order for it be "worth it" to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379415 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 16:46:31 +0000 Sparkler 1379415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say about 8 oz,, which is the equivalent of 2 feedings. I never pump when not at work though. I also give (even when at home) a 4oz bottle of formula around 4:30-5pm because I am normally too busy to nurse LO in the nursery is a very distracted nurser and won't feed around others/when out and about.</p> <p>@autumnlove Do you exclusively pump? My LO only takes about 4 oz a feeding so I cannot imagine pumping 10-14 oz unless I skipped a few feedings! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379394 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 16:34:55 +0000 tequiero21 1379394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I said 6-9 cuz I'd want to at least pump a feeding. If I can't even do that, just more tiring than anything, I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379378 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 16:25:24 +0000 Elderberrygin 1379378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I quit at 11 months when I was getting around 3oz spread across three pump sessions. I felt like pumping at least one to two of her four 4oz was worth it, but once I started dropping down below that, the time out from my work schedule was just not worth it any more, especially that late in the game. </p> <p>It was such a relief to stop once I made the decision. The stress from not pumping enough and having to spend all that time away from my desk was really starting to take a toll on me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379366 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 16:19:24 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1379366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: I think it's super hard to stop whenever you stop, but I felt a ton of relief once I was done pumping (I EP'd). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379295 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 15:53:39 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1379295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My supply tanked when I went back to work, until I started adding More Milk Plus. I still valued every drop I got, even if it wasn't enough. I supplemented with formula if I needed to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379256 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 15:41:14 +0000 DillonLion 1379256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never, ever got more than 10 oz total, so my expectations were low. However, i really struggled mentally when I dipped below 3 oz, so i voted 3-6. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379250 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 15:38:40 +0000 sunny 1379250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it also depends on how old your LO is. When she was &lt; 6 months, I would have pumped and pumped for every last drop. Once she passed the 6 month mark, I probably would have quit if I wasn't getting a decent amount. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379241 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 15:36:50 +0000 Corduroy 1379241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never thought of it in ounces before. I think I would pump as long as I could provide half of the milk LO was consuming. Hard to say without being in that position. I'm sending 10oz of BM to day care so that would be 5oz. </p> <p>I can work while I pump and I'm only pumping 2x per day. It's not causing me stress most days so it's still worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379229 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 15:34:20 +0000 yin 1379229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I EP'ed with my first, and I planned on quitting if I wasn't able to pump half of his daily intake. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379226 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 15:33:41 +0000 maybebaby 1379226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: Exactly---I am trying to find out at what point is the weight of letting it go worth it. Sigh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379209 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 15:30:02 +0000 blackbird 1379209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ah, see, i wasn't nursing at all, so it was either pump or nothing. Otherwise I might've kept doing it just at night. But i wasn't keen on pumping in the AM or PM when I could've been spending my time with her or DH, on top of still having to bottle feed her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-oz-would-you-have-to-get-to-make-it-worth-it#post-1379189 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 15:25:05 +0000 Charm54 1379189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I EP, pumping 3 times a day and my worth it "number" in my head is 15oz, or half of her daily intake. Anything less than half and I would just switch to formula. I currently make around 20oz from those 3 pumps. </p>