Was it from pumping outputs or was your LO hungry after nursing?
My friend is a new mom (baby is almost 6 weeks old) and she thinks she has a low supply because doesn't produce much when she pumps. Can you nurse successfully and just not have luck with the pump? She has tried supplements, oatmeal, different flanges but she never gets more than 1 ounce per session.
coconut / 8279 posts
Working full time and getting less than half of what he would take during the day. On the weekends when I would nurse non-stop, he did seem like he couldn't get enough but wasn't fussy, just a frequent nurser. Mondays I would get a great morning pump but by Tuesday it was back to less than half.
Domperidone brought me back up for a while 
pear / 1571 posts
Because, despite nursing 20 hours a day, my baby never gained weight. And later I learned about Insufficient Glandular Tissue and that I carried a bunch of markers for it.
ETA: lol, I thought I read the question, but totally didn't. No, pumping is NOT a good way to gauge supply levels. Weight gain and dirty diaper output is far more accurate. Many people just don't respond to the pump like they do to their baby, to the point of not letting down for the pump at all.
cantaloupe / 6885 posts
I had a hunch (had a breast reduction 4 years ago so I anticipated issues). From day 1, Id ask the nurses/LCs in the hospital for formula to supplement and everyone just kept telling me to "put her to the breast, she's getting lots, she has lots of dirty diapers, she's fine". After 3 days she developed severe jaundice and dehydration, lost 12% of her birth weight. She was starving. Only then, under doctor's instructions, would they give her formula.
I was upset that no one would listen to me initially. Next time I will stand up for myself and my LO from the start.
Side note: my BFF has an abundance of supply and yet can only get 1-2 ounces per pumping. I have low supply and get 4-5 ounces per session. Go figure, lol.
GOLD / pineapple / 12662 posts
I didn't have any problems with my supply while exclusively nursing, but my pumping output sucked. For your friend's sake, she should be made aware that your pumping output is not determinative of what your real supply is! If she is really concerned, maybe she can bring in a LC to weigh the baby before and after a feed and to watch to make sure latch/suck looks good?
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
@MsLipGloss: She says his weight was good at his one month checkup but she is stressing out because she goes back to work in 2ish weeks!
Thanks everyone!
GOLD / pineapple / 12662 posts
@autumnlove: It's so hard, but the more she is able to relax, the better her results will be. I had to supplement starting at around 5 months, but it was just a couple of ounces (to start), and my LO was still getting all the benefits of BM (I think I have read that it only takes around 4oz a day to get the benefits of BM?). I was really down on myself for not being able to meet her needs, but I wish I had given myself more credit for what I was able to do. No matter what, help her remember what an awesome mama she is and that her baby will continue to thrive!
honeydew / 7488 posts
I knew I had low supply with my DD would be crying after 45 min of nursing and then guzzle 2 oz of formula..
Has she tried pumping for longer, like 30 min? It always took me two letdowns to produce enough for a feeding. Sometimes it was still not enough so I had to add an extra pump. At 6 weeks how much are they really eating, anyway (can't remember)..
pomelo / 5258 posts
Is she exclusively nursing LO and pumping to build a stash now? If so, that's not indicative of what her put output will be when she goes back to work and pumps while LO takes a bottle.
I never got more than an ounce when pumping during maternity leave but I've been working for 4 months now (LO is 8 months) and haven't had to supplement yet.
GOLD / cantaloupe / 6581 posts
@autumnlove: Both because of low pump output, and more recently, because LO is still hungry after nursing. @T-Mom: This. After two mornings of that this week I've given up my morning session for a formula and this morning she guzzled 4oz and wanted another 2 an hour later.
I'd tell your friend to not rely on the pump. It is not as efficient at getting milk out. Like others have said, wet/dry diapers and weight gain is what to go by!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@autumnlove: Does your friend nurse exclusively AND pump? It's totally normal to only get 0.5 - 1 oz at a time if you're nursing full-time! I never got more than 1 oz when pumping during my maternity leave! Totally normal!!!
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
@Adira: @Corduroy: Yes, she nurses on one side and pumps the other side. She also pumps when he naps.
@T-Mom: I think only 15-20. I will check!
grapefruit / 4663 posts
@autumnlove: I was reading this and then looked on kellymom because I'm having the same issue and kellymom says 1-2 is totally normal. Here's the link: http://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/pumping_decrease/
coconut / 8299 posts
@T-Mom: Same! My son would be hungry 30 mins later and down 2 or 3 more ounces of frozen BM. 
pomegranate / 3003 posts
My daughter wasn't gaining, and my output was horrible. Supplements had no effect, and I was diagnosed with chronic low supply.
GOLD / papaya / 10166 posts
Pumping is no indication of your supply. Babies can suck way more milk from the breast than a pump can. She might want to try changing the size of the valves.... and relaxing.... when she's pumping.
pomelo / 5093 posts
Yeah, this is a really classic way to sabotage yourself. Lots of women like me can't pump much, but exclusively breastfed no problem. The two really aren't related.
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