If you nurse on one side but pump on both..

By JoJoGirl Aug 30, 2013

... do you express more milk than LO drinks?

Since birth, LO has only ever wanted one side per nursing session - she never eats on the second boob. So each boob goes 4-6 hrs between nursing sessions as she eats every 2-3.

Now that I'm back at work, I thought pumping from both sides simultaneously every 3 hours would be giving me way more than she drinks! But somehow my body knows.... today she drank 11 oz total at daycare and I've pumped exactly 11 oz... although she'll probably eat again before I have a chance to pick her up. Stress might also be impacting my supply because I pumped a total of 7 oz all day yesterday

How is this happening? Less efficient pump + more often expression than my boobs are used to?

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11 comments

JoJoGirl
cantaloupe / 6206 posts

Aug 30, 2013

Nobody?
sweetooth
nectarine / 2705 posts

Aug 30, 2013

@JoJoGirl: Maybe it's just because it's Friday before a holiday weekend? I don't have any help to offer - just listening in on breastfeeding discussions as I move towards that time in my life. Learning lots from you!
JoJoGirl
cantaloupe / 6206 posts

Aug 30, 2013

@sweetooth: Hahaha. Thanks Feel free to PM me!
Revel
pear / 1563 posts

Aug 30, 2013

As you know we're at the exact same spot in our pumping journeys :). It's day three and I'm only getting about 8-9 ounces in my three pumps at work. The only thing I've figured out is that I need to go the full 20 minutes because I usually get a third let down.

In talking to another friend who went back a few weeks ago, she said she started to get more at her work pumps in the second week - possibly getting used to those pumping times/location?

I do a morning/before bed pump to make up the ounces that I need, but I'm still hopeful I'll get more at work as I get used to it.

Unfortunately no advice on why your output is that way with the one sided nursing. Hang in there, this pumping is a grind, I can already tell.
JoJoGirl
cantaloupe / 6206 posts

Aug 30, 2013

@Revel: Funny, I have another friend who said the same thing.. her output increased dramatically after the first week back at work (like 2 oz total to 3-4oz per SIDE!). I guess our bodies need to get adjusted or something. I have a freezer stash and am not opposed to supplementing with formula if I can't pump enough so I'm not adding any sessions outside of work, but am hoping next week will be better!
Espion
pomegranate / 3577 posts

Aug 30, 2013

I'm hoping that I'll pump more at work. I *have* to do hand compressions and massage, and even then, it can take an hour for an ounce. So I'm really worried about pumping with a time limit.

ETA: 1,000 posts! I'm a persimmon!
mrskc
bananas / 9357 posts

Aug 30, 2013

It's probably because it's your first week back. Once you get more comfortable with pumping at work, you might find that you start pumping more. How many times do you pump and for how long? I also found that by Friday, I pumped less overall and Mondays I usually pump the most. I would try and exclusively nurse on the weekends. How old is your LO?

ETA: breast compressions & doing a massage before I started pumping (like what you do when you check for lumps) helped my output. as did watching videos and this may sound silly, but I would imagine my breasts as waterfalls with milk pouring out of them. I think a lot of it is mental. So relaxing helps a lot.
Corduroy
pomelo / 5258 posts

Aug 30, 2013

I only nurse on my right side so I'm not sure if my input applies. I assume you mean you alternate breasts, one side per feeding.

I think LO eats about 4 ounces per feeding on the right side. I pump 3-4 ounces from that side 3x a day at work and 2oz at 10pm. I also pump the left when I pump the right but it produces about 1oz per day total.

Come to think of it, I don't think this is helpful for you at all. But I also found my output increased a little bit after a few days at work.
MamaMoose
GOLD / squash / 13464 posts

Aug 30, 2013

I'm in the same situation. I block feed whenever LO and I are together. I estimate she gets four ounces from a single boob at each feedings. She eats every three hours which means each boob has six hours to refill to another 4 ounces. When I pump I pump both sides every three hours. I get four ounces total (two ounces per side). This makes since to me since my boob has half as much time to refill it produces half as much milk.
bisous
persimmon / 1304 posts

Aug 30, 2013

I am with you ladies, too! Just returned to work this week.

During my first afternoon pumping session this week, I got like a half an ounce from one side! Now I am so worried about my supply taking a hit so I am pumping three times a day and I also still nurse her on my lunch.

I don't have much to go by because its only been a week, but I started pumping in the morning when I am getting ready (she STTN so it is before her first feed) and I think that's the trick for getting the day off to a good/efficient start.
JoJoGirl
cantaloupe / 6206 posts

Aug 30, 2013

@mrskc: The visualization is really smart! I totally buy it! LO is almost 17 weeks and I pump for 15-20 mins. When she was younger I could get like 7 oz in 9 mins but those days are gone I pump 3x/day at work - every 3 hours.

@Corduroy: haha the last part was helpful!

@MamaMoose: Yeah when you put it that way, it doesn't sound so complicated. I guess half the time = half the output.

@bisous: Lucky you she STTN! I think that's adding to my stress/low output - I'm exhausted enough as it is without coming to work, so being here so tired does not make for good output. My first nursing session of the day is around 4am and then I pump at work around 7.

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