I am not returning to work, so I just purchased a manual medela pump. I'd like to have a small stash so that I can have some time without the baby occasionally. Also, my husband is dying to feed the baby.

T was born 3 weeks ago, and breast feeding is going very well. The only issue we have is that my left boob seems to have a MUCH lower supply than my right. I know this is pretty normal, but it bothers me a little bit because she gets so upset when she is hungry and I try to get her on that side.

So, anyway. I decided that I'm going to start trying to pump 1 x / day. I plan to do this in the morning, because that is when she usually goes the longest without eating and is pretty content. I tried to pump this morning, and pumped both sides for 10 minutes each. I didn't even get enough milk to cover the bottom of the bottle.

I know I"m not going to get much with a manual, and my plan was to save it and add to it each day- but holy hell it will take me a decade to pump enough milk for one bottle at this rate!

Will I increase my output if I keep trying each day? I was thinking about adding a second session on just the left side to try to increase the supply there- maybe trying to do it while I feed her on the right side?

I really don't want to have to get an electric pump. I'd like to be able to give her a bottle sometime in the next few weeks. We are trying to plan our first date away from babe for our anniversary on June 16th so I'd like to have a stash by then...

advice?