So far Caiden drinks 3 oz. in his bottle...

So far Caiden drinks 3 oz. in his bottle...

... How long before he drinks more? I can't imagine having to pump out enough for 8 or 9 oz.? Right now I can only pump out 2 oz. on either side. Sometimes 3 oz. if I'm lucky. It would take forever to pump that much! I know the more you pump, the more milk you'll have, but how often can someone actually pump everyday? There's no way I'd have the time to pump every hour in between feedings. How does everyone else do it? Right now I'm pumping the side that he doesn't eat at each feeding. If I were to pump halfway in between feedings, there would hardly be any milk for me to pump or an hour later when it's time for him to eat again?

Re: So far Caiden drinks 3 oz. in his bottle...

Melissa I understand your concern. I think the idea is when he needs more, you'll make more. You just have to keep nursing, and pumping. My lactation specialist told me to try to pump after feedings in the morning, early afternoon - even if for 10 minutes. Not for collection necessarily but for stimulation. I know - it seems like your whole day will be taken up dealing with your breasts, right?

See my problem is - even when fully engorged, I can pump only 1.5 oz from BOTH COMBINED! I know the baby can get more than me, but I am completely letting down and that's just all that is there. It's very frustrating and why I have to supplement her. But I continue to pump and hopefully I will get to be able to be pumping and storing. (she'll probably be twelve by then, but whatever...)

Good luck and Michele might have some great advice for you. She's a pumping mommy!

Re: So far Caiden drinks 3 oz. in his bottle...

I agree with everything that Jenny said. I've read that a bf baby eats less, so when they are drinking from a bottle, it won't be more than 2-3 oz at a time. I used a bottle to supplement with Lyla for the first few months (she refused it starting 5 months) while I was increasing my supply and she was learning to latch on. During this time she NEVER drank more than 3 oz at a time. I rented a pump for one month and it did make a difference. It took us 3 months to get bfding going, so be patient, it will happen.