BF and Pumping

My daughter is just shy of a mth, and I have given her a bottle maybe 5 times now and would like to continue doing so, mostly just for the ease when we are out.  The first few times I pumped I had no problem getting 5-6oz at a time, but the last 2 times I tried pumping I got a measly 1-2oz.   I pump right after a feeding, should I wait an hour or so, except than I'm worried i wont have enough for her her next feeding.  I would like to get just a small stock together for outings, or even just to give her a bottle a couple times a week so she stays use to it. And when I do give a bottle how quickly will my milk supply decrease if I don't pump in repacement of that missed BF?    Also wondering- If I freeze breastmilk, do I have to wait for it to thaw in the refrigerator first or can I warm it straight from the freezer?      
I dont know, it seems everyone else manages to do the BF and pumping, but I sure am confused by it all.  Thanks for any advice.  

[SunWorshiper_26]

When I pump I feed on one side and pump the other but everyone is different. Try pumping next to your baby it help stimulate milk production. I bet you are getting less from pumping because your supply has evened out.

As for thawing milk I believe you should refrigerate to thaw but I don't remember off hand. Milk is good pumped then fridge for 5-7 days. Hope this helps

[tiredbuthappy]

you can go straight from the freezer to thaw and in bottle.
If you do want to thaw it in a relatively short time in fridge first, I recommend placing the freezer bag in a ziplock (they leak sometimes) and place that bag in a container of cool water in the fridge. It thaws pretty quickly (less than 3 hours). Of course, you can just put that bag into hot water to thaw and feed immediately. If you change the water, it takes only a few minutes. Never microwave breastmilk. One warmed, you can gently swirl it to mix the separated layers. Never shake breastmilk.

As for pumping, you have to do what works best for you. Since I was feeding off 1 side at a time, I would feed 1 side, and if I knew I was going out soon, I would pump the other side. Or, if you wake up very full in the AM, you can empty whatever is left after she nurses. They say your baby will always have enough to nurse, even if you just pumped or nursed and the breast feels empty. My little one never had the patience for that, although she was a frantic eater because of reflux. Many women just pump a little after a feed and save up that milk over time (an ounce or 2 at a time). If I had to do that, I would feed side A, feed side B, then pump side A. Since you start the next feed on side B, it won't be as empty.

[lifesconcerns]

Thank you both for your replies!  I have pumped in the a.m after her first feeding the last 2 days and am getting about 5oz and than again in the afternoon and getting about 3oz so I'm hoping this will continue to work.      I see that you both said you just feed on one side in a sitting, I was told to feed off both sides and 15-20min on each side, but I think when she does she may be getting more than she needs because she will often end up spitting it up.  Curious to how long you are feeding on just the one side? When you pump how much do you keep in a bottle for a feeding?  I have been putting 5oz in a bottle but I end up wasting atleast an ounce cause she doesn't eat it, but I worry if I only put 4oz in she will end up wanting more.
I did not know not to shake the breastmilk, what is the reason for this?  Thanks for sharing though, that's exactly what I was doing to seperate the layers.
Thanks again:)

[tiredbuthappy]

Shaking the breast milk can break up some of the (...?...) in the milk that are beneficial. (fill in the blank, I don't recall exactly- I just know that is what they say!)

I had to feed off of 1 side for several reasons. I had a big supply and forceful let-down. With the big supply and let-down, my little one got over 3 oz in less than 5 minutes at the breast! A LC weighed her before and after that feed at 4 weeks old because I was concerned that she would be getting enough in such a short time. The guidelines are general rules, but since every mom's supply and baby's nursing is different, you can do what works for you. 1 side a feed helped regulate my supply. It also gave my sore nipples a chance to heal. I also had "extra" milk for pumping when going out, or if she hit a growth spurt and cluster fed, I always had the other breast to offer a bit.  Of course, you walk around very lopsided :)

My little ones took up to 3 oz of breast milk for the first few months. They took 4 oz until about 6 months old. They never really took more than 5 oz ever.

[Ecologic]

I never had much milk when pumping and anyway my baby was breastfeeding all the time. I would pump only when he was napping and in the evening before going to bed.

At some point I would also do a pumping session in the morning on one boob while my baby was feeding on the other one (morning after she wakes up is best for pumping as this is when you'll get more milk) but this was exhausting.

[SunWorshiper_26]

I also have too much milk and a forceful letdown so she never feeds longer than 15 min so I feed only one side per feeding. My milk comes out with such force it goes down her throat from half a foot away and splashes back gets all over her face, soaks me and her clothes and drips down my side. If I do pump which I try not to bc I don't want to increase my supply but I can get 6oz in 10 min of pumping. My little one is 3 weeks old and from a bottle takes 2oz though she rarely has a bottle hasn't had one in a week