pumping problems....help

im unable to breastfeed and so i pump. My baby is almost 2wks and when i pump one breast gives me about 3 oz while the other one gives less then 1 oz. I try to do this every 4 hrs. if i do it closer together sometimes i get none..... whats wrong with me?? I find myself having to give him fomula cuz i cant produce enough and hes a big baby. Why does one breast give more?? Will i ever be able to make more milk then 3oz?? Is that normal for 2wks?? Please help!!!

[tiredbuthappy]

3 oz can be normal for 2 weeks, but honestly, you are definitely not pumping often enough. In the beginning, you need to be pumping every 2-3 hours, for a total of 8-10 times a day. You can go one longer stretch at night- up to 4 hours, but that's it. Be sure to get at least 1 pump in between 1 AM and 5 AM, as that is when prolactin levels are highest. You will probably get more milk during that pump than any other.

Basically, to pump successfully, you have to stimulate and empty the breasts as often as you would if you were nursing directly from breast. Technically, in most cases you actually need to do a little more, since the baby is much more effective at removing milk than a pump.

Make sure you are using a good, hospital-grade pump like the Medela Pump in Style, the Ameda Purely Yours, or the Lansinoh double electric pump. Most other pumps are not worth it (except for rentals- they are very good as well). Make sure your shield fits your nipple properly- your nipple should glide in the tube with minimal rubbing on the sides. Most women do not fit the standard sized shield that comes with most pumps. When you pump, pump 10-15 minutes or a couple minutes past the last drops. Continue to pump regularly and frequently, even if you are not getting any. Any extra pumping signals to your body to make more milk. It can take days to 2 weeks of good pumping habits to see an increase in supply, so don't be disheartened if you don't see an immediate jump in supply. When you pump, do breast compressions and massage to help empty. It can make a tremendous difference. Some people like to apply a heating pad briefly before to help with let-down. Make sure you are comfortable and relaxed when pumping.

by the way, it is very normal for your breasts to produce different amounts of milk. In addition, you will find that you make more milk at different times of day. This is related to normal hormonal fluctations, as well as your levels of rest, hydration, etc...

With good pumping habits, you can definitely make more than 3 ounces. In the beginning, I barely made enough for my little one. After a while, I was making twice the amount she actually needed in a day, so I had a big freezer stock. Let me know if you have any questions.