Breastfeeding/Pumping question...

[cocacolapanda]

So, is anyone pumping?  I noticed at least one other comment on increasing milk supply post of a pumper but I was wondering how much your pumping, and if you've noticed it increasing?  Have you felt engorged at all?

I'm pumping every 3 hours (4 at night) and I'm getting 4-5 oz each time.  I haven't felt engorged at all so I'm worried I'm not helping my supply increase enough. With my son I would pump 5 oz on each side when my supply was going good.

Also, anyone freezing milk yet?  What brand bags are you using?  

[cocacolapanda]

Thanks, I've decided to go with the lansinoh brand and I'm finding that I can fit more in the freezer that way (and they also fit 1 extra oz compared to others I looked at).  I've also started to pump more milk (to the point where I don't have room to freeze anymore).

Szw2008 - It's just fine to hold your little one a lot.  I didn't get the chance with my son as he hated being held (although now that he's got a baby sister he ALWAYS wants to be held!).  My only thing is at night I want her to sleep in her own bed, my biggest reason is I've seen so many parents have issues getting there little ones to sleep well because of co-sleeping, etc.  There's nothing wrong with co-sleeping IF you'r doing it safely.  My husband recently read that most of the SIDS from co-sleeping come from formula fed babies not breastfeeding mom's.  I admit that at night there are times I fall asleep with my baby girl in my arms in the rocker, but I will never let her in bed with me if I'm tired.  But that's because I don't sleep the best, I've kicked my husband out of bed a few times and he's not a small person!  When I was younger my sister even refused to sleep in the same bed as me, she'd rather sleep on the floor than in a bed with me.  Just make sure you'r safe with the co-sleeping.

[nickieb85]

I am exclusively pumping also. I had to get Reglan yesterday because my supply was so low it was about to dry up! I haven't gotten enough to freeze yet but I do have the playtex drop ins (I was using a petite playtex pump when I was bfing still) but I am using medela symphony and I haven't used the bags yet but I did buy the medela storage bags. For the first time today I was engorged but I still pumped for 40 minutes and only got an oz on each side. I think I need to start pumping about every 2 to 3 hours instead of every 4 to try to help with my supply =(

[VaniDavila]

lol... It's only natural to want to hold your precious baby. I hold my daughter a lot, but I don't sleep her with me. I'm afraid I will smash her!!! I'm not a supporter of cosleeping. I never slept my oldest with me either. I think it's just up to you if you feel comfortable cosleeping.

[szw2008]

I am pumping only as my boy is a very aggressive eater (=

I know I have increased my milk supply- I was writing it down. At first I barely got an ounce total. Now I'm averaging 4 oz about every three hours. I haven't frozen any yet though and the way my Jacob eats, I don't know if I will ever be able to! As soon as I get ahead he starts eating constantly!

I have a question for those breastfeeding- anyone cosleeping? Jacob sleeps longer when he's in my bed but my husband thinks I'm "an idiot" for liking him to be in bed with me! I carried him for 10 months, its weird if he's not right with me all the time- my husbands other complaint- I hold him too much cuz I never put him down.

[VaniDavila]

I am doing only pumping. My daughter doesn't take the breast. I am pumping about 4 oz. every 3 hours or 6 oz. every 6 hours. I usually pump when she's feeding but sometimes I don't have the time to do that so I pump when I get a chance. When I have to go out I usually do formula. So far I haven't felt engorged. I am using the medela 2.5oz bottles to store the milk, but I usually feed her the milk that same day. I don't freeze my milk. At the beginning when I started pumping I was only getting about 2 oz. every 3 hours, but I notice that my supply has been increasing.

[alaysha]

Im breastfeeding and pumping. Whenever I pump if Im swollen I can get about 3-4 ozs on each side but if im not very engorged then I can only get 1-2 ozs on each side. Navy cluster feeds though so the only real time I can pump is at night when her stretches are longer. I freeze most of the milk I pump so that DH can have his supply to feed her with whenever he wants. Im using the (sp?) Laundolin bags and I really like them. Ill be honest though I havent tried any other bags.