Breast feeding questions part 2...

[smjmekg]

Ok, so I decided to pump one side to see how much I was getting out, and Sunday when I pumped on the right side I got just over an ounce, and now I'm getting about half an ounce...

I guess I'm just worried because after my milk came in with my son my supply went down from there and I was never able to produce enough for him.

I think I caused some confusion in my last post with asking about my breasts getting hard/full feeling. I DON'T always feel it like I did the first couple days after my milk came in. I actually haven't really felt them get full the last two days or so...

Is my supply going down or am I adjusting to how much she eats? With how much she's on the breast is it causing my supply to drop because I'm not filling up?

[30something13]

did not read all the post but I have an over supply problem and don't get a drop out of a pump! I can hand express some but nota with a pump, pumooing seems easier when it first comes in and you are just so engorges it wants to come out, May not be true on that but seems that way. WIth 4 kids I have only needed to really pumo once when my third was in the NICU for 14 days and I was able to pumo everyother feed with her but that is the only time I have been successful, well except when I did relactation for an adoption we thought we were going through. that was cool it had been 7 years since I had had milk in my boobs. It is a mental thing I think and not nessisary and you wil just make yourself worry and mad over trying to measure your milk! If she is wetting and satisfied you are fine, it is supply and demand

[Heatherm4]

On part 1 I said that I get that full feeling before feedings. I should have mentioned that I don't get it all the time either but I do get it a good percentage of the time. Like right now my left breast feels like it's gonna bust! LOL
And yes bluegenie is right about "watching" the pump! I've learned that you have to sit back and relax, relaxing your shoulders right down helps. I was watching at first and hardly got anything..now I sit and talk to my baby or just watch tv or if I feel like really multi tasking I try and eat!
I wouldn't worry about how much you're getting. The pump is way different than your baby sucking. It's always different for me. I haven't pumped for a few days because I don't get much sometimes or it takes a long time to get a good amount. I still have no idea how much it takes to get Brady full.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I agree that you are probably just fine with how much you are producing.  With my last baby (she is 15 months old now), I never got that "full" feeling that I had gotten w/ my others.  She just seemed to eat more than the others, if that was even possible.  But here she is still nursing.....Just be sure you are eating enough and drinking plenty of fluids.  The very best thing you can drink when you are nursing is water.  I am not a good water drinker, but it really helps!

[Clysta]

Lol. Sure looks that way.

[bluegenie2003]

lol Clysta. We must have been typing at the same time!

[bluegenie2003]

If she's on the breast often that should actually cause your supply to increase. As long as she seems satisfied, and is having enough wet diapers, I wouldn't worry about supply. Pumping is not an accurate indication of supply.  Its nowhere near as efficient as your baby.  Also, if you were pumping to see how much you were getting, I bet you were paying attention as you pumped, right?  That's a surefire way to get less milk!  If you're stressing about how much you're getting, you're not relaxed in the same way you are when you're BF, and you tend to get less milk.  I've been BF Braeden now for almost 8 months and I actually have an oversupply of milk fairly often. But if I pay attention while I pump, then I get WAY less milk than I do when I'm doing something else while I pump (actually pumping right now!)
Also, I very rarely feel my breasts get really full anymore, and haven't since the first week or two, unless I go way too long without pumping or feeding, or when he goes through a growth spurt and my supply adjusts to that.

[Clysta]

Don't ever base how much milk you're producing on a pump or how firm your breasts feel. A baby is much more efficient than a pump ever will be and many women think they have low supply because of these two things. Breast feeding is supply and demand, so the more you put the baby on the more your body makes. The less it's put on the less is made. It doesn't sound like you have a low supply. Don't worry. It sounds like everything is fine. As long as she's growing you're clearly producing enough.