Pumping vs nursing quantity eaten

[spicysalmonroll]

So I know that the pump is never as efficient as baby... But by how much? I pump at work each side for 12 minutes in order to get a 4oz bottle. He sucks down 4 of those at daycare.

When I'm home, he only nurses on one side for 5-10 minutes and refuses the other side. So if we went by pump standards that would only be 2oz. Is he getting more than that you think?

Reason I ask is because when I'm home on weekends he wants to basically eat every hour and a half so I feel like he's not getting anywhere near the 4oz. It's really annoying to be honest, I always hate going places knowing I'm going to have to nurse a few times. He's 6 months old so I worry he's outgrowing what I've got to offer since he wants it so often?

[emmyg65]

Best way to find out would be to do a weighted feed. A lot of LLL and other BFing support groups can do that for you.

Based on your pumping output, your supply sounds just fine. Nursing is weird in that babies don't do it just for food--they also like the close cuddles and quiet mama time.

[lilyelayne]

^that

Also just in case you don't know, your breastmilk changes as LO grows to meet his needs. More calories per oz so intake stats the same, yet baby gets more practiced & efficient at the breast so sessions can become quite short.

The 6 month growth spurt was one of the worst for my son. So much nursing all the time. It gets better :-) and then they get distracted and you're struggling to get them to nurse at all during the day haha. Hope you get to miss that stage since you've got a snuggler!

[spicysalmonroll]

OK thank you!!

[vvvvvfee]

another thing to consider is that they may be overfeeding a bit at daycare. are you using the slowest-flow nipple available? do your DC providers do paced bottle feeding (info here: kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/ )? do they try offering a pacifier some of the time (maybe LO just wants to comfort suck rather than actually eat)? maybe LO is full by the time he gets home and that's why he's not nursing so much. not sure what your schedule is like, but maybe you want to try having DC skip the last bottle so that you can nurse LO when you get home.

[spicysalmonroll]

Jan 23, 2017 11:12:17 GMT -5 vvvvvfee said:

another thing to consider is that they may be overfeeding a bit at daycare. are you using the slowest-flow nipple available? do your DC providers do paced bottle feeding (info here: kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/ )? do they try offering a pacifier some of the time (maybe LO just wants to comfort suck rather than actually eat)? maybe LO is full by the time he gets home and that's why he's not nursing so much. not sure what your schedule is like, but maybe you want to try having DC skip the last bottle so that you can nurse LO when you get home.

we are on the slow nipples still. I have no clue if she paces it or not... Guess I can ask

[melody330]

I loathe pumping. At work I work HARD to barely eeek out 5 oz all day. I double pump twice a day for 25 minutes each time. My LO is 6 months as well and nurses all day when we are home (and overnight as well). He's gaining slower than my first, but he's on his own curve and I'm not worried.

Basically my pumping output is garbage but when he nurses he gets plenty!

[seamonster]

I didn't respond well to the pump and was lucky to get 8oz over 3-4 20min sessions and needed 16oz to satisfy DS. He needed that amount, but was much more efficient at nursing and I didn't need to supplement at home.

[brazilianpeach]

I have the same issue. I pump 4-6oz a session but L latches on one breast only for 15 minutes and then pass out for about 45 min-1 hour than wakes up to nurse again. Rinse and repeat. Then I get sore and end up giving him a bottle. He'll easily gobble up 120cc at that point. Not sure what to do...