Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply How much is a "good" amount to be pumping?

Hi,

Our baby via gest. surro (my sister actually!) is due mid June, and I've been on the accelerated protocol. I live in Toronto so I've been lucky enough to be able to go to Jack Newman's clinic. They've been great!

I was on the bcp and dom for about 2 months, and just started pumping last week. My first week I think I got a total of about 4 oz (all week) and it is starting to increase. I started keeping it yesterday to freeze and between yesterday morning and this morning I pumped a total of just over 2.5 oz. I'm pumping about 5-6x day and once at night. Wondering if this is a "good" amount for this stage. I have nothing to compare it to, so I'm not sure.

Thanks in advance!

Hi there. I also started pumping last week, after being on the regular protocol. I am getting about 2oz a day (I work in ml's so I'm gussing its about 2oz - 50-60ml a day). I was hoping I would be doing more as it didn't seem like much, so will be interested also, to see what other's say. I haven't started the night time pump yet, will be doing so in a few days. So your levels are looking pretty good. Good luck with your surro-baby. We are having a surro-baby also, via traditional surrogacy due 17 June.

congrats Bernice! Our surro-babies are due right around the same time (we're due June 20th).
Hope we get some answers about the amount pumped, and if we're doing ok.
Best of luck!

Hi KKB,
I just wanted to say hello and best wishes with breastfeeding your baby! I think we cycled together on FT (I'm knittingmama22 there). I'm very happy that your sister is carrying your little one.

I'm a little envious that you could actually go to Dr Newman's clinic It's too far for me!

Best wishes,
Nancy

Hi KKB.

How are your volumes going? Do you find that you increase each day or does it go in spurts? I seem to be going up about 10ml per day, but it just feels soooooo slow to be getting up to decent volumes. Do you know if you are having a boy or a girl? Its getting VERY exciting isn't it.

Hi Bernice! I am also expecting a little girl via GS and we are due June 13! It is getting so close. I am glad to hear that you are doing so well...I think that I was pumping a few ounces per day at that point as well. I did the regular protocol and started pumping about 6 weeks ago (I wanted to start early and feeze some). I am currently pumping about 1 1/2 ounces every 2 1/2 hours (so I guess about 14 ounces per day). I am really hoping to exclusively breastfeed and I am just hoping that when I get my daughter to breast that my supply increases with her needs.

Keep up the good work!

Nance - or knittingmama22 as I know you! Nice to see you here - where are you at in the whole process? I do feel VERY lucky to have been able to see Dr. Newman.

Bernice - I'm getting about an 1.5 oz every day so far. I've been pumping for just over a week. Things seem to be moving in the right direction but sometimes it's hard to tell if the volume is really increasing or not. Hope so!

Congratulations Candace - sounds like you're having great pumping success. I hope to be there soon!

Karma

Hi guys. Candace, how long did it take for you to get up to that sort of volume? And congrats on your little girl!! We will have to let each other know how it all goes when the little bundles arrive.

Karma - I sooo know what you mean about not being sure about the increasing supply. I guess every increase, no matter how small, means we're heading in the right direction.

Hi KKB,

We're starting the adoption process for our 3rd. Last month I miscarried at 20 weeks after going through a donor embryo cycle in November. I'm 40, so it wasn't too hard to decide to go back to adoption. (IVF is physically challenging and I was having a rough 2nd trimester, too.) Thankfully, my milk came in and I'm taking advantage of the opportunity as I've always wanted to breastfeed. I see it as a gift from God in the midst of difficult times. I remember how hard it was to induce, so keep up the good work!

By the way, I like to mix up a strong tea from 1-2 TBSPs of Fenugreek seeds and 1-2 TBSPs of Fennel seeds in 3 or 4 cups of water. I boil them for 5 minutes or until the water is a nice amber color. Then, I drink it hot or cold. (I don't strain it until I'm ready to drink it, so the seeds steep a long, long time.) Doing that seems to work better for me than taking the fenugreek capsules -- my husband comments on my maple smell more after I drink tea than if I just take the capsules. It might be worth a try.

Best wishes,
Nancy

Hi Nancy. I wasn't able to get the fenugreek caps when I went to the health food shop, but they had a fenugreek tea which I have been taking instead. So you think the tea is just as, if not more effective than the caps?