This is my second time nursing and pumping. I was able to exclusively breastfeed my first child for the first six months. When I went back to work, I was concerned about the quantity of milk I was expressing.
I would dutifully go to an empty conference room and lock the door. I would close my eyes, imagine my baby and flowing rivers of breas tmilk. When 15 minutes had passed, I opened my eyes to see how much milk I expressed. Surely I had pumped 4 oz each!!! I was dismayed to discover I had only pumped 1 oz total.
I ate more oatmeal. I drank Mother’s Milk tea. Some days I would get a total of 2oz at a pumping session but it wasn’t this flood of breast milk that I was expecting.
So dear reader, I am sharing with you, to not get discouraged if you do not pump quarts, pints or even a cup of milk! It does not mean you are lacking. This is my second time pumping and the amount I get per session still hovers between 1oz to 2oz. Every now and then I may get 3.5 oz but that is rare and something I have been unable to replicate.
I still nurse on demand when I am home with my baby and the weekends, I nurse exclusively.
I did supplement with formula with my first child, on an as needed basis. It would have been “easier” to go the formula route. I wouldn’t have to take time out of my day to pump, I could work out instead! But I appreciated the breaks pumping gave me as I would normally just plow through my work day and not leave my desk. It also helped me to maintain my nursing relationship with my children.
