Expressing only an ounce: Is this normal?
I only have six weeks off before I go back to work. I am breastfeeding my two-week-old daughter and want to continue after I go back to work. I bought a Medela mini-electric pump to express and started pumping today to get used to it. I was only able to pump one ounce the first time, and two ounces the second. Now I'm worried I won't be able to express enough to feed her when I'm at work. Can you help?
Question:Debbi Donovan
Debbi Donovan is a Board Certified Lactation Consultant, as well as a retired La Leche League Leader. For more than a decade, Debbi... Read more
Don't worry! It is not at all unusual to express one ounce of milk the first time you attempt pumping. Many moms express even less at first. It takes a while to condition your body to relax and let-down while expressing.
While still at home, express your milk in the morning, when your milk supply is probably very abundant. Express in between feeds at this time and/or following feeds as needed throughout the day. Allow yourself several feeds where you exclusively breastfeed. Of course, when expressing your milk following a feed, you will obtain less milk than you would at work when expressing to replace a feed.
Some moms find that looking at a picture of their baby while expressing their milk, particularly when away from home, helps them to relax.
I would recommend beginning to introduce a bottle to your baby about two weeks before you return to work. Most babies of this age readily accept a bottle when offered by someone other than their mom.
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