Work and Breastfeeding

by Dallas

How Much Breast Milk Do I Send?

Visitor Question:
I am breastfeeding and will be returning to work shortly. I have started pumping and giving the bottle during the day, but I'm not sure if I am giving enough milk.

I am giving 3oz every 2-3 hours. When I pump I get 3-4oz every time. I get a total of about 12oz pumping 3 times in 8 hours.

Thanks for any help.

Breastfeeding Magazine Response:

The only one who really knows how much breast milk your little one needs - is your baby.

However, he or she can’t exactly tell you. This means that you will have to arrange things to figure out how much he or she needs.

Our suggestion is to send milk in a number of small storage bags or bottles. Start out with 2 oz bags. If your little one drinks this much every time and always wants more…then you can increase the amount in each container.

Ask your daycare provider or sitter to record feeding times and amounts each day so that you can carefully adjust exactly how much to send.

Also, it is important to remember that if your baby drinks less breast milk while you are at work...he will definitely make up for it as soon as you are home as long as you give him or her the ability to feed on demand during the times when you are together.

During a typical eight to nine hour day, most nursing babies will drink anywhere from 8 to 15 ounces of breast milk. However, only you and your baby can determine how much your particular baby needs.

The best strategy is to express milk one time for each missed feeding, and send that amount the next day.

Good luck!



Any other visitors have suggestions to add?