Where's the evidence?

[JaneSharon86]

Hi ladies

Not disputing this, but where is the evidence that the baby is able to extract more from the breast than the expressing machine?

Thanks

 

[Monalissa]

I'd be interested too! I can tell you from weighing my LO before and after feeds and knowing what I get from pumping, the pump gets just as much out, maybe just not as quickly. I seem to respond well to it even with my low supply.

 

[1stTimeOct.12]

I don't know if this is evidence. But I recently started to do my stock pile. I'd pump until ver little would come out. Then within 15 minutes or so I'd put lo on the same boob. It definitely takes him longer but I can always tell when he's getting milk, versus comfort sucking. He seems just as satisfied too. But also I do have a forceful letdown and block feed as i produce a lot of milk.

 

[JaneSharon86]

I'd be interested too! I can tell you from weighing my LO before and after feeds and knowing what I get from pumping, the pump gets just as much out, maybe just not as quickly. I seem to respond well to it even with my low supply.

Hi Monalissa

I've done the same and my pump seems to get more out than LO

I've also had a number of breastfeeding support/peer workers tell me that the pump and the baby can get the same amount out?

 

[JaneSharon86]

Stalking

 

[DittyByrd]

I think it is completely dependent on the individual. I can pump 5oz+ from one breast but when offered expressed milk LO never drinks more than 3-4oz.

Some women don't respond well to a pump and have a poor letdown. Baby's latch is designed better than a pump to cause release of oxytocin, IMHO. I say that because we're designed to nurse a baby, not a Medela!

That said, unless you feed baby and weigh how many ounces gained your can't know. Plus babies don't drink the same volume with every feed. Sometimes my LO will drink for 15 minutes and others she wants both breasts fully for 45 minutes.

 

[summer rain]

I can only generally express 2oz maximum (from both sides) at a session even with hospital grade pumps yet when I did 'test weighing' of my youngest before and after a feed, a quick 5 minute feed he had taken 2oz but a longer feed about as long as a pumping session he took 6oz. I have never been able to express 6oz in one sitting in my life xx

 

[staralfur]

I haven't seen any evidence but it's always made perfect sense to me. Your baby sucks instinctively, their life basically depends on being able to effectively extract milk, and a pump is just a one-size fits all man-made machine. Your breasts respond hormonally to your baby moreso than a pump as well.

 

[Peggy O]

In my case i can get two oz out of both (Combined) pumping for 20 min total. LO gets more...She weighed 4 more oz when i checked her weight after a 10 min feed.

 

[Millnsy]

This is an interesting thread! I have always respond well to a pump and can get Up to 9oz in a 10 min double pumping session. It's 3am now and she has been feeding for 15 mins so she is gonna have one full tummy! In the day time she feeds really quickly, sometimes only a couple of minutes so maybe she is getting loads?

 

[ke29]

By weight my LO gets around the same from my right side and can get between 3 and 5oz from my left whereas I've never got more than 2 with a pump. I always thought the saying was babies were more efficient than a pump rather than get more volume.

 

[vintagecat]

Milk changes gradually during a nursing session. The first milk that comes out is the foremilk and eventually it turns into hindmilk. The foremilk is kind of a light greyish white color and the hindmilk is much brighter white/yellow and thicker. When you pump, it all mixes together in the bottle, so there is no transition when they have a bottle. I don't think it's bad at all, just that's what the difference is. Nursing releases oxytocin too and you don't experience the same response to a breast pump. Personally, I always feel relaxed and sleepy while nursing and that's the hormone working.

 

[JaneSharon86]

thanks everyone for your input.

I'm wondering whether its just my LO! lol

I def get more out with the pump. I have been told my a few though that its the same motion and therefore if you respond well to the pump, the same amount.

 

[missk1989]

I think it is more efficient as in producing the same amount but baby is quicker.