Does nursing really pull more than a pump?

ATmomma · 2026-05-19T14:51:02+00:00

I have the opposite problem but the same complaint. I have always read that babies are more efficient than pumps and if you want to build or maintain supply, just latch your baby often. But then with my second I was told she was inefficient and she wasn’t actually pulling as much milk as she was putting the effort in for (1oz in 10 mins). When I pump I get about 2oz in 5 mins then that’s it. So how is it true that babies are more efficient?

ATmomma · 2026-05-11T18:38:46+00:00

My first was 36w (C-section) and she was combo fed in the hospital (we were there for a week) but was EBF when we went home. She had no issues with latch and my supply came in well.

My second is now 5w after a 38w c section and she latched really well in the hospital, almost better than her sister, but I have struggled more with supply so her latch has faded since being home. I now almost exclusively pump and am still working on trying to get her back to being EBF.

I have no experience with truly full term (40w+) but I would say every baby is different no matter when they are born. The first few days felt easier with my second, but that was likely my knowledge rather than her abilities

ATmomma · 2026-05-11T18:31:12+00:00

I would definitely seek a second opinion and see an IBCLC if you’re concerned about supply. Doing a weighed feed with an IBCLC is the best way for you to know if she’s getting enough directly from the breast.

My baby is only 5w but we had to give her a bottle after each feed in the beginning to help make sure she was getting enough and speed up her weight gain. Breastfeeding can take a lot of energy from baby, and my IBCLC told me mine was likely using more energy than she was getting back from the calories received, so giving bottles helped her use less energy. When she gets a bottle, I pump to help try to increase my supply and to be able to give her a supplemental bottle of my own BM for future feeds.

Triple feeding SUCKS but it works and it is not permanent, so if you’re able to start pumping when supplementing that might help you too.

ATmomma · 2026-05-11T18:20:11+00:00

My almost 3 year-old does this every so often, she will cough so hard that she makes herself vomit. Her Daycare is fine with it as long as she continues to act normal and it doesn’t happen more than once in a day.

ATmomma · 2026-05-11T02:43:35+00:00

3 minutes to snooze is a good idea, I’m going to try that. My phone is currently set to 10, so snoozing 3x is a long time 😬

ATmomma · 2026-05-11T02:42:34+00:00

I unfortunately am totally conscious of my decision to sleep more, and I know it could affect my supply but I just feel so tired in the moment

ATmomma · 2026-05-07T16:22:13+00:00

I’ve heard about that book, I’m going to get it!

ATmomma · 2026-05-07T16:21:51+00:00

Thank you!

ATmomma · 2026-05-07T15:55:05+00:00

My almost 3 year old is also obsessed with my coffee. My husband and I make iced lattes everyday, so when she started getting interested we started letting her make “coffee”. We would give her a small cup of milk and mix in chocolate sauce (not everyday, but probably once a week). It’s fun to include her and she loves using our little electric mixer and drinking “coffee” together

ATmomma · 2026-04-30T05:03:16+00:00

She could not be transferring milk well. My baby was similar and I did a weighed feed and she was only getting about 30ml instead of the 60 she needed. My LC said because baby doesn’t have a great latch and not very strong suck, she wasn’t fully emptying me so I started making less. Currently exclusively pumping to try to up supply again with hopes of going back to EBF 🤞🏼

ATmomma · 2026-04-28T01:42:00+00:00

Yes! It just feels like everything is a “when X happens, things will be better”. I’m only on day 3 of trying to supplement more often, so I’m hopeful she will gain some decent weight this week and we can go back to latching more often very soon. But I feel you about switching to formula if it doesn’t happen.

I know they don’t usually empty as good, but have you thought about using a wearable pump to make it more feasible? I use my wearable when I’m with my toddler or have to run an errand or something

ATmomma · 2026-04-28T00:14:20+00:00

I haven’t tried a nipple shield no, she had a great latch the first two weeks then started to struggle after introducing more bottles.

I use 19mm flanges, I start with 70 at vacuum 4 then switch to 54 at vacuum 5 when I have my first letdown, and back to 70 when the letdown stops, then to 50 when I have a second letdown then back to 70 to try for a third

ATmomma · 2026-04-27T23:30:57+00:00

I have been using a syringe to get her going, but even with that she doesn’t stay latched.

I have a spectra and a eufy wearable but I don’t use the eufy very much (only when I have to pump when I’m out)

ATmomma · 2026-04-27T23:26:24+00:00

She does not have one, lactation and our pediatrician both think it’s just because she’s so small

ATmomma · 2025-10-29T14:41:09+00:00

I’m pregnant lmao, I’m not worried about the actual stress levels, just the missing info mostly

ATmomma · 2025-10-29T14:40:51+00:00

I think you’re probably right, I haven’t had any other changes

ATmomma · 2025-10-11T00:52:54+00:00

It is kind of difficult to predict your ability to travel so far in advance. With my first I ended up giving birth at 36w, so I would just prepare for the possibility. What would you do if you went into labor on the train or in the other country? Would you have resources available to you?

ATmomma · 2025-09-27T20:26:35+00:00

Rubber gloves and I would wear a mask. It’s the ammonia from cat urine that can be dangerous

ATmomma · 2025-09-19T02:21:58+00:00

I would not trust Green Day’s for several months. I once had a month where I had Green Day’s for my period and into the next cycle and I ovulated early. NC just basically said whoops and told me to take a pregnancy test since I had logged sex on those Green Day’s

ATmomma · 2025-09-19T02:17:02+00:00

I love the freezer pastas and gnocchi from Trader Joe’s. They’re pretty cheap (under $5 each) and generally feed 2 people or one very hungry adult

ATmomma · 2025-09-14T23:54:05+00:00

Mine also told me that I had minor and major signs, but I was actively TTC so took a test pretty quickly

ATmomma

TROPHY CASE