Most pumping mothers are very concerned about how much milk they are making, especially in the first week or two after birth. During this time, many mothers will express or pump very small amounts and others will have a lot of milk. This paper discusses the minimum amounts of milk you should expect:
These forms contain basic pumping information including how often you should pump and for how long. These records can help you keep track of when you are pumping and how much milk you are making on a daily basis.
Your milk is vitally important to your baby, even more so if your baby is premature or sick. This is important information to share with your family because you will need their support to sustain your pumping.
When a premature infant is ready to start feeding from the breast, he or she may benefit from nursing with a silicone nipple shield. The following form explains when to use a shield, what to look for to know it is working and how to clean it. These shields should be used under the supervision of a lactation consultant or physician.
We have developed this short Test Weight Video to teach nurses and parents an accurate, proven method for weighing infants before and after breastfeeds to know how much milk an infant has taken from mother's breasts. The process of test weighing helps staff and parents know the volume of milk an infant is getting at breast and how much, if any, additional milk the infant needs to complete a feed.
Test Weight Video:
Information and Videos on Hand Expression & Maximizing Milk Production Videos from Jane Morton, MD at Stanford School of Medicine. Used with permission.
