Where can I rent a breast pump?

Does a breast pump get the same amount of milk as breastfeeding?

• I am a working mom who pumps breast milk during the day for my baby. I've seen a lot of information indicating that using a breast pump is not as efficient as nursing and that many women have to pump multiple times to get enough for one feeding. I pump at least twice as much milk each time as my son eats during each bottle feeding; so I don't think I have a problem with efficiency. When he nurses he usually does a cluster feed (eats for about 10 minutes on one breast and then eats again an hour later on the other breast). I use a Medela pump in style, which is considered a high quality pump. I'm just wondering if I get the same amount of milk in 10-minutes of pumping as my son gets in 10-minutes of breast feeding.

• Answer:

  It's impossible to say, as you can't measure what your baby is able to get out since you can't see it. I had assumed that what my baby was eating in 15 minutes was the same thing I could pump in that amount of time. I was told that isn't true though. Your baby is a more efficient sucker than even the best pump. Also, your body reacts & releases more milk when a baby is attached than when a machine is. Pretty cool actually. I'm nursing my 4 month old, and I am assuming at this point that my baby is able to get much more out than I pump. I only am able to pump usually 4 oz's at a time at the most, and that's every 3-5 hours. I rarely pump - I used to do it daily the first two months. Now it's only once a week, if that. I am a stay at home mom, so pumping is only done if my baby is sleeping & I feel engorged or need extra milk for some reason. Anyways, my baby is thriving. She is in the 50% for weight and 60% for height. I have to assume she gets more than 4 ozs or less every 3-5 hours or she wouldn't be in that percentile. She also seems satisfied after feedings. At 4 months, she would be eating more than that. So my assumption is that she pulls out more milk than I pump. This was also what I was told from a friend of mine who has nursed both her daughters. For a more professional opinion though, you could contact your local Le Leche League, or local hospital lactation center. I've called mine with a few questions, and they've been really nice!