Does baby Bf at same speed as Expressing??

[Katw]

Hi,

I just wondered whether my DS would drink his milk as quickly as I get milk out when I express?

DS is nearly 5wks old and when I express the DF ( or when I have done a yield test) I get about 3-4oz in 5 mins . After that it slows down and I get abit more after pumping another 5mins.

So would DS get that amount in 5 mins of sucking? He is fairly big , put on weight after birth and last weighed at 3wks 2days at 10lb 6oz - he was 8lb 2oz at birth. DD used to take about 45mins to feed at this age but I am assuming he is an efficient feeder as he does last 3hrs between feeds.
I basically just want some reassurance that he is getting his milk out quickly as when I expressed with DD it took longer to get out - def not 4oz in 5 mins with the pump!!

Hope this makes sense? Thanks lot

[Samuel's mum]

Babies are almost always more effective than pumps. So generally if a mother gets X amount of milk in 10 minutes their baby will get more. Often significantly more.

I would say that his long intervals (for his age) and his very good weigh gain indicate he is getting plenty of milk.

Babies have different feeding styles and if he is a very effective and forceful feeder he will have stimulated your supply in a way that DD didn't. So letdown is possibly faster too.

[Katw]

Thank you!

I kind of thought that was the case but just wanted some reassurance!!

[clh]

As always, "what Emma said!"    Sounds like he's doing fine.

[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

Sounds like your doing fab, well done.

Kate x