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About Sally Wendkos Olds
Expertise
What do you want to know about breastfeeding? I can tell you what`s good for the baby, what`s good for the mother -- and the father, how it`s related to a woman`s sexuality, how working moms can nurse, how to overcome obstacles, and lots more. As the author of THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING and author or coauthor of 8 other books and more than 200 articles about child and adult development, I can offer sound, sensible advice on breastfeeding, child care and family issues.

Experience
I nursed my 3 daughters and am the grandmother of 5 breastfed children. My book THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING (written in consultation with pediatrician Marvin S. Eiger, M.D.) was first published in 1972, and in 1999 came out in an updated 3rd Edition by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books. It is now a classic, with over 2 million copies in print. I am now revising this book for a fourth edition, consulting with pediatrician Laura M. Marks, M.D. This new edition will be published September 2009. I welcome any and all suggestions for the new edition. I coauthored college textbooks A CHILD'S WORLD: INFANCY THROUGH ADOLESCENCE, and HUMAN DEVELOPMENT; both are leading texts in their fields and have been read by 2 million students. I am the coauthor of HELPING YOUR CHILD FIND VALUES TO LIVE BY and RAISING A HYPERACTIVE CHILD, and author of THE WORKING PARENTS' SURVIVAL GUIDE & THE ETERNAL GARDEN: SEASONS OF OUR SEXUALITY. My newest book, A BALCONY IN NEPAL: GLIMPSES OF A HIMALAYAN VILLAGE, published in 2002, tells the story of the way of life in a remote village in Nepal, where all the women breastfeed! My book, SUPER GRANNY: COOL PROJECTS, ACTIVITIES, AND OTHER GREAT STUFF TO DO WITH YOUR GRANDKIDS, will be published March 2009. I speak often to professional, parent and general audiences and make many radio and TV appearances.

Credentials I received my B.A. in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania, where I minored in Psychology, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and graduated summa cum laude.

Other points of interest I have received national awards for my writing, and am a former president of the American Society of Journalists & Authors. I am listed in the World Who's Who of Women, International Authors & Writers Who's Who, and Contemporary Authors, and am a member of several professional and civic organizations. I believe: that all parents are working parents; that parents employed outside the home need special support; that mothers' well-being is crucial to their children's welfare; and that the family is the best institution in the world and the one for which we are least prepared. My thrills come when parents or kids tell me they were helped by my writing or speaking or just understanding. To find out more about me, go to

You are here: Experts > Parenting/Family > Pregnancy/Birth > Breastfeeding > Do I have enough milk and does my breast pump work?

Breastfeeding - Do I have enough milk and does my breast pump work?

Expert: Sally Wendkos Olds - 11/3/2009

Question
I have a 4 week baby and got very frustrated with breastfeeding. I have a lot of questions to ask. Hopefully, I can get some help from the expert.

1. My baby sleeps a lot while I am feeding him which makes the breastfeeding process very long and stressful. However, sometimes even when he is wide awake, after he sucked my breast for a while, he will just stop sucking, no cry. I hand expressed my breast and it seems to me that there is still milk coming out. When this happened, I switched my baby to my other breast, he started sucking again. Why? Does it mean that the first breast is out of milk?

My 2nd questions is how much milk am I supposed to pump out each time at this stage? I am using Ameda Purely Yours. I usually pump 15 minutes with a double kit each time after I feed my baby. Most of the time I can only pump out less than an ounce in total. Is it because I do not have enough milk supply or my pump does not work?

My 3rd question is that my baby always seems hungry whenever he is awake. However, he always falls to sleep in a few minutes after I feed him on my breast. Any suggestion?

My last question is that my baby spits up a lot, probably half of what he eats and always does so after each feeding. Is it normal?

Thanks.

Answer
Dear Tea,

First, congratulations for giving your baby the best start in life by breastfeeding him!

I'll answer your last question first: It is very normal for a baby to spit up a lot after nursing. Some of the healthiest babies do this. It's actually less than it seems, but in any case is nothing at all to worry about.

Now, for your other questions. I'll do my best to answer them, but it's really hard, if not impossible, to tell exactly what's happening without seeing your baby nurse. I strongly recommend that you contact a lactation consultant who can watch him nurse, answer your questions, and demonstrate anything you need to know. If you don't know how to find one, go to www.ilca.org. This is an excellent investment of both money & time. Getting nursing going well will save you money in the long run, so you'll recoup this money.

Question 1. Your first breast may not be out of milk, but after nursing for a little while, the milk may not come as quickly as it will on the next breast. After your baby nurses from the second breast, if he still seems hungry, try putting him back on the first breast.

Question 2. Fifteen minutes of pumping sounds like a reasonable time. I can't tell whether your pump is working properly. Some women do better with one kind of pump over another. However, you need to remember that even the best pump will not extract as much milk as a vigorously nursing baby, so you can be sure your baby is getting more than one ounce.

Question 3. When your baby starts to fall asleep after nursing, switch him to the other breast, burp him, do whatever you can to rouse him. I'm assuming that you are taking him to the pediatrician for regular check-ups, and that your doctor affirms that he is healthy and is gaining enough weight.

Again, I urge you to see a lactation consultant. Doing this early on can help prevent problems later and can move you on the way to a satisfying nursing relationship.

Good luck!

Sally
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Sally Wendkos Olds
Author, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING: Eiger & Olds, 3rd edition 1999, published by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books, and available in most public libraries, bookstores & La Leche League chapters. Now in revision for a fourth edition, with pediatrician Laura M. Marks, M.D.

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