kim,
i'm the opposite. i only manage to TBF my girl when i go back to work..i was supplementing 1 feed from 2 months onwards 3rd month until i manage to TBF. Before that i was supplementing 3 feeds because I could not latch my girl until she's 5 weeks old.
when i'm at the office, i notice that if i drink less water, my milk will decrease. so, every time before i pump i make sure i drink at least 1500ml of water (equavalent to 3 bottles of mineral water). Also, i make sure that i totally empty my breast each time. In the beginning i had to pump at least 45 mins to get 125ml (total from both breast). Many collegues told me i should not pump so long but i just continue to do so. Slowly somehow my breast become efficient and now i take 1/2 to pump out at least 150ml or more depending on the intervals.
My schedule is :
3 to 4am - pump out 70% of my milk. i will ensure i leave some in my breast because my girl will wake up around 5 for a snack.
4-5am - latching if she wakes up for snack. Make sure she empties the breast. Keep squeezing your breast and your baby usually automatically suckle. If she still sleep, you can let your milk accumulate for the next feed or express session
8am - latching (full feed - empty both breast or at least empty the one that produces more milk)
11.30am - express
4.30am - express
8.30 - express or latch if i'm with her. if breast still not empty, pump out the milk until my breast really soft
11 to 12am - latch baby in her sleep. if she refuse, pump out.
So, pls take note to:
1) Drink more water
2) Totally empty your breast (you know that you've emtpy your breast, when your breast is so soft that it feels like it's sagging)
3) Stick to the intervals or at least close to the intervals you set.
By the way, i'm using avent manual pump. I feel that it's very very good at empting my breast, better than the dual i use previously.