I have always known that I wanted to pump along with Breastfeeding. It really is the only way to for the mom to leave the baby for more than 3 hours. Which sometimes is necessary for sanity. What I didn’t know was how confusing I would find it.
I originally thought I would start pumping and introducing the bottle at 2 weeks (which is when lactation consultants recommend to reduce nipple confusion), but when the time came to start I found pumping on top of Breastfeeding to be overwhelming so I waited till around 5 weeks. At that point I decided it was time to bite the bullet. Actually, what really pushed me to start was when one day I left our little guy home with my mother in law to go get a much needed manicure and pedicure. She was generous enough to watch him, and I fed him pretty much right before I left so I thought I’d be safe. But on that particular day, the little man decided he was going to be hungry early. I pulled my car into the garage to hear him SCREAMING! (he does this when he’s hungry..gets very cranky like his daddy when hungry) I rushed inside and quickly gave over the boob. My MIL almost called me cause there was nothing she could do to sooth him. When he’s hungry there really is nothing to do but feed him to make him stop crying. Had I pumped, there would’ve been milk ready to give him and she wouldn’t have been put in that position. I felt bad.
When I spoke to my doctor about the dynamics of pumping she gave me a few options.
1: Pump after every feeding: This would give me just a little, but over the course of the day should give a full bottle. This option seemed overwhelming! Not only do I sit and feed..I then have to sit and pump after?
2: Feed on one breast and pump from the other: For some reason this sounded confusing to me. My routine is to feed from both breasts? I don’t get how he’d get enough from one breast? Do I just feed longer on that breast? What happens when he pulls away? That’s normally when I know he’s finished on that side?
3: When a bottle is given pump to replace the feeding: This one works well, but that means I have to already have a pumped bottle ready. And then I am building no stock. This would give me just enough?
So what’s the best option? Currently I do a mixture of two of them. Mostly I pump after every feeding, but it really is daunting. Feed…then pump..then clean the pump (which is the worst part). Or, I pump when The Captain gives a bottle. I still haven’t gotten how to feed on one side and pump from the other.
Some people also will get up before the baby to pump. I just can’t imagine giving up even a second of sleep to do that. But is that the only option? If you pump what works for you? I really would love to build a stock in my freezer but how? Help!
When I first started pumping I would do it after each feeding. Until I started to build up a stash. The more you tell your body you need the more you’ll produce. I always had the best luck first thing in the morning. After about 6 wks old I started only feeding on one side at a time. I could pump the other side. When I went back to work I had a ton saved at 8 weeks. Now I pump in the morning before work at least once at work and feed her as soon as I get home. I slack on pumping as frequently as I should. But my freezer stash is pretty incredible now so I don’t worry about adding to it. I pump enough before and at work to cover the portion of the day that I am gone for the next day.
That’s what I need to do..build my stash..I have been pumping after each feeding b/c after 8 weeks I still feel like I’m not producing a HUGE amount..especially now recently he’s been doing these marathon feedings.
I would pump after feeding. I would also pump when full instead of waiting for the baby to cry. Normally, if I wake up in the morning, I would pump to relieve pressure and that really helped my supply. And, I would pump during regular feedings when a bottle is given. I actually used a manual pump because I found it to be easier and more effective at extracting milk. Feeding on demand can get demanding, but hang in there, Mama, you will get that reprieve real soon!
I never really feel “full” during the day..and I worry if I pump that’s going to want to eat soon after that? The mornings i really feel full but he eats so much in the morning that I just wait for him to eat..then i pump.. I really have to figure this out! lol
I’ve always found pumping after a feeding session to be exhausting. It was necessary for me many times due to foremilk/hindmilk imbalances and mastitis. Also to build up supply. After a while though it became routine.
I think a combo of all of the above may work best at first to build up a supply in the fridge & to build up your own body’s supply.
I know getting up earlier is daunting to think about but that is when our bodies produce the most milk. To build up a fridge/freezer supply it really is the best time to do it. Once you build up your supply you can taper down morning pumpings and go back to getting more sleep ?
Another pumping opportunity is after you put the baby down for the night. Wait an hour & pump then.
Pumping more frequently is more effective than having long pumping sessions. You do not want to hurt your nipples with long pumping sessions. The suction on a pump is certainly not as gentle as a baby’s suction can be.
Eventually, sooner rather than later, you will have milk stored and then will be able to switch to pumping more when the baby gets a bottle & you miss a nursing session.
A concern for many newly pumping mothers is the amount of milk that is expressed at a pumping session. For a full-time nursing mom it normal to get anywhere from 1/2 ounce to 2 ounces of milk total from both breasts. Remember that this does not always correlate with what your baby is getting when he eats. It may take 2-3 pumping sessions to equate the amount of milk consumed in one nursing session.
To make up for the pumping sessions and increase your supply for stored milk nurse more frequently when you are with your baby. Try adding some extra pumping sessions during the weekend. Breast massage before pumping helps get the milk flowing. Drinking a glass or two of water beforehand is believed to be helpful as well.
Good luck ?
All extremely good advice! How did yo know about the formilk/hind milk problem? I like your idea about waiting an hour after he goes to bed…that’s an option, and you are right about the morning. I just don’t know what time to get up cause I have no idea when he’s going to get up. I worry I will pump and then he will get up like 15 minuts later and have none left…especially since he’s been eating so much recently.
It’s good to know that pumping doesn’t equal what he is getting when he nurses, but how do I know what to give in a bottle should I need to? I don’t get that much really when I pump..so sometimes I would worry.
I do need to build up my body’s supply and my freezer supply so I am working hard at that. Nursing from one side in the AM hasn’t been working b/c he’s so hungry and fights my nipple after a while which is frustrating..so i then give up and give him both sides..lol