When to Pump? - Billings,MT

Updated on October 16, 2012
S.O. asks from Billings, MT
10 answers

My baby is 2 1/2 months old, and I'll be going back to work soon. I'm breastfeeding him about every two hours. He pretty much empties the breast at every feeding. I can't seem to figure out when am I supposed to pump in order to build up a supply for him to have milk at daycare? Thanks!

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D..

answers from Charlotte on

Jennifer's giving you good advice. Make sure you are getting plenty of liquids too.

If your baby doesn't want to take a bottle and you try lots of different nipples, try having someone else offer the bottle. You'll be beside yourself if you come down to the wire and the baby still won't take a bottle.

Good luck!
Dawn

3 moms found this helpful
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J.☯.

answers from Springfield on

I used to pump immediately after feeding. If he's doing a good job of emptying you, you might not get much the first couple of days, but you should start seeing an increase in your supply.

I've heard some moms suggest pumping one breast while he's feeding on the other one. They say it gives extra stimulation which causes and increase in production. I never tried it myself, but what could it hurt?

Definitely pump after the morning feedings. For some reason, our bodies generally produce more in the mornings.

If you haven't already introduced the bottle, I would do it as soon as possible. There seems to be a trend of mom's not introducing the bottle during the first couple of weeks and waiting until they go back to work. Both my kids were introduced to the bottle (of breastmilk) before they were a week old, and they never had an issue.

Good luck!

3 moms found this helpful
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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

I would also tandem pump in that case: you pump one breast while he is eating from the other. Do NOT be worried that he won't get enough if he usually drinks from both breasts! First of all babies are so much better at emptying your breast than the pump is (so even when the pump is done there will be some milk left for baby) AND your body will start regulating to make more milk, so there is enough for pumping and baby - which will come in really handy, since most pumping moms will experience a drop in supply when they go back to work (the stress, pumping not being as good as nursing, fewer pumping sessions due to schedule...).
Good luck!

3 moms found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

I used to pump 1 hour after feeding and immediatelly drank tons of water. That way on her next feeding my body had enough for her. :) I tried pumping after feeding but never was able to pump much. So, I switch to 1 hour after feeding her and it worked for me. ALWAYS drink tons of water so you body is able to produce milk. I used to drink 1 gallon a day.

I loved this webiste: www.kellymom.com. Tons of educational information. Also, there I discovered that if you drink Mothers/Mommy Milk tea and Fennu Creek (sp?) will help with production.

DON"T GIVE UP! After 3 mo. is when it gets easier :)

Congrats on deciding breasfeeding your baby, is not easy but is the best choice :)

2 moms found this helpful
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T.S.

answers from Washington DC on

You don't need to pump a TON before you go back to work. Really, if you can get in enough pumping session between now and then to have enough for a couple of days that will be fine.

The BEST way to pump is to pump each day at work for your baby to eat the NEXT day. This is easiest on your body (it's tough to get a let down between feedings, and then trains your body to produce more milk than you need) and healthiest for you baby because he'll be getting milk that is made for his CURRENT developmental stage rather than milk that was produced for a baby much younger (the composition of your milk changes as your baby grows, which is one of the reasons it is his perfect food).

For now, try pumping one breast as (or right after) he nurses on the other. When you're back at work, try to pump at least twice during the day, at times that you would normally nurse your son. You'll get lots more milk that way plus you'll keep a natural rhythm to your production that will let you continue to nurse him on the weekends.

HTH
T.

2 moms found this helpful
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E.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

Pump right after he eats.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Pump in the morning shortly after your first feeding. You typically have more milk in the morning than any other time of day. If you're no longer nursing much at night, you can also pump before you go to bed, since your baby won't need as much milk during the night as he does during the day.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.C.

answers from Des Moines on

Pump after every feeding and during nap time! You might not get much at first after every feeding, but it will build up! Also Last thing at night (you probably won't get anything but it'll "put in the order" for morning) and first thing in the morning. If you can figure out how to pump one side and nurse the other at the first feeding of the day you'll get a LOT!

Remember even if you aren't getting a lot when you pump you're putting in the order and you'll get a lot more when you're at work

1 mom found this helpful
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J.L.

answers from Salt Lake City on

PUMP AS OFTEN AS U CAN... U CAN PUMP AT WORK JUST FREEZE AS MUCH MILK AS POSSIBLE, THE MORE U PUMP THE MORE U MAKE. MAKE SURE U PUMP BOTH BREAST EVENLY... IF U PUMP THE RIGHT FOR 20 MINUTES MAKE SURE U PUMP THE LEFT THE SAME. I HAVE TWINS SO I HAD TO PUMP AND FEED AT THE SAME TIME I FED ONE ON RIGHT WHILE PUMPING LEFT FOR 10 mins THEN SWITCHED BABIES FED SAME BREAST PUMPED SAME BREAST.... IT WORKED SO WELL. MAKE SURE U HAVE UR BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKED!

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C.P.

answers from Denver on

I had a mom tell me about Milkies Milk Savers, and now I'm hoping I won't have to pump before returning to work. Of course, I still have three months before I return, so I have a lot of time to build a stash, but the Milkies allow me to collect milk from the side baby is not feeding on. I'm able to collect 1 oz each feeding without having to do anything but feed baby.

They are sold on Amazon if you look.

Chrissy

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