When to Pump... - Encinitas,CA

Do you have supply concerns at this time? If so, go ahead and hand express or pump from the other side.

One thing to remember, is that breasts aren't milk jugs. They don't ever get empty. They're more like drippy faucets. Imagine a sink with a really slowly running faucet. You plug up the sink and it will slowly fill and you can dip right into the sink with a glass and quickly fill it with water. Or, if someone pulled the plug recently and drained the wanter, you can still hold the glass under the slowly running faucet to fill it up. It just takes longer. Breasts are always producing milk. So they don't ever get empty.

I breast fed all 5 of my children. After becoming more experienced and educated in the whole process, I found out that the best "fatty" milk comes with the second let down which actually makes the baby more full. I would sometimes pump the other breast just for relief and to help even out the lopped-sided feeling. Sometimes it would take up to 40 mins. for an entire feeding, depending on their appetite. I would not just feed for exactly 10 mins. on each side and then be done, I would continue to nurse until they were full. I wouldn't worry about losing your supply, the babies sucking will stimulate you and allow for another let down. I found that once solids were introduced and nursing became less frequent, that's when my supply started to lessen. You have a while until that happens. I was around an 8-week old baby yesterday who fed for only 10 mins. on each breast and he was very fussy after his feeding and all he got was his pacifier. I believe he was still hungry and just a little more would have topped him off and he would have been off to sleep. I know each child is different, but it worked with all 5 of mine, so it does make sense. My babies would gain on average at least 3 pounds a months for the first 6 months or so, or until solids were introduced. My suggestion is to feed him as often as he is hungry, as long as he doesn't sleep more than 3 hours at a time during the day. If so, then wake him up so you can get him in a feeding pattern and he'll be sleeping through the night for you soon. I have been through a lot having done this 5 times, so if you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me at any time. Best of luck with your new little one!

Good for you... sounds like you are really dedicated to breastfeeding. You could try either way, pump if you feel too engorged or if you want to stockpile a nice supply while you have it. But be careful, if he needs to eat soon after you pump and you feed him from your breast your body will keep up with that demand, creating a vicious cycle of needing to pump to keep engorgement at bay. Pump just enough to make you comfortable, but not being left totally "empty"--even tho we are never really empty. OR just give him the other breast on his next feeding. My first pregnancy was twins so I had to feed/pump both breasts at relatively the same time. But with my 3rd baby I fed one boob at one feeding then the other at the next feeding. Worked for us and I had a ton of milk for quite a while. I nursed him for 2 years (to my surprise)! It wasn't until he was about 1 where he needed both boobs at each feeding. So I am proof it can work. Your body just figures it out and adjusts. Isn't the female body AMAZING?!

My son did that. I mistakenly thought I should let him sleep, but he would only sleep a short time, and wake up hungry, and spitting up. My friend (who had 3 kids), told me that if ried to burp him, he would wake up in a couple minutes, burp, and then feed on the other side. After the second side, he would sleep, and because now he was truly full, he would sleep for about an hour or so.

Both of my kids did the same when they were around that age. I didn't do anything special unless I really needed to nurse then I'd wake or if not, then I'd make sure he/she got the fuller breast when he woke up. I feel that pumping sometimes messes with the whole supply demand if not done exactly right. If you don't have to pump, let him do the work. He is still very young and the whole supply/demand is still being worked on. So, that's what I'd do - wait till the next feeding and have him start on the full side and/or if you are feeling pain then wake him and have him nurse a bit.
Congrats on your new baby!
M.

The best time to pump is right after your baby nurses..if he falls asleep and wakes right up give him the milk u pumped in a bottle..if you pump right after he nurses it will tell your body that u need to make more milk so your body will start making more milk...even if you don't get much, still pump.
also if you are pumping there is a technique women do where they pump 10 minutes then stop 10 then pump 10 then stop..this also helps get a 2nd letdown.....so even if you do pump and baby wakes not long after you will have another letdown when he begins.
Babes mormally favor one breat..could be the one w/ the slower letdown or the faster letdown..my son favored the slower letdown which was a bummer b/c the other breast made more milk..usually one breast does make more milk than the other.
don't worry so much about your supply..at 6 weeks it establishes so what you're making now is what your body will most likely be making for a long time..i bf'ed til my son was 3..also thought i had a low milk supply..let me tell u..i quit nursing 8 months ago and still have milk..i hear it can last 2 years maybe more.
there are certain times of the day when your supply is more full..it's odd..mine was dryer in the afternoons so i pumped more than..
i also had a double expression bra they're great u can pump while you're on the computer www.easyexpressionproducts.com
I know so much about all this stuff i should be a lac coach lol..
anyway..hope this helps
and congratulations!!!

D.

what my lactation cunsultant told me to do when i bf my daughter was to breast feed and then pump for 10 mins. this will help your milk supply. yes pump the other breast and the one he nursed from.

Yes, based on my experience, your supply will decrease now that your baby is nursing only on one side. Two ways to see it:
1. Like other people have already suggested, if you want to be very protective of your supply, pump the breast not nursed on immediately after and if baby wakes up right then, feed the expressed milk. Better yet what I'd do is pump just a bit but not completely. Then if baby wakes up and you don't want to bottlefeed, there's still be some milk and as a plus it will be hindmilk.
2. FYI - WHAT I WAS TOLD by a really good lactation CONSULTANT: the decrease is only temporary and as long as neither of your breasts goes by more than 3.5 hours without stimulation, you won't go into "wean" mode. No need to pump. When the baby goes through a growth spurt and needs more milk he will start nursing more frequently and from both breasts so then your supply will increase to meet the demand.

Hi J.!

I read, and it seemed to be true with me, that feeding from both sides increased my supply. So you might consider switching him over to the other side before he passes out. Of course, there is also the consideration that the first milk is the "foremilk" and the last milk out of your breast is the richer "hind-milk", so if you do pump, you could pump some but not all of it, and if he wakes and feeds, he'll be getting hind milk.

My baby never took the bottle so not sure if that is an option for you. But, your breasts are constantly producing, so there will be something. And he will keep sucking if he's hungry, which will tell your breasts to keep producing.

Hope this helps!

I used to nurse just one side per feeding since that was all my son wanted. When he was older (maybe 7-8 months) he started wanting both sides per feeding. I always had enough milk and breastfeed exclusively for a year.

K.
http://oc.citymommy.com

Hi! I breastfed my two sons for a year! Its the best gift you can give your baby. I would pump! If he wakes up you can always give him what you just pumped. The more milk you use the more milk your body will produce. Your right if you dont use it your body will stop producing it! Good luck and dont give up!

My son was the same way! I would say that you could just wait until the next feeding and alternate breasts. That is what I did. (And don't worry, they can get all they need just from one breast)I was too nervous to pump and then be empty when he woke up again. I believe your breasts will adjust according to the demand. Also, if you begin pumping, you may make your supply more than you need (i.e. pain!) :)

I used to call Babyline with my questions. It was a service provided by Hoag, my hospital. It's in newport. You can call and they wont ask you any information. You can ask them about any concern. If you do live close, they also have a breast clinic. I loved it! I went in and they weighed my son. They gave my tips for nursing. I nursed him. They weighed him again and then let me know how much he drank. It was awesome! ###-###-####

Hope that helps,
R.

That's normal, that's why you alway alternate which breast you start the feeding with. They always empty the first breast and just drink a bit from the second. You can pump if you're uncomfortable, but not too much, your body produces milk on a supply demand basis. Great job bf, keep it up. Find a Le Leche League group nearby for awesome support and info on many issues. Their website is really helpful as well.

hi
best advice i ever received was pump and freeze as much as you can now while your supply is strong. you will never run empty as long as your baby is suckeling(if you only pump, supply does go down). i also have a light sleeper (it sucks) just pump while the baby is awake. you will need the suply for when you leave the house, intrudece rice cereal, etc.
just make sure to stay away from the high allergy foods or atleast document what you are eating so if in case your baby gets a food allergy you will know what frozen milk you cant give her.
my baby turned out to be allergic to soy, dariy and penuts so i recently had to donate 2 months worth of milk... that hurt!!!
good luck, feel free to ask me anything.

I'm 11 months into nursing my second son and nursed my first for a year. I never did both breasts each time. Just try and much as you can to remember which one you used last and nurse him on the opposite the next time. As long as you stay consistent with that, drink lots of water and don't supplement, you should be fine.

Congrats!
-M

So long as your not too engorged, I'd just let him sleep and start on the other side when he's hungry again. Our bodies are made for this and have an amazing ability to respond to the needs of our babies. Supply & demand is the rule of thumb when it comes to our milk supply, so as long as you feed on demand and switch sides you should be fine. If you feel you need to pump, go ahead and do so, but for just a few minutes, not until the breast is completely emptied. That way there's still some in there if he wakes up hungry. Relax and go with the flow of your little ones eating needs. You'll get into a rhythm and your supply should be just right for his needs!

At that age I would wake him to eat. We use to struggle to keep our dd awake too. I think it is normal because it is comforting, but they need their milk at that age. Your supply could decrease if he does not feed, it is a supply demand thing for sure. Good luck to you. : ) Edit: From the sound of the responses you got it looks like my situation was not the norm. I had problems with supply, that is just what the bf consultant told me.

Both of my children were breastfed exclusively and would fall asleep while eating. When they would fall asleep before getting to the second breast, I simply would start the next feeding with the one they hadn't gotten to yet. I didn't have any problems with milk supply. (Occasionally, if I the baby slept long enough that I started to feel uncomfortable - I would pump that side only.)
Your baby is more efficient than any breast pump. He will be able to get milk even when the machine can't. Try not to stress about it. Your body adjusts itself to your baby's needs.
My daughter nursed until she was 19 months old and my 6-month old son just started on solids. My breasts are so in sync with him right now that nine times out of ten, if he is sleeping and my breasts start to feel overly full - he wakes up on his own before I can even start pumping.