Timing for Breast Pumping

I added a pumping session in right before I go to bed. THe time varies, but always right before I go to bed. I put my little one to sleep and then pump. If he wakes up needing more he just sucks until he gets it - might bring some more milk in, but I don't mind. I have also done the feeding on one side, pumping pn the other, but I only do that if I know that I will need some extra milk for the next day. It will work out!

Hi L.-

To get him on a schedule, he needs to eat at regular intervals and really fill up. That means that you may need to start him on a 3 hour cycle, which means you are on a 3 hour cycle. 20-30 minutes before feeding time, pump all that you have. Start him with 4-6 oz. Refrigerate the rest. After he eats and has a full tummy, diaper change, a little tummy time or mommy and daddy cuddle/play time, and then a nap. After a month, go to 3.5 hours. Then eventually, 4 hours, 5 hours, etc. Try using those bottles that simulate the breast. He will be cranky at first, because it is new, but he will eat because he is hungry. Take the pump with you and some of those Mommy's milk bags and pump at work or what not. The conference, you may need to pump and store. Keep pumping and storing any leftovers. THe sooner you get yourself and your baby in a routine, the less stress your life will hold.
I think there is a book called the happiest baby on the block or something that has some really great tips.
Hope this helps!
-E.

i would just feed him from the same breast two times in a row and let the other side fill up, then pump it.

try getting an electric pump, after your baby finishs feeding, pump a little, next feeding, give the baby the bottle and pump again, so instead of trying to pump and breast feed its better to pump that way you can get it to be more comfortable for you; and set your own schedual the hardest part is getting started and it throws you off a bit but it gets easier

I would suggest right before you go to bed or after your son eats first thing in the morning. At night you probably won't mess up his next feeding and in general you will probably have extra first thing in the morning. Depending on your needs you could try both each day depending how much extra milk you want to store and if you feel he is still getting enough to eat.

Since it doesn't seem like you need to INCREASE your supply you probably shouldn't add pumping sessions in. For now, since you want to train baby to use the bottle) try to pump just a few minutes before you would expect him to want to nurse. Then have him take it immediately (that way it's still the right temp and everything).

The week before you go back to work, try to pump one extra bottle each day (even if it's just a few oz here and there spread out) so he'll have something for your first day back at work.

When you go to work, just pump during the work day and leave that milk for him the next day.

Hope this helps.
T.

Congrats on your little one!!! Here's my best advice, if your baby nurses on only one side, I would pump the other, and try to at each feeding (will be time consuming) You need to let your breasts know that they'll have a bit more work to do so that you can keep up with your son's needs as you return to work because pumping is not as effective as nursing. Also, it seemed for me, that pumping after the first morning feeding was the most fruitful.
If your son nurses both sides at each feeding, still pump, even if you don't get much. The main thing is to send that message to your breasts that you'd like them to make a bit more.
As for taking the bottle, most children adapt fairly well and more quickly when mom is not around at all. As long as mom is around, they know they can get it the "real way" and would prefer. Also, you may have to end up trying a variety of bottles and nipples to find the right fit. All in all, you've got a great foundation, just keep it going!

Good luck!

Try pumping on one side while you nurse on the other. That's what I did in the beginning as my little one ate every 30 minutes and there was no way pump any other time! (I have a snacker!) It's also an easy way to stimulate the side that's being pumped (your baby's suckling on the other side will automatically stimulate flow on the side you're pumping on.) I still do it this way from time to time when I have to pump at home.
Also - be sure to introduce the bottle NOW and every few days after that. If you wait until after the 6 week mark, they won't always accept the bottle. I introduced the bottle at 5 1/2 weeks and still think I should've done it a little sooner. Then, I offered a bottle every 3 days until I went back to work. That was enough to keep her used to it. I'm a single mom so I don't have anyone else to share the feedings with so this was enough for me. You may want to do it more to keep your husband included in the feedings and give yourself a break.

Good for you for breastfeeding! It's the best your baby can get.

Good luck!
Cassie

Hi L.,
I had a hungry little guy as a newborn as well! What worked for me was to let him nurse from one side (which he seemed very content with) and then immediately pump from the other side, then my milk would have time to refuel so to speak and be ready for the next feeding which I'd alternate to the other breast. Also, if it seems that his eating schedule just isn't allowing you to pump, give it some time. He will soon cut back his feedingst to every few hours and then it's easier to pump.
I pumped on a regular basis and then I was able to have my husband take 8pm-1am shift at night that allowed me to get some needed rest.
Enjoy your new little one!
G. :)

My one piece of advice is to invest in the book, Babywise. It helped me with my first child in setting up a routine so that I could go back to work. It helped me with getting him on a schedule so that he was fed every 3 hours and then I knew when he needed to eat and when I needed to pump. In terms of pumping, what I've done is start pumping any "excess". That is if there's a feeding and it doesn't matter time of day where you still feel a little "full" and your baby hasn't emptied you completely. then I built a surplus of supply so that my husband could feed our baby a bottle and then I could pump for that meal and you start your supply of bottles going that way. good luck

I used to pump the other side while my kiddo was nursing.
After a while, my body thought I had twins, and started producing enough milk for two.
This REALLY worked for me, because I wouldn't "let down" for just the pump. But with her on one side, I got lots of milk out!
After I was finished pumping, I would swich sides. That way she got the most of the hindmilk from both sides.

Good luck!

There are a few things I want to "address." First, I'm assuming you want to continue to breastfeed your son? Or are you wanting to wean him from the breast and give him breastmilk exclusively from a bottle? From what you've said, I'm going to go with the first option...

Second, I know pacifiers are a HUGE personal issue for some moms, but I found that my son NEEDED a pacifier because of his constant need to suck, which is normal. I thought I would be the type of mom who wouldn't mind having baby attached 24 hours per day, but it really got old and tiring, and I couldn't do anything else during the day. Depending on how you feel, he's at a good age to introduce both a pacifier AND a bottle.

I agree with another mom about you not necessarily needing to increase your milk supply, but you're definitely going to want to start stocking your freezer for when you go back to work. Check out the milk calculator at http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html if you have questions about how much your little one might take each day. Keep in mind that most bottle-fed babies take more milk regardless of breastmilk vs formula!

As far as pumping goes, you have a few different options, and a few other moms have already commented on them. Whatever option you choose, you can always change it, and be prepared for an increase in your milk supply regardless of which you choose :) You can feed on one breast and pump the other (either at the same time or right after he feeds). Try not to limit the feeding to one breast and the pumping to the other. Change it up because your baby will ALWAYS be more efficient than a pump, and you don't want your milk supply to decrease in the pumped breast! You can feed on both sides, then pump both sides simultaneously right after you feed for about 5 minutes (or about 2 minutes after you get the last drop of milk). You could also start with 2 pump sessions per day (which may be all you need depending on how soon you're going back to work), normally being right before YOU go to bed and right after his first feeding in the morning. When you go back to work, you're going to need to pump whenever he would nurse while you're away to maintain your milk supply. Remember it's all about supply and demand, and what goes out will come back in!

I'm a peer counselor with Nursing Mothers Counsel, and I'd love to help you prepare for the transition! You can email me directly at ____@____.com or you can call our hotline at (650) 327-MILK. We're all nursing moms and offer FREE, non-judgmental information to nursing moms at all stages of breastfeeding. You can also check out our website at http://www.nursingmothers.org; we have many information sheets that you can look through and read. You can also try one of the following books:
The Nursing Mothers Companion, Kathleen Huggins
Breastfeeding Made Simple: 7 Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers, Mohrbacher/Kendall-Tackett
The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers, Jack Newman, M.D.

Hi L.,

I didn't read the other posts, so forgive me if I am repeating anything. That said, it may help to nurse each time on one side only (baby will get more of the fattier milk which will keep him full longer) this will also enable you to pump on the other side if you like.

Also, I've heard (and found) that pumping in the morning produces more milk. Daytime milk has less fat, but you'll make more of it. Nighttime milk is the opposite.

You can pump really anytime you have milk (before of after feeding). However, I might suggest you do so after nursing as otherwise you will stimulate your body to produce more milk. This will make things uncomfortable for you as you head back to work and baby isn't nursing throughout the day.

Just switching to one side may decrease feeding intervals (did for me!)

Congratulations on your little one,
Lilia