When to Pump and Still Satisfy Baby

Hello! The lactation consultant told me to start pumping around 3-4 wks after breastfeeding was fully established. Then she said to pump 20-30 min after feeding a couple of times a day to start getting some extra for freezing/bottles. Hope this helps!

Hi, J.! I can answer some of your questions, but I really, really recommend you contact your local La Leche League Leader. You can find her number at www.llli.org. All services are free--a Leader can provide you with help over the phone or in person, and at a meeting you can talk with other experienced breastfeeding moms and cmpare strategies for dealing with any challenges you are facing. A lack of confidence is a major obstacle for many breastfeeding moms, since it's hard to trust your body is making enough when you can't see your milk to measure it. If your baby's urine and stool output is good, he falls asleep at the breast content after a good nuring session, your nipples are not sore or traumatized and he sleeps for least least one 3-4 hur stretch in a 24-hor period, you're doing OK. You can feel confident your milk is the superior infant food. You sound like a very responsive and sensitive mom to be so concerned about your baby's welfare.
Rest assured--you won't always feel like wearing a shirt is pointless! This early time is the investment period and your devotion now will come back to you as breastfeeding becomes simpler and more convenient! (I am also a mother of three children and I often joke that I love to do things the lazy way-- breastfeeding means I don't have to wash anything extra, because I was planning to shower anyway ;)

--When does your milk fully come in (besides the 3 day reply)? I know its 3 days where it starts to come in, but really really come in enough to pump and still satisfy the baby.
Your breasts produce colotrum near the end of your pregnancy and just after birth. Within the first few days after birth, your breasts begin to produce mature milk, following the law of supply and demand. The more your baby is nursing at your breasts, the more your body will produce. After a couple of weeks of nursing on baby's cues (10 to 12 times in a 24-hour cyle, not necessarily evenly spaced nursing session since babies don't know how to do long division ;) your body will tailor the supply level to meet your baby's needs.
A breastfeeding mom does not have to pump at all, uless she is planning to build a stockpile of stored milk for when she must be away from her baby. It's important to remember the amount of milk that can be pumped out is NOT an accurate reflection of the mother's milk production--the most high-powered, hospital-grade pump has nothing on a healthy, well-latched baby for getting milk effectively, and since breastfeeding is emotional as well as simply physical, many moms do not respond to their pumps as well as they respond to their babies. (Because, let's face it, a pump is just not as cute as your darling baby, and nothing gets a let-down started like your own darling baby!)
It's also good to remember that just as your mouth is always producing saliva, your lactating breasts are always producing milk and will never really be "empty." You may see a slowing of milk flow when you're pumping, but you're just a moment away from another let-down and more milk. Since it's all supply and demand, the more often you remove mik from your breasts, the more milk your body will prduce. If you pump a lot, your body may respond as if it's trying to feed a whole daycare full of babies an you could set yourself up for chronic engorgement. Sooo, unless you have a specific reason for pumping (are you preparing to go back to work?) I suggest pumping less often and keeping your baby at your breast more. I you're struggling with an ineffective latch at the breast, you must get some help in person, either from a La Leche League Leader (free) or an IBCLC certified lactation consultant (often covered by insurance). Breastfeeding is much easier than breastmilk-feeding.
Breastmilk does change in consistency throughout a feeding, however, so current advice is to allow baby to finish the first breast first, instead of switching after an arbitrary amount of time has passed. This allows Baby to receive more of the creamy, high-fat hindmilk that comes after the initial let-down of thin, high-water, high-protein foremilk. Some (not all) moms report seeing pieces of seed-like particles in their breastfed baby's stool--this is digested fat and can help reassure you Baby is getting enough fat. Mothers are also encouraged to "watch your baby, not the clock," for signs of satisfaction.
It's also good to remember sucking is a reflex for babies. Just because Baby will take more milk from a bottle doesn't necessaily mean he wasn't satisfied--he will continue to swallow if liquid is in his mouth. Also, sucking is soothing and it's a way to reconnect with mom, so non-nutritive sucking at the breast is healthy--Baby can get some extra milk and use calories learning and growing instead of complaining.
Your milk supply sounds great to me. A full milk supply (and this is considered a generous amount for a newborn)for a newborn in the NICU whose mom is EXCLUSIVELY pumping to bring in her milk supply is *about* a Big Gulp--32 ounces per 24-hour cycle (no such thing as days and nights anymore, you know). You are fortunately NOT in that situation, so any additional milk you are pumping is great. But if your baby seems restles or unsatisfed, it could be a call for more snuggles and nursing for comfort, or it could be that your baby is nursing for the foremilk and then you are pumping out the hindmilk. The hindmilk is what will keep your baby satisfed longer. (But human milk is such a perfect food it is usually digested within 90 minutes--plus, a newborn's stomach is only the size of a shooter marble, so frequent feedings make sense and are normal.)Some babies do what's called "cluster feeding," which mean they nurse a whole bunch of times in a short period to prepare for a slightly longer sleep period. It's normal and healthy.
Watching baby's urine and stool output is the most reliable way to determine if he's getting enough. If he has 5 to 6 really wet paper diapers and at least 1 or 2 stools (the size of a U.S. quarter or larger) inn a 24-hour period, you're doing fine. If not, consult with a LLL Leader or IBCLC certified lactation consultant. (Most pediatricians have little lactaion training.)
There are some new guidelines to freezing and storing milk, if that's what you need to do. You can find the details at www.llli.org, or ask your local Leader for the new milk storage tear sheet. But, again, there's no rule that says breastfeeding moms have to pump at all. Make sure you are eating well and resting enough and enjoying your baby and your other children so you're not using up all your (precious, limited) energy going crazy with pumping.
Your local La Leche League group will have lots of books to borrow for free that may be helpful to you, such as "Nursing Mother, Working Mother," and my all-time favorite, "The Baby Book" by Dr. William and Martha Sears. Your preschooler will also be welcome at a LLL meeting, so no need to juggle her to someone else unless you want to.
Good for you for working this hard! Things will settle down soon. Hang in there and keep us posted! Best wishes!

I would wait a little while to pump. the first six weeks or so your body regulates your milk supply to produce what your little guy needs. After that then pumping after feedings should up your milk supply to give you the extra you need to store milk.

I think I pumped for the first time when my son was about 3 weeks. We wanted to introduce a bottle to him once in a while early on, since I knew I would be going back to work when he was about 4.5 months. He only got a few bottles during that time, but it was enough to introduce it to him so that he would take them when necessary.

I probably started stock-piling around 3 months. I would nurse him on one side and pump on the other. My hands were entirely full everytime, but I "let down" on both sides...so I hated to waste that milk on my shirt! It worked really well for me.

Once I went back to work, I kept the same "nursing" schedule as usual...pumping when he wasn't with me, but was eating with the sitter. Sometimes I got several ounces and sometimes only a couple. Don't get discouraged. Just save every little bit...it adds up! I also continued pumping when he was nursing on the other side in the evenings.

I used the Lansinoh breast milk bags. I could freeze them flat and keep a lot more in the freezer that way. It also warms up quickly when you put the whole bag (sealed) in a glass of warm tap water.

You can also pump at times other than when your baby is eating. Your body will get used to this and produce as much milk as needed. I think it only takes a day or two for your body to get used to increased (or decreased) feedings/pumping. Even if you don't get much, continue to try. If you continue, your body will recognize that it needs to make more milk at that particular time of day. (That's why they say not to pump in the middle of the night even if you are full to the brim, if you can help it, because your body will start making more milk at that time and you will always have to pump or nurse then!)

I hope this helps! This worked for me. I was able to nurse my son exclusively until he was one. And I worked full time as a teacher from the time he was 4.5 months until after his first bday.

Congratulations on your new baby! I breastfed both of my sons, now 2.75 and just turned 4 and I had all the same questions. It'll work out...you'll figure it all out as time passes and all of these women that have responded to you have given better and more advice than I could. I think it's wonderful that you want to pump your milk. It's great to have it on hand in case of an emergency and it's also nice for your husband to be able to feed the baby, too. I saved up enough milk that my husband and I would alternate the nighttime feedings so we could both get about a 6 - 8 hour stretch of sleep...him with a bottle and me with a boob. I wasn't nearly as tired as a lot of other new moms. Another thing that was very satisfying for me was to donate some extra breastmilk. I had a lot in the freezer so I got in touch with a few organizations that used the milk for various reasons. The National Milk Bank is one...www.nationalmilkbank.org. They use the milk for premature or critically ill babies. There's also the Breastmilk Project...www.breastmilkproject.org. They send the milk to Africa for HIV/AIDS babies. I'm sure there are a lot more if you wanted to research it. It's incredibly rewarding to feed your own baby and also help other sick babies...maybe even save one. I hope I'm not preaching. It's just an idea if you have extra milk. Some people don't agree that you need to pump at all but I don't see why you wouldn't. Don't worry...you'll get through all of this. I, too felt like a milk machine for a long time but soon enough the feedings will be further and further apart and you will get a break...or at least be able to put your shirt back on. (Have you tried the nursing shirts that have the two layers so you don't have to completely disrobe. They actually make a few cute ones and then you won't have to be naked from the waist up all the time. I know they have them at Motherhood Maternity stores, along with nursing bras) I'm starting to babble. The best of luck to you and your family.

I would suggest to keep breast feeding your baby until you feel your milk come all the way in. Then slowly start to pump, I always got less milk pumping. So if your not in too big of a hurry, take your time and breast feed him until both you and your little one feels comfortable and able to breast feed well, then slowly start pumping.
I hope that helps

I know every woman's nursing experience is different, depending on how well the baby latches, how much milk you produce, how easily the baby digests the milk, etc. But your experience sounds a lot like mine, especially the "pointless to wear a shirt" comment! Our blinds were closed 24-7 and it seemed a never-ending (and completely exhausting) job. My milk did not come in well or easily and my daughter had trouble latching and also had trouble digesting the milk. I saw the lactation specialist at my pediatrician's office and she recommend (as the specialists at the hospital had) that I pump after every feeding to try to produce more milk. So in some circumstances, yes, pumping after every feeding is normal even though for me I didn't produce much "extra" after the feedings (usually just enough to give her an extra feeding at the end of the day so that I could just pump and get a break), but the goal was to increase the supply, and after about 2 months, it worked. I think 2 oz sounds about like what I was producing every 2-4 hours. Between my poor milk supply and my daughter's appetite and difficulties, I wasn't able to freeze extra milk until my daughter was about 5 or 6 months. I know it sounds like "one more thing" to do or handle, but I would suggest seeing a lactation specialist. My pediatrician's office - Pediatrics 5280 - has one (Stacy) and she's great. It can really help ease your mind and give you a plan to meet your needs and keep you and your sweet new baby boy happy. Best of luck to you.

First I would recommend you consult either a lactation consultant at the hospital you delivered or one that your pediatrician recommends for your ongoing questions and concerns.

As a first time breastfeeder almost 9 years ago, I started pumping for 10 minutes after each feeding in the hospital at the instruction of the lactation consultant. I think I could have quit once my milk came in but I wanted so badly to succeed, and had no freind/family support system, that I pumped after EVERY feeding at home, even after the ones through the night AND I would pump when I thought he slept through a feeding---don't do this unless you are really having issues with your milk supply. I look back now and think that was crazy.

"But my concern is when is the right time to start pumping?"
Go ahead and start pumping now. I always seemed fullest in the morning as the baby got older and slept longer intervals through the night so I would pump every morning right after the 6 or 8 am feeding. If you consistently pick a time of day that you can consistently do this after a couple of days your body will accomodate the need.

"It seems like once daily he goes on a eating binge and latches on and off for sometimes 1.5 hours, is that normal?"
Yes but as you mentioned you are busy. Again on my first time around breastfeeding, I was so happy he was eating some of our feeding sessions ran into each other but then my nipples got cracked and bleeding from all that time spent and the lollygagging had to stop. I would let him work through the initial voracious nursing and watch the clock and if he started to dawdle I would rub the back of his neck or his head and if after 10 minutes spent on that side he was just screwing around then I put that booby away, and then the same with the other side. This made feedings usually 2-3 hours apart in the day and 3-4 hours apart at night with intervals becoming somewhat shorter for a few days, like 1.5 hours, when there was a growth spurt. And your baby should be going through the 2 week spurt any time now.

"How long does it take for me to make more milk for him?" Your body accomodates for more milk production, or less, after about 2-3 days.

"Is it to early for me to be pumping?" No, see above.

"How much should I get this early in the stage when I pump (I'm getting a little under 2ounces total from both sides."
That sounds about right.

"How much can you pump daily?"
By the time I came to my third kid, and I have four, I really felt like I knew what I was doing really well and that's when I would just do the morning pump and I was really good about dealing with the dawdling. Even if you had to go back to work in a few months, this every morning pumping would give you a pretty good supply, but I noticed you area a SAHM, so I would imagine the pressure to build up that supply isn't as great.

"Is it normal to feel like its pointless to wear a shirt?? :)"
LOL---I felt that very much with my first breastfeeding experience as well but the more babies I had the more I was able to keep my clothes on (or maybe some would say perhaps not :0)

"Also, how in the heck do you start to stock pile your milk and freeze it when you are feeding the baby soooooo much?"
When I did just the morning one it was a reasonable time commitment plus I had the help of my husband before work or kids before school or the baby was sleeping when I got this done. Then I would take a warm shower and this would help stimulate more milk to be produced/let down.

Let the duties around the house go as much as possible. Ask for help because if you are doing it all while you are missing out on this time with your baby you will regret it. And don't spend a lot of time running off to pump when you could be just sitting or lying there gazing at your beautiful baby. Since you already have two, I don't need to tell you how fast this time goes by. I know myself I can't believe my youngest is almost 8 months old and I still wonder where did the time go.

Best wishes.

Congratulations on your new baby! Breastfeeding is such a great adventure! If your baby was born on the 11th of this month, his belly is still stretching and trying to figure out all these new things! I would NOT try to schedule feed until after 6 weeks. Demand feeding is very important for your milk supply and for your baby for the first few weeks. I wouldn't start pumping until your milk supply is completely established and you and your baby are comfortable doing this. Drinking every 1.5 hours is very normal for a newborn especially if they during the day they are sleeping more than 2-3 hours. They are ensuring their milk supply and "Cluster Feeding" it gives more calories and makes them very happy. Good luck!

It sounds like you are on the right track. He is probably going through his first growth spurt- my little one did the same thing. Your milk quantity will adjust to what your little one needs - it takes a couple of days sometimes where he will have to eat more often to feel full. Mine also would eat for long periods - don't worry. It will regulate in time. If you still have concerns, ask your pediatrician or lactation specialist. I know my baby's doctor and the lactation specialist he works with were very helpful with my worries. Congrats on your new addition! Just remember to be patient and it will work itself out. BTW- I completely understand the wearing a shirt thing! I actually do not put my shirt back on after 6 pm. It will get easier as time passes. My little one is almost 3 months and I just started wearing a shirt regularly a couple of weeks ago. One recommendation I would make - get disposable breast pads to put in your bra - the kind with the plastic on the outside work best for me - before your supply is full. It is pretty uncomfortable when you leak - not to mention you have to practically re-dress yourself. Good Luck!

Sounds like everything is going well. Tiny babies have tiny stomachs and they will do exactly as you describe. 2 oz at a time is really good until your baby gets older and yes at first it is nothing to feed every hour and feel like that's all you do. Another poster is right, it's supply and demand. The more you either feed or pump the more milk you will produce but only if you are eating healthy and drinking enough water. It will change when your baby gets older but for now forget about the other things you want to do, get a big stack of books and some special toys for the other kids so that they are busy while you breast feed. Don't give up because another month or so and you will be up to 4oz or more.

Like others have said, the answer to your questions depends on what you are pumping for - is so you can go to work? is it just for an occasional outing away from baby? I also agree with others - find a La Leche leader.

Your milk does come in at the 3rd day but take a couple weeks to mature to true milk. Your baby sounds normal to want to nurse a lot - remember the more he nurses, the better your supply will keep up with his need. As for what's a normal amount for pumping, it seems like that really is individual. Pumping is not as efficient as nursing, and it's partly mental how much you can pump. So you'll just have to see how much is normal for YOU. I can relate to the feeling of not having time to pump. It's a lot of work to nurse & to pump - I only pump (actually I use hand expression) when I have to.

I understand your overwhelming feeling and lots of questions I was the same way! I am sure a mother of three has the book What to expect the first year, but I used that a lot for my questions on breastfeeding. Some other helpful things I know about, from struggling so much and obsessing about it as well. I don't think I pumped for a while after I had my baby, I have a friend who just had a baby and the doc told her not to pump until 6 weeks, this I think was for nipple confusion not milk oriented. I was told that if you pump and feed also the more milk you will get, as for the quantity not sure this would depend on how long you are pumping after feeding.
I know the feeling as well of feeding all the time, I had a chunky monkey who loves still loves to eat so I guess that is why I never pumped I never had time!

Hi, J.! Good for you for breastfeeding! And, kudos to you, also, for reaching out for help! YEAH!
Pumping and feeding at the same time is definitely a challenge. It gets easier once you get your little pumpkin on a consistent feeding schedule. For example, my little guy would eat about once every 3 hours, so I would pump once a day in between the feedings (usually in the morning). I don't think you need to pump more than once a day right now. Don't worry--you'll be able to keep up with it all. There are times when I don't have any milk in the freezer, and am just pumping a day's supply for daycare the day before! And it all works out. Hang in there and don't get too worried about it. It sounds like you're doing great! Remember to rest, eat well, and drink plenty of water!
As for your little guy's 1.5 hour eating binge, it sounds as though he may not be latching on efficiently, or else just using you to soothe after he is done eating. My daughter did the same thing. Going to see a lactation specialist at my hosptial helped me so much; they showed me how to make sure that she was latching on correctly, and how to fix her positioning if she wasn't. Give it a try!
good luck, and congrats!
S.

J.,
my only suggestion is to call a la leche league leader in your area. . . helpful information,someone to listen who is a professional in giving breastfeeding info and support. llli.org if you're in the salt lake area www.lllofsandy.blogspot.com has meeting info and phone numbers for your local leaders. if not, then llli.org can point you in the right direction by just putting in where you live and it will direct you to numbers for leaders in your area.

are you feeding baby a bottle of pumped milk in between feedings? i'm not clear on the purpose for your pumping. 2oz at this stage is a good amount of milk. if you're giving him bottles of pumped milk in between nursing there may be a nipple confusion issue, it is not recommended babies have artificial nipples until a good breastfeeding pattern has been established, usually about 6 weeks. having baby at the breast is the best way to stimulate your milk, you can even pump on one side while nursing baby on the other.

again, i think the best "advice" is la leche league. . . a great support group and people who have information. good luck

Your milk supply will adjust to fit demand. Why do you think you need to pump? I breastfed my two exclusively and never pumped, never had a reason to. Are you returning to a job? Just because he is nursing doesn't mean he getting all he needs, how is your diet? Do you 'let down' when he starts nursing? The lengthy nursing sessions should trigger a better supply. If you need to talk to someone at le leche.

Best of luck with breastfeeding! I always read to wait until the baby is AT LEAST 2-4 weeks old before starting to pump. I'm really not sure why, maybe just to make sure your supply is up before you start taking it away from the baby. All 3 of my children were breastfed and I found that if I started pumping too early (with me it was at about 4 weeks that I could pump), my body produced too much milk and then I was just miserable! Also, I have found that the best time of day to pump is first thing in the morning, when your supply is greatest. I would nurse on one side and pump on the other side. The baby was satisfied enough with one side because my supply was greatest. I didn't really have success pumping a lot the rest of the day.

Don't worry about stockpiling milk unless you are away from the baby so much that you need to do this. If you are around most of the time, it isn't necessary as far as I am concerned. You will provide what he needs. Make sure you label your bags or bottles, whatever you use, and use the oldest first. Again, best of luck.

find a specific time to pump like 9 in the morning or whenever, and just keep pumping. your milk supply is supposed to come according to how much your baby needs. whenever i was concerned about my son getting enough, i would express a little in my hand during or after a feeding to make sure he was getting milk. some babies need more than others. i say nurse as often as he wants or put him on a schedule and make him go a little longer each time until he is eating on the schedule you like.

Try feeding him on one side until it is all gone. That way he gets the fatty hind milk, which is good for his development anyway, and helps him stay satisfied a bit longer. If he still wants more after finishing one side, switch to the other. After he's done, you can pump on the side he didn't feed from. On the next nursing, start him on that side.

As long as you are drinking plenty of fluids and getting enough calories (it takes about 500 extra calories for lactating, pregnancy is only about 300, so don't go on any 'get rid of the baby weight' diet yet) your milk production should catch up with his demand within a week. Of course, his demand changes, too, so you're playing catch-up again. But don't worry, its natures way, and he should do fine.

First of all, your baby is proably just in a growth spurt, so yes, you will be feeding him so often that you wonder why you have a shirt on. Go ahead and keep pumping also, if that is what you want to do, but if you are a sahm, then there really isn't a NEED, unless you want some for when you go on dates and such, when my kids were tiny, I only pumped right after I put them to bed. That way I knew their bellies were full,and that there would be at least a few hours until I had to feed them again. Everybody will get differet amounts of milk, it depends on several factors....how much milk you make, how much milk baby drinks, and also the pump that you use. I always made a lot of milk, I could pump 4 ounces per side after feeding for the first few months, after I started solids, that dropped down to 2 per side.

i just had my 3rd too, so i know what you mean about finding the time. i gave up on trying to get my milk supply up by pumping after each feeding because i just don't have the time. i'm taking fenugreek instead. 2 pills 3-4 times a day is working for me.

Call a La Leche League leader (find # in the phone book or on-line at www.llli.org). They are very approachable andthey are AMAZING women w/ tons of lactation experience, and can help you with every single one of your questions! Good luck!

I saw that some people suggested La Leche League. Their web site has a TON of info on it, and you can talk to a leader if you have other questions.

Someone mentioned that they weren't sure why it's suggested that you don't pump for the first several weeks (and until breastfeeding is well established). I can answer that one: A baby's suck is stronger & more efficient than any breast pump. Your baby's *job* right now is to help you build up the milk they need...no pump will do as well!

Sounds like you're off to a great start! My big advice is to expect that the first 6 weeks or nursing will be tough. (It was for me, even with my 2nd child.) If you can make it through those, you'll probably be fine. :) Best of luck!

Take deep breaths throughout and focus on being relaxed. Pump once a day at first....

1.Nurse baby for 10 minutes on side 1 WHILE pumping (pump 5 minutes)on side 2 and store the milk you pump.
2.Nurse baby for 10 minutes on side 2
3.continue switching sides every 10 minutes until baby is full.
4. Drink LOTS of water.

Pumping while nursing on the other side means automatic letdown which means more milk pumped. Baby sucks harder than pump - plus baby gets more of the rich hind milk (when he eats on the side you've already pumped) which is really good. It takes 3 days for your breasts to completely adjust to making extra milk required by baby.

-Growth spurts mean extra nursing.
-Pump both breasts 15 minutes on each side before leaving baby with the sitter if you're not nursing him right before you leave. You'll want to nurse him as soon as you get home (cuz your breasts will be soooo full!).

Always switch breasts every 10 minutes--this teaches your body to refill your breasts quickly. The exception is when your baby is sick, then let him nurse 10-15 minutes on side 1 and then on side 2 until he's asleep or done.

I breastfeed my son and got a stock pile. I didn't start pumping til he was like almost 2 months. At first I got 1-2 ounces that lasted several weeks. Then one day I was like a faucet. I had to pump and feed him. It supply and demand. The more you pump and nurse the more your body will start to supply.

I always sat down with the pump on one side and baby on the other, first feeding in the morning when you are more full. It's all about supply and demand! Your baby should get enough, because as long as he is actively on the breast, although you may feel empty, there is more coming in. I still switched sides with baby (and pump) so at that feeding and the one baby would get later from the pumping would have both the fore milk and the richer after-milk. I never had a problem with satisfying the baby while simultaneously pumping, and it does make pumping much easier! I pumped regularly until they were on solids, at which point my milk supply diminished too much. Good luck!