When to Pump/Building up Supply

I heard that you produce the most in the morning. I was also concened about not being able to pump enough at work to feed my baby while he is at the sitter so I mix it with formula. About half and half. That way he's still getting the nutrients that are in the breastmilk. I hope this helps you.

You got a lot of good advice and like one said visit www.kellymom.com. I had a couple of similar situations, one was a bachelorette party and I didn't have enough milk stored so I mixed breastmilk with a little formula to complete bottles and wanted to stretch out the breastmilk at each feeding. I now pump before I go to bed and have a nice stash in the freezer. I have friends that have set their alarm to wake up and pump to get a "jump start" on their supply. You'll have to pump the day of the wedding. I would do it prior to the ceremony and before the reception and then again after.

I don't have any helpful advice but I just wanted to chime in and let you know that what you get when pumping is not an indicator as to how much milk your body makes. Babies are the best pumps. With both of my kids, I tried to pump some milk to freeze, "just in case" and I was NEVER ablet get more than 1 oz from both during a time where my boobs were full. I hope you find something that works for you since you are going back to work. As for the wedding. Is there anyway that baby can come and you have someone watch him while you do your part in the wedding party and then nurse him when you can? Bring a family friend or hubby? Your BOOBS are going to hurt on the wedding day if you don't nurse/pump or express. You could also get an infection. Your breasts are still working on the supply/demand thing. Eventually, you can be gone longer period of times w/out getting engorged and so on but right now is still pretty early on.

M.

you can find many if not all the answers to your questions at this site.

workandpump.com

on the day of, try to make feeding him the last thing you do before you are separated.

get good nursing pads. i really like the lansinoh brand. they are like always ultra thin for breasts. :)

and as soon as you feel fullness, pump. if you find that you have a moment to pump before you feel full, then go do it. ideally you want to pump as frequently as the baby would eat.

will you be celebrating at her wedding with cocktails? while I'm sure you know that it's best to abstain from alcohol pregnant, not pregnant, breastfeeding or not, many people choose to. so here's a link for information on that. hope it helps you make the best decision you can.

http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/alcohol.html

Hello!

To use a pump to build up extra suppy takes some dedication - but you can do it. Most women have the greatest supply in the AM. So Pump for sure after the first two feedings. You can also add a pumping half way between the feedings. It is all about the law of supply and demand. If you want more supply you have to demand more from your body - these means more pumping. You may feel as though you are "married to your pump." But trust me it can be done. I had twins back in Feb of 2007. They were born 9 weeks early and they could not suck at all for the first month and even after that they were not strong enough to nurse. So it was me and my shadow (my pump) for the first two months for sure and even beyond that. To build up my supply I pumped every two hours like clockwork during the day and then at night I slept 4 hours and pumped and then another 4 hours. Believe me I had PLENTY of milk! I got up to about 50 OZ a day! But it did mean that I had to take my pump with me everywhere and keep an eye on the clock.
About the wedding. You will need to take the pump with you. Not just for the milk supply - but for your own comfort. You will be building up this awsome milk supply and then to go a day without nursing or pumping you are going to be in PAIN. Trust me - bring it with you. Take a look at your schedule and figure in when you can pump. There are some events you can't miss - like the ceremony - pictures you need to be in etc. Then there are some you can. Like cocktale hour or when everyone is eating. You can grab a bite and run off to pump. Bring an extention cord with you. You can even pump in a public rest room if you need to. I have done it - but the plug is always to far away to get the pump to reach inside a stawl. Oh here is another tip. Bring a picture of your baby. I have read that if you visualize yourself with the baby instead of the pump you tend to relax more and get more milk. I think it helped me.
I hope this info helps,
G.

Roseangeli,

I too had a tough time building up my supply but you have to do what you have to do. If that means formula feeding him a few times a day then you should do it. I don't know if he is waking up a lot at night but if he isn't maybe get up (it's hard I know) at night and pump. I had to go back to work when my daughter was almost 3 months old so I had to pump at least 3 times a day to get enough milk to feed her the next day. I also had to take Fenugreek (works wonderfully) to keep up the supply so she had enough for the next day. It takes about 24 hrs to work but does it work. You may want to try that too. As far as pumping during the wedding. If you have a good breast pump you can do it in 10 minutes or less. That's how long it took me to pump 3 oz. Good luck!

M. P

HI there! I used to pump when my daughter had her first morning feeding of the day. I would just pump on whatever breast she was not nursing on & eventually I built up my supply by doing that. My breasts would both be very full in the morning & I make it part of my routine. I would set up the pump at night with a fresh bottle and be ready to go in the morning. Make sure you keep well hydrated throughout the entire day. I also used these herbal supplements which helped a lot. If you can get the pills & not the liquid it's easier and the liquid tastes disgusting, so the pills are best

http://www.motherlove.com/product_more_milk_plus_veg.php

I don't need them anymore, but did use them for a few months. You can find them at Whole foods & while some say they are pricey, they are cheaper than formula.

As far as when you go back to work, if you pump as much as you nurse during the time you are away from your little one, you will have plenty for him. I would sometimes get distracted and miss a pumping session, but if you get into the habit of that your supply will go down.

For the wedding, just make it a priority to pump when you can. Preferably as close to the amount of times you feed the little guy. However, if you miss a pumping session or two it is only one day and it's not worth the stress. You might miss a dance a bouquet toss, but don't miss pumping altogether.

I wish you lots of milk and a stress free transition to work/wedding. I remember those days! You will get through it like a champ. Also, make sure you are getting a good amount of rest when you can. Even if it means that once a day he gets formula and you are okay with that. A rested mommy is a mommy filled with milk! Good luck!

Hi,

I pump twice every day. After the 1st feding and before I go to sleep at night. I also take organic 600 mg fenugreek 2x per day.
It takes time to build your supply. Your supply may be affected by the long time at the wedding but more likely you will become uncofortable and possibly engorged. It might be good it you can sneak away for a few minutes to empty out!!

I find for me the best time for me to pump and get the most from it is first thing in the morning. I've also found it depends on the type of pump you use a hand pump doesn't have a much suction on it as what an electric one has. Plus when I pump I make sure that I pump until there is no more coming out it tends to make me produce more for the next time or the next feeding on that side. mostly cause I feed on one side only and then change for the next feeding...

I had a similar situation with my friend's wedding. My baby was only 3 weeks, but she allowed me to bring my baby.

As for gearing up for a good supply, this is what I did. Try pumping first, and then breast feed. For example, pump your left breast for 10 minutes, then breastfeed baby on that side. Then pump your right breast for 10 minutes, and then switch baby to that side. Then when baby is done, pump again right after. Or if you are really coordinated, have baby breastfeed on your left breast and simultaneously pump the right breast. Then, at your next session, have baby on the right side and pump left. Try not to skip a breastfeeding session to replace it with a pumping session. This may sound counter-intuitive, I know, but by doing that you might experience less milk this way, because a machine just isn't the same kind of sucking as your baby. Rather, keep the same breastfeeding schedule and introduce a pumping in between feeding session. For example, if your baby feed every 3 hours, at the 1.5 hour mark, pump. This will add more stimulus and you'll really get the milk flowing. If your boobs just can't take it anymore, give yourself a break for a day, and start again the next day. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but it sounds like you are a committed person to breastfeeding, so it will be worth it. Before you know it, you'll have a several week supply of milk in the freezer ready to go!

I'm not sure how realistic this is for u but when I had what seemed like a low milk supply, the Lactation nurse told me to pump every 2 hours for about 5 minutes and nurse every 2 hours so that for about a week I felt like something (or someone ;) was always attached to me. It did work for me though. I also ended up getting a better (and yes, more expensive) motorized pump for my second child and I noticed a huge difference in the amount I was able to withdraw. As for pumping at the wedding/reception, I'd say u have to find the time or u r sure to pay for it. I'm not sure if one day would decrease your supply but once u get your supply up, if u don't expel it, it is gonna hurt or expel itself! If u could just steel away for 5 minutes every 2-3 hours into a bathroom stall or somewhere else, u could quickly pump & get back to the party.

I hope this helps. God bless you and your family & have a blast at the wedding.

Sweetie, your friend really needs to understand about you taking time out to pump. I just don't see how you can make it through the day otherwise. Just explain it to her gently... even though it's her day, she will want what's best for you and your baby.

I tried to pump to build up my supply and it ended up making me spend all my time either pumping, breastfeeding, or washing, with little in between to just be with my son. What helped me more, in terms of upping my supply, was taking yeast tablets. These are like brewer's yeast, but in tablet form, and you can get them at Whole Foods or other health food places. I never looked for them in the vitamin aisle of a drugstore or regular supermarket, but they may carry them as well. I had oatmeal every morning and took the yeast pills and my supply increased tremendously. Some people take fenugreek and Mothers Milk Plus, another supplement, and that helps them boost their milk. Those never worked as well for me, though. Hope this helps and good luck!
P.S. - My friend who has twins attended a wedding I was also at, so we just excused ourselves and went downstairs, so I could keep her company while she pumped milk for the babies at home...

Congrats on your new baby. A few words of advice from a mom who has been there, done that.
1. First you need to check out kellymom.com they will have answers and advice to all of your breastfeeding questions. Even though I don't follow attachment parenting (not my style) they have the most up to date information and knowledge about breastfeeding. Don't be turned off by the parenting advice if its a different style than yours. The website is fantastic. They have a pumping forum that would have great advice
2. A LOT depends on the kind of pump you are using. Do you have a double good quality pump? It is likely you will never be able to get much milk with a lesser grade pump. If you only have a single pump, I would try pumping on one side while you nurse on the other. It might take another set of hands to help at first but chances are you could get more milk trying that. You could even rent a hospital grade pump for a month just to build up a good freezer stash.
3. Pumping after baby eats will never yield much milk. The best time to pump is about an hour after baby eats. Depending on how often your baby eats. For example, if he eats every 2 hours try one hour after. If he eats every 3 hours maybe try an hour and a half after. Also, you will have much better luck in the morning than the evening. If you can, pump at the SAME time every day (or close) after a few days of doing this, your body will just think its baby nursing an extra time and should quickly adapt to making more milk for that feeding.
4. Be careful of baby's intake, a baby's stomach is only the size of their fist. A very young baby probably only needs 2 oz maybe 3 at the most. Read the kellymom tips for bottle feeding the breastfed baby. It is easy to think the baby is "gulping" down the bottle when really they just can't regulate the bottle the way they regulate the breast and end up getting more than they need. At 9 months my baby only takes 4 oz from a bottle. For the first 3 months he never took more than 3 and usually only 2-2 1/2. The general rule is one oz per hour.
5. As for being away from baby for the day of the wedding, I would try to arrange a plan ahead of time. You don't want to spend the day uncomfortable. Is there a bathroom or bridal room where you would be able to pump? I have a car charger for my pump which has been invaluable, I have pumped in my car several times! Bringing a "hooter hider" or some kind of nursing cover will allow you to pump and be discreet.

Good luck and have fun. Having a good freezer stash and a good pump has been wonderful for helping me to feel "free" while still continuing to breastfeed.

Pumping during the first weeks can be tricky. I know because I have twins. They seemed to be constantly eating during their first two months, so to pump seemed futile because they'd be hungry and I'd be tapped out--thus using the pumped mild. However, we survived. Here are some of the things I learned:
Drink LOTS of water--at least 64 oz.
Practice good eating habits. Add 300 nutritive calories per day per child.
Go to Henry's and buy More Milk Plus. It's in the homeopathic section. You're sweat may smell like maple syrup because of the fenugreek, but it's better than B.O. and the herbal concoction works like magic!
Pump after feeding. Keep pumping even if nothing is coming out. Pump for twenty minutes each breast when nothing is coming out. Take five, then pump again. While you may not get lots of milk that day, the pumping stimulates your glands to produce more milk. In about three days you'll be amazed.
Don't expect your breasts to get hard like they did in the hospital. You have more milk in there than you may be able to feel. Pump. Pump. Pump. If you pump one ounce, freeze it in a breast milk storage bag and add to it as you go. Even an ounce a session will yeild a whole bottle full of milk after a day's worth of pumping.
As for the wedding day, bring your pump. Take a 15 minute break. MAKE the time. I work full time at a restaurant and have become painfully engorged. Even 5 minutes every now and again takes the edge of. You'd go to the loo if nature called, wouldn't you? Well this IS nature and it WILL call.
Wear breastpads and bring extra. (I like Medela's and Lansinoh's thin absorbant design.)
The pumping thing seems tricky at first, but you'll find it will naturally fit into your every day routine. Like everything new, it just takes time to get used to it.

HI,
I am writing to tell you that I hated my pump! Best day I could get 3oz max and that as when I went all night not feeding from one breast. It would take me a week to built a supply. If you baby takes fomula you are super lucky!!!! Count your blessings you have a back up. No matter what I did I could not increase when it came to my breast pump. I feel for you leaving your baby for the first time. SO HARD!!!!! I just left my 1 year old to take my son to summer camp, was gone from her for 8 hours.
Love the idea of the other mom that said take your pump with you to the wedding. Great idea!!!! Good luck with the pumping!

Congratualtions on becoming a mommy!

With my two little ones, I found the best time to pump was right after the first morning feeding, because I was extra full from the longer stretches between night time feedings. At first I only got 1-2 ounces, but I was consistent - I did it every single morning - and after a week or so I was getting an extra 4 ounces after the morning feeding. The general rule of thumb is that your body will produce the amount that is demanded of it, so demand a lot, especially since you'll be heading back to work soon.

As for the wedding, I really see no other way than to excuse yourself for a few minutes and pump, because you will be in pain and will have an embarrassing leak - it's a biological fact. Your friend and the other bridesmaids will understand and fill in for you for those few minutes. Your body is now used to producing food for another person and it doesn't know how to take a day off. The real trick will be finding a place to store the liquid gold you pump that day.

Best of luck to you!

Increase your fluid intake, try pumping before you feed your son, (he will be able to get a lot more than you can get with the pump) and then supplement if needed with formula. Your supply will increase with demand. Another option is to take brewer's yeast tablets available in most markets or health food store. I took them when my milk supply got low and they worked wonders.

I would highly recommend pumping at your friends wedding, otherwise you will be in pain and with all the emotions you're apt to leak on command:) Just work out a time or two that you can get away for a few minutes, take a picture of your baby and pump away.

If it's possible, try pumping while you're breastfeeding. Your baby's sucking is allowing let-down, which is hard to simulate with a pump which is why you may not be getting much. If you can pump at the same time, then let-down should occur or be occuring and you can get more. Quite tricky, but as with anything with a little practice you can be a pro! Good luck!

Oh I feel your pain. Building up a supply can be really hard. I would recommend continuing to do what you're doing and pump when your son is done eating. Even if you don't get a lot, it's something and it's also telling your body in the supply-and-demand way that he needs more. Also be sure to drink tons of water and I've had a lactation specialist recommend eating oatmeal and taking Fenugreek. It's a herbal suppliment that's supposed to help increase supply. When you go back to work, try to pump as often as he would eat throughout the day and you should be able to supply enough for the following day. I work full-time and pump every three hours or so. It's a total pain in the neck, but it's worth it. As for the wedding, you're going to have to make time to get away and do it or you're going to be miserable. Best of luck!

Dear Roseangeli,

I worked twice a week when I was nursing (graveyard). I pumped during the night if I had time, and then I pumped when I got home, before feeding the baby. I was FULL, and it was easiest to get a bottle out that way, and the baby was able to drain my breast better than my pump - and I always heard the hind milk was the richest . . .

Good luck!
B.

Pump for 10 minutes each side after babies feedings. This will trick your body into thinking you need to produce more milk. Also drink TONS of water. It seems like a no brainer...but increasing my fluids dramatically increased my milk supply.
As for the wedding...your friend will have to understand. You had a little one to feed...you will need to make time to pump.

Take your pump with you, and lots of nursing pads. Pump several times during the day or you will not make it through the day. As for going back to work - I found that when I went back to work, my son did take a bottle from my hubby during the day but since he preferred the breast, our evening and night time nursings increased in frequency, so my milk supply did not suffer at all. I did not pump, because it never produced enough.

I have heard that the best time to pump is in the morning. Also, you could try pumping one side while your son is feeding on the other to save time. Good luck!

Hi Roseangeli :)

The best time to pump is first thing in the morning when your milk supply is at it's fullest. If your son doesn't nurse from both sides in the morning, pump that other breast and save it. I used to wake up with rock hard breasts in the mornings and it hurt like you-know-what!!! I had a big milk supply though~ you said yours is not.

As far as what to do while at the wedding... Is there no way that your babysitter can stay wherever you're staying (hotel?) so you can just feed the baby yourself? You WILL need to pump!!! Your milk supply isn't going to care how busy you are. You have to take the time to do this for YOU :). I assure you, you DON'T want to end up with Mastitis from a milk duct getting clogged and infected. It happened to me twice and I just wanted to die. I felt better when I was in the hospital for 2 weeks with pneumonia than I did when mastitis hit me! If you can't bring the baby and your friend, bring the pump! You can also start having the baby nurse more as well as suckle to build up your milk supply for storage. Even if nothing is coming out, the baby likes it and your body is receiving the signal that there is more demand so it will supply more milk. There are also natural things you can take to increase your supply... talk to your doctor if you want to go this route. Also, you may have more milk than you think... you may just have a crummy pump. Rent a hospital grade pump. You should be able to do this at the hospital or a medical supply store. These work fast and they function just as the baby would. They will also help to build your milk supply. I bought a Medella breast pump... the best one they offered, and the thing broke while I was using it. It worked too slowly and didn't get out all of my milk. That's not good. That will cause an infection. I only ever used the hospital grade pumps. Try that out regardless of your wedding. You rent them month to month. The longer you rent them, the cheaper it gets.

You just make sure that you have the baby or bring that pump with you because you will be miserable if you do nothing at all. And if your breasts do get engorged and turn rock hard, if you've not experienced that yet, you're surely NOT going to want to jump around and dance or have people hugging you because the discomfort will be too much... and, yeah, they'll probably start leaking, too. It's just not worth ruining your night for the 20 min or so it takes to pump. :) I guarantee there won't be one person in the room who wouldn't be understanding of your needing to excuse yourself for a short time and take care of this. You'll be better off! :)

Have a GREAT time!!
Jennifer

Sounds like you need to eat and drink a lot more. You should be able to pump at least 4oz at a time. Try first thing in the morning before your baby wakes up.

With my daughter, I returned to work after 2 months home with her. When I was away from her, she would have 2 feedings. In that same time I was away from her I had to pump 3 times to make an equivalent amount of milk to what she was drinking. I pumped every two hours at work even though she was eating every three to four hours. You just can't get as much pumping as they get when nursing. The other thing I did was I pumped one side whaile she was feeding on the other side during our middle of the night feeding as that was the longest non-feeding time, that got me a couple extra ounces so I was always ahead of her and not lacking. It was not easy as every break at work was spent pumping and I had to pump while eating my lunch as well...but it was the only way to make enough milk.