BF moms + Pumping

MalyJ

For those of you who are mainly BF but pumping to begin to build a freezer stash, just curious how much you're pumping in a day. I'm getting, on average, 5 ounces a day through 2-3 pumping sessions. I have no idea if that's a lot, a little, average?

Rrrrrachel

that sounds great!  If you're BF full time (vs skipping feedings) pumping 1/2-1 ounce is typical, so sounds like you're getting a little more than that.

jessech89

I get about 6 oz a day. Sometimes I'll get 8 on good days.

steph1977

Question - when did you start pumping? My LC recommended waiting about 4 wks.

ksulli

I'm 4w3d and hoping to start tomorrow- depends on how the overnight goes. With dd1 that's when I started too. Just pumped once a day and eventually was able to get 4-6oz, but I had a slight oversupply.

Rrrrrachel

I think waiting until your supply regulates is smart to avoid oversupply issues, and four weeks is a good rule if thumb for that.

lcr23

When do you usually pump? Right after a feeding? I'm planning on starting to pump at 4 weeks.

ksulli

lcr23 said:

When do you usually pump? Right after a feeding? I'm planning on starting to pump at 4 weeks.

I did about an hour after the first daytime session- that's when I was fullest and I knew I still had an hour until she'd eat again. Hoping to do the same this time.

mamahann

I'm EBF and pump once a day after the first morning feeding and get about 2 oz total. It's not much but once a day works for us and it's enough to freeze a bag every 2 days.

thomas930

I pump once a day just to put some in the freezer. I try to pump between 7am and 9am because that's when I have the most success right now and I get about 3 ounces pumping one side only. LO eats every 3 hours so I try to time the pumping session one hour after a regular feeding. I only pump for about 10 mins.

homediva

I need to start! I don't know how to find the time though, with two! With my son I only ever got about 3oz per daily session,

MalyJ

I pump about an hour after his 7am ish feeding, sometimes an hour after his 2pm ish feeding, and I cluster feed from 7-10 so after his last cluster feed I empty myself as best I can. Especially since he sleeps for 4 hour stretches at night on average.

I started pumping just a little at about a week and a half to relieve myself from the awful engorgement. Once that stopped and I felt like my supply was pretty regulated (about 2 weeks) I started pumping to stash, not just relieve. It worked with DS1 so I thought I'd try again...just couldn't remember how much was normal to produce. Thanks!

Rrrrrachel

Speaking of freezing, freeze in small amounts!! I would say definitely no more than 4 oz and do some 2-3 oz bags, too. I felt like I needed to fill my six ounce bags up, and since thawed milk has to be used within 24 hours a lot of those big bags got partially wasted. Also try and freeze them flat. They store better and thaw faster.

chichi589

I'm getting about 5oz per day as well. I pump after my first feed in the am when I'm the most full and last feed at night. He sleeps usually one 5hr stretch after going to bed. Chase is 3 weeks 6 days, & EBF:)

hlm184

Until now I've only pumped when I had to relieve engorgement.  I'm planning on regular pumping starting tomorrow (3.5 weeks) since I need a decent stash by early June.  I'll pump in the morning most likely, I don't want to end up with too much milk in the freezer.

Rrrrrachel

Sometimes a manual pump makes it easier to sneak in a pumping session, too, vs dragging out and setting up an electric pump. Some women respond better to them, too!

macynsnoop

What are you all pumping into & freezing your BM in? Are you pumping into bags & storing like that or are you pumping into bottles & then transferring to bags? Just curious what system is preferred for this. I currently just have a few medela bottles so we try to use the pumped milk by 4 days , but I would love to start freezing some for layer, just not sure how to do it. Hope it's ok to add this question to the thread.

Rrrrrachel

I pumped into bottles and would store it in there until it was ready to go in the freezer, at which point it would go in honeysuckle brand bags.

ksulli

I pumped into medela bottles and froze in lansinoh bags, usually 2 or 4oz per bag.

Rogue237

I just started, but I get about an ounce and a half per session and do it once per day. I'll up the times per day gradually, I just wanted to start a supply.